Is it smart to judge people based on political affiliation?

[quinnox]

For instance, if you hear someone is a republican do you automatically think they are dumb or stupid, or an evil person?

My best friend happens to be a republican, although he is not much of a political junkie and really isn't all that interested in politics. But another friend is a very smart republican and I respect his opinions.

[midwest_lurker]

1. it takes all kinds

yet often judgment is involuntary

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. My neighbor is a registered Republican though he votes...

Democratic because he says that the modern Republican party is a sham controlled by religious fanatics and it's still his party! He asked, why should I be forced to change party affiliation because of some wackos???

He's basically a Northeastern Republican which means he's a Dem!

[aldian159]

10. that's the exact same thing Zell said on Meet the Press

n/t

[Forkboy]

3. I think it's foolish to judge any person on just one aspect

there are obviously cases where one aspect is enough.I can't imagine chumming around with Fred Phelps,for instance.But in the case of most people there's a lot of factors to consider,being a republican or whatever is just one of them.Though being a republican does make me wonder about the overall mindset :)

[quinnox]

5. I agree

People are more than their party, and there are intelligent republicans. I know this because I have a friend who is one!

[amlouden]

11. i wouldn't

you know fred phelp's politics and you know he's an idiot, but you wouldn't know what joe blow's real politics are if he just tells you he's a republican

[LastKnight]

4. never jump to conclusions

pretty much everyone around me in a given day is a republican, granted its only the far right that really pisses me off, but even 'moderate' repubs kinda get offended when you bash the far right. alot of my friends are right wingers of every kind, and still cool people, so as much as id like to generalize and paint them dumb, evil, or stupid, i cant.

in some cases if people start injecting polotics into conversations where they dont belong, thier usuially an extreame of the parties... and around here anyway, thier usuially republicans, and those are the ones you gotta look twice at before judging them either way, and take everything they say with a grain of salt.

-LK

[elperromagico]

6. Not necessarily

The name "Republican" covers a lot of territory the same as "Democrat" covers a lot of territory. You can find gay Republicans, pro-choice Republicans, pro-gun control Republicans, pro-welfare Republicans the same as you can find homophobic Democrats, pro-life Democrats, anti-gun control Democrats, and anti-welfare Democrats.

A lot of people pick up their political "beliefs" from their parents; they register with a political party because their parents did. But quite frequently, their real beliefs don't match their chosen party's platform at all.

I know plenty of good people who are Republicans, and I know a few rats who are Democrats *looks in the direction of the senior senator from Georgia*.

[quinnox]

8. You are right

Very good post.

[Mz Pip]

7. No

Most of my family are Republicans. Their are wonderful people. They vote Repug out of habit I think. My cousin and I have much the same values. She calls herself a conservative (NOT fundie Christian) Republican. I call myself a liberal Democrat. Go figure.

MzPip
:dem:

[Stephanie]

9. I absolutely judge people by their politics

Anyone who starts spouting republican talking points, quoting Limbaugh, espousing "I got mine, let the poor eat cake" ideas, is no friend of mine. Values matter. I can't trust someone like that.

[Walt Starr]

12. When I find out a person is a Republican

that automatically disqualifies that person from being anything more than an acquaintance.

I cannot be friends with a Republican.

[confusionisnext]

13. I would never think 100% of Republicans are dumb and evil.

90% maybe, but not 100%. I try to stay away from them to keep my blood pressure in check, so I have no Repube friends. And my dad, well, we're not willing to disown each other just yet. probably because I owe him a lot of money for college and all that.

[bowens43]

14. As someone once said

"Not all republicans are stupid but most stupid people are republicans"

[BadFaith]

27. John Stuart Mill

British political philosopher of the mid-19th century and author of "On Liberty", "Utilitarianism", and "The Subjugation of Women", among other influential essays and treatises. As MP of Westminister he was an advocate for labor and suffrage for women.

The exact quote: "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."

[WindRavenX]

15. I have a lot of Republican friends

I usually avoid discussing politics with them.
Then again, being in Boston, whenever I ask "Sooo, how bout dem Sox?" I usually get screamed at :)

[jiacinto]

16. I don't pick my friends based on political affiliation

I just avoid that discussion with them.

[madrchsod]

17. hows this for a interesting take...

thru a round about way i found out my state rep ,who is a republican, told our mayor that he was a democrat but to get elected he have to be a republican. interesting. the guy has done some favors for my family and done alot for his area. he`s not a neocon by any stretch- he actually believes in a balanced budget-so i guess he`s a liberal republican. hell there`s alot of democrats that vote for him here.

[mrgorth]

18. No, many are misled.(nt)

.

[robsul82]

19. I know some good Repubs...

...my dad, for one, a few of my buddies. They're good people. A little TAD misguided, but eh. lol

Later.

RJS

[xJlM]

20. There's a certain level of trust

People I know who are democrats usually share my values and principles. Not to say always, but I can even accept those who think differently about issues because of our underlying values which ARE shared. On the other hand, I'm pretty firmly against making common folks pay for a big tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, and I think religion has no place in my government. Right there are two repug principles I do not budge on. War is another thing some folks seem to want, and i have problems with even democrats who are in favor of killing people. If you want to be Ignored by me, rant and rave in favor of a war.

[snoochie]

21. NO

I know people who grew up in a Republican family, so it's like religion. They never thought about anything else, it's more like a tradition than something rationally thought out.

Once some of them got older they switched, though, which is cool. And I know one friend who even turned a parent Dem. :7

[david_vincent]

22. I completely understand those who feel that they can't be friends

with a Republican. But it's also true that someone's professed party affiliation doesn't necessarily mean that they vote that way. Example: I have a friend who's a Republican, but he voted for Nader! Inexplicable, but true. No doubt he had his reasons. The important thing is that I can talk politics with him; he knows a lot of history and we can discuss things and maintain our respect for each other.
But I feel the same way about dittoheads and others of that ilk: they're not going to change their minds based on anything I say to them, and they're getting off on their little rocket ride of hate, so I just can't be bothered giving them the time of day.

[curse10]

23. I don't have any republican friends

probably because I'm so politcal. I just don't move in circles where I would run into many. Even at school, even though I know they are there, it's not like I'm going to join the Federalist Society.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. Five categories

The stupid and/or unreflective, the ones who believe everything that they hear on TV or radio talk shows

The evil and/or callous, who are in it only for their own enrichment

The naive, who vote Republican just because it's a family tradition. My stepfather was in that category until my mother educated him, having herself once been a member of the fourth category:

Single-issue voters. My mom is half Latvian, and during the 1950s, she blamed the Democrats for not rescuing the Baltic states from the Soviets, so she voted Republican. But the Vietnam War eventually wised her up.

People who aren't really Republicans but just haven't bothered to change their registration.

[PassingFair]

25. Errggg!

I go back and forth on this one. My general feelings are that someone with strong Repug sentiments is either 1) Uninformed 2)Selfish/Evil or; 3) Voting on a single issue (I.e. anti-abortion/faith-base fiascos, etc.)

Other times I just think they're dense folk who like to be part of what they perceive as the "in crowd".

Guess they run the gamut.

[Nikia]

26. Depends what you mean by judge

I don't make a decision to exclude someone from being my friend, even a close friend, because they are Republican. I try to avoid talking about things we disagree on to the point that it would make either one of us upset. People have their reasons for political affiliation and no matter what you say, they will believe as they do, wrong as they may be.
That said, I like most other people cannot help but judge people on their opinions and values. I might think less of someone who believes that the poor should starve because it is the poor's fault that they are poor just as I might think less of someone who leaves a perfectly good spouse for someone with a lot of money who has swept them off their feet.

[nemo137]

28. no.

i have teachers i respect very highly and like very much who are ardent republicans.

[fujiyama]

29. To be honest...

I avoid political discussions with most people until I find out what their views are by chance. Perhaps it's also the case that somewhat I'm non-confrontational. It's difficult, because I'm very interested in politics, but I'm able to do it.

So, is it possible some of my friends are repukes? Yes. Some might lean to the right of me on certain issues (one of my buddies is Catholic, and is a bit uncofortable with abortion and homosexuality). Though, he still dislikes Bush, opposed the war, etc...so either way I still consider him a moderate.

I have one friend that's an evangelical Baptist, but politics is simply something I avoid with him. He's still intelligent, compassionate, and an all around decent person, though he's still a right wing nut (but he's not vocal about it, and he's tolerant enough of my non belief to not mention it)...

I'll say one thing though. It would be tough to be friends with someone that believes Bush is "doing a good job", atleast one that is vocal about it. Those are values quite different from me. It'd be tough for me not to flip out at someone constantly praising Bush.

[leftofthedial]

30. I used to think it didn't matter

but increasingly I find political choices to be highly indicative of a person's intelligence, knowledge and values.

[dreissig]

31. Republicans are Stupid

A friend told me he voted for Bush. What a dumb thing to tell me, because I thought he was smarter than that. I lost a lot of respect for him.