Palin's smear absurd

William Ayers and the late Eldridge Cleaver were radical protesters in 1968. Ayers belonged to a group called the Underground Weathermen, who could be defined as terrorists. Cleaver was a member of the Black Panthers, a radical Marxist-Socialist/Communist group. Cleaver served a prison term.

The present Democratic candidate for president has met Ayers but, according to The New York Times, "never had a close relationship." Nevertheless, Sarah Palin has described Obama as "palling around with terrorists."

In 1983 Cleaver developed a close friendship with Cleon Skousen and Paul Dunn and many other LDS Church members. He then joined the church. Acclaimed anti-Communist Dr. Skousen would surely have been offended if accused of "palling around" with a Marxist-Communist felon.

Palin's negative smear is an absurdity.

Karl Swan

Roy