63 Comments - Belle - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:45 pm: I have a casual friend who is alarmingly for Trump. And, some siblings who are GOP. I refuse to ask them about Trump so I don’t know their actual status. I am generally a Dem (live in the City) but have voted GOP on occasion. - Cheryl44 - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:45 pm: I do have friends/relatives who vote Republican, but to the best of my knowledge they are either planning to vote for Mrs. Clinton or are leaving that part of the ballot blank. - Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:45 pm: I do. We used to argue a lot. Now we tolerate each other and avoid talking politics. - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:47 pm: Yes, I just sometimes have to keep my mouth closed so as not to antagonize them. Isn’t that our problem, the two sides are talking to one another? The HBO movie with Bryan Cranston as Lyndon Johnson shows how he was a master at getting stuff done in Congress–it also helped that that he had spent time in both houses and had been Senate Majority Leader. - Annonin' - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:50 pm: We have one who lives our house, but the person was for Cruz and does not willing to vote for Trump. Go figure - A guy - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:50 pm: I still have quite a few. I’m even willing to have a discussion with all of them, but not an argument. On FB, I’ve made it known their off color comments will be deleted immediately and if they persist, they’re unfriended. On one particular day, I was unfriending faster than Barton L with a short lunch period. Interestingly, it was a good exercise. They were mostly people I didn’t know, barely knew or knew someone I knew. It’s as if they culled themselves. - RNUG - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:51 pm: Do relative’s by marriage count as friends? They were at HRC’s convention and will be actively campaigning for her. I’ll be voting against her. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:52 pm: Voted “Yes” I have close friends that are Pro-Trump, many just be cause of the Supreme Court vacancy and they are adamant about being Pro-Trump. I have close friends that are Pro-Hillary since 2008 and you can’t get them off that Hillary Clinton is better than sliced bread and the butter that’s on it. As someone still pining and in recovery for supporting Gov. Kasich, both sides “deal” with my skepticism. Since we respect each other and keep it as a difference we have with the candidates, and not a difference we have between each other and our histories and friendships, it makes for some great discussions, and no resentment or anger towards each other. It’s one messed-up race, however… - L.A. - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:54 pm: I’m a firm Democrat. I have family that are staunchly GOP and we do not or try not to talk politics. I have acquaintances that are GOP and a political discussion usually ends in me thinking that there is a reason why they are casual acquaintances. I have no close friends who I disagree with politically. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:55 pm: I have Republican friends. They’ve all said that they’ll either vote for Clinton or not vote at all. Privately, maybe they adore Trump. But if they did — if they do — they won’t admit it. I suspect Trump will drop out soon and this won’t be an issue. I read a report on TPM about how Trump’s businesses are hurting — in a big, big way. I can’t imagine Trump would let this happen, if true. He’d give up the nomination in order to preserve his (now, at least) wacky brand. Whatever is left of it. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:56 pm: In normal years I have several friends on both sides. I have not talked to my last Trump supporter since the Khan debacle. That may have driven him over the edge. We have one set of neighbors who are completely for Trump. We keep those discussions low key. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:57 pm: — I’ll be voting against her. — How does this work? A write-in? - illinifan - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:57 pm: Neighbors who I socialize with. We try to avoid politics as much as possible. Every now and then it creeps in and then we agree to stop discussing just so we can remain friends. It is getting hard since I question their judgement and they probably question mine. - Whatever - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:59 pm: Yes. I have friends and family who will be voting each way, although not many are happy about their choices. My opinion of this election is that the headline should read, “Pew Research: Few Clinton or Trump Supporters Have Close Friends.” - 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:59 pm: I have a lot of Republican friends, including a couple of my best friends from home and a couple more from college. Most of them take great pleasure busting my chops every time a Democrat does something foolish, and they pretty much make me defend every single thing President Obama did (or didn’t) do. For the most part, none of them have said unequivocally that they will vote for Trump. Gary Johnson is likely to win a lot of their votes. And I think at least one or two of them won’t vote anyway. Even though I’ve been a professional Democrat most of my adult life, these friendships pre-date that, and while our debates are robust, they are always good-natured. It helps that I’m always right, and they know it, because I’m way more informed about this stuff than they are. But politics doesn’t come up much when we’re playing golf or fishing or just kicking back. Friendships are built over years and can withstand the ups and downs of politics. So I don’t mind friends who vote for Republicans. It’s the members of my family who vote for Republicans, some are even Trump fans, that drives me crazy. You can’t pick your family, and I know by now not to engage certain cousins on certain topics. We stick to sports and family stuff. It’s much safer and I want to stay on good terms with family members. You never know if you’ll need a new kidney someday, am I right? - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 1:59 pm: Yes, but a lot of my friends are idiots. - Chungas revenge - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:02 pm: I have a very large family. The half that are attorneys are definitely for Hillary. The other half, the doctors or engineers are all in for Trump. Both sides think they’re doing God’s work but both sides are basically just voting there pocket book - Not quite a majority - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:02 pm: Yes, as many here pointed out, I have family and friends in the ‘other camp’. We ‘agree to disagree’. I even have some friends in the ‘die hard’ bunch. Believe it or not, there are other things to talk about /s - Wensicia - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:03 pm: I don’t know of any friends supporting Trump, but quite a few of my relatives are supporting him or saying there’s no way they’ll vote for Hillary. - Saluki - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:04 pm: I will be voting for Trump. And I have many Democratic Friends. However, I would never tell them that I am voting for him. The shear insanity that occurs if you tell a democrat that you are voting for Trump is not worth enduring. I tried it once, and after about 20 seconds I had been called everything under the sun. I think there are many people out there who feel the same way. They won’t talk openly about voting for Trump, but they will be come November. - Bogey Golfer - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:07 pm: Yes I know one - my spouse. - Ray del Camino - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:09 pm: In normal years, I have friends in the “other camp.” But voting for Trump is disqualifying for me. The sheer stupidity of believing something like “I’m gonna bring back coal, believe me!” means, I think, that I have no close friends who are that clueless. - Boone's is Back - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:11 pm: Does family count? - A guy - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:12 pm: The Sunday dinner conversations have now been confined to discussing religion and sex. Just to keep the peace. - Ahoy! - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:16 pm: Do family members count? If so, yes. This election cycle is a little different on friends because of Trump. I can’t think of any friends who have said they are supporting or voting for Trump. Normally I have friends on both sides of the political aisle. - Anon - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:16 pm: I had a good friend that was a moderate. She valued either paycheck or prestige over dignity or ethics and shilled for the other party in spite of her personal views having little in common with their platform or how they govern. We’re not friends anymore because I called her on the B.S. too much. I have other friends that are Republican, but none that openly support Trump. The family members that I know are planning on voting for Trump consistently lie about it. “I’m not voting for Trump but I can’t vote for Hillary!” is like a new code word for voting for Trump. The people in my circle that are pro-Trump are not close friends and that’s probably because their political interests and mine don’t mesh so there’s a selection bias in our activities. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:18 pm: Discussions are rare because I have one activist relation who abdicated thinking for herself based upon the choices made by her union. The blatant double standards are incredible. Feminists fault Trump’s advice to his daughter about what to do in case of sexual harassment in the workplace, but don’t you dare ask the same question of Clinton’s daughter. Civil debate is no longer possible. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:23 pm: ===Feminists fault Trump’s advice to his daughter about what to do in case of sexual harassment in the workplace, but don’t you dare ask the same question of Clinton’s daughter.=== The same question would be directed to Hillary Clinton, not to her daughter. And I think Hillary’s position on sexual harassment is well-known and consists of more than suggesting the target of harassment can simply find another job. There are a lot of issues where Clinton’s record is clear and Trump doesn’t have a record. It’s not a double standard to ask him questions that she’s already answered. It’s called reporting. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:23 pm: It’s hard to live out in bumble and not have Trump supporters as friends. Oddly enough though, my closest friends and family members (with the exception of my crazy mother-in-law) are all Clinton supporters. - GlimmerGirl - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:23 pm: Yes, my spouse. I have no idea why he is a Trumpkin. He is college educated, largely a Democrat, AND has a disability… I just don’t get it. Me? Lifelong Dem who Blago drove to vote Republican every now and then. I now live in an open primary state and voted for, and donated to, John Kasich - not to be anti-Trump but because I really, really, like Kasich. To me he is the total package but not many others agreed. That said, I am like Oswego Willy, still pining for Kasich. To me he is the ideal candidate. I was impressed with the Johnson/Weld Town Hall meeting on CNN last night… but I will probably hold my nose and vote for HRC. My state will go Red, but at least I will cancel out hubby’s vote! What a mess! - @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:28 pm: Nope. My best pal was for Kasich and he thinks Trump is dangerous madman. His brother was for Cruz and he thinks Trump is a dangerous charlatan. Both truly hate Hillary Clinton — ABORTIONS!!1! — but both are sincerely praying Trump doesn’t become President of the United States. – MrJM - Amalia - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:29 pm: one of my closest friends from high school (male) and a female friend are not Clinton supporters. the guy is Trump, but not manic about it, he’s just a Republican with Clinton jokes. the woman Trump but very quiet about it. I think I actually get them more…they are Republican, they are just trying to strain through…..than I get the Berners. Super Trumpers and Berners are like the infected people in Braindead, an awesome show. I have loved a Republican in my life and most of the Republicans I know….including many in Ohio….are pretty reasonable, Susan Collins/Olypmia Snowe types. And they are Hillary Rodham Clinton all the way. one downstater linked Hillary to her Facebook page. the family of a former county party chair is doing lawn signs for HRC. Trump is simply toxic and they see that. - Downstater - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:29 pm: I don’t have a close friendship with anyone who is overly enthusiastic about either candidate. - blue dog dem - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:30 pm: voted yes. Here’s the irony. Most of my friends are either blue collar union steel workers or farm families. Steel workers are for Trump. Farmers leaning to Clinton. Go figure. - Keyser Soze - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:31 pm: I sense that the majority of voters are somewhere near the middle of the spectrum, either center left or center right. There is no reason for people in that pool to avoid talking to each other. On the other hand, who wants to speak with extremists on the polar left or right? - Jorge - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:40 pm: I can’t do it. As a Hispanic who descended from an illegal immigrant who is now a citizen, I cannot be friends with someone who supports Trump. It’s a matter of common decency. - Slugger O'Toole - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:40 pm: Yes. Many. Including a married couple each adamantly on opposite sides. Odd thing, though. All of the Trump (though they didn’t vote for Kasich in the primary) and at least half of the HRCs would support Gov. Kasich now if he were somehow re-introduced. #AlsoPining - Commander Norton - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:41 pm: I can think of a few acquaintances (and even extended family members) who support Trump, but I wouldn’t call my relationships with them “close.” I do have close friends and family who are die-hard, lifelong Republicans but this year are either voting for Clinton, voting Libertarian or undecided and in an agonizing moral quandary over the whole thing right now. - Dome Gnome - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:43 pm: Yes, because “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” - pundent - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:44 pm: It’s hard to say. I only know of a handful of true “supporters” on either side. These are individuals who are clearly for one candidate or another and want everyone to know who it is and why. I try to avoid those individuals because generally they’re very annoying and not particularly well-informed. Most people that I do know will vote for one or the other of the two lousy choices we have but prefer to keep their thoughts to themselves. - WHOM - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:44 pm: I have a number of close friends who are very conservative Republicans, and I am a left-leaning Democrat. We trade jabs once in awhile, but we keep our opinions sufficiently in check so that they do not undermine our friendships. However, at the end of the Republican convention, I sent an email to my conservative friends and said that for the rest of the election cycle, any time they sent me a pro Republican or pro Trump or anti Clinton email, I was not going to reply. But I wanted them to hear my voice in their head saying “Your party . . . nominated Donald Trump . . . to be President. . . of the United States of America.” - Matt Vernau - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:44 pm: Yes I have close friends who will vote for Hillary. I have asked them to “sell” her to me without leaving out any of her history. So far they are unwilling to try. You have to be involved in an active discussion of issues in order of define the middle at which you can compromise. This election year it seems that both parties are pandering to the extremes and ignoring the middle else we would not be talking about people like Hillary or Trump. - Nilwood - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:49 pm: I have yet to visit with any friends that will admit to planning to vote for either of them. - Because I said so.... - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 2:57 pm: I said yes but that means they are more anti Clinton rather than pro Trump. I have family and friends that regularly vote Republican and some only occasionally. I can honestly say that I have not yet had a conversation with any Republicans that are willing to say they will vote for Trump. But they do voice their strong displeasure with Hillary. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:01 pm: I am friends with tons of democrats. Rarely do the discussions get as heated as they do on this blog. Some people enjoy to hear the perspective of the other side. I know I do and I can change my opinion pretty quickly if their argument is logical. Others can’t handle anything that goes against their view and lash out with personal attacks instead of a defense of their position - HRC2016 - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:06 pm: I hate to admit it, but I’d say at least 60% of my union brothers will vote for Trump. - Ghost - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:15 pm: Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton are great friends, ironically give the question and data. - M_Six - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:17 pm: =I do. We used to argue a lot. Now we tolerate each other and avoid talking politics.= Same here. We have much in common and have been friends for 30+ years, but politics and guns are two things we don’t see eye-to-eye on. - Diogenes in DuPage - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:22 pm: I’m a Rockefeller Republican who has never voted a straight ticket (though have moved more Democrat in recent years.) I have a good number of Trump-supporting friends and family. They are less rabid than the typical Trumpster (really “Never Hillary” than “Always Trump”.) While my high school-educated nephews are strongly moved by Trump, my 60+-year old college educated friends favor Trump because they distrust Clinton(s) so strongly. I don’t understand their views at all, but I’m a good listener and don’t throw facts in their face. - HRC2016 - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:23 pm: I am still friends with them, although I do think they are just uninformed FOX watching fools. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:28 pm: @47th: Hillary dismissed the harassment charges against Bill as a vast right wing conspiracy. She has zero credibility on this topic. - Decatur gal - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:36 pm: I’m from Decatur so of course I know a lot of people who are pro trump. Also have a bro in law who is, and he thought Carly Fiorina was really swell! - ORT - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:38 pm: Until this election, I’ve always been able to agree to disagree with friends who have different political beliefs about the role of govt. , taxes etc. We’re a pluralistic society. But this year presents a different challenge. I cannot overlook or dismiss Trump’s bigotry, which seems to be a feature, not a bug. So in the same way it would be hard for me to have a close friendship with someone who is a bigot, it is would be hard to be friends with someone who dismisses Trump’s bigotry as no big deal. - Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 3:50 pm: Whatever @1:59 “Pew Research: Few Clinton or Trump Supporters Have Close Friends.” Funny. Snort laugh here. No close friends of mine are ardent supporters of either candidate. But are leaning toward Clinton just because…Trump Have extended family members who support Trump because…..Hillary. May skip that box altogether. Hope the Re-districting amendment makes it to the ballot. - Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 4:02 pm: ==Others can’t handle anything that goes against their view and lash out with personal attacks instead of a defense of their position== Always the victim . . . To the post- I’ve got friends on the “other” side. It can be fun arguing about things. We don’t get nasty about any of it. Usually end up laughing at each other but this election cycle makes laughing easy sometimes. - Mama - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 4:07 pm: I have friends whom are highly educated voting for Trump and other friends with only a GED voting for Trump. Some are Right to Lifers and others are NRA nuts. Neither one of them are voting for him because they think he will make a good president, and this is what drives me nuts! - Enviro - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 4:16 pm: Some of my favorite sisters are on the other side. - Stones - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 4:23 pm: Absolutely. I am a democrat by definition and most my my friends are Republicans. I rarely talk politics with them despite “feeler” questions they often throw at me. Many of them aren’t even aware of my opinions. I like to think that our political diversity is something that makes America the greatest country on earth. Somewhere along the line it seems that we lost our way when it comes to respecting others views. - South Central - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 4:26 pm: Voted yes. I have for years said we shouldn’t judge a person’s character by his or her politics (oh my, how Trump is testing this!) Because of where I live I usually don’t join in political discussions. I want to stay on good terms with everyone. So, I find I’m the one who makes the adjustment. I do openly discuss my ideas with relatives. It’s a relief when I meet up with someone whose politics match mine. And, I really treasure the friends with whom I can discuss and debate anything, even politics. - Just Chilling - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 5:49 pm: Yes, of course! Down to the pub, on any given evening, there is common agreement that everyone else and their candidates are totally wacko. We share this opinion freely amongst ourselves, which keeps it lively enough for all concerned. In a democratic republic, why wouldn’t you want to know folks across the aisle? - Papa2008 - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 5:57 pm: Yes, because he’s my best friend. And we even talk politics. - Steve Schnorf - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 8:29 pm: I think one’s life might be pretty insular if you don’t have friends on both sides of many or even most controversial issues including politics. I sort of feel sorry for people who, surprised by the outcome of an election, say, “I don’t know anyone who voted for him /her”. - West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 9:56 pm: RNUG - You have had some of the most intelligent comments on pensions issues. Please tell all of us who have listened to you that when you say you are voting against Hillary Clinton that doesn’t mean you are voting for Trump.There are other choices and hopefully that will be your choice if you can’t handle a vote for Clinton. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.