Aren't you a little bit young, as a teenager, to already have your political beliefs cemented? Shouldn't you get out in the world and experience things before you know what's true and what isn't? This girl sounds like she's a republican because her boyfriend is one.

Goodness, Forrester, you sound like a freakin' flaming liberal, and that, of course, is nothing one should be proud of. While you, as a liberal, enjoy starting your indoctrination as early as kindergarten, why wouldn't you now give a high-schooler the benefit of the doubt that they have been fed the facts and made an intelligent (look it up), informed decision. You whiny liberals are always at least good for a laugh over your rediculousness and stupidity.

Oh, and have a good day.

YTH

You can tell by the letter that the girl is a republican nutjob from programming by her vertically (and probably horizontally) challenged boyfriend.

Fox Snooze is the Goebbels of the Republicans, feeding a steady stream of lies and half truths to their followers. The Democrats never had a loyalty oath ceremony during the elections but the cons sure did (not that Bush will take the oath when talking about his actions in Iraq).

Anyway we know what you are-a joke. So why not laugh at you all.

holier than thou before yours.

YTH

What kind of family makes their child afraid to "admit" her political beliefs? The real issue here is the intolerance and disprespect of the teenager's family. What poor role models! It makes sense that she wants to be as little like them as possible. Sadlly, so many resonders are doing exactly the same thing her family is doing. While politics has become polarized, there is no need for the vitriol and stupidity from so many in this column. It contributes nothing except more hostility. This country is in enough trouble already.

How many liberal kids have been kicked out of their homes for being closet liberals?

They are not kicking her out nor are they insisting she break up with her dingbat boyfriend.

Clearly they love her and most likely tease her because her boyfriend is the reason for her new found interest in politics. When he goes I imagine so will her complaints. In the mean time, her parents dont need to have all their values challenged (which republicans do all the time). They may love her and will always let her live in their home, but that doesnt mean they need to accept her barrage of right wing propaganda.

Lordy, lordy...I put this in another thread initially, but I think a repeat (and expanded version) is in order here:

[These threads have taken] an interesting turn...I'll have to read the letter again, but I don't remember reading that she turned republican because her boyfriend is a republican. Not saying it's impossible, just didn't get that from reading it. I guess people are assuming that since the rest of the family is democrat, the boyfriend had to have acted as the outside force that swayed her away, as opposed to the possibility that she somehow came to be a republican on her own (and possibly before the boyfriend). Perhaps the families and people I know are actually unusually strange, but I've known people who are a different ideology than many of their family, not necessarily because of a boyfriend, girlfriend, etc. It seems to me that it is true that families will generally gather at a certain ideological spectrum, but I have never seen this being the rule. Ever heard the term "black sheep" of the family?

Of course, this is when people are going to accuse me of being a republican "stooge," when in fact I'm a democrat actually. As much as I will disagree with many republicans (and libertarians) on many issues, to assume that people just believe in a certain ideology just because of the tired old "someone told them to" or they are under somebody's "spell" is just a bit much for me. Doing this shuts down the rational debate pretty quickly, from whay I've always observed. Why make rational arguments when you've convinced yourself beforehand the other person believes what they believe for irrational reasons to begin with?

honestly, my interpretation is that she's just being a typical teenager: taking a little ribbing from the family as outright non-acceptance and abuse. i did the same thing. my dad has always been a republican, mostly because he does things like finances and playing stocks for fun (yes, he's one of the original breed, the small government, "keep your hands off my money" types). at first, i rebelled against anything having anything at all to do with politics or money, and it caused a lot of ire between us. but eventually, i got over feeling wounded that he didn't come around to my point of view, and i grew into my beliefs. now, sure, he teases me constantly. whenever obama or hillary or any of thier cohorts says or does something kind of dumb (which, i admit, democrats are sort of prone to do) he ribs me for it. but now that i've grown up, i just tease him right back, emailing him every article and blog i can find about mccain's hot temper and questionable (and obviously not well thought out) views on anything not related to the military. it's all in fun, and it's a shame that the LW can't see and appreciate that.

I dont think yoou are a stooge but I do believe you should consider the simple fact that she and her bohyfriend are clearly passionate about their politics which most likely would put them at the extreme end of the spectrum. Few people who are passionate about moderate points of view.

And on the subject of passion note she is especially concerned not just for the political strife in the family but specifically about her equally passionate boyfriend. Yes, she could well have developed these political beliefs on her own, but considering the close association with her friend and their ties to this political party I would say at the least he is a major influence on her.

Now if you follow the events of the last decade, the rise of Fox News as a major propaganda channel coupled with a massive onslaught of extreme political commentators on radio have generated what amounts to a propaganda network and their criticism of all things liberal and their willingness to lie and exagerrate to those ends has made many liberals understandably a little reactive-especially when you take your criticism into someones home-family or not.

She can be a black sheep, but my advice would have been to subtract politics from her family life and leave them for rallies and satanic rituals. At home. just be their loving daughter. And her boyfriend should also leave it out of his interactions with them if he ever wants to get along with his in-laws down the road.

So let me get this straight...if you take offense and are sensitive when your parents call your boyfriend or girlfriend a "wack-job," or worse, it proves you are under your boyfriend's or girlfriend's evil influence? Hmm...interesting, thanks for clearing that up for me. I haven't been in a relationship in a while, things certainly are changing, I'll make sure and revise my notes. I'm a 30-year old guy, but even I'm not sure that I could take much of that kind of name-calling of a girlfriend of mine by family members without saying something about it. Unless we just teleported back to 1910 or so, when women and young people were expected to shut the hell up about politics and even if you were called the worst thing in the world by your elders at the dinner table, or anywhere else for that matter, you smile and just say something nice back to them. In other words, I would think she is specifically concerned about her boyfriend and expresses a close association with him because...well...it's her boyfriend. One of those weird emotional things. Or, at least, that's me. I just don't think it's logical to say that her concern about her boyfriend being called names can absolutely conclude to her not being sincere about her beliefs. As I said, if I had a girlfriend that was being called a "wack-job" constantly by family, I would probably have some concerns too.

Ultimately, I don't care what your politics are, but I just can't see being so ho-hum about people being called condensending names just because of their beliefs. I believe Prudie is absolutely correct, speak up and say something. I might be a democrat, and basically am suggesting a republican speak up, but ideas before ideology. Free speech and some respect should start at home.

Well basic communication 101-you dont talk about relgion or politics in good company. It avoids such situations as she is experiencing now.

How about using common sense. I doubt her parents began calling either of them a whack job without some reasons for it-namely they probably have been confrontational with their own views in the home of some liberals. Just as I wouldnt expect a Yankee fan to get a warm welcome at Fenway I dont think a liberal household should need to be subjected to negative comments in the other direction just because someone is a "guest" in their home.

This is a teenage girl and I can assure you the parents wouldnt be saying a word without some provocation and Im not suprised we got only one side of the story here.

Ajb,

I have never heard of or seen a teenager from a liberal family self-identify as a Republican without the influence of a boyfriend/girlfriend or a church organization of some kind. In my experience, the reverse (Republican household accidentally produces liberal-leaning kid) happens all the time, prompted by sources like world culture or history classes.

I'm willing to bet that your friends who differ from their parents became less conservative, not more, and only moved to the right if under the influence of a church or significant other. Am I right?

The Real RML wrote: "Well basic communication 101-you dont talk about relgion or politics in good company. It avoids such situations as she is experiencing now."

The right wing has never been introduced to good manners.

Selene212 wrote: "Ajb,

I have never heard of or seen a teenager from a liberal family self-identify as a Republican without the influence of a boyfriend/girlfriend or a church organization of some kind..........................­...
I'm willing to bet that your friends who differ from their parents became less conservative, not more, and only moved to the right if under the influence of a church or significant other.

Am I right?"

I dunno. Is he from a well to do family? Some will put up with a lot of BS until they get securely under that umbrella. Then look out!