In praise of guilt by association.

[Sen. Joseph] McCarthy, like most politicians, wasn't principally about an abstract proposition; but if there is one that he stood for--a McCarthy*ism*--it is that the more leftist your declarations and associations, past and present, the more likely you are to be (note, these are three different likelihoods) (a) a security risk, (b) a spy, (c) an agent of hostile influence. And that proposition turns out to be actually true.

Comment by a6z on "Proud Owner of a Cold War Mentality." By W. Lewis Amselem, The DiploMad 2.0, 1/7/14.