Would you end a friendship with someone who planned to vote third party?

[apples and oranges]

I know people discuss ending friendships with republicans, but what do you think about ending friendships with people who aren't in touch with what's going on and think they are somehow pure/noble by voting third party?

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. Politics is just about the last thing I base a friendship on.

And it IS the last thing I use to decide on ending one.

[krawhitham]

24. Not in my world

1st thing

[cherokeeprogressive]

30. That's fine...

I'm lucky in a way lots of people aren't. My social circle outside of work consists of people I've known since elementary school, jr high, and high school. It includes their husbands/wives/children. We camp together, travel together, barbeque together, and at ALL of our drunkfests, we talk about old times/good times/remember when so and so did this or that kind of stuff. Politics? Get that shit out of here... I loved you then, and I love you now. C'mere and gimme a hug. Who Wants A Shot!!??

At 51 years old, not many people can say that. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world... ESPECIALLY a vote.

As far as the big picture goes, I can remember when people said Reagan's election would be the end of Roe v Wade. Then it was Bush I, then it was Bush II. Funny, out of all the time there has been a "conservative" Supreme Court, Roe v Wade still stands.

God forbid the worst case scenario happens; this, too, shall pass. Love your friends. Keep them close.

Subjective friendship isn't friendship at all. It sure isn't how I want to live MY life...

[Ilsa]

2. I don't think I would end the friendship.

I'm more likely to end a friendship over them voting Republican than third party.

I have a struggling friendship right now. She thinks Obama is bad for her pocketbook, bad for her privacy, and bad for her gun rights.

I think the GOP will kill my disabled son when our money and insurance are gone and they've turned off Medicaid and SSI.

[apples and oranges]

7. I see a third party vote as a vote for Romney

and I hate Romney. So it's really hard not to let that spill over into my friendship.

I hope things work out with your friend but she seems to be worried about things that are not happening; on the other hand, the GOP has promised to repeal the ACA.

[Camballo]

3. I wouldn't unless

Last edited Thu Oct 25, 2012, 12:24 AM - Edit history (1)

You live in a battleground state; then maybe. Ha! Just kidding, but no. Can't you just mention GW and snap them out if it?

[brewens]

4. My third party story. I had a friend who was convinced to vote for Nader. I know the guy/s that

talked him into it too. Then he tells me about his voting adventure. I would never admit to being this stupid. He gets his ballot and goes in the booth and sees Nader isn't on there. Then he turns to the volunteers at the polling place and loudly says, "hey! How come Nader isn't on here?"

Of course he wasn't on the ballot in Idaho as in many other states. In fact that was the main focus of his campaign. You could not possibly have paid any attention at all to Nader, seen him on tv or read any news stories about him that year, and not known that! What a feakin' tool! He is the kind of person I can go along with discouraging to vote. If you can't bother to become the least bit educated, sit it out.

[apples and oranges]

12. That's hilarious!

I agree.

[immoderate]

5. I don't end friendships unless people don't want to be friendly.

I have a small number of friends that vote Republican. We argue. But they have been kind to me personnally and I prize that friendship.

I have a couple of neighbors that are also Republican, Fox news and everything. We don't talk about politics. They don't handle it well. But they are nice people.

In short, treat me nice -- I treat you nice.

On edit: I have some friends who don't want to vote for Obama of Romney. I have expressed my differences -- but it's not worth a friendship.

--imm

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Of course not.

I have many friends here who will be voting third party because Romney is almost guaranteed a win in Alaska. I don't agree with them, but I understand where they're coming from. They are all opposed to drones, NDAA, etc.

[stklurker]

8. not over politics

Not over politics.. its is their given right to vote however they wish, hopefully they would engage in a rational discourse where you could make your case..

[Selatius]

9. I don't base friendships on how they vote; however, my answer is a bit more complex.

If you're living in a swing state like Virginia or Ohio, I'd tell you point blank that you have no room to vote for a third party if the goal is to prevent George W. Bush version 2 from assuming office.

If, however, you're living in a safe state like Massachusetts or Hawaii or even Mississippi, you have plenty of wiggle room to vote for a third party.

The rules governing winner-take-all in the Electoral College essentially wastes the votes of minority groups in states that are dominated by Republicans or Democrats. Unless the state is split along razor-thin margins between Republicans and Democrats, voting for a third party won't affect where the state's electoral votes go, unless you're in Maine or Nebraska.

[Zorra]

10. No, not if they are progessives.

They have reasons that I understand for voting third party even if I believe the act of voting Third Party is dangerous. What they would vote for would be things that I agree with, even though I recognize voting Third Party is a total exercise in futility.

Republicans are conservatives who want to legislate as much evil as they possibly can.

There are huge moral, ethical, ideological, and integrity chasms between Third Party progressives and republicans.

[cui bono]

37. I'm curious, what is that pic on the right of your sig? What are you against there?

Cuz if it's a pit bull then I would end my friendship with you if we had one.

Is it something I should know about? The other two are clearly about the GOP...

[Zorra]

42. Look closely, and, please, don't forget what it looks like.

It's the very same dog that caused republicans to gain the most seats in the House of Representatives since 1938, in the last midterm elections.

As you can see, the dog is one very sick puppy ~ it is cyanotic. If you see it running in your neighborhood, do not be tempted to bring it home, and call animal control immediately. These dogs will definitely bite, and their bites can cause severe long lasting infections.

If you need a good dog, there are many healthy rescue dogs available for adoption in the large blue tent. You'll know the rescue dogs by their yellow color ~ the breed is actually known as yellowdog, and they are revered around the planet for their many admirable attributes, and foremost among these attributes are loyalty and intelligence.

[cui bono]

50. Ah... I see. :) n/t

[sadbear]

53. They can vote any way they want...

as long as they don't try to get other likely Obama voters to change their minds.

[liberal_at_heart]

11. hell no

People have gotten too self rightous. The reason the republican party has become detached from reality is because they only associate with people who think like they do. If we do that then we will become just as detached from reality as they are. It's not even practical to expect a group of people to agree on every subject. It's just not possible. We are not programmed robots. We are human beings with brains and thoughts and opinions.

[cui bono]

38. I have to disagree with what you say about progressives becoming just as detached from reality

as the current GOP. Seriously, those people are guided by superstition and bigotry. That is not what guides the progressive base. No way the same thing would happen. Plus, a progressive trait is live and let live and also to work together for the good of all, but the GOP wants everyone to live as they want them to and could give a crap about what is good for the community, they are short sighted and live in their little "moral" bubble and can't see the consequences of their actions.

[virgogal]

13. One of my best friends is a life long Republican. She would

do anything for me,and I for her.

There really are lots of things to discuss besides politics.

She knows how I feel,I know how she feels.

It doesn't matter.

[jorno67]

14. I encourage all republicans to vote 3rd party...

and admittedly I would be very disappointed in any Dem who bolted...

[dimbear]

21. They have an impressive lineup to choose from: Goode looks especially yummy.

Come on Rs, vote your real feelings! Don't throw away your vote on a RINO.

[Hoyt]

15. Depends on how right wing the 3rd party is.

[femmocrat]

16. I disowned my youngest child for voting for Nader in 2000!

Kidding... but he won't make that mistake again!

[AsahinaKimi]

17. I have a few friends on line...I have made packs with...

We have agreed to never ever talk Politics or Religion. One of my friends is very right wing, and ultra conservative, but she has the good sense to know our friendship is more important and so we have made it taboo to talk about those things. So far its worked out well..

[hack89]

18. No - real friendships transcend politics. nt

[quinnox]

19. not a chance

Instead, I would be very understandable about their position and respect their decision. Hell, I have a long time friend who I know will be voting for Romney, and it changes nothing as far as our friendship is concerned.

[Mikeystyle]

20. Give them the biggest dope slap they ever had

people who voted for Ralph Nader really voted for George W. Bush.

blah, blah blah.... that's not how they see it----so what? That's the reality

Third-party candidates claim to be about some issue or another. Naturally, I find it amusing when the third-party candidate draws support away from a Republican but the point is third-party has no chance

"oh, but only if more people would consider a third-party candidate.... if more people...."

---- except they won't, so it's dope slap time!

if Romney wins Roe v Wade and a woman's right to choose will be overturned. The wealthier will get a break and the rest of us will get screwed----that's the bottom line.

[CreekDog]

22. No, because I haven't ended friendships because people were Republicans

but I might encourage them to vote for Democrats or Obama, depending upon how I thought it would be received.

[krawhitham]

23. Yes, but I live in Ohio

[Le Taz Hot]

25. I hope my friendships are deeper

than passing judgement on someone based upon who they vote for. Life is short, good friends are hard to find and I see a person's vote as their business. I'd never throw people away that cavalierly.

[OriginalGeek]

26. I might be less inclined to

become friends with a known non-dem but I have a number of friends who either started out dem and changed over the years or we became friends before either of us knew each others' political leanings or neither of us was assholey enough to thwart the friendship in its early stages so no, I wouldn't end a friendship just for that.

In fact I find it helpful to have friendly insights into the mind of the opposition.

I'm a liberal atheist with liberal christian friends and tea-party atheist friends and a lot of combinations in between.

Heck, I know people who won't vote at all.

[fishwax]

27. No. (But I don't end friendships with people just because they're republicans, either.)

[Lucinda]

32. +1

[Posteritatis]

28. I try not to be quite that petty

If the third party's something truly crazy like the Constitution Party or one of the other actually-really-fascist parties, perhaps, but the sorts of people who vote for those aren't likely to become friends of mine in the first place.

[Nye Bevan]

29. No. And anyone who would end a friendship because of politics

has their priorities screwed up.

[liberal_at_heart]

31. two things you never discuss with people you truly care about

religion and politics. It sounds cliche but it is so true. I was destroying my relationship with my father by talking about religion. Our relationship is much better when we avoid that subject.

[ibegurpard]

33. No. I have very dear friends and family who are Republicans.

Including my mother who is on just about every crackpot teabagger mailing list out there.
Not much you can do if it's a relationship that you value.
I wouldn't date one though...that put an end to it right there.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

34. No. I consider my wife my friend. And, I admire her not being a "purist" Democrat.

[Marr]

35. Of course not. n/t

[dooner]

36. No, it's better to just argue with them

I understand where they (in my friends' cases - disappointed progressives) are coming from but they seem pretty out of touch with the reality of what it takes to be president of such a divided country.

Encouraging people to vote 3rd party, just to make a statement, even when their state is safely democratic, seems like a rather dumb and pretty dangerous idea to me.

[cherish44]

39. I stay friends with different political ideals for me...

I don't think all Republicans are bad people. Most of the people I "click" with as friends that vote GOP are at least moderates...a few are conservatives but they're not loonbat "Obama is the devil" types... I couldn't be friends with someone who had truly radical right views and wouldn't shut up about them though

[Iggo]

40. I only end friendships with people who are bad friends.

[Contrary1]

41. If I felt that way, I would be ending a marriage of almost 40 years...

In a word...No.

[eridani]

43. Depends what state they live in

In Washington State, certainly not. There is plenty to worry about down-ticket, but not in the matter of re-electing Obama.

[Art_from_Ark]

44. I voted 3rd party once

Back in 1980, I thought Anderson was more liberal than Carter, and I actually thought he had a chance. I do regret now not voting for Carter. However, even if all of the 10,000 or so Anderson voters in Arkansas had voted for Carter, he still wouldn't have come anywhere near to winning the state's 6 electoral votes.

In January of 1981, I made a friend from California. We had a lot in common. But one day I mentioned I had voted for Anderson, and I didn't think too much of Reagan. He went ballistic because he thought that Reagan was The Greatest, and he never talked to me after that.

[dems_rightnow]

45. If they were your friends only because of how they vote, why not?

If instead they had other qualities that made you consider them a friend, then no way.

[LWolf]

46. Of course not.

[Marrah_G]

47. I would think that a friend who would ditch me over my vote...

.. was never really a friend at all.

[Ganja Ninja]

48. No. n/t

[99Forever]

49. End a friendship because someone votes their conscience..

... and isn't willing to succumb to fear tactics?

Really?

Not in this lifetime.

[Sheepshank]

51. no

[backscatter712]

52. Maybe if they were voting for the Constitution Party... n/t

[bvar22]

54. Very few states are "in play" in 2012.

A Liberal who lives in one of the many safe states and chooses to vote for a 3rd Party Candidate for President with a platform to The Left of Obama's can do so without fear or guilt.
Down Ticket is another matter,
and I would caution them to be very careful.

In Battle Ground States, I would STRONGLY advise them to vote for The Democrat.
In these states, their actions can affect us ALL,
but I wouldn't end a friendship over it.

[cordelia]

55. For that reason alone? Nope.

[WilliamPitt]

56. No.

Here in Massachusetts, a third-party vote is a safe and entirely moral decision, especially since Obama is going to win by seven zillion points here.

People's votes are their own decision and their own business.

[LanternWaste]

57. For me and mine, judging a person's character

For me and mine, judging a person's character (all things being equal) on his political beliefs, his religion, his philosophies, his economic views or status, et al, is an absurd waste of my time.

I'd feel I'd done a great disservice to him, and an even greater disservice to myself if I ruled out a relationship solely on the basis of one of these wholly imaginary and divisive constructs which appear no where but our own imaginations. These constructs are, for many, many people, but a very small indicator of who we are are individuals.

I'd just as soon rule out a friendship because someone is a Muslim, a Pyrrhonian Skeptic, a Distributive Capitalist, or a Monarchist-- each one being but a part and parcel of the individual, rather than a label en toto.

[hiphopnation]

58. about the most shallow

base, craven, warped thing I can think of. WTF? You don't WANT to be friends with a person who would do something so vile.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

59. I know people who vote Libertarian.

I encourage their stance. They're wacky when it comes to politics, and are active in promoting their parties candidates. They say too many Tea Party people have sold out to the Republicans.

To be fair, they'd never vote for a Dem. So, I find their dissent to be a good thing.

My Dem friends are all pretty smart. They know what's at stake and won't waste a vote in a national election on a third party. However, we've all voted down ticket third party before when their wasn't a Dem running for the office. Which sadly happens here from time to time.

Since, I'm in Texas I don't think I'd kick one to the curb if they did vote third party in a national election. If I lived in a swing state we'd probably disagree so much over the issue, it would become an issue to our friendship.

[tblue37]

60. I can no longer hang out with people whose values seriously

contradict my own.

Ironically, a third-party voter might think he or she is voting values that are the same as mine, but in our winner-take-all 2-party system, a third-party vote is equivalent to a vote for the bad guys, and if the person cannot comprehend that, then he or she falls into a diiferent category of people I am no longer willing to share my time with: the hopelessly shallow and thoughtless who refuse to take into consideration the consequences if their actions!

[bvar22]

61. Help me out here.

As you stated, we have a "winner-take-all" system.
How is someone who votes their Liberal Conscience for President in a hopelessly RED state that even the Democratic Party has abandoned "equivalent to a vote for the bad guys" ?

I will agree that Down Ticket makes a difference,
but the President is selected by the Electoral Collage in a Winner-Take-All, State-by-State process.

So please explain it to me in easy, simple to understand words.

[tblue37]

62. A red state--I wouldn't care; a state that could go either way--I would care a great deal.

Notice that the OP didn't specify red state. In fact, in a for sure red state I would willingly vote third party to give Greens enough votes to legitimize them for ballot access and other perks that go along with reachign a certain percentage threshold.