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The first part of anchor Charles Gibson's Exclusive interview with candidate Barack Obama on ABC's Battleground Bus Tour, naturally, touched on the financial crisis. Gibson's focus was on the trillions of dollars people have lost in "their stock accounts, in their pension plans, in their 401(k)s." In a sleight to John McCain, Gibson did not even mention in his catalogue of woes the bursting of the real estate housing market bubble, even though that had been the Republican's major theme the night before. Obama patted himself on the back for his temperament during the turmoil, calling himself "consistent" with "very clear principles" and offering a "measured, calm, steady response." He added: "Look! If I did not have confidence in the ability to lead the country I would not be running for President."
In part two of the interview, Obama addressed the negative attacks on him by the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin. Referring to Tuesday night's town hall debate, Obama described himself as "surprised" that those "over-the-top attacks" were not repeated. McCain "was not willing to say it to my face." The "it" Obama was referring to was his relationship with William Ayers, the anti-Vietnam-War radical. "Why don't we just clear it up right now?" Obama asked Gibson. He called Ayers' engagement in violence "despicable." He noted that it occurred when he was eight years old. By the time they met, Ayers was a college professor. He served on a school reform board with Ayers. That board "was funded by Walter Annenberg, who had been an ambassador and close friend of Ronald Reagan." Ayers is not involved in the Obama campaign. He is not an Obama advisor. And they are not pals.
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