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Obama and the Annenberg Files: The Mystery Deepens

Was an associate of Barack Obama tipped off about press interest in the Annenberg papers?

September 10, 2008 - by Clarice Feldman
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Steve Diamond, publisher of the blog site Global Labor and Politics, who has played a lead role in exposing the work of the CAC, writes that he contacted Mr. Kurtz who told him he first got in touch with the University about examining the Annenberg files on August 11 – the same day Rolling claims to have seen references to the documents on the internet.

The question arises; were the documents scrubbed prior to the press being granted access to them? President of the University Joseph White has denied withholding any documents from the press despite an email from Rolling discovered in the FOIA files from the former CAC executive director to the University Counsel referencing a conversation with White in which the president indicated that Rolling could submit a list of papers that the library would consider redacting from the general release of the Annenberg files.

The University Counsel — Thomas Bearrows — said that the University did not honor any request for withholding files from Mr. Rolling.

Having reviewed the board minutes of the CAC in which the members agreed to turn over the records to UIC in 2001, the school determined it had the right to open the records.

Rollings, however, continues to assert that the gift to the university was never executed, that the university had no right to release the records, and is threatening to block Stanley Kurtz from publishing what he’s found in the records.

I asked Steve Diamond to explain in the comments section of the blog Just One Minute what the present situation is and he responded:

“Rolling also told the Tribune he is thinking of suing to block the documents that Kurtz is using for a story. The Tribune was also told that someone else accessed the records this past summer. Rolling said he saw reports about CAC records on the web and unilaterally called UIC. But the only reports all summer about the CAC records were mine based on what I clearly identified as CAC records provided by Brown University not UIC. However, soon after I posted my analysis on June 18 based on those records Brown stopped answering my email inquiries, while until then they had been very responsive. I have now asked them if they were also contacted by anyone associated with the CAC.”

Tom Maguire smells a rat:

Kurtz went public with the library’s evasions on August 18. By his account Mr. Kurtz had been in discussions with the library and had made an appointment to view the documents prior to the 18th.

So why did Mr. Rolling contact the library on the 11th? Was his spider sense tingling? Or did someone at the library mention to him that the Annenberg Challenge files were in play? One might think that the library spokesperson could address the question of whether someone from the library contacted Mr. Rolling, thereby precipitating his call.

The only thing that’s transparent about Obama is that he and his friends are anything but. Undoubtedly there’s a good reason for that.

Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this article, the author wrote that Jason Wilcox and Steve Diamond were working together on the FOIA request. This is incorrect and we regret the error.

Also, it was inferred that the author had spoken directly to Mr. Diamond for this article. In reality, Mr. Diamond’s response was in the form of a comment at the blog Just One Minute. We regret the confusion.

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Clarice Feldman is a retired litigation lawyer who lives in D.C. She's a news junkie addicted to the internet.

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53 Comments

1. Ed Wallis:

I’m not so sure the “opaque/transparent” approach is the best to describe Zerobama and his cohorts. My sense is that Chicago Thug sums it up better.

Sure, LOTS of politicians speak vaguely. But, since Obama is so inexperienced, there is no nuance in either what he says or does.

Based on the spending/redistributionist policies Zerobama has proposed, in “days gone by,” one would not have referred to a “thug” but simply an “iron fist.”

That’s not the kind of “change” I want for America.

VOTE McCAIN/PALIN!

Sep 10, 2008 - 2:03 am 2. mishu:

How long until Obama’s digital brown shirts swamp this site like they did to Milt Rosenberg’s show?

Sep 10, 2008 - 4:37 am 3. Chris in Toronto:

This over-the-top-obvious attempted cover-up makes me wonder what’s in there. What could possibly be worth this loss of face?

Sep 10, 2008 - 5:07 am 4. Big Al:

So i would like to know Ms Feldman’s opinion on Mr Kurtz’s ability to publish what he has found in the records,(in the next 6 weeks of course).

Sep 10, 2008 - 5:32 am 5. “Was his spider sense tingling?” « Gunservatively!:

[...] 10, 2008 by gunservatively Clarice Feldman at Pajamas Media writes about the Obama/Annenberg Files mystery and the possibility that someone at the University of [...]

Sep 10, 2008 - 6:31 am 6. rocketeer:

Is anyone surprised that this is how Marxists operate? Straight out of the communist playbook.

Sep 10, 2008 - 6:40 am 7. clarice:

I think Rollings claim is a weak one but we’re talking about Chicago so who knows?

Sep 10, 2008 - 6:43 am 8. Chester:

“[The Annenberg papers] demonstrate that Obama failed at the one executive position he ever held; Chairman of the Board of the CAC.”

So, the one place where there is evidence of BO’s executive skills are on display for examination are now taken off display.

Godspeed, Mr. Kurtz.

Sep 10, 2008 - 6:55 am 9. JimPete:

Guys like Ayers realize they can’t use the same language they used back in the 60’s during their “Weather Underground” days. They know people won’t buy what they are selling. Change=Revolution. They are packaging Marxist concepts into a nice new “progressive” package.

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:00 am 10. steve diamond:

while I appreciate your interest in my work I do not have any record of a conversation with you about the annenberg papers and I am not working “with” Jason Wilcox. I would appreciate a correction.

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:10 am 11. Conservativa » The Main Thing:

[...] and how it appears that Obama is trying to obscure the degree of his connection with him. Good piece on the Obama-Ayers connection here, with lots of links. This kind of thing is less fun and less easy to parody than the sketchy [...]

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:17 am 12. Dan Collins:

I’m betting the person who accessed the records earlier this summer was Sandy Berger.

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:48 am 13. World Threatens Harshness:

[...] Middle Finger of the Apocalypse ; Clarice on the CAC documents. Posted by Dan Collins @ 1:05 pm | Trackback Share [...]

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:49 am 14. deianira:

When I wa growing up in Pittsburgh during the 1930’s, a “COMMUNITY ORGANIZER” was a familiar figure in our neighborhood. He worked for the Demoicratic Party and was called a “WARD HEALER” – The current title is “label-inflation.” Thus “Garbage Man” is now “Sanitation Engineer”.

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:57 am 15. CALindie:

It’s not the impropriety that gets you, it’s the cover up.

Sep 10, 2008 - 8:33 am 16. Brian:

Obama wants to talk education.Good lets talk about William ayers and how this terrorist got to be a professor.Explain why the system is passing kids who clearly cant read or write properly.Some professors im sure do a good job.But the anti-american ,anti-west ,and pro-communist and leftist leanings is downright dangerous.

Sep 10, 2008 - 8:42 am 17. David Thomson:

The odds of John McCain and Sarah Palin winning on Election Day are about 70%. They would be closer to 95% if the middle of the road voters were aware of Barack Obama’s leftist political inclinations. Sadly, the MSM has so far successfully conned the majority of Americans into believing the Democratic Party standard bearer is a moderate. The Republican surrogates must do everything possible to get the truth out. Obama is a very dangerous man who could cause enormous damage.

Sep 10, 2008 - 8:54 am 18. NukemHill:

Can’t we get Kurtz’ work published on an off-shore website, thus completely going around any attempts to block the release?

Sep 10, 2008 - 9:51 am 19. Senav:

Obama is probably the most dangerous person in America, He will lead you down the garden path to socialism.

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:03 am 20. Paul M Hupf:

Senator Obama is, to be accurate, a Marxist.

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:21 am 21. Paul M Hupf:

Senator Obama is, to be more accurate, a Marxist.

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:22 am 22. ex-democrat:

Clarice – what do you think would be the legal basis for rollings to seek a protective order?

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:41 am 23. Clyde:

Dan – …accessed by Sandy Berger…Hillarious!

“Excuse me sir, but what is that bulge in your socks”?

In a Marty Feldman voice, “What bulge”?

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:53 am 24. Renascent:

It is important to link who Bill Ayers was to who he is today and, by extension, to who Barack Obama is now. Therefore, a useful column that should be part of this discussion was written by Sol Stern in April. It can be found at:

http://www.city-journal.org/2008/eon0423ss.html

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:55 am 25. Renascent:

Sorry, I should have described the Stern column in my previous message. It describes who Ayers is as an educator, and what he’s been trying to achieve for the last several decades. In brief, he seeks to implement Rudi Dutschke’s “long march through institutions”, revolutionizing the next generation by radicalizing teachers. But don’t worry, Mayor Daley doesn’t mind and neither does Senator Obama.

Sep 10, 2008 - 11:04 am 26. Ron Kean:

When these shenanigans were first reported, I found the address and emailed the President of UIC questioning the access to the papers and the appearance of a shell game.

I was surprised that he answered me personally and he denied that anybody tampered with the papers before Mr. Kurtz.

I believe that his direct and adamant denial should give credit to him and the university.

Sep 10, 2008 - 12:46 pm 27. Sandra M:

How in the world did two far-far-left Marxists get control of Annenberg Foundation millions?

Walter Annenberg was one of the millionaires who bankrolled Ronald Reagan. Annenber, a conservative publisher of TV Guide published Patrick Buchanan and Edith Efron.

Sep 10, 2008 - 1:25 pm 28. Self-hating boomer:

How in the world did two far-far-left Marxists get control of Annenberg Foundation millions?

They lied.

Sep 10, 2008 - 3:39 pm 29. Why would Obama accept support from and associate with someone like this? « Virginia Virtucon:

[...] It appears that Obama and his supporters are trying to suppress the release of records detailing the Chicago Annenberg Challenge that could shed additional light on the relationship [...]

Sep 11, 2008 - 8:00 am 30. B Dubya:

Will somebody please get enough stuff to force an indictment? Before he has a chance to unload Biden. Would ya? huh?
The Obamasia should really be an inmate of an all male correctional facility, if half of what I suspect is true. Personal corruption and betraytal of public trust at least on the Duke Cunningham scale (and Randy is now serving hard prison time for it).

Sep 11, 2008 - 8:17 am 31. rvastar:

…Rudi Dutschke’s “long march through institutions”, revolutionizing the next generation by radicalizing teachers.

A small quibble. The idea of the “long march” is actually from Antonio Gramsci, another worthless Marxist. Just earlier.

Sep 11, 2008 - 9:20 am 32. jeff:

I know Milt. He will have Mr. Kurtz on again. The show has been downloaded over 8000 times. The Obama supporters flamed his website, and tried to shut it down.

Reminds me of the Wizard of Oz. “Don’t pay attention to what is behind the curtain.”

Sep 11, 2008 - 1:24 pm 33. Not a Lib:

I just have to repeat now famous phrase …. still a pig
(No offence to anyone, just that associations are important)

http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=694&cid=3123

Sep 11, 2008 - 5:19 pm 34. Renascent:

@revstar

You’re right that Gramsci shifted the focus of Marxism from economic to cultural factors, but he didn’t actually use the phrase “the long march through institutions”; that was Dutschke’s innovation. But we don’t disagree about anything fundamental.

Sep 11, 2008 - 8:14 pm 35. Why would Obama accept support from and associate with someone like this? |:

[...] It appears that Obama and his supporters are trying to suppress the release of records detailing the Chicago Annenberg Challenge that could shed additional light on the relationship [...]

Sep 11, 2008 - 9:00 pm 36. MO-Dan:

A few questions regarding Barack H. Obama. I am sure I am not the only one with these questions.

1. I have heard the media and campaign hype, but just who is Barack H. Obama really?
2. Who, again throwing out all the media and campaign hype, is actually behind Obama pulling the strings that has given him the determination and feeling that he should be the next President of our country?
3. From what I have seen, read and heard, Obama has focused on the Presidency for “many” years, but previously accomplished little, why?
4. Who is Michelle Obama really?
5. Where is the documentation of Obama’s alleged accomplished past?
6. Where is Obama’s transparency?
7. I am sorry, but change what and how, and for whom? You cannot vote “present” and create change.

So many questions about Obama that are unanswered or were never asked, which need to be.

The media can send an army of reporters to Alaska to dig up what ever they can on a VP appointee, Palin, but few of them attempt or want to expose Obama, the man, before his run for the Presidency.

As an Independent I have no dog in this hunt. I vote for the person and their ability to do what is best for this country, not the party.

Sep 12, 2008 - 9:30 am 37. GeoPal:

“Who… is actually behind Obama pulling the strings that has given him the determination and feeling that he should be the next President of our country?”

Look to George Soros, a hedge fund billionaire. He’s been a kingmaker in other parts of the world as well. He was behind Kerry’s presidential run, at least financially.

Sep 12, 2008 - 2:11 pm 38. Jeff:

Everyone should look at the compelling info on this link below —

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five

Sep 12, 2008 - 9:45 pm 39. Pajamas Media » Obama and the Woods Fund:

[...] Obama and the Annenberg Files: The Mystery Deepensby Clarice Feldman [...]

Sep 13, 2008 - 1:30 am 40. Ed Wallis:

“Jeffie-once-had-True-Independent-as-Facade”:

I found htis link

http://www.lorien1973.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/palin-obama.jpg

more “compelling”….

Sep 13, 2008 - 5:44 am 41. jan:

Well here we are wringing our hands at the MSM and their lop sided coverage of Obama and Palin. McCain/Palin will probably loose this election and We just lament the facts. Why don’t we get mad as hell and start a grass roots e-mail barrage on the Journalists that protect Obama. The CAC cover up and Obamas overseeing of $110,000, (some Annenbergs and some our tax dollars) I keep thinking the Republican machine is just waiting to issue summons to all involved in this. If Bill O’reilly gets thousands of e-mails requesting him to dig up and expose everything on this the Chicago Annenberg Challange and the Obama/Ayres involvement, maybe there would be enough outrage to cause closer scrutiny. Otherwise Obama has fooled all of the people all of the time. GOD HELP UP!!!!

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:05 am 42. Ed Wallis:

Of related interest:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28508

Sep 13, 2008 - 5:45 pm 43. Ann:

Little puzzle regarding national security issues:

Obama for various reasons would never pass the FBI test to become an FBI agent and for sure would never make it to a secret service agent, like one of those currently protecting him!

So if he would be in the White House, basically those that have to guard top secret information have to show it to someone who cannot pass the clearance.

Would you trust this person this information and the keys to the nukes?

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:25 pm 44. Jeff:

Ed Wallis,

Oh, uneducated, misguided, and one track mind, Ed. Just embrace the possibility of “Change”. I know that you ole timers REALLY have a hard time with that while we, youngins, want any change that is better than the current Administration, and that is NOT McCain. People really should do their research carefully like me.

Sep 14, 2008 - 1:28 am 45. Jeff:

People, here are the facts about Barack Obama and William Ayers—

1) When William Ayers was a radical leftist who co-founded the Weatherman, committed heinous terrorist acts against the United States Capitol building and the Pentagon, his radical history was between 1968-1972. Here is his life story in Wikipedia below —

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers

2) Between 1968-1972, Barack Obama was between ages 7-11 years old and did NOT know William Ayers. He was TOO YOUNG. Here is his life story in Wikipedia below —

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

3) Obama did not meet Ayers until 1995, 23 years after Ayers radical history. Obama was introduced to Ayers by Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer, as her chosen successor since she is stepping down from the Illinois state senate and running for Congress. Here is the story of the meeting in the link below —

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8630.html

In closing, all these propagandas are false. Obama did not meet Ayers until 1995, as they ALL want to make people believe. Please do your own research before believing these ole timers. Obama’s proposal of “Change” for the better is a HUGE threat to them. They are all incapable of “Change” or even the slightest chance of accepting it. Think “Ed Wallis” in these posts. So here is my wisdom for everyone –

***Conservatism is the tired old need to hang on to the past while liberalism is a need for change for a brighter future.***

Sep 14, 2008 - 4:48 am 46. Ed Wallis:

“Jeff,” are you with the Axelrod team? You spread the same distortions and lies.

Read Corsi’s “Obama Nation” and you will get a fuller picture of the cooperation between Obama and Ayers.

How convenient, also, that you neglect to mention Ayers continued endorsement of his actions. This is not an “old story.”

You spread propaganda, “Jeff.” SHAME ON YOU.

Sep 14, 2008 - 5:32 am 47. Jeff:

Ed Wallis,

I spread info and I also welcome people to DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH. It’s people like you who spread propagandas without facts to solidify your claims – that in itself is propaganda, Ed.

Sep 14, 2008 - 7:23 am 48. elanore:

What about Obama’s connections with Khalid al Mansour and Edward Said? And where is Farrakhan these days? Most likely he is, along with the Rev. Wright, waiting in the shadows, to OPENLY join Mr. Obama’s victory(?) circle – which for 2+ decades has included the criminal Tony Rezco, the infamous Father Flaegger, the terrorists Ayers and Dhorn, and Percy Sutton, ex Black Pather-turned Muslim, Barack has been schooled in Sol Alinsky’s extreme left philosophy, and James Cone’s Black Liberation separatist theology. He has been groomed – and duped – for 20 years to come on the scene to hypnotize the American people. SCARY: IT ALMOST WORKED. Why didn’t the Dems run him as what he is…representing the far left in this country, instead of TRYING to hide his Marxist, Criminal, Reverse Racist associations. Kicking and resisting all the way, he only dumped his beloved “mentor and advisor” when the Rev. Wright called him a typical politician, and his Multitude of Handlers forced him to. (Don’t fret, Jerry, you’ll be reinstated if BO wins!) The Liberal Media, Left-wing Hollywood and the Democratic Party have joined in a dishonest pact to hoodwink the American people. It is our fault if we succumb to these deplorable tactics. (an dem 45 years, now independent)

Sep 14, 2008 - 10:19 am 49. elanore:

whoops…Typo Alert: in the last post, in line 4 above, there should be a “period” instead of a “comma” between the words “Barack” and “Muslim”. e.

Sep 14, 2008 - 10:34 am 50. Ed Wallis:

NOTE TO “Jeff” 7:23am:

YOU ARE MISUSING MY NAME AS IF IT WERE YOURS. You are so immature. As soon as you demonstrated this weakness of PJM to me, I WROTE THEM TO INFORM THEM OF THIS. I ADVISE YOU TO DO THE SAME, and to cease from your childish behavior IMMEDIATELY.

Sep 14, 2008 - 3:17 pm 51. David Silvers:

Who are the million small donors on the Internet that financed Obama’s primary campaign against Hillary. I was a 55 year Democrat; but no more; as something smells rotten. A candidate unknown quickly arrives on the Democratic scene with no qualifications; and is stuffed down our throats. What no one has reported except this liberal New York Times reporter.
By MAUREEN DOWD (a Liberal reporter.)
Published: June 29, 2008
OBAMA’S TROUBLING INTERNET FUND RAISING

Certainly the most interesting and potentially devastating phone call I have received during this election cycle came this week from one of the Obama’s campaign internet geeks. These are the staffers who devised Obama’s internet fund raising campaign, which raised in the neighborhood of $200 million so far. That is more then twice the total funds raised by any candidate in history; and this was all from the internet campaign. 

 What I learned from this insider was shocking but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that when it comes to fund raising there simply are no rules that can’t be broken and no ethics that prevail. 
 
Obama’s internet campaign started out innocently enough with basic e-mail networking, lists saved from previous party campaigns and from supporters who visited any of the Obama campaign web sites.
Small contributions came in from these sources and the internet campaign staff was more than pleased by the results. 

Then, about two months into the campaign the daily contribution intake multiplied. Where was it coming from? One of the web site security monitors began to notice the bulk of the contributions were clearly coming in from overseas internet service providers and at the rate and frequency of transmission it was clear these donations were “programmed” by a very sophisticated user. 

 While the security people were not able to track most of the sources due to firewalls and other blocking devices put on these contributions they were able to collate the number of contributions that were coming in seemingly from individuals but the funds were from only a few credit card accounts and bank electronic funds transfers. The internet service providers (ISP) they were able to trace were from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries. One of the banks used for fund transfers was also located in Saudi Arabia. 
Another concentrated group of donations was traced to a Chinese ISP with a similar pattern of limited credit card charges. 

 It became clear that these donations were very likely coming from sources other than American voters. This was discussed at length within the campaign and the decision was made that none of these donations violated campaign-financing laws. 

It was also decided that it was not the responsibility of the campaign to audit these millions of contributions as to the actual source (specific credit card number or bank transfer account numbers) to insure that none of these internet contributors exceeded the legal maximum donation on a cumulative basis of many small donations. They also found the record keeping was not complete enough to do it anyway. 
 
This is a shocking revelation. 

 We have been concerned about the legality of “bundling” contributions after the recent exposure of illegal bundlers but now it appears we may have an even greater problem. 
 
I guess we should have been somewhat suspicious when the numbers started to come out. We were told (no proof offered) that the Obama internet contributions were from $10.00 to $25.00 or so. 

 If the $200,000,000 is right, and the average contribution was $15.00, that would mean over 13 million individuals made contributions? That would also be 13 million contributions would need to be processed. How did all that happen? 

I believe the Obama campaign’s internet fund raising needs a serious, in depth investigation and audit. It also appears the whole question of internet fund raising needs investigation by the legislature and perhaps new laws to insure it complies not only with the letter of these laws but the spirit as well.

Sep 14, 2008 - 10:43 pm 52. Susan:

You’re running in circles, trying to invent a story when none exists. This post expands on another, which expands on another, but they are all filled with suppositions, not facts.

You have nothing. Face it.

Sep 15, 2008 - 4:21 pm 53. JAGS:

http://forums.hannity.com/showthread.php?t=928831
Acorn is he last straw the media is doing a huge coverup

An Authoritarian Socialist Army that has been flying under the radar for years, and inspite of everything we now know the mainstream media is still not bringing to light the reality of how this entity that is Acorn has been nothing more than a terror cell who perpetrated this crisis with their anticapitalistic movement aimed to put socialism in its place by attacking capitalism to the point where we see it today on its knees today begging for our help and mercy.

Oct 2, 2008 - 4:31 pm

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