I'm no longer a Republican myself, but I know plenty who are, and most are decent, if gullible and easily misled, people.

Please explain how one can agree with Republicans and still be a decent person

If they are gullible and easily misled, then that doesn't mean they're decent...it means they will tow the party line and look the other way!

A decent person will do the right thing...can you say the same about those you know?

that they are exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to disagree with you and do what they believe to be right, according to their experiences and upbringing. It would be a very dull country if we all thought alike.

But were these people "decent?"

In other words, does acting on one's beliefs make all actions okay?

Decent people vote against their own self interest.....

I have a hard time with so many decent people totally fucking the world economy up...

Decent is just not the right word, no way around it.

inattentive) people.

But if you strongly believe that poor or sick people don't deserve help; that theocratic authoritarianism is just great; and that some people's right to get as rich as possible trumps lots of people's right to survive - then either you're a very nasty person, or you've been brainwashed by some very nasty people.

ETA: I don't think this of every Republican that ever was: such people as Earl Warren, John Paul Stevens, Betty Ford, Lowell Weicker, and even Lincoln Chafee, and their supporters, were basically decent people IMO. But the current Republican Party is just ugh, and unfortunately I find that it's having some influence on some politicians and media people in 'the Fifty-First State'.

LB,

Most in-the-trenches common Republicans I know really think they're doing the right and moral thing. They think reducing taxes, regulations, etc is going to help the country as a whole. They think that private charity is more effective/moral than public aid. And they're absolutely frightened to death of basically anything foreign. Until you've grown up in the kind of political vacuum that is the rural American south or midwest (I grew up in a town of 4500 people with a dozen churches), you wouldn't believe how inculcated with the ideology most of them are by the time they reach voting age.

However, I certainly think that those politicians and journalists, who exploit such people for their own purposes, are very nasty people! I suppose that's what I meant by 'brainwashed by nasty people'.

It means they're stupid!

a man or woman who works hard, provides for his or her family, loves his or her spouse, raises his or her children to be moral and upright, pays his or her taxes, never steals from anyone, but disagrees with you politically, is not worthy of respect, or even the slightest bit of understanding? If so, you despise every member of my immediate family. I'm used to hearing idiots on the right call Democrats brain-damaged loons and evil communists, but I was hoping we might have a bit more tolerance on this side of the fence.

The man you describe treats his family decent but he will turn his back on others , but he would support the torturing of other people, decent people simply don't hold those views

is absolutely spurious. Furthermore, what of the person who gives heavily to private charity, but is opposed to public transfers on a philosophical basis? I assure you they exist; I was raised by one.

If a person can hold the same views as a Republican senator and still be a decent person then you should be able to name a decent Republican in the Senate

I'm waiting...

I'll ask again

If a person holds the same views as a Republican senator and can still be decent then you should be able to point to a Republican senator who is decent

How can there not be one decent Republican senator but the people who vote for and support that Sen. are decent ?

You are now telling me a klansman that attends KKK meetings can be a decent person because he treats his family well

What a fucking joke

I was responding to the other person, the one who was saying that a rethug could be a decent person.

Yes, it's an extreme example, but I was curious to see if he would extend the same logic.

He would not be a decent person. No.

In any case, in this case I would use the term 'ignorant' rather than 'stupid'. These are not the same thing. Right-wingers like an ignorant populace, and often deliberately attempt to keep them so.

What I would say, however, is that if people in their personal relationships and everyday contacts are inclined to see weakness, disability or misfortune as a character flaw, or an 'excuse' for 'scrounging'; if they are constantly afraid that others may be getting help that they don't deserve; or if they generally take a harsh or snobbish approach to those who are 'unsuccessful', and especially if they think that such harshness will 'do them good' - then they are not very decent people. And there is some correlation, though far from a perfect correlation, between such attitudes and right-wing political views. There are certainly plenty of lifelong Tory/ Republican voters who are very compassionate toward people whom they know personally; and there are very harsh and mean-spirited left-wingers; indeed the most vicious person I've known personally to those in a weak position - regarded by some as a near-psychopath - was a generally left-wing voter. However, the political Right do attempt to appeal to the harsh, mean-spirited, and the plain greedy, in their attempts to win votes.

After moving to Arizona I made several Republican friends. Some are very close friends that have been there for me during difficult times and I've reciprocated. There really aren't many Dems where I live. I do say, however, that most of the Rs I know are fairly moderate.

I also have Christian friends.

If they are still calling themselves Republicans then they are not decent people

If they support the views of Republicans then they are not decent people simple as that

when, actually, your purpose is to enlighten us with the supreme truth ;

Do decent people support torture ?

Do decent people support wiretapping without warrants ?

Do decent people feel that atheists are not American citizens ?

Do decent people turn their backs on the needy while defending the rich ?

Do decent people support cutting firemen teachers and policeman jobs while handing the rich taxbreaks ?

Do decent people turn their backs on the unemployed ?

A sentiment that I actually agree with.

I know very decent GOPs who do not agree with where their Party is going, and they are working to take it back from the crazies.

I also know very decent Democrats who do not agree with where their Party is going, and they are working to take it back from the GOPers.

"I know very decent GOPs who do not agree with where their Party is going, and they are working to take it back from the crazies."

Oh the irony ...they voted for George Bush twice but now they're fighting to take back the party and you consider them decent people ?

They all didn't vote for Bush, or McCain. Abstaining from vote, third party vote, write-ins, or crossing Party lines -- it all happened.

you might as well say that every Democrat supports the bombing of small eastern European nations, or thinks military adventures to Somalia are a good idea, or believes that getting blow jobs from interns is a great way to spend a slow afternoon. After all, Bill Clinton did that, and people voted for him.

I would imagine that there are some on the right that have an equally broad brush to paint Democrats with. I prefer to be judged as an individual, just as I judge others. Then again, I don't reside in a bubble as I did in my youth.

... I live in Alabama - Conservative central - and many of my closest friends and business associates are pretty hard core conservatives. But most all of them are decent people. They love their country, and they love their families and communities. The problem is that a pretty good debate can be had on some aspects of the questions you raise:

They would not support torture, but they might draw the line in a different place than you would.

They might believe preventing crime justifies some intrusion into our privacy - again, its a matter of where you draw the line.

None of them want atheists to not be citizens, but they frame the issue as whether or not atheists are preventing them from worshiping as they choose. That may be an incorrect analysis, but its how they see it.

They don't turn their backs on the needy. Some of them are the most generous people I know, and not necessarily because they can afford to be. They just don't believe the government can efficiently help the poor - and you can legitimately debate whether our welfare system is efficient.

They are not singling out teachers and fireman. They support limiting government across the board. It may be short sighted, but its not immoral or indecent. As for tax breaks for the wealthy, I don't know a single one who supports that concept beyond the general belief that we should not "over tax" the business community to the point of stagnating growth and success. They believe in a balance, but again they draw the line in a different place.

And the unemployed? This is the best point you make. Most of them do believe that the system coddles people who are lazy if it goes too far. I agree that it is a wrongheaded approach, but they are invested in this one. These are southern conservatives - and they have been raised on the ideology of doing for yourself.

The mistake you are making is that you are associating ALL republicans with the political leaders of the party and the media personalities that serve them. Most of the conservatives I know think Limbaugh is a douche, Hannity is a Nazi, Beck is a loon, Santorum is a freak show and Palin is a circus clown. But they vote republican because they believe in most of the core principles of conservative thought. When I talk to them about it, it is readily apparent that they lean left on a lot of issues and sub-issues. Just my experience.

"None of them want atheists to not be citizens"

Bush Senior announced to the nation that he does not consider atheists to be American citizens nor patriots the entire Republican Party remained silent , not one voice in the party spoke up, nobody in the GOP anywhere said a thing it was a non-issue

When you claim that there are no Republicans that think atheists are not American citizens ....you couldn't be more wrong

Tell yourself what you have to but I am right and you are wrong I heard it straight from the mouth of the president of the United States of America

... and show me where you think I said:"there are no Republicans that think atheists are not American citizens." I don't think I made that statement. When someone takes comments out of context in order to support their position, I like to invest in the red flag market.

I was talking about the republicans I know - and it is a lot of them. I am confident they don't feel that way. They might fear for your soul, in accordance with their religious upbringing, but they are not looking to deport you.

For you to smugly state that you are right and I am wrong, when the topic is something I have first hand knowledge about (whereas you are basing your opinions on stereotypes, generalizations, preconceived biases and media images) is enough to satisfy me that you're not looking for a genuine discussion as much as a fight. I'll pass.

you're Republican friends in Alabama are in favor of socialism?

Your State depends on socialism for its very existence if they were to be against it then they could not be decent people

I would guess that you're Republican friends hate socialism even though it keeps their state afloat

These people that you've never met would not judge you based on that ridiculous comment. Instead, they would chuckle and chalk it up to bias.

They've been there for me. That, in my eyes, makes them decent people. I've seen them all perform selfless acts of kindness. I've seen some of them give up there last buck for one of our homeless people. I've watched them cry over the loss of friends. I've had long political discussions with them where they have surrendered their beliefs when faced with facts.

You can call me a liar all you want. I will defend my friends, Republican or not. I don't hang out with assholes, Democrat or not.

Socialism ?

It would seem they would have to since they are from a state that is subsidized by the government

The state of Arizona depends on socialism for its very existence and if you're Republican friends are against socialism then they cannot be decent people

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No room for gray issues in your world-view, methinks.
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I think you may have much more in common with Republicans than you may realize.
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"Simple as that"? Conservatives generally have that foundation.
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Ironic, eh?
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C'mon back down here with the rest of us.
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I question their judgment, not their moral character. It would be an ideology, to believe that so many people could be wrong, malicious, or wicked in their voting. I have a philosophical difference with Republicans, even the ones who ignorantly claim they have an ideological conflict with me.

Yes, we have our disagreements. No, we don't talk politics but there's still plenty of stuff, policy-wise, we do agree on. He works hard for a living. He stands up for what he thinks is right. He's willing to defend others. He absolutely spoils me.

He hates DU but when I felt like stepping away because of a deep disagreement I've had with some posters he told me if I love my beliefs enough I'll fight for them. So, I'm still here because of a conservative "imposing" his principles on me.

Really.

When pushed on specifics: Pollution, immigration, church and state, contraception, wars etc..they are left/liberal.

But they always vote Republican, and I cannot understand it. Maybe because 'liberal' has been dragged through the mud so much.

Thinking that the top marginal tax rate should be 3.6% lower than where Obama thinks it should be does not make someone evil.

I imagine it depends as much as how dogmatic and ideologically rigid the person doing the judgement is as it does on the civility and lack of vulgarity of the person being judged.

Which is a major reason I do not listen to hate radio-- the sweeping and all-inclusive conclusion made by them in regards to the left seems as absurd, as empty, and as passionate as when done by any ideologue.

I've know some really great people and some really nasty people. I've never been able to make much of a connection between their 'decency' and their politics. I worked in an office once where I was the only person who wasn't a conservative evangelical. We all got along great and I have nothing but respect for every single one my former co-workers there. I also lived in Appalachia for five years. I met quite a few liberal transplants there who looked upon the locals with nothing but contempt and scorn, viewing them as dirty, stupid, and beneath them.

To the extent I judge people, I do so on how they treat me and others in personal interactions. I don't bring political beliefs into it. That's not how I form my opinions of others. While I disagree with many conservative positions, most conservatives I've met have the same goals I do - to make this country a better place. They have very different ideas about how to do that, but we all draw our own conclusions based on observations of the world around us. I'm not willing to say somebody isn't 'decent' just because they have different opinions than I do.

Some of them have never really been presented with a liberal viewpoint from someone they trust. Others are single issue voters. In most cases, they really don't understand how the policy of the Republican party is against their best interests.

Take it seriously? Believe that corporations/the wealthy will be benevolent if we just give them more and more money and breaks? Believe in fairy tale bullshit like Horatio Alger? Think "Gubmint IS the Problem" (and when I say "gubmint" like a Reaganite, it's really bullhorn for "LIB'RULS!!!&quot ?

Then [font size="12"]NO![/font]

Laissez Fail Reaganomics is the Practice of Middle/Working/Poor Deterioration and Theft.

that the party claims to (still) stand for. Many of them are good people, but they've got rose-colored glasses on (or a blindfold).

There are differences between approaches of both major parties. Most want what is best for their fellow Americans. For republicans, they are what I think of as the Eisenhower type.

Many of these Eisenhower republicans are appalled at the hijacking of their party by the teahadist, batshit crazies.

Neither side has a lock on decency, or evil for that matter.

You have to ask yourself: does a fish see the water?

Today's conservatives live in a sea of misinformation.

Most of them don't know they're being manipulated to vote against their best interests (but my hunch is that more and more of them are beginning to realize).

If you could get every non-republican to agree with you (good luck with that), what would you suggest we do with our consensus?

Personally, I think it is indecent to push this opinion.

My father is a republican, my mother died a republican, my sister died a republican, my husband was a republican (I changed his mind after many years), my mother in law is a republican, my father in law is a republican. My best friend of 30 years is a republican. I could go on and on.

YES, they are decent. Misguided, gullible, even wrong, but decent.

Peace.

In my view, there is NO WAY that a person who holds views that the Republican Party holds can ever be a decent person.

but if you ask me if people are decent who are anti-immigrant, racist, sexist, homophobic then the answer changes