Bill Ayers speaks, sort of

Ever since his Bill Ayers' name was brought out in the open at the Democratic presidential debate last week, the onetime talkative Ayers, has been quiet.

The Chicago "free registration required" Tribune caught up with Ayers at his University of Illinois-Chicago office yesterday.

Although there has been no public response from him since his ties to Barack Obama — the two neighbors served on a charity board together for three years — were brought up during last week's Democratic debate, Ayers said Wednesday that he has a good reason for his silence.

He doesn't want to feed the flawed "narrative" out in the press and blogosphere — one that has commentators on Ayers' own blog wondering why someone hasn't shot him dead yet.

"It's a cartoon" people are reacting to, Ayers, a professor of education, said at his University of Illinois at Chicago office Wednesday.

Why so quiet?

"I'm still outspoken," he said. "I'm still out speaking at college campuses. You can follow me if you want."

Conservative radio and television host Sean Hannity would like to debate Ayers on his radio show--will he accept the offer?

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