Both Parties Face Similar Problems

As readers of this blog might imagine, Tara and I often get asked how two political opposites make a marriage work--especially two politically-active opposites.

It's pretty simple. We both understand that the two of us have the same goals: to use the citizen-driven political process to create a higher quality of life in our country. We differ in how to accomplish this. For the most part, our differences are good-natured--and only two topics are "off limits" in our house (the Iraq war and, ahem, Sarah Palin.)

In fact, this blog was created as a continuation of the lively and completely civil dialogue that takes place among our politically active friends. A majority of people involved in the political process are entirely good-natured about their differences.

As a couple involved in two different political parties, we often see the same concerns popping up in BOTH Democratic and Republican circles. Democrats are concerned about angry activists driving people away through a demand for political purity--and on the Republican side, here is Newt Gingrich talking third party.

Columnist Mark McKinnon also points out that good natured people who lean left or right seem to have no voice in a process that demands continual rage be exhibited by activists.

Folks, I don't have the energy, nor the will, to be outraged all the time. It's why I am not studying the Obamas' every move in Europe in order to scream "incompetence."

I understand the motivation behind this--we all have our favorite people that we feel were horribly mistreated by the other side--and we're willing to take an eye-for-an-eye.

My commitment to my principles is without question. But I share McKinnon's opinion that voters right now believe that an angry minority dominates politics.

I am not naive--I know that part of the political process means "firing up the base." But note: it's a PART of the process. Most of us don't want rage to be a requirement when we head to a local political event.

Update: Mitt Romney steps up and says it is okay to agree with the President from time to time.