News
Directly To
Your Inbox
Follow PJ Media

Obama and the Annenberg Files: The Mystery Deepens

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

by
Clarice Feldman

Bio

September 10, 2008 - 12:00 am
<- Prev  Page 2 of 2   View as Single Page

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.

<- Prev  Page 2 of 2   View as Single Page
Clarice Feldman is a retired litigation lawyer who lives in D.C. She's a news junkie addicted to the internet.

PJ Media appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:

1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.

2. Stay on topic.

3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.

4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.

5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.

These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that PJ Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. Please note that comments are reviewed by the editorial staff and may not be posted immediately. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at story@pjmedia.com.

47 Comments, 47 Threads, 6 Trackbacks

  1. 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!

  2. 2. mishu

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

  3. 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?

  4. 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).

  5. 5. rocketeer

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

  6. 6. clarice

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

  7. 7. 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.

  8. 8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 10. Dan Collins

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

  11. 11. 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”.

  12. 12. CALindie

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

  13. 13. 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.

  14. 14. 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.

  15. 15. NukemHill

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

  16. 16. Senav

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

  17. 17. Paul M Hupf

    Senator Obama is, to be accurate, a Marxist.

  18. 18. Paul M Hupf

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

  19. 19. ex-democrat

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

  20. 20. 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”?

  21. 21. 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

  22. 22. 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.

  23. 23. 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.

  24. 24. 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.

  25. 25. Self-hating boomer

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

    They lied.

  26. 26. 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).

  27. 27. 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.

  28. 28. 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.”

  29. 29. 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

  30. 30. 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.

  31. 31. 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.

  32. 32. 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.

  33. 33. Jeff

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

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

  34. 34. 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”….

  35. 35. 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!!!!

  36. 36. Ed Wallis

    Of related interest:

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

  37. 37. 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?

  38. 38. 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.

  39. 39. 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.***

  40. 40. 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.

  41. 41. 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.

  42. 42. 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)

  43. 43. 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.

  44. 44. 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.

  45. 45. 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.

  46. 46. 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.

  47. 47. 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.

Leave a Reply

Click here to subscribe to the Daily Digest, to stay up to date with the latest at PJ Media. (You will be sent an email asking you to verify your email address. If you have previously subscribed, no verification email will be sent.)