Political differences destroy start of a beautiful relationship

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ^ | March 23, 2003 | Jim Stingl

[MediaMole]

Political differences destroy start of a beautiful relationship

Last Updated: March 22, 2003

Jim Stingl

Right from the start, Kate and John knew they had political differences as wide as a no-fly zone.

Could diplomacy work? Would their relationship become a casualty of the war at home? Would awe give way to shock and finally to liberation?

When John met Kate through a mutual friend at an east side Milwaukee bar in January, he learned she was a 26-year-old professional fund-raiser. She had a good sense of humor. And physically. . . . He liked what he saw.

But he also learned she had voted for Al Gore and was the daughter of a man so liberal that he once wore a Ralph Nader / Winona LaDuke button to Fleet Farm. Kate placed herself well to the left of Hillary Clinton and Tom Daschle.

Kate, meanwhile, found out that John was 34 and a suburban Milwaukee police officer. "He found me smart and funny and vice versa. There was definitely physical attraction. We liked the same restaurants and going out, trying new places," Kate said.

A few weeks after they started dating, the night of Feb. 6 to be exact, John woke up Kate to excitedly tell her it was Ronald Reagan's birthday. John's radio most days was tuned to Rush Limbaugh, Mark Belling and Sean Hannity. And let's just say Kate and John canceled each other out on election day 2000.

"The clues were stacking up that this will never work out, but I kept dismissing them from my mind," John said.

"We tried to not argue about the war and politics or even bring it up too much," Kate said.

Ah, yes, the war. The whole world has been arguing about it. John supports President Bush and his campaign to disarm Iraq. "My belief is that this country wouldn't be where it was today without war, and that sometimes war is necessary. This is one of those times."

Kate has marched in rallies against the war. "I am concerned that too many people confuse Osama bin Laden and 9-11 for Hussein, and they are letting Bush scare them. I am concerned with our country's inability to look at other options."

John again: "I was hoping, against my better judgment, that maybe love will prevail and those things won't matter. It all changed this past Monday."

That was the day Bush issued a 48-hour deadline to Saddam Hussein. It was also the day that Kate forwarded to John an extremely anti-Bush, anti-war e-mail written by, in John's words, "deplorable Hollywood puke Michael Moore."

Kate admits the Moore piece was "a little extreme," but she underestimated the effect it would have on John. "Reprehensible," John called it.

"I e-mailed Kate back and asked her if she really believed this propaganda," John said. "Yes, I do," she replied. "He makes some very good points."

John began to imagine a very stormy future with this woman. "I thought, my God, what if we have kids and she is telling them that Bush is a liar and this war is wrong and Michael Moore is a hero."

The next day he telephoned Kate and broke off their relationship. Dumped her is the way Kate put it. He said that stuff about raising kids and he said she was just too liberal. Upset by the call, Kate had a fleeting thought of trying to find a Michael Dukakis bumper sticker and putting it on John's car.

"He picked George W. over me," she said.

Kate thinks she'll look for more political compatibility, or at least avoid wartime dating, with the next man who comes along.

And as for John? "Do you know any single conservative women?" he said.

A version of this story appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 23, 2003.

[saigon]

LOL. sorry but I find this story funny!

I wonder how Mary Matalin and James Carville are doing?

[spectre]

Sounds like 'ol John has his head screwed on tight.

Marriage to Ms "well to the left of Hillary Clinton and Tom Daschle" would have been Hell on earth.

[Interesting Times]

John began to imagine a very stormy future with this woman. "I thought, my God, what if we have kids and she is telling them that Bush is a liar and this war is wrong and Michael Moore is a hero."

The next day he telephoned Kate and broke off their relationship.

John has chosen wisely.

[cyborg]

They're still married. Can you believe it?!

[longtermmemmory]

Mixed marriages are so hard.

[patriciaruth]

Kate thinks she'll look for more political compatibility, or at least avoid wartime dating, with the next man who comes along.

Political compatibility will mean a man with no testosterone, sweetie.

[=Intervention=]

I dunno. It's more realistic than anything else. The liberal chick was actually portrayed pretty well. They are genuinely stupid and unable to concieve of the war on terror having multiple fronts. Her retort that he picked W (i.e. that he chose his core values) over her shows just how clueless the left truly is. That part, I'll own, is truly funny.

[Porterville]

My girlfriend is a lib, but as she grows older she becomes more professional, especially when the state takes 20% from capital gains.

[giotto]

And imagine the Thanksgiving dinners with the Naderite in-laws.

[Mark Turbo]

...in John's words, "deplorable Hollywood puke Michael Moore."

Words well worth repeating. Enjoy your freedom, John.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I wonder if this one's worth a "hold muh beer?"

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

And imagine the Thanksgiving dinners with the Naderite in-laws.

The veggie-burgers would be flyin'!

[Az Joe]

And John didn't even get any? Pathetic.

[carla007]

My aunt and uncle were worlds apart, politically. One was a die-hard republican and the other a democrat. Every election, they'd cancel each other's vote. They made their marriage work, but never, never talked politics with one another.

[gcruse]

A few weeks after they started dating, the night of Feb. 6 to be exact, John woke up Kate...

Sleeping together already?  After only a few weeks?  Old John ain't that conservative, after all!
Oh, wait, he called her on the phone.  Yeah, right.

[doug from upland]

Great story. He definitely made the right move. He would not want her raising their children.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Here's the problem...

John has the hots for Kate and starts out their relationship by eating the dessert.

After a while, the reality of their differences begins to impact his rational mind because he has allowed his gonads to control the course of the friendship and shroud the truth of their ultimate destiny. He fruitlessly appeals to her rational side.

Kate, OTOH, likes getting boffed by John enough to try to convert him. For many women, the only men they carry the torch for are the ones they believe they can convert or reform.

Finally, John's mind regains control of his little head.

End of story.

Been there.

Done that.

Old tale.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Good move, John. No woman is good looking enough to respect Michael Moore and get away with it.

[WorkingClassFilth]

I doubt if your Aunt was a product of modern-day communist theology in the Democratic party.

There was a day when folks saw each other over the fence.

Today, the Left wants your life, money and freedom.

These stories are bogus and doomed in this day and age.