Flashback: Nation of Islam activists on Obama camp payroll . Former insider worried by senator's connection to Louis Farrakhan, members of radical group .

WND reports:

Sen. Barack Obama employed and continues to employ senior staffers who belong to the Nation of Islam, and the presidential candidate has some “worrying” ties to the controversial group headed by Louis Farrakhan, a former key Obama insider told WND.

The former insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed particular concern that Obama employed at least two Nation members in his early days as a state senator, when his office was staffed by only a handful of workers.

“When you’re a state senator, you have little money given to you to hire staff. It is ironic that two of Obama’s employees in those days were known Nation of Islam activists when Obama employed perhaps a total of maybe three or four staffers,” said the former insider.

The former insider confirmed Obama is directly aware of the Nation of Islam members on his staff.

Obama was elected to the Illinois state Senate in 1996, serving the 13th district, which then spanned Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods, including areas in which Farrakhan was considered to be highly influential.

They weren't Tea Party members. They weren't Episcopalian girls from Greenwich Conn. They were the kind of folk Barack Obama feels "comfortable" with.