Political Polarization: Obama vs. Hillary.

[fickle]

About two years ago, I ended up friends with greyhawk. It was a strange friendship, entered into a little warily because we're at opposite sides of the political spectrum on practically every issue. He's a small-c conservative and I'm a liberal, fairly far to the left but we managed to have a reasonable conversation about politics, and became lj-friends.

Why am I bringing it up now?

I've noticed that this election isn't affecting my circle of friends and myself by polarizing us against Republicans. Instead, we're being polarized against each other.

If you're for Obama, you're for Obama. Hook, line and sinker. You can't take any criticism of him, and you defend every mistake he makes.

If you're for Hillary, you're for Hillary. Hook, line and sinker. You can't take any criticism of her, and you defend every mistake she makes.

I have friends whom agree with me on pretty much every political point. We're all pro-choice, anti-death penalty, pro-gay marriage. But when it comes to the Obama versus Hillary split, it's shut-up-and-don't-talk-about-it.

I have friends who will toss me links to YouTube videos of Obama's ads, but shut me down if I bring up the fact that I support Hillary.

So my question is, how did this happen? When did it get to the point that it's easier to talk politics calmly with conservatives than with people who actually support my stances?

I'm not a fan of Obama because personally, I think his foreign policies suck. He tried to act tough when he said that he'd be willing to order strikes against Pakistan, and he's made no mention of working with the UN. That doesn't mean that I'm not pleased with his record on abortion rights, to take one example. It just means that I don't want to vote for him, and that I don't think he'd make a good President.

It doesn't mean that I'm incapable of having a calm, rational discussion about the candidates and their relative merits/flaws.

On The Issues is THE best source I know for researching the stances of the candidates on different issues. Go check it out.

Comments

[brownie-utonium.livejournal.com]

I'm for Obama, but I respect Hilary for a lot of reasons. All the same, I don't want her as President. That being said, I think an Obama/Hillary ticket could work quite nicely and satisfy everyone. =P

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

I think it's because people care more - are invested in some of the same issues.

Personally I'm still not sure who to vote for.

[cairnsy.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, I've always gotten far more of a 'shut and don't talk about it' attitude online from my 'non-conservative' friends than from my supposedly 'conservative' ones. Issues here aren't so black and white, for example I'm not seen as conservative in New Zealand because I'm anti-abortion *or* seen as liberal because I'm pro gay marriage, there just isn't such a distinct line. Your average New Zealander is easily a complete mix of beliefs that seem to pigeonhole people in the US especially as left or right. On my online journal, I can talk about my negative view on the Iraq war and have people disagree with it nice and calm manner, but the moment I mention my thoughts on abortion I’ve been told by friends I adore to ‘shut up and don’t talk about it’. Even worse, I’ve been told that I’m ‘allowed’ to have my opinion as long as I don’t try to in any way change laws to match it, protest publicly about it, or even SPEAK out publicly about it. I think there is this general belief that people who follow liberal political ideas are more open minded, but that’s simply not the case. Everyone is just as good or as bad as each other, regardless of their political stance.

[nevita.livejournal.com]

Obama seems more idealistic to me, with less of a plan. ;O But~~ Alas, I can't/couldn't vote for primaries, so I'll listen a little closer when the actual election rolls around. X:

... Besides, Hilary has this (http://hillarynutcracker.com/completelynuts.html). How can you lose with that~?

[kaough-daimaoh.livejournal.com]

I'm for Obama as well, but I know he's far from perfect. And really, if Hillary manages to get the election, I'll back her 100%. I agree such devision is pointless because in the end, I think we'll need to come together behind the Democratic candidate so we can boot the GOP out the White House.

It'll all die down eventually if it means anything. Whoever gets the Democratic ticket will be the one who'll kill this 8 year stink. And that's what matters.

[sorshawolf.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, whoever gets the presidency has a huge mess to clean up, not only with our troops overseas, but also with foreign policy, and domestic policy. Doesn't matter who it is, they're going to have to clean up the Dubya mess - and that may take years. Whoever gets it, I wouldn't want to be them.

[xindanobodie.livejournal.com]

Is it really that bad? I suppose considering "politics/issues" that's to happen, but wow. I don't really talk about it anywhere -- okay, not online. I've mentioned it to my mom -- and if Samantha asked... and while Dee was here he didn't -stop- having things on TV dealing with politics (okay, not that much, but close) and mentioned his opinion, but I really didn't share.

I'm one of those that just don't talk about it? ^^; Though, I think I've paid attention more to this one than I have to another in a while? Not sure... :X?

[the-willow.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

Y'know I showed you the video, not thinking of it as an ad, but as a really cool thing; hey someone made a speech into a song, and it's a cool song, it cheers me up - how cool is that.

And I don't want to talk about the whole 'plagiarism' thing because I don't like certain campaign tactics + it's something that personally irks me. Talk about foreign policy, inexperience, etc, etc, blah blah. But I did not want to get into it with a friend about something I knew jabbed right down on a button, and drew blood and hellfire.

I haven't talked much politics with any of my friends aside from my unashamed loathing of the current Administration and/or how it affects my personal status in the states.

I'm sorry if I'm the friend in question who left you feeling snubbed. Unfortunately this left me feeling a bit snubbed too.

Maybe, as someone else commented it is about 8 yrs of anger or apathy and suddenly people feel like there's a reason to care and a chance caring will be worthwhile.