Bill Ayers Comes Clean-- Corrects Obama: "We Are Family Friends"

"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from... The notion that somehow that by me knowing someone who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old somehow reflects on my values doesn't make much sense, George."

Barack Obama
ABC Democratic Debate
April 2008

Barack Obama denied his close association with Bill Ayers during his campaign this year:

But today Bill Ayers set set the record straight.
The Chicago Tribune reported:

In a new afterword to his memoir, 1960s radical William Ayers describes himself as a "family friend" of President-elect Barack Obama and writes that the campaign controversy over their relationship was an effort by Obama's political enemies to "deepen a dishonest narrative" about the candidate.

Ayers describes phone threats and hate e-mail he received during the campaign, and he bemoans Obama's guilt by association.

During the campaign, Ayers' friendship with Obama was a favorite subject of conservative bloggers and talk show hosts who insisted the two were closer than the candidate was admitting. Ayers' new description of the relationship seems to contradict Obama's statements.

** Ayers also confessed that he was involved with Obama's early political career.

Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright made a joint appearance at Northwestern University on Friday.

Bill Ayers, former 1960's terrorist, listens to Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. speak at Northwestern University during an event hosted by Northwestern's Black Student Alliance. Ayers' name gained prominence during the presidential race when John McCain's campaign accused Barack Obama of having close ties to Ayers. (Tribune photo by Charles Cherney / November 7, 2008)

More... Barack Obama and Bill Ayers shared an office address for several years in Chicago.

More... Allahpundit asks: "Has anyone queried The One on what sorts of crimes one would have to commit to lose their coveted 'family friend' status?"