I’ve thinned out my list of friends and acquaintances since yesterday.
I agree that's going to be a temptation. But if such friendships diminish, it should be on their impetus, not ours. Of course, I do recommend us being more frank and bold with our statements -- which may have the same effect.
Think of it: Michael Medved said yesterday that 7 out of 10 single women voted O. He then asked, "Do you think they had a good reason to do so?" To paraphrase him, he said, "Yes. Think of single moms and widows. Do they often feel dependant and feel someone needs to take care of them? Yes." (Medved then said that friends shouldn't let their friends remain unmarried -- that they should try to usher single women into marriages)
So, if people turn their back on the biggest block of O voters, that would mean turning our back on single women -- often women who need the help/support of Christians (single moms & widows) and younger women who need the network of good friends to help find eligible men.
And frankly, for too many O voters, Uncle Sam has become their provider-god. They know of no bigger divinity. So they worship it as the provider-god. Yes, that's idolatry. And yes, God judges such idolatry. But such folks need to be weened off Sam and Son of Sam -- and they're going to need real friendships from people who are committed to them unconditionally.
So, I would suggest that we simply "re-purpose" these friendships and communication with such relatives. I would suggest, starting with Thanksgiving meals, that we be real in our loving such people (minus political conditions) but also be bold in speaking the truth...(come well-armed with some key bumper-sticker phrases because many of these folks are so propagandized by one-liners).
I suggest we don't back down on loving O people -- for they often feel they have the least support & need Sam to do it. But I would also suggest we don't worry about what people think when we speak the truth. We have to stop calculating what others' reaction will be. That's patronizing to such people, and we need to repent of it.