>>I can't recall who said it, that if I want a brain operation, I want a surgeon with the best skills. Same with a politician. If you just want somebody you can sit and have a beer with, get some friends instead.
>
>This one expresses my thoughts quite well: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pam-atherton/i-want-a-vp-who-is-smarte_b_131580.html. Here's the final two paragraphs:
>
>"So for as friendly and as folksy and as "doggone" cute as Sarah Palin was in the debate tonight, she just reminded me why I don't want her as Vice President. She's too much like me. And I'm not smart enough, sophisticated enough, worldly-aware enough to be Vice President.
>
>I don't want a Vice President who's like me. I want one who's smarter."
>
>Tamar
>
>P.S. No, I don't read Huffington Post regularly. Someone sent me the article.

At least be fair then and watch vol 1-11 here (they are all very short):

http://www.foxnews.com/hannitysamerica/

I watched the entire one hour special and I must say that my view is probably not one shared by many others. I think the relationships are all concerning and deserve further investigation (since he is runnning for President) because the public does not know to what extent those relationships went. However, I also know that it is not unusual at all for academics to spend time with those whose views are completely opposite of their own. When I was in college (and even now among my acquaintances), that was a goal, not something to be avoided. I don't hold those against Obama unless it can be shown that he in some way supported those radical positions.