So when I learned of the connection between Ayres, Dohrn and Barack Obama, I was alarmed. In 1995, Dohrn and Ayres hosted a campaign fundraiser for Obama. Ayers contributed to Obama’s campaign. Bernadine Dohrn and both Barack and Michelle Obama were employed by the Sidley and Austin Law Firm. Bernadine, like Barack was involved with “community organizing,” a milk-toast term for “Rules for Radicals” author, Saul Alinsky’s leftist schemes. Obama and Ayers have appeared on academic panels together. While Obama has tried to downplay this as coincidental, his participation with Ayers on a 1997 University of Chicago panel was actually put together by the associate Dean of Student Services, Michelle Obama. Their kids have attended the same schools, and when the Obamas moved a little more than a year ago (with the questionable financial help of the wife of indicted Syrian National, Tony Rezko), it just happened to be in the same neighborhood as Ayers. Both Obama and Ayers served on the Woods Foundation Board, which along with funding “community organizing,” agreed to give $75,000 to the Arab American Action Network, cofounded by PLO-and-Yasser-Arafat apologist, Rashid Kalidi.

But it’s the underlying, dark vision for America that they share that concerns me most. While Ayers and Dohrn hate capitalism, Barack chooses careful terms like “fairness” to hint at evening the score on the “wealthy.” In the ’70s, the Weather Underground wanted “smash monogamy.” Group orgies were their attempt to break down all sexual taboos. Today William Ayers is a powerful advocate for “Queering Elementary Education” and advancing the cause of gay, straight, transgender and lesbian rights. The gay journalist Andrew Sullivan has declared Barack Obama the dream candidate of the homosexual movement.

“Revolution” versus “change.” “Capitalist pigs” versus “the wealthy.” “Smash monogamy” versus “other definitions of family.” The revolution of the ’60s and ’70s was bolder in language and action, but today’s manifestation is in some ways more threatening because terms are hidden, intentions blurred and the “opiate of the masses”—at least right now—is not religion, but Barack Obama.

“The spirit of the revolution will live on!” declared Dohrn in 1980.

All of these same old ideas, converging at once on a new generation, with little memory of this past. We want to “connect to … rebuild on … the spirit of rebellion …of resistance,” said Ayres just last November. “The secret power of lawlessness is already at work,” wrote the Apostle Paul in the first century. Indeed.

That same passion I had as a 13-year-old girl has been awakened within me once again. Fortunately, thanks to the intervening years, I have vocabulary and knowledge on my side this time. I recognize the danger and will not be silent.