Obviously it's a bit late to bring this concept up. However, I've seen a thread or two (and a slew of comments) that have been discussing the relevance of which organization/person endorses which candidate. I know that for some people, endorsements mean a lot. Specifically, I want to discuss endorsements that come from generally reviled groups. Sometimes highly unpopular people will endorse a candidate. Hate groups are a great example of politically active groups that will often endorse a candidate. I have two points. First of all, I believe that endorsements ought to be taken very lightly. They carry no relevance to the integrity of a candidate's position. The positions ought to be weighed on their own merits, rather than dismissed because of an unpopular endorsement. It only makes logical sense. My second point is merely a suspicion. We know that it's a big deal when unpopular hate groups publicly endorse a candidate. The press covers it thoroughly, and the question is always, "Will you disavow? Will you disavow?" For starters, it's pathetic that the media attempts to catch people into some sort of "A-ha!" moment. "A-ha! We [i]knew[/i] you were a bigot! We caught another one!" That's just an opinion, however. My true suspicion lies with the intent of these unpopular groups. Let's look at a hypothetical situation. We have Candidate A and Candidate B. They're running against each other for office, and various groups are endorsing either A or B. One particularly infamous group endorses A. The endorsement is publicly covered and discussed. Whether or not A disavows the endorsement, he/she still might still bear that stain. My suspicion is that the group knows this. Why would a highly unpopular group hand their favored candidate a toxic endorsement? It would make more sense for them to defile the reputation of their political opposition, wouldn't it? What do you think? My first point is concise, but I think it's important. My second point is mostly speculation, and I'm unsure as to whether or not it holds water. As always, I encourage anybody interested in topics like this to join the group Liberty Hub. No admin approval required.