Candidates' Controversial Ties

By Vania Vargas

Vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, has recently accused Barack Obama of “palling around with terrorists”. 

This accusation arose because of Obama’s “relationship” with William Ayers. William Ayers was a co-founder of a radical left organization called Weather Underground. This radical, anti-war activist organization bombed many government buildings in the 1970’s to express their disagreement with the Vietnam War. When Palin states that Obama worked with a terrorist, she is referring to when Obama and Ayers served on the same School Board Committee in Chicago, Illinois ten years ago. Even though both were on the same committee, they worked on two different groups. Obama responded to this accusation by stating that he condemns Ayers’ acts in the 1970’s. He also explains that Ayers is just someone in his neighborhood who does not and will not advise him in his campaign or presidency. John McCain later goes on to attack Obama with his connection with Ayers and states that the American people need to know of this “relevant” relationship.

Although McCain feels very strongly about informing the American public, the McCain-Palin Campaign has failed to inform the American public of Palin’s close ties with the Pro-secessionist Alaska Independence Party. The Alaska Independence Party was created to find a way to secede from the United States. Joe Voglar, the Founder of the party, stated, “I’m an Alaskan, I’m not an American. And I hate America and all her damned institutions,” which is a common feeling amongst its members. Although Palin is not an official member, she is said to be a member in spirit. With the help of some members of this organization she was elected Mayor of Wasilla, over a decade ago. Mark Chryson, former AIP chair, proudly claimed credit for Palin’s conversion to the conservative ideology. The Alaska Independence party has influenced Palin’s political views, “not only did she … associate with them in order to advance her political ambitions, she advanced their agenda on a local and state level”.