Smear Campaign

Barack Obama keeps claiming that the McCain campaign is engaging in a 'smear campaign' by bringing up Obama's ties to Ayers. This begs the question that if speaking the truth about Obama and Ayers is a 'smear campaign', then why didn't Obama exercise better judgement when launching his political career? If he truly doesn't think there is anything questionable about Ayers, then he shouldn't view it as a smear campaign to have his ties to Ayers questioned. The fact that he DOES view it as a 'smear campaign' is telling; he knows Ayers is unsavory but still chose to 'pal around' with him anyway.