I have a very good friend who is an out and out reactionary, basically something pretty close to a White supremacist, and we agree on very little when it comes to politics or social issues. But he's still a good friend, because we share many common interests in folk music and because he has proven to be a 100% honest and reliable friend through thick and thin and can always be depended on when the chips are down.

He has said things that would have created a scandal for ANY presidential candidate if you can establish guilt by mere association with someone.

Now, if I was running for president, some asshole in the other party would hire people to snoop around, find about about my friend, and use it to attack MY credibility even though I do not agree with my friend's political opinions at all.

Thank God, however, I am not running for president. Nor would I, even if I had all the qualifications and experience. It isn't worth the shit you have to put up with when you're put in that position.