In your experience, are political views a good judge of character?

[Hippo_Tron]

I used to think that they were, but I'm starting to discover that they are not in many instances.

At first, most of the Republicans I knew were stereotypical frat guys who love Bush and vote Republican. In general I don't have much respect for these type of people, although there are many exceptions, and stereotypes don't always apply.

I know many people now who are Republicans but are very nice people. Even some of the College Republicans I've met are very nice people who genuinely believe the Republican talking points like tax cuts for the rich are good for the middle class because of trickle-down economics. I'm always hoping that they will just grow out of it eventually.

The biggest shock was when I met someone liberal who I thought was a jerk. I always had sort of a subconscious assumption that in order to be liberal, you had to care about others and that sort of precluded you from being a jerk. But nope, I found someone who shares my political views but is not a nice person at all.

What has been your experience with this?

[ghostsofgiants]

1. Nope.

My roommate is one of the biggest douchebags I know, but he leans to the left.

[LSdemocrat]

2. No, I definitely learned the broader lesson not to judge people too quickly in college

That tall blonde religious Catholic Republican girl from Texas may be one of the most good hearted and compassionate people you will ever meet. The one I met now works for a non-profit group in north St. Louis.

[Omphaloskepsis]

3. One of my best friends is a Republican cop.

He has always helped out when I needed it. He is smart, articulate, well educated, and can drop you with only squeezing your nose and ear.. That hurts like hell.

The black and white shit is ridiculous. I'm a liberal and don't care for gun control. My friend is a Republican that wants universal health care. The all or nothing bullshit needs to stop. Opposing something liberal doesn't make you a bad liberal.


edit :: Could someone please send me the manual on all the things I have to believe to be a proper liberal. Someone must of stole my mail on the day it came.

[begin_within]

4. I have had examples of both extremes in my life...

One good friend I have known for 16 years is a NRA-type Republican, very right wing, almost racist sometimes. Yet he has been a very good friend to me, even though he knows I'm liberal - it's weird. I had another friend who was very liberal, but used me endlessly, and was borderline abusive to me - in fact I'm wrong to even call him a friend. These two are exceptions though. I have known plenty or Republican jerks and plenty of wonderful, nice Democrats. There are plenty of people who do fit the "expected" stereotypes. But I have also had plenty of neighbors and acquaintances who are Republicans, yet very polite and caring on a person-to-person basis, and plenty of friends and acquaintances who identify as Democrats or liberals who were insufferable bores or pains-in-the-asses. So I don't think the stereotypes can be applied universally. A person's innate personality can override their political beliefs.

[Mind_your_head]

5. Ultimately....yes

.

[chknltl]

6. No. Painting with a broad brush generally misses stuff...

I would say that a great many who support the Republican Party are just normal folks. I could likely hang with these people, have a beer with them and trust them to help out in a pinch. Their party affiliation has little to do with their character.

Conversely I could say the same things in favor of our fellow DUers: I could likely hang out with any of you, share a beer or two and yes, I know I could count on any of you in a pinch! Again, I do not believe that our party affiliation has anything to do with our character.

In the end, we are all Americans. Many of us strongly believe that our views represent what is really going on in America and if we could just have those who see things differently walk a mile in our shoes they would switch those views to parallel ours.

This thinking is a bit broad brushed so let me fill in one of the many spots I missed:

FREEPERS, Hanging out with one would almost be as fun as cleaning out a well stocked kitty litter box! I am not sure if buying them a beer would help either of us and is likely illegal. (Their parents might call the cops.) I am pretty sure I could count on one to pinch my behind thinking me a "Hot Chick" only to discover to both our horrors that I am neither hot nor female...just another old guy with a pony tail. I am not so sure that party affiliation is the root of their character issues, being dropped on the head at childbirth might be more relevant here.

In the end I am not sure that freepers qualify as Americans...perhaps modern science will discover that this is where those missing Homo Erectus Neanderthalus genes wound up and we can place them where they belong...in zoos. It is apparent to all that freeper views of reality are distorted by those drugs that were slipped to their parents when they themselves were mere teens and the effects have manifested in their freeper children. As to walking a mile in their shoes...well I'll just hang on to my sandals thank you.

I am not a mean hippie, so let me give them a toast: To the members of the Free Republic: "May you never suffer the indignity of having a Spell Check Function added to your forum"
c

[SKKY]

7. Not at all.

One of my very best friends in the world is a die-hard republican. Conversely, this guy I worked for a couple of years back, one of the biggest fuckheads I've ever met in my life, was a Clinton-loving die-hard Democrat.

[ForrestGump]

8. No, there're plenty of 'liberal' a**holes

Freepers and other extreme detritivores, sure, many of them are probably worthless human beings that represent a waste of DNA, but otherwise it's hard to draw lines,or it can be. I've encountered my share of absolute slimeballs on this very board, people who were not as far as I know, right-wing infiltrators.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. ---

tell me about it

[cobalt1999]

9. absolutely not.

Some of my republican friends would be the first ones to help out if they knew I needed it, no matter what, where, or when. Rock solid friends.

Sounds like someone is growing up and discovering the world isn't black and white. Good for you.

[NewJeffCT]

10. Nope

Assholiness doesn't really discriminate by political views.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. NO. i used to think so, recently i have found out that its not true

i know some good solid conservatives who are just ignorant about politics and havent maybe had the most exposure to the world.

and boy have i seen some asshole liberals.

[MedleyMisty]

13. Reading liberal political boards

cured me of any illusions I may have had about liberals in general not being jackholes.

Generalizations are generally stupid. :)

[Lyric]

14. Not necessarily, but

everyone's opinion of what constitutes a person of "bad character" is subjective. For many people, what matters most is how someone acts in day-to-day life. I don't agree. There are several social/political standpoints that I consider absolutely inexcusable, no matter how nice/polite/generous/caring someone is otherwise. I had a co-worker a few years back who appeared to be one of the nicest people ever, but if anyone mentioned Affirmative Action, she'd pontificate for ages on how black people "are scamming the system", white people are being discriminated against, and how science had "proved" that white people are naturally more intelligent, and therefore DESERVED a higher rate of college acceptance/better jobs/etc. The dissonance between her everyday personality and THAT was both eerie and nauseating.

So...IMHO...if someone falls under any of the following categories:

Racist
Sexist
Unsupportive of GLBT rights/equality
Pro Death Penalty
Anti-Choice
Anti-public assistance ("personality responsibility" parrots)

then no, I don't believe that any amount of "niceness" can redeem them. There are some things that civilized, compassionate people just DO NOT DO. I admire people who err on the side of compassion, empathy, justice, and mercy. I don't think I could bring myself to be more than passing acquaintances with someone who *doesn't*.

[unpossibles]

17. that's how I feel. Honestly I have a couple of really good friends who are right leaning

if not actual Republicans, and we get along great. Often, I think it's just that (from my perspective) believe in things I think are just propaganda, and they most likely feel the same way about me on other issues. For instance, a good friend of mine is a victim of the "liberal media" meme, which I find to be completely false. He also tends to be a bit spoiled and unrealistic/hypocritical about being self-sufficient. In other words, the right wing's mantras and "truisms" appeal to his mindset, yet he is unable to extrapolate that into society, or even recognize society's contributions to every success story.

I also know some real douchebag liberals.

I guess the way I try to look at it is, I tend to dislike extremists of most flavors, although I am obviously more tolerant of the ones I "align" with, even if I question their methods, motives, and sometimes information sources.

As for the freeper types (basically the list you made), I find that those traits, while not exclusive to, are more common in Republitarians than in Democrats, Greens, and other Leftists. Being a bigot just seems fits into the "conservative" mindset better for a variety of reasons. I think that people who tend to look backwards for inspiration instead of forward will often have out-dated and negative attitudes about women, race issues, gay people, etc.

Although I will admit that sometimes I too fall victim of stereotyping people, like when I make comments about "frat guys." I try not to do so, but it is a very human trait. The difference is that I try to be aware of my own prejudices and work on correcting myself on them.

[cobalt1999]

26. whoops, I'm not redeemable.

Darn death penalty. :cry: Oh well, I'll be as nice as I can anyway. :)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. Not even close. (nt)

[SteppingRazor]

16. Not necessarily...

I've met some very nice Republicans — hell, I've met some evangelical rightwingers who actually take Jesus' words seriously and are extraordinarily kind. At the same time, I've met some liberals who are unrepentant assholes — extremely arrogant, elitist, annoyingly P.C., and what have you. Personality and politics seem to be more or less unrelated in my experience.

[LostinVA]

18. Sometimes yes, sometimes -- my future FIL is a Republican and a good man

He's on the right side of the important social issues, is against the invasion of Iraq, treats his stepkids as good as his biological kids, and has totally and completely welcomed me into the family as a future DIL. He's one of those Jersey tax Republicans, and I'm sure we'd butt heads on a few other things, too, but he's a very good guy.

[guitar man]

19. no

I have a co-worker, my former boss, who is a Christian Conservative Republican. Every time I need help, this guy is there. I bought a 5th wheel travel trailer about a month ago and needed the 5th wheel hitch installed in my truck. He owns an auto repair shop on the side, so I took the truck down there and he worked until 2am on a weeknight installing the hitch and would not take a dime from me for doing it.

That is just one example of many of this man's kindness, there seems to be no end to it.

On the other hand, I am a liberal Democrat and a first rate asshole! :)

[RedCappedBandit]

20. Probably not

at the same time, thinking of the people I know currently.. I could probably go with a 'yes' :shrug:

[SoxFan]

21. Absolutely not!

I know most of the players in NH politics, and I guarantee you that there are despicable, scum-sucking bottom feeders on both sides of the aisle.

On the other side of the coin, when you are able to keep partisanship from blinding you, it's possible to be pleasantly surprised. When I served in the legislature, some of my favorite post-session drinking buds were foam-at-the-mouth conservatives and some were crunchy Boomer liberals.

[SPKrazy]

22. Just one aspect of character

and it depends on their overall views on humanity

some people have been brainwashed to think that liberals want to give everything away and never make anyone work. The republicans that I've met and got along with were usually a) republicans based on a single issue like abortion but liberal on many other issues; or b) republicans that were primarily fiscally conservative but socially more liberal;

The freeper types, boo, no way no how.

The radical fundy types that want christian dominion boo, no way no how.

Liberals that I don't like, elitists who look down on people who have liberal views but aren't 100% pure and natural. You know what I mean? To be a liberal you don't have to drive a hybrid; or only eat free range chicken; or be a vegan; those are personal choices about lifestyle. I also don't think that everyone can afford the "lifestyle" that some "pure" liberals might advocate.

I don't like anyone who looks down on others regardless of political view.

I do not tolerate gay bashers period. If someone is a gay basher in any way shape or form, I can't get along with them on that issue alone.

I don't agree with anti abortion, but if someone truly is believing that based on their spiritual beliefs, then I can't fault them for that--i can fault them if they want to make it illegal :eyes:

:shrug:

[stuntcat]

23. of course there are lib/dem a'holes.. but

there are things about Repubs I can't get around- anti-environmentalism, little thought of things past their own conspicuous consumption, religion in politics-as if God doesn't care about the millions starving every day and the health of the planet.. it's something twisted and evil I can't get past :puke:

[davsand]

24. Political leanings have NOTHING to do with character.

I know WAY too many Dems (and other progressives) who have a complete lack of character, not to mention a very real case of illegitimate moral superiority. By the same token, I know quite a few Republicans that I disagree with politically but respect a great deal as human beings.

I learned the hard way that political affiliation has nothing to do with who somebody really is, when I watched people I had worked to elect--people with whom I thought I shared values--while they protected an abuser of women. I watched those people opt to protect a "Democrat" rather than protect his female employees and co-workers. When I was out on a picket line about this issue, it wasn't the "Democrats" on that line with me. It was local Labor, and it was a mix of Dems, Republicans, and Independents. It was my union family--not the Democrats.

I was on that line with the rank and file from any number of local unions ranging from AFSCME to Laborers, Carpenters and Painters. I am OPEIU, but there were several other union members there in support. Two other women stood up with me, one was also a union person (AFSCME) and the other is ex-military and non-union. We all understood what was at stake, but the local Dems (some of them anyhow) did not.

Those same "Democrats" have deemed me somehow not a "good enough" Democrat because I dared to speak up in public about the abuse and mistreatment of female workers in his office. I have been lied to, lied about and painted as some kind of "problem child" because I refused to blindly accept that abuse in my workplace. I stood up, and I have paid dearly for that within the party. I'll say that I have had quite a few Dems who have given me support both publicly and privately. It isn't the entire local party that is bad--only a select few.

The local GOP has done what they can to help me--in spite of the fact that they know full well that I am a Dem, (and a pretty liberal Dem at that!) While they realize I will never switch parties, they also realize that my local party has gone to a place that I can't accept. As one of the local Republican leaders put it, "You are a woman without a country, and you have suffered enough."

It was a bitter lesson and not one I will forget any time soon.

So, yeah, to answer your question, I know some self professed "liberal Democrats" who are not worth the gum off the bottom of my shoe. I also know some Republicans who are straight up folks that I disagree with on politics but I respect a lot.

YMMV.


Laura

[Joe Fields]

25. I think people in general are poor judges of character.

[Crabby Appleton]

27. nope nt

[Orangepeel]

28. there is some correlation with values, open-mindedness, ignorance...

there are many, many examples of nice conservatives (nice, at least, to their own friends) and many, many, many examples of asshole liberals.

Personally, I like to hang around with people that I think are open minded, tolerant, interested in other people and cultures, curious about new things... such people are more likely to be liberal.

[Connonym]

29. that's the way I look at it too

I hate to make generalizations but I know that I personally would have a problem identifying myself as part of a group that has a policy of belittling women, degrading homosexuality, believes in creationism,etc. Not all republicans ARE that way but it's the official party line and I can't see why an open-minded person would want to be part of that.

My general rule of thumb is that I won't date republicans simply because it's an efficient way to weed out bigots. Not to say some liberals aren't bigots. I'm way too outspoken for most conservative men anyway.