Bill Ayers: "Kind and affable and even humble"

Much has been made by the Republican party of Barack Obama's longtime affiliation with Bill Ayers, professor, community organizer and a one-time domestic terrorist.

I'll admit the issue should receive fair coverage by the media. However, that means that voices from both sides should be aired. We've heard a great deal from those at Fox News & Co. who call him treasonous. I was pleased to see an editorial from Thomas Frank, the WSJ's faithful liberal voice, which spoke very highly of the man. Some of his thoughts:

Bill's got lots of friends, and that's because he is today a dedicated servant of those less fortunate than himself; because he is unfailingly generous to people who ask for his help; and because he is kind and affable and even humble. Moral qualities which, by the way, were celebrated boisterously on day one of the GOP convention in September.

With the qualification:

I do not defend the things Mr. Ayers did in his Weatherman days. Nor will I quibble with those who find Mr. Ayers wanting in contrition. His 2001 memoir is shot through with regret, but it lacks the abject style our culture prefers.

Still, "kind and affable and even humble" are all wonderful qualities -- qualities which arguably cannot be claimed by Rush and O'Reilly.

As Christians, we should give stronger weight to positive assessments than negative. As those who have received so much grace, we should be gracious. Let us genuinely hope that character aspersions, which fly more frequently at election times, are not true.

So, if you are want to believe the bad things about Ayers, you owe it to him to read this first.