From my own personal experience, just because my "friends" were questionable, didn't mean I was. I do agree, most people believe the "guilt with association" term.
I'm curious to know, if when Bush's ratings were going really low, did you and all the republicans ever voice a dislike as passionately about what he was doing? I'm not trying to debate, or fight. I'm an adult who would like to have an adult conversation.
I know I did, because I don't blindly follow any party, I'll vote for a Republican, Independent, Democrat if I believed they are the best person for the job. I was disappointed about a lot of things Bush did and the republicans choice of John McCain at the top of our ticket, I like some of the conservative values of Palin but still believed she would not have been a front runner Yet, however she was more qualified than Obama IMO at the time and the MSM never questioned it. Obama got soft balled into office and to date most of his speeches are stacked decks and rarely is he asked a hard question.
As a matter of fact Obama's experience is so limited he needs 32 Czars, I would have gladly voted for Condoleezza Rice for president and truly believe in looks, speech, and intelligence she would have mopped the floor with Obama, unfortunately she chose to hang up her hat on politics. Last, Obama's speech seems OK NOW, what people are missing is the uproar of his initial rhetoric about reading up on Obama, writing letters to yourself about Obama, what inspired you about Obama's speech, etc. etc. I'm sure if the uproar never happened around the country our students would be listening to a whole different speech. If no one including the White House had any problems with Obama's original intent, why were all the recommended school activities during the speech changed??? Hmmmmmmm