I'm losing long time friends because of Hillary, is anyone else going through the same?

[evolvingsteve]

One by one, week after week, I've been losing friends that I've known for a long time due to Hillary and this drawn out political primary season. It's very sad to. Whenever I think or state out loud that I think she should drop out, it's not because I'm sexist or that I don't want a women to be president, but it's because I'm losing friends that are so caught up in this and support her so much that we are going are separate ways. I use to think that maybe this party would get their crap together and unite behind the likely nominee, but instead, I'm seeing first hand whats happening to Hillary supporters, they're turning their back on me and I'm doing the same(on a local level). They are so disillusioned by Hillary that they are ignoring the math or recreating it, they are ignoring the facts and blinding people with negative rhetoric, and they are throwing accusations of sexism from Obama supporters like myself that has ALWAYS believed in equal rights to all. They destroy the truth or don't care what the truth is, and then slap me in the face and our soldiers in Iraq by claiming they will vote McCain when Obama becomes the nominee. What started as a path of Change and Unity has turned into bitterness and resentment of their own party! My good friend Clinton (ironic that this is his name huh?), that I've known for years that has always been Democrat and has always been against Bush and his War, has become closed minded and likes to use Republican talking points like "patriotism being absent in Obama" and is very hurt that his wishes 3 or 4 years ago about Hillary becoming President have all but vanished. He thought just like me that it would be handed to her on a silver plate, and then Obama comes along and messes with his head because he hates to be wrong! He told me that Obama was a "bad man" because of his chart (he's a semi-pro in Astrology) and that he will vote for McCain in the GE....how did my friends that I've known for years and that have always been logical with politics and so against this War in Iraq, turn to this way of thinking and just abandon the Democratic party?? Why would such a smart guy go as far to say and compare a vote to Obama is like voting for Hitler if he were his party's nominee??? People, ones that are even close to me, are losing their God Damn minds!!! I could go off about a few other friends but this friend is their mascot because he has bewildered me the most and can represent all of the friends that I don't talk to anymore because of their way of thinking. I met some great new friends but it's so sad that I've lost a good chunk of the friends I've known for years, all because of this election season and their convictions. I'm a very optimistic guy, but I had to write my first Journal about this because this has been eating at me for weeks now and I'm very hurt right now over this. I care about our country so much and it's so sad that this passion is getting in the way of me and my good friends. It's not fair and I can only pray that I can at least gain half of my good friends back with better judgment coming from their side in the future. I'm 9 times out of 10 usually a positive happy guy, but right now, I'm very sad....and to see the Hillary supporters that want to vote McCain all over the Internet only reminds me of how personally the same is happening with the ones I've cared about so much. I pray that by the time the GE ends, McCain won't be President and continue Bush's crap legacy after all the madness that has been going on. I'm not worried about the few Electoral votes that would come from Idaho, but I don't want this to spill over to key states that we as Democrats need to win this November. This poison needs to be remedied soon or we're screwed!
Come on my fellow DU friends, cheer me up and let's put our heads together regarding my concerns, and maybe then this country in my head can get just what the doctor ordered, and that's true Unity (and hopefully gaining my friends back logically and respectfully)thank you.

[dubeskin]

1. Yes, my parents

There's been a growing divide between us, me an Obama supporter, originally Edwards, and them ardent Hillary supporters. But in a way, it's become like if family members were Republican in an election season. I guarantee that if Hillary drops out, emotions will start to cool down, and in the end, I think a lot of the "OMG I won't vote for that TALL BLACK MAN" will start to disappear. Sure, I'm sure a lot of people will still stay home or vote McCain or another party, but after the convention, before which Hillary will have dropped out, the party will begin to unify.

I have faith in this wonderful party that has managed to bring about equality for all genders and races in voting and still continues to lead the fight for the working citizen and those who are less fortunate.

[roguevalley]

113. they will come around, most of them. Obama is historic too and he

is a good man and will bring them in when he crosses swords with McCain. they will get it.

[CatnHat]

119. Nope

Many of Hillary supporters have been democrats for many years know the ups and downs of primaries. This one was so exceptionally demeaning; my own mother who is 80 and a democrat all her life, is changing to independent, as many of my friends and family. That's a real fact--I thought my Mom and Dad would never change parties, but they are.

[leftynyc]

129. My 70 year old mom did the same

She's officially "unaffiliated". Never thought I'd see the day.

[roguevalley]

133. that is sad. its almost like idolatry isn't it? I have a friend struggling

too but I think and hope she will get a grip.

[jasmine621]

128. I have lost long-time friends because of Obama. I am not a supporter.

They were the ones to break the friendships, not me. I refuse to be bullied into voting for anyone simply because he is black.

[madfloridian]

2. Yes, here in Florida we are very divided because of her.

Check out my journal at the red button. I have written a lot about it.

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. You could use some perspective

Seems to me, prior to Obama there was Hillary (she's been around for decaders, as you know,) and you still had friends, now that Obama's in the picture...well, you know. Why blame Hillary? She wasn't the problem before Obama came in the picture and she's not the problem now. You've changed since Obama showed up, and you could be friends again.

[Jim Sagle]

18. He could also use some paragraphs.

;)

[Name removed]

20. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DeschutesRiver]

102. deleted dupe

..

[DeschutesRiver]

103. There is never a problem with Hillary

until there is actual competition, and she feels threatened. Then she hits the conquer by dividing button. That's been true also for decades. The vast right wing conspiracy, the vast left wing conspiracy, the media conspiracy, like that.

It is the only way she knows to compete. Because her message becomes divisive, so do some of her supporters and conflict ensues. The Clinton WH ended up spending more time creating conflict than governing, which was a bad way to end what started out with promise.

[pinto]

4. No... I've friends that supported one and a number of our (D) candidates. Still friends.

Still (D). :kick:

[kwenu]

5. No. Almost all of my friends and drinking buddies are hardcore Obama.

[ErinBerin84]

6. I'm sorry that you're having a rough time.

I don't know any Hillary Clinton supporters (not sure if that's a reflection on myself, but many of these people voted for her in the Senate and have just become very disenchanted with her since then). I honestly thought that more people I knew would support her, so I was very careful when first bringing up the subject of the presidential primary (well, this is true only for the people who I do not normally discuss politics with), I didn't want to be called a traitor to my gender or something grating. But once the dialogue started, we had some of the same issues with her. However, my friends and I would all vote for the Democrat regardless (my family is a different story. They support Obama and don't want to vote if he is not the option).


And again, I'm sorry that you're having a rough time, but...I have to admit, I did laugh at that part about your friend Clinton who read Obama's chart, which tells him that Obama is "a bad man", and is voting for McCain because of it. Oh well, I guess the McCain "democrats" have to come from somewhere! I hope that you are eventually able to mend your ties with your friends despite this ridiculous political season.

[evolvingsteve]

28. straight from the heart

thank you. you made me smile.
:hug:

[Hobarticus]

7. It'll all work itself out....

Once the nom's in and the die is cast, Dems will come around. Passions have run deep and long this primary, it'll take some time to cool down.

[ruby slippers]

8. I lost friends (and family) because of Bush, so I can identify, but

fortunately for me, all my Bush friends/family are against Hillary so that has helped reunite us...but only until the General, I'm afraid, and then we go back at it.

Politics and religion....topics to be avoided at the dinner table and the email list....

[qijackie]

9. You might want to think about this quote from E. M. Forster.

"Given the choice between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I would have the courage to betray my country."

[IsItJustMe]

78. I am sure that is some profound shit, but it just goes over my head.

[ieoeja]

97. Your quote is a perfect summary of the Republican platform.

"Screw the people, we're going to take care of our wealthy friends and then claim that our loyalty to friends makes us morally superior to the Dems loyalty to country."

[candice]

10. When the next empty suit says he is a uniter not a divider, run FAST!

[democracy1st]

15. that was you on that youtube video wasn't it

[mod mom]

115. lol!!!!

:rofl:

[Beacool]

17. Good one!!!

For such a self proclaimed "uniter", he's doing a lousy job of it. We have never been so divided.

[melody]

23. Yeah, because Obama just refuses to bow to Hillary and let her win when she isn't

He should then fold when he's ahead and let her win because it's "her right"?

[truth please]

25. Well, you tell me how do you unite people that hate you

only because of your skin pigmentation? I would love for someone to answer that question for me. When it does not matter what you say, because all they can see when they look at you is black. How do you fix that? It makes me sick that people say "look at him, he can't even close the deal". For everyone out there that does not know what it feels like to be a black person in America. I can tell you it does not feel very good. When you hear and read the hate try to put yourself in our place. I know it's hard but try.

This election removed the scab off of a major problem in this country. I hear people saying Obama stirred up these racial problems. So I guess it is okay to hate black people as long as we stay in our place. So once again you tell me how Obama is going to unite people that want to be divided. Like I have said before, hate for black people trumps everything. Hillary's campaign reached down and got some real deep down racists that I think most people wanted to keep hidden. Now the whole world has been able to see that our own house is just as dirty as theirs.

I say that the good decent people will bridge the divide at least I hope so. Women want to see a woman President before they die. Well, I would like to see racism go away before I die.

[evolvingsteve]

30. and..

...I believe that first woman President might be Gov. Sebelius, hopefully...

[genna]

59. Truth please, I cope listening to these people who lie through their teeth daily

How do you fix that? It makes me sick that people say "look at him, he can't even close the deal". For everyone out there that does not know what it feels like to be a black person in America. I can tell you it does not feel very good. When you hear and read the hate try to put yourself in our place. I know it's hard but try.

Truth please, I cope listening to these people who lie through their teeth daily that some of them just don't get it. Some people are willing ignorant. Other people are ignorant by design.

THIS BROUGHT ME HERE TO READ YOUR POST. I was just listening to Mika Brezinski say that Obama was blaming the media for having to leave his church when he knew the pastors were crazy. When he left because the media blamed him for Father Phleger talking about white privilege. They don't deal with the substance of the charge, they just say that people like that are crazy, hate-filled, hate mongers who are sowing seeds of discord and racial divide AND need to be separated out of good folk culture that is America.

so your question as I understand is how do you cope? how do you fix the willful ignorance? how does Obama bridge this divide caused by willful ignorance and subtle race hatred?


I think as an individual black person who is subject to a backlash as a result of Obama stepping out of his place and reaching for something that more white people than not were willing to give him in the Democratic party (that is loaded statement in and of itself), DARE TO HOPE FOR BETTER TREATMENT. I haven't gotten into the back and forth exchanges with other people on this political subject lately, but I would suggest you stand if you done all else that you can do.

Frederick Douglas told us to forever agitate and demand better treatment. You could listen to him and follow his life's example. I think Barack Obama with his mild disposition is doing just that. I think his daring to stand and put his name in for the presidency is an act of standing up. I don't think most black politicians have dared to hope that the actual office was possible in these here United States.


You can also dare to challenge the indignities visited us by those people who say racist things. This strategy is one I think MLK employed when he stood up and dared to protest our civil/human freedoms being taken away. He spoke out and said something about the way things were. He talked about being indignant by all of it.


I like the quote that says I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I too am sick and tired. I am sick and tired of being quiet when the racial resentment of whites is understood by the media concerning Ferraro, but their own Father Phleger is hung around Obama's neck. Ferraro's views would never be attributed to Hillary because Ferraro is her own woman. They offer her a platform on Fox and in the newspaper to air her views as far as wide as their audience goes. However, Father Phleger's comments must be explained and recompensed by BHO not Phleger. "Shame on you, Barack Obama" for knowing a man who would say these things much less believe them. You have to tell us why?


I would say you can try to make other people understand, by relying on their compassion. Some might actually listen to you. I THINK the better strategy is to win, to agitate, and to challenge these presumptive views.


I know you hurt and want other people understand that they are hurting you. One way to do that is to make them listen by winning and by showing up in venues where you can be heard.


As far as Obama, I think he must deal with racial discord on his own terms. Tavis Smiley's advice to him early in his presidential bid was right, put the issue on the table. I would not go into the standard bag either: 400 years, the middle passage, Jim Crow, separate social lives, and the outrage and indignity of never being enough. I also would not do another race speech when he explains black lives in a majority setting either.

Instead if I was Obama's advisor, I'd tell him to put it on the table by acknowledging its presence in everything he does. I would not run from it and say hey, these racists individuals will never vote for the black man because they hate blacks so much anyway. NOPE. Our country has transformed itself in my Grandmother's lifetime. It might have been because a new generation was born, but I think it is because the people hated were humanized and not separated out as other.


Obama needs to show up and be heard. It makes him human and it also means that those who hate him for the color of skin have something in common with him. It isn't enough for those people to love and embrace him, but it makes them closer. What pulls us apart as a human race has to be overcome by making be closer together. Some of the fear leaves us then. When he shows up in these mostly white areas, he is exotic and they find he might not be so bad.


When he shows up in the most diverse places, he finds that the turf wars which have grown up around black people trying to have access to government resources, domiciles, and businesses---Obama is going to have to fight through people standing up and saying what I have is mine and I ain't giving it away. He will work it out. DO I think that means he will gain their votes? Maybe not, but it might help them accept him should he actually become President of these here United States. When he wins, he still will have to govern people who hate him because of his race.

THIS IS JUST my opinion for whatever it is worth.

[polmaven]

64. I, for one,

am extremely offended at the implication being made time and time again that, because I support Hillary, that is enough of a reason to decide that I am a racist!

Understand this...Hillary is NOT a racist, President Clinton is NOT a racist.......I am NOT a racist simply because Barack Obama is not my first choice. I am not supporting Hillary only because she is a woman, nor am I supporting her because Barack Obama is black and she is not.

There is hardly a single thread in this forum that does not accuse other DUers of being racists. You will not do anyone any good in the General Election campaign if you are constantly accusing people of racism.

I don't think that the Senator himself has "stirred up these racial problems", but some of his supporters most certainly have stoked the fire with so many false accusations.

[beachmom]

74. Yes, a few bad apples spoil the whole barrel, unfortunately.

Racist comments have been made by people supporting Hillary. You cannot deny that. But of course, that does not mean that the majority of Hillary supporters are bigoted. Most Obama supporters know that.

[IsItJustMe]

81. I have no idea what the hell Hillary is? I have watched her in utter amazement, and I mean that in ...

bad way.

[Beacool]

91. Yep, that's the meme.

If you are a Hillary supporter then you MUST be uneducated, a bigot and a racist to boot!! Why else wouldn't you see his greatness???

I saw a great sign this Saturday in DC:

Educated, black, affluent and a Hillary supporter. The sign was being carried by this classy looking AA lady.

[EmilyAnne]

122. That Obama is not your first choice is totally understandable and I don't see why anyone would think

that you are racist. When someone says that they won't vote for Obama when he is the nominee, but will instead vote for John McCain???? That sets off a lot of alarms.

[polmaven]

123. The point is that

I have been CALLED a racist, as part of the "group", and individually, here and - believe it or not- at a meeting of my local Democratic committee, because I am supporting Senator Clinton, and because I think she has had every right to carry this nomination process to its conclusion.

Most of the Obama supporters are not sexists, either, but the absolute venom that is spewed here every day - all day, the BO people who go so far as to proclaim they will abandon him if he chooses Hillary as his VP, etc., etc, and so on also set off a lot of alarms to a woman of my age, who has gone through a whole lot of crap for having had the bad judgment to be born female, as well.

The discrimination in this campaign, and on this board and elsewhere is not one sided. It is simply more acceptable, apparently, to accuse people of racism than it is to point out sexism.

[EmilyAnne]

124. I'm sorry that you were called a racist. That's not right. I think this campaign is opening up a

lot of old wounds and people are speaking without first engaging their brains.

[Beacool]

69. There is some validity to your response,

but most people I have encountered in these many months of campaigning couldn't care less if he's black or purple. They have many other reasons why they don't like Obama. Here are some: his razor thin resume, his association with dubious characters (Rezko, Wright, et al.), the dismissive way that he has treated Hillary on occasion (the "likeable enough" comment, the she gets "periodically" upset, the "claws are coming out" and others), the race card and how it was played against the Clintons and a few more.

For example, Hillary's Bobby Kennedy's remarks may have been insensitive, but anybody with half a brain would have known what she meant. Obama's camp rushed to send the clip to the media, we all know what kind of vultures they are and they ran with it.

Yes, there may be some people who will never vote for Obama due to the color of his skin, but the vast majority who will not vote for him won't do it for plenty of other reasons. So, please don't make that mistake and assume that if he doesn't make it is all due to his race. It isn't......

[IsItJustMe]

80. Takes two to Tango. I am sure you are conveniently blinded to that reality though.

[EmilyAnne]

120. Calling for unity is not the same as proclaiming oneself a uniter. What the hell could Obama do to

unite some of these "Democrats?" Knock on each door, one by one, with a plate of fresh baked cookies?

Oh, I know. He could just drop out. He could spend the rest of his life watching every stupid thirty second blurb from the MSM that could be construed as sexist towards Hillary Clinton, then hold press conferences for each one denouncing and rejecting it.

You are divided because you choose to be. Period. You don't want to be a part of the Democratic party anymore? Fine. It happens. Don't blame anyone but yourself for your inability to care about the key principles of the Democrats.

[jonestonesusa]

126. Try 1968...

During that year George Wallace took 10% of the vote as a virtual Dixiecrat, LBJ did not run, RFK was assassinated (as Clinton keeps reminding us), and Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey were overwhelmed and could not win with principled campaigns.

In 2008, the Clintons did not take well to spirited opposition from Obama and have sought to drive up Obama's negatives when they realized how strongly his candidacy energized much of the party. Plenty of people were divided about Hillary Clinton long before Obama - it's revising history to say that Obama created these divisions. For black folks to reject Clinton is an even bigger story - the whole Democratic party is not yet at ease with that change in black voter preference.

Obama has to compete hard to win the GE - I'm proud to support him, but any real change has to come from all of us.

[VotesForWomen]

36. yep. O is just a dem version of W. nt

[mod mom]

116. bitter ain't sweet-is it?

[jonestonesusa]

131. So Obama's a copy of W, I guess he supported the Iraq War...

Oh, wait, that was Hillary Clinton.

[TahitiNut]

86. Yeah... that's what Harriett is doing. Uh-huh ...

:eyes:

[apocalypsehow]

109. Got your McCain bumper sticker on yet? n/t.

:eyes:

[EmilyAnne]

121. Yep, people should have run FAST from George W. Bush.

[patrice]

11. Once you have let them know whom you support, let them be. Listen. Do not argue.

Anything you do or say WILL be used against you.

This is going on in my family too, so far so good, we're still friends. We talk political issues, but not candidates.

[parasim]

12. Nope. I have only a few friends that support Hillary...

but we still get along just fine, despite our differences. But then again, we don't let politics get between our friendship. I've got Republican friends for McCain, family members for Ron Paul... Oh we get into arguments, but our friendships stay intact.

btw, paragraphs are your friend... honestly, I didn't even read your whole post, kept getting lost...

[evolvingsteve]

31. again.,..

my bad, I was just spewing out my frustration without having to look back. sorry that you couldn't read the whole thing, my fault, I apologize.

[bhikkhu]

13. In my corner of Oregon HRC has long been unpopular

and the sentiment on the day of her candidacy announcement was buoyant among her detractors - like loosing the rabbit to the greyhounds - while I was nothing but depressed. How many months of "the predictable" would I have to listen to?

On the other hand, nobody really likes McCain either, and between him and Obama minds seem to be open. I haven't lost any friends, but discussions are good and center around policies and issues, for once.

[evolvingsteve]

33. I feel you

it's just that I wish we could stick to the issues but instead I called to see how my friend was doing and his response was that Obama was a bad man, he talked about his Astrology chart, but didn't bring up anything policy related. In the past he wasn't like this but now the media has brainwashed him into thinking that pandering and low blows are the new way to debate...the call ended bad....I called him a traitor to vote McCain and that his mind needed to get out of the gutter. Might not be speaking with him anymore cause there was no getting through his wall of yelling, profanity, and intense emotions, and somehow I feel I won't ever be able to now....he's to far down the rabbit hole..
I'm such a strong supporter of Obama that all I have to do is speak and it not be politically related and somehow, all this crap gets brought up....shit is running deep for some people...

[psychmommy]

101. in my years on this earth i have learned

i can't change anyone but me. if ur family or friends don't agree on something u feel strongly about-let the issue go. let them know that the topic is off limits with you. i have learned to love people where they are, not where i want them to be. a month ago a friend remarked "i thought the election was over" i said "who won".
some friends are with you for a lifetime and some only for a season. remember where the friendship developed and what you had in comm-go back to there with them. if you can't then think about all of the good times and lessons learned and let the friend go.
but, i am nosy and want to know what obama's astrological chart says. haha.
accept people for who they are and not who you want them to be. continue to love them even if you have to do it at a distance.

[virtualobserver]

14. this race is bringing out the latent racism in a lot of people

I have a friend that I essentially separated from who was a lifelong democrat who declared that he believed that Obama had a secret "black" agenda.
He only began speaking that way after Obama took charge of the race.

[VotesForWomen]

37. right; anybody that doesn't support Obama is a racist. that's really good for the dem party.

it will work great in the GE too.

[shellgame26]

54. Gee, you're so angry

[Arugula Latte]

85. ... says the person who implies anybody that doesn't support Hillary is sexist.

What hypocrisy.

[TahitiNut]

88. No. They're obviously a Christian ...

... Harriett Christian, that is.




:eyes:

[PoliticalAmazon]

98. Put your feet together, darlin', we're running out ofr nails....

For crying out loud. This faux martyr bullshit grew old months ago.

It's clear who racists are: people who believe certain races do not deserve the same rights and are not as qualified as other races to hold certain jobs or positions (such as president of the United States).

Hillary pandered to the bigots, and they rewarded her by becoming proud when they publically stated that they would not vote for OBama because he is black.

Hillary cultivated that racism and made bigots feel proud of the fact that they are racists.

If you have a problem with the backlash from Americans who abhor turning back the clock on Civil Rights, then talk to Hillary Clinton about it.

[NorthernSpy]

76. often, the same people who think the shoulder-brush gesture is "misogyny"...

What they really mean is that they feel entitled to something more than equality -- a VERY large measure of deference, at the very least-- and if they don't get it, watch your back.

[Beacool]

16. No, I don't have any Obama friends.

:shrug:

[Kahuna]

51. I'll bet you don't. nt

[csorman]

75. Why am I not surprised? n/t

[stevenleser]

19. Yes, I've tried to avoid talking with them about the campaign, but when they smear Obama

in emails to several dozen people, I cant resist sticking up for Barack.

[rwheeler31]

21. This is very difficult,

what would you have us do?

[Imajika]

22. Wall of Text crits you for 9999....

paragraphs would help navigating this post....

Thanks.

[Zhade]

24. No. My friends are smart and decent enough not to support a proven liar like her.

NT!

[Lilith Velkor]

90. I bet they just kvell when he misspeaks

It's so cute that he believes in time travel! :crazy:

[Hoof Hearted]

26. Paragraphs are your friend. - dayyum

[rucky]

27. I don't really talk politics with my friends.

for this type of reason.

[Major Hogwash]

29. Not very many at all.

None that were long-time friends, anyway.

[Raine]

32. My BF is for Hillary, I'm for Obama

we're not talking politics till after the nomination is secured. THANK GOODNESS that will be in a couple of days! :-)

[goldcanyonaz]

34. My husband is a bigger Clinton supporter than me. Hard to believe, huh?

He talks about her to strangers at the gas station, grocery store, etc. He is a real jabber jaw, but he is my jabber jaw.

[VotesForWomen]

35. seems like everything was fine until Obama came along. maybe it's his fault, not hers. did you eve

ever think of that?

[elizm]

44. Everything was fine until Obama came along??? What does that mean?

That Obama spoiled her chances of being the annointed one? How ridiculous!

[screembloodymurder]

49. That's illogical.

Have a great day.

[Genevieve]

134. Oh my god!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Apollo11]

38. But not all of Hillary's supporters are crackheads, kamikazes and/or astrologists.

I would find it very hard to take your Clinton name-sharing buddy seriously on any issue after learning: "He told me that Obama was a "bad man" because of his chart (he's a semi-pro in Astrology)".

[FrenchieCat]

39. PluEaze........

A bit much, doncha think?

I mean....really.

[littlebit]

40. Seems kind of petty to lose friends over it.

I have a lot of friends who are republican. It doesn't mean I won't talk to them just because the like McCain. So why would it be any different for you and your friends? Is politics the only thing you talk about?

[Jen-MI]

94. Really...sounds really petty to me...

If this is really the case, you need to get over it! Are we in High School?

[lojasmo]

41. I know only a very few Clinton supporters.

One of them, I don't like anyway.

[csorman]

79. The ones I know are generally very, very angry

but a couple of them are starting to come around.

[Arkansas Granny]

42. If you are losing your friends because of discussions over politics, I would

start talking about the weather instead. Seriously, if your friends are important to you, stop talking politics with them.

[evolvingsteve]

106. well...

the problem is, I try to not talk at all about politics with close friends, if you read my post, it states that all I have to do is have this certain friend hear my voice and ask him how he is doing and then he somehow brings up how much of a bad person Obama is. Instead of staying on topic, politics are brought up. I told him several times that I don't talk about this and that I'm calling to see how he's doing but I just think he's hurt that Hillary is losing and he is extremely bitter that my voice reminds him of justifying why he supports her and how much he hates Obama.

[screembloodymurder]

43. People react irrationally to a percieved loss..

It's the same reason Bush supporters continue to support him despite his repeated failures. People hate to be proved wrong and will deny the obvious until all is lost. I have a friend who bought Ford at $14 and watched it go to $17, but didn't sell and it dropped to $12. He has held onto it for years as it has steadily declined. He simply can not bring himself to accept the loss. Ultimately, he may lose everything rather than admit he made a mistake.

[sufrommich]

45. Surely this is just some finely crafted satire,right?

It's getting harder and harder to tell around here.

[billyoc]

46. Tell them that Clinton could still win, and that you'll support the Democratic nominee

whoever it is. It doesn't matter now, why antagonize Clinton supporters at this late stage in the game?

Unless they're on DU. :evilgrin:

[JoFerret]

47. Obama divisive?

I think there's a number of ways to look at this phenomenon. And blaming Hillary for it is part of the problem so I suggest cutting that out immediately. friends are more important.
And I suggest laying low on politics for a while with the friends. If friends are running into rabid Obama folk anywhere it will remain a problem. Check back - gently - after the convention.

[barack the house]

48. Stay upbeat it's how we win.Wiser not to talk poltics with frinds really.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

50. Friends are rare, candidates are everywhere

Arguing about politics is great fun, but not worth ending a friendship over. Forgetting personalities, the difference between Clinton and Obama on issues is very small.

I'd probably even keep a friend if they were voting for McCain or Nader. They'd have to put up with a lot of razzing when their candidate goes down in flames, though
:rofl:

[Marrah_G]

52. If they were solid friendships then this would not be an issue

I have serious doubts about your post. If I am wrong and it is indeed true then you and your friend need to grow up a bit.

[evolvingsteve]

108. again..

I was venting in this post and I didn't want to talk poltics but he insisted on insulting me and Obama insted. I try to act grown up about all this by telling him to drop it even when he won't! I'm 25 years old and he's about 38 years old, and it would surpirse you what race we are, but I won't go there cause that doesn't matter...either way, I'm trying to be the adult while he's acting like the can't-be-wrong high schooler....

[Perry Logan]

53. "Even my Republican friends say they are stealing from her & are extremely concerned for our country

Interesting comment I saw.

[JackORoses]

125. Perry's Paradox: Hillary never loses, except when it is stolen from her.

Do you really believe that horseshit??

[dems_rightnow]

55. I cannot imagine letting politics interefere with friendships.

I have genuine disagreements with many of my friends, but it doesn't change the "friends" part.

Perhaps it didn't for you, as well? I confess to not reading that thing without any paragraph breaks.

[cornermouse]

56. Another beat up on Hillary and her supporters

disguised as concern threads. Whatever.

[flpoljunkie]

57. No Hillary Clinton supporters--a few Edwards supporters who have willing come around to Obama

[seaglass]

58. Maybe you should stop saying she should drop out.

Seriously, I have a lot of Republicans in my family and I DO NOT talk politics with any of them. My relationship with them is more important than spouting my political views.

[BooScout]

60. The way you 'talk' about your friends....

It's no wonder you are losing them. Your comments are judgemental and stereotypical as hell.

Here's a tip for you........don't discuss politics or religion with your friends and family and things will be a whole lot smoother.

[LWolf]

61. No.

First of all, I find both HRC and Obama to be equally unappealing, so I don't have a candidate to get agitated about.

Secondly, I don't value candidates that I do support more than my friends and family. I would never put politics before them.

[genna]

62. Not losing friends, but trying to convince my Mother that Hillary was not the right choice

I told her she was wrong about who we both thought HRC was when she dared to use a Republican strategy in the Democratic primary. We aren't Republicans.


For a while, I couldn't believe how angry she was because she thought the media had been so UNFAIR to HRC and BHO was getting a free ride. She kept saying, you know as well as I do that the media are piranhas, they are never going to give a black man a fair shake. She was convinced they made BHO their darling for a moment in time while they ignored his real record only to destroy him on the other side of the nomination.

I told her they just might do that because they don't report hard news anymore anyway. They lie until the lie is no longer operative. Giving that we could find points of agreement, I told her we would have to agree to disagree on our choice of candidates.

My mother voted for HRC.


After that, the kitchen strategy attack was employed and HRC lost my Mother's support because she could not believe how many lies she told and how much room the press gave her. Then she heard the racist stuff come from Hillary, Bill, and Geraldine and it was all over with my mother's shouting.

Now HRC can't do right regardless of her intent.


People vote their emotions. Sometimes their emotions lead them in dark places.


I agree with much of what is written here, don't pick the scab. Let the person grieve, rail, and rally. At some point, they will accept what the rest of us know to be true: BHO is the Democratic nominee for President and he is going to need ALL our help to overcome the bigots, the liars, and the ones who are swayed by fears in voting.

Your relationship will come back when your friend stops equating your support to BHO as betrayal and see that your friendship is not based in your politics.

[polmaven]

63. Could it POSSIBLY be considered

that you are losing long time friends because of YOU OWN attitude with your friends regarding Hillary?

I have friends that support Senator Obama, and we are able to talk very easily and very civily about this election. They don't constantly rag on her, and I don't rag on Barack.

Telling your friends that they are destroying or don't care about the truth, or that they are losing their God Damn minds!!!, or that they are "closed minded" because they don't think like you do, I can't say as I blame them for turning on you.

An that is probably NOT Hillary's fault...It's your own, or their's...but NOT Hillary's.

[evolvingsteve]

111. venting

that's all. I didn't actaully tell my close friends these things in this post, matter of fact, the friend I mention kept bringing up politics when I wanted to drop it, I called to see how he was doing, he responded by saying "Obama is a bad man" and I then tried dropping it more, not making any Hillary low blows, but yet he still egged me on! I then wrote the post to state what I feel right then and there, NOT what I had actually called him, cause I never called him any of those things.

[Vinca]

65. No. I don't know a soul who supports her. nt

[greguganus]

66. Must not of been true friends to begin with n/t

[Doityourself]

67. Haven't had the problem. Anyone that stops being my friend behind this primary wasn't a true friend

[Freddie Stubbs]

68. No, my friends and I are mature enough to have differing political opinions

[TexasObserver]

70. White people Hillary's age and older really are showing their racism over this.

Anyone who graduated high school before about 1966 simply has a hard time accepting a black president. It's obvious in the numbers. Obama isn't getting a third of the Democrats in that demographic. Clearly, there are many Democrats in that demo who do support Obama, but there are almost no Republicans over 60 who will vote for Obama.

This is deeply embedded, homegrown racism, and it really makes many old white people look like the racists many of them are.

[Liberal Gramma]

82. There's a kernel of truth in this

and that is that there are many Republicans both over and under age 60 who are racist. The Republican party capitalized on the civil rights acts in the 1960s by courting the racists, and their platform is consistently against people of color. The current uproar about immigration is racism in a patriotic dress.

[skooooo]

95. I'm starting to come to this conclusion too...

[sfam]

71. Losing friends? No, but certainly not able to talk politics with some...

And that's rather sad. Similar to my conservative friends, now I can't talk politics with some dems.

[ensho]

72. I don't believe you

nt

[H2O Man]

73. "

[crispini]

77. If you lose friends over this, you've got a communication problem.

You need to learn how to talk to people differently.

[jgraz]

83. I'd start by mixing in a little whitespace

Sheesh! My eyes!!

[evolvingsteve]

112. or

maybe some of them need to learn how to talk to me! again, I called to see how he was doing, not to get into a political boxing match...that's the main problem I'm trying to describe here, that I'm NOT trying to communicate with them under these terms, but yet I'm still egged on and name calling starts without me muttering one word that's negative or political.

[LanternWaste]

84. If I lost any friendships due to politics

If I lost any friendships due to politics, I'd put the blame solely at my own feet for that...

But then again, I'm a pretty laid-back guy; heck-- I even have friends who've voted for the GOP since 1984. To me, it's as silly as losing or denying friendships over religion.

I've seen supporters of both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama vow to vote for the GOP if their nominee doesn't win the candidacy-- I attribute it to an over-supply of hot air, mis-placed passions, and self-validation.


As for cheering you up-- bear this in mind, regardless of which democratic nominee wins the candidacy, we're sitting in the White House next January and giving it back to the people!!!

::

[otohara]

87. When Hillary Starts Campaigning for Obama

although I doubt she'll do much - she and Bill will be saying all democrats must rally round Obama - by golly if they can do it, your friends can come around too. (or not) - but most will.

There will be a very public turn-around of top Clinton supporters throwing their voices to Obama.

I lost friends due to Bush. I keep dreaming that one in particular will call me up and say she fucked up by voting for him twice - realistically I doubt that will ever happen.

[my3boyz]

89. Nope. I don't talk abt politics with friends but my family and I started out thinking Hillary was

okay. My FIL planned to vote for Hillary. My mom was unsure. I always knew I would choose Obama (he really moved me during the key note address in 2004). Anyway, now all of us are firmly in the Obama camp and absolutely can't stand Hillary.

[depakid]

92. Yep- blame your loss of friends on Hillary

Hell, people blame her for everything else around here.

[Skip Intro]

93. Now Hillary is destroying families and friends. What next?

:eyes:

[stillcool]

96. Not I...

but then that's probably why they're my friends.

[Heather MC]

99. All my friends are smart enough to bet on the winning Horse

I am kidding,
I submit to you that if people allow the political process to effect your friendship, then they were never really your friends.

But I am sure once this silly season ends, you will be able to mend fences.
If you want. You can only control you, so if after this is over they do come to you to apologize just except it and allow the friendships to be repaired.

blessings to you

[evolvingsteve]

114. !

thank you so much, that's what I'm looking for here....love your positive attitude and advise. I might have just been venting, but I'm usually the one trying to mend things on DU with Hillary supporters and Obama supporters.....guess some of them can't show the same respect back, they get too emotional over my venting (wasn't trying to offend, just vent).
I stick up for Hillary supporters that have a brain and don't give low blows and I'm a strong Obama supporter.
I just wanted advise, I didn't want my first flawed post to be used as a racist or sexist debate, and this isn't a covert post to just piss people off either!

but again, thank you! your advise is warm and kind and smart and isn't an excuse to land a cheap shot politically.

[Heather MC]

118. This is the big deal "of the day"

but it will pass.

I am praying Hillary will come out strong for Obama, as she said she would that would help the party
and maybe help your friends see Obama in a different light

I hope I helped :hi:

[jesus_of_suburbia]

100. I just don't talk about politics with friends and family who get hostile.

It makes life easier.

We can talk about issues, but we just don't talk about candidates if it's going to anger us.

[Shae]

104. Sometimes it's probably better

to refrain from talking politics or religion to sensitive people who aren't of like mind--especially if you know you want that relationship to continue after the elections have come and gone.
When my mom and my sister moved from Edwards to Clinton, and I decided to support Obama, I thought it would be best in the long run if we stopped talking about Presidential politics for a while.
That has worked well, for the most part. When my did mom gleefully bring up Carville's "judas" remark about Richardson, but without making a big deal of it, I told her that I didn't think it was such a good thing. I wouldn't think of saying to my mom that I think it's time for Hillary to drop out. She will know it in due time, and she has been saying for a few weeks now, that it looks like Obama will be the nominee.

This has been a very long primary season, and the feelings for both candidates are strong. Be sensitive to the feelings of your friends, and let the primary play itself out. They may come around to your way of thinking sooner or later.

[Deep13]

105. The fact you are blaming it on HC should be a clue to you. nt

[Hepburn]

107. No.

All my closet pals hate her just like I do...and all are voting for Obama.

Thank, gawd! But I can see where it could be real tough when there are close friends and family who are still supporting Hillary.

[Traction311]

110. No, none at all

I have friends for Hillary (like myself), and friends who support Obama, McLame, Bob Barr, and even friends who aren't voting. We are all open-minded, and would never lose a friendship over a different opinion.

[LisaM]

117. I have lost a friend, but in my opinion it's because of Obama, not Hillary.

His supporters can be a real turnoff.

[Scout]

127. oh for gods sake

if you are losing friends over politics, that is YOUR fault, not that of the candidate.

grow up

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

130. It reminds me so much of when I campaigned for Kerry in FL in 2004

I saw families divided: husbands against wives, brothers and sisters, and so on...

If anything, it should prove that Hillary is a polarizing and divisive figure. The very mention of her name causes ambivalence. For me, up until now, I liked her as a person and admired her tenacity and eloquence. I also thought she rocked during the debates. At the same time, I loathed her primarily because of her record. It was never about gender or race for me because Kucinich was my first choice and Edwards my second. Obama was distant third or fourth, depending on which way I leaned at the moment between Biden and Richardson.

I just feel that Hillary's high negatives have never gone down. She entered the race with high negatives. Though people saw her as quite capable, smart and qualified, they simply just don't like her. She will very likely leave this race with high negatives. Problem is, her divisive tactics and campaign dirty tricks has hurt Obama as well and we have also witnessed his negatives increase.

She's simply too polarizing and represents the greatest gift to the Republicans, who are struggling themselves with a lackluster candidate.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

132. Guinness needs a close look at this paragraph.