To a degree, being known by the company we keep can be an unfair assessment of who we are. For example, maybe a person is simply “broad-minded,” and enjoys associating with an eclectic group of people. That’s fine by me.
But when that eclectic melange isn’t a melange at all, when that grouping of friends and associates lacks any true variations and rather consists of very similar types in terms of philosophy, world view, and convictions, that company the person is keeping is more akin to a coterie of like-thinkers, a veritable gang. In that case, we can indeed know that person by the company he keeps.
Senator Barack Hussein Obama has a fascinating coterie. And let’s put to rest objections to the use of his middle name since it is his given middle name and if it’s permissible for fellow Blacks such as Reverend James Manning to use it so too may I.
Apart from the usual political sycophants and hangers-on attracted like flies to dung and aside from his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright and confessed terrorist Bill Ayers, Obama has some other curious bedfellows. They include radicals such as Demond Mullins who served a stint in Iraq and admits to “dehumanizing” innocent women and children while on tour there. (Anyone recall John Kerry in ‘Nam?) Poor Demond. He not only participated in that dehumanization and abuse but was aware of female soldiers being raped by fellow soldiers–and did nothing about it!
Mullins was a paid consultant for unspecified services to the Obama campaign. (http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCommentary.asp?Page=/Commentary/archive/200805/COM20080514b.html)
For other stellar Obama advisors, see http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/01/the_obama_inner_circle.html and BarackObama.com (NO MIDDLE NAME!) Don’t expect to see Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, or Tony Rezko there.
Then again, Bilary is being advised by such Dem icons as Madeline Albright and Sandy (How Was I To Know I Was Stuffing Top Secret Documents In My Socks) Berger.
I think the company kept by both Democratic candidates says a great deal about them and about what the future holds should they be elected.