Proverbs 13:20 says He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
You are known by the company that you keep. Birds of a feather flock together. Or as many mothers tell their children, choose your friends wisely.
These idioms and passages only echo what most people already know. We surround ourselves with people we enjoy, that are like-minded, have similar values and points of view.
In fact, in the textbook titled Social Psychology used in most universities today, most people are "likely to be attracted to and more likely to have a satisfying relationship with someone who is similar." This is because people with similar attitudes validate what we believe. The authors continue by writing it is "easier to understand similar others because they are more likely to experience the same emotional reactions to the same situations." Last, and most notable, is "feeling the same way leads to acting the same way."
With this information, let's review who our President "flocks" with.
Edward Said - Virulently anti-Israeli Professor and prominent PLO/Arafat adviser. Obama was photographed at an Arab fundraiser with Said and the photographer was a mutual friend, anti-Israel activist Ali Abunimah who stated prior to the election "Obama is currently hiding his anti-Israel views in order to get elected." Edward Said, according to The New Criterion "could not accept Israel as anything but an injustice that had to be put right in bloodshed." Said has also been described as Marxist.
Rev. Michael Pfleger - a controversial priest who was one of the few South Side clergymen to back Mr. Obama during his run for Senate. Pfleger has defended Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and invited Farrakhan to speak at his church. He is also one of the religious leaders whose "faith testimonials" Obama had on his presidential campaign Web site.
Rashid Khalidi - Anti-Israeli Professor, Former director of PLO press agency, and Founder of the Arab American Action Network. This organization aims to "challenge the government policies that violate the civil, political and human rights of the Arab American and Arab immigrant community." AAAN has a hostile view of Israel and references it's creation in 1948 as Al Nakba ("The Catastrophe"). Among the current luminaries of AAAN's staff are Vice President Ali Abunimah (referenced above). For years, the Obamas had been regular dinner guests at the Hyde Park home of Khalidi. In 2000, the Khalidis held a fund-raiser for Obama during his Congressional campaign.
It is also important to note, AAAN receives funding from the Woods Fund of Chicago. Obama served on their Board of Directors from 1993 to 2001. This foundation also made grants to Obama's church, Trinity United Church of Christ. Most everyone is familiar with its pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who is anti-America and anti-semitic. Obama sat in his church for 20 years.
The list goes on and on with Cass Sustein, convicted terrorist William Ayers, Van Jones and Valerie Jarrett to name a few.
Obama did not seem to listen to his mother, did he?