I agree it doesn't make any sense, but the fact of the matter is that even judges commit the fallacy of guilt by association, without being aware of it. If hundreds of assholes and a dozen criminals support you, then that makes it seem more likely that you are an asshole or a criminal. Statistically that is probably even correct, even though it's still guilt-by-association in an individual case.
> If hundreds of assholes and a dozen criminals support
> you, then that makes it seem more likely that you are
> an asshole or a criminal.
I'll bet there are a lot of criminals/assholes that like watching The Colbert Report. If they do illegal (or douchey) things on behalf of Stephen Colbert, does that mean that he can be personally held accountable (assuming he doesn't make a call to action on-air).
