Politics and your love life

[RunInRed 19,650]

Meghan McCain posted an interesting blog about how her involvement in the recent campaign and with politics in general has made it hard for her to date. She describes how her dating life now “seem(s) to be on life support. Of all the things people warned would happen post-election, no one ever said anything about how complicated dating would become. Especially if your dad loses the election. There are things that have been difficult, but nothing quite as tough as dating. I fear the election has destroyed my ability and desire to date. Now, I cannot say at any point in my life that I have been very good at dating. But I have become something I used to despise: people who let politics dictate his or her attraction to someone."

And her estrangement from her love life does not appear to have a political bent. She continues saying she is "turned off" both by supporters of President Obama and her father's backers. "Recently, over dinner, a guy started explaining his reasons for supporting President Obama during the election (I didn’t ask, I think the poor guy felt guilty) and I immediately found any attraction I had previously had dissipate," she wrote. "But same thing happens if a guy starts talking about all the reasons why my father should be president. I have the ultimate Catch-22 in post-election dating.” I find this whole issue rather thought provoking.

Obviously, none of us share her experiences but personally, I have always had a different perspective: women who could talk and hold their own in a current events/political discussion were always a plus in my mind, not a turn off. Call it the “intellectual conversation” factor if you will. And just like on this board, I do not mind rational and well-thought out opposing points of view. In fact, I usually relish the good debate that follows. What’s the fun in always talking with some one who agrees with every thing you are saying? It certainly does nothing to strengthen and make you think about your own positions. Now this does not mean I could ever be with some one with a mind like Ann Coulter but a woman with right-of-center thoughts would not make me run the other way either.

Anyways, this all struck a curious cord with me and I wonder if most people share my views or Meghan’s views? Do you want the person you go on a date with/the person you are dating/your spouse to be fluent in political discussion? Or does it all fall into the “never discuss” politics/religion/sex infamous black hole? If your answer is yes, would you want to be with some one who does not share your own views? In football terms, could you be happy in a house divided?

[OldNewby 27]

Do you want the person you go on a date with/the person you are dating/your spouse to be fluent in political discussion? Yes.

If your answer is yes, would you want to be with some one who does not share your own views? No.

James Carville and Mary Matalin come to mind. I don't know how they do it. And I sure would not like to be hearing 36 to zilch for a year, and Got 12 forever.

[autigeremt 7,545]

My thoughts exactly!

[au2004ece 30]

I consider so many of the liberal ideas so illogical that it would be tough to be with somebody that truly believes most of them.

However, the girl I'm dating now did vote for Obama. I get to tease her about that all the time.

But, she hasn't espoused many liberal views yet.

[AUTiger1 0]

But I have become something I used to despise: people who let politics dictate his or her attraction to someone."

I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. Now I am not saying that I don't think Kirsten Powers is hot, b/c I do. Could I see having a relationship with someone that I disagree with that much of the time? Nope. Even if it falls into that “never discuss” politics/religion/sex infamous black hole", as you put it, I will still know in the back of my mind what they are all about. There would be situations that it would be hard to avoid discussion and I think that would make it "unhealthy"

I have lost and made many a friendships over politics. That is usually how I form an opinion on someone. What a man/woman believes politically, usually tells you a lot about the core of their beliefs. If I can't agree with what someone believes then there is not much a chance that there will be a friendship or relationship. Of course, this is just me and my opinion, but I think if you truly want to know someone, find out where they stand politically and you will see what they truly believe deep down. I personally don't believe there is much more to a person than their politics.

Anyways, this all struck a curious cord with me and I wonder if most people share my views or Meghan’s views? Do you want the person you go on a date with/the person you are dating/your spouse to be fluent in political discussion? Or does it all fall into the “never discuss” politics/religion/sex infamous black hole? If your answer is yes, would you want to be with some one who does not share your own views? In football terms, could you be happy in a house divided?

Yes, I like for my wife to watch the news with me, read articles and be fluent in political discussion.

Could I be with someone that does not share the same views as I? I don't think so, for the reason listed above. There will come a point where you either have to discuss something or just let it go and I don't think that is healthy at all. If you discuss it, will it lead to an argument and make you say something that you regret, will it cause issues? It very well could. If you let it go, is it healthy for your relationship to sit back and wonder what the other is thinking w/o discussing it?

If my wife were a bammer, I wouldn't have ever dated her in the first place.

To each their own I guess. I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer to those questions. All depends on the individual.

[Tigermike 4,251]

Am I the only one who finds it a little ironic that rr starts a thread titled "Politics and your love life"? Afterall Obama is screwing all of us. Just lay back and enjoy it. He doesn't even bother buying us all a or two.

And all of you need to remember you are not patriotic if you don’t want to pay higher taxes! It has been decreed by The One.