We’re so old we remember a time when you and your co-workers or family members could belong to different political parties and still, say, sit down to Thanksgiving dinner without first downloading and printing placemats with gun-control talking points on them. We did manage to get along once, didn’t we?
We’ve covered Nation contributor Sean McElwee before — he’s the guy who called “a Christmas Present to all of us” the worst Christmas Eve trading day ever on Wall Street, because “rich people are losing a s**tload of money today.” So we know where he’s coming from.
Now he’s encouraging his followers to “make it painful” for any Republicans who’ve managed to infiltrate their social circle.
Most people form their political identity because of socialization not ideology (ie lots of people are Republican because they’re born again). That means there are huge benefits to attaching social stigma to being Republican. Most people will defect rather than fight back.
— we're going to pass AVR (@SeanMcElwee) January 19, 2019
If there are people who openly identify as Republicans in your social circle, make it painful. Stop inviting them for drinks after work. Most people will choose fitting in over whatever the GOP means to them and voila – the US stops putting kids in cages.
— we're going to pass AVR (@SeanMcElwee) January 19, 2019
Um, he knows those photos of kids in cages were taken during the Obama administration, right? Probably not.
If there are people who openly identify as Sean McElwee in your social circle, make it painful. Stop inviting him for drinks after work. You've already done that because nobody would want to associate with this person. https://t.co/BOmiXQl8Yf
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) January 21, 2019
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Actually, they'll choose to become former friends. And then a large number of your progressive friends will notice that you're an enormous asshole, and become former friends as well. https://t.co/cEhBfOLvJB
— Esoteric Jeff (@EsotericCD) January 21, 2019
Good grief. You're nuts. And most of my Republican friends will not become Dems, if I disinvite them, they'll just become former friends.
— Stephen H (@StephenHy) January 19, 2019
Lol, as if you get invited for drinks.
Calm the f down, dude.
— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) January 21, 2019
We already don’t hang out with you.
— Bill Flanagan (@Ospreyflan) January 21, 2019
Who the f*ck would want to have drinks with you or any person who thinks like you?https://t.co/HYcnRF1Vrl
— BonkPolitics (@BonkPolitics) January 21, 2019
Believe in law and logic, or go out for drinks with ppl like you.
Hard pass, I'll take the former.
— Ted Holden (@r_u_holden) January 21, 2019
If it's between maintaining my morals and values or hanging out with a cool kid like you, I choose my morals and values 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. I didn't fall to peer pressure in high school. You obviously never grew emotionally since high school.
— James Hicks ???? (@Jhic709365) January 21, 2019
So you'd change your entire world view if someone stopped inviting you over for hot wings at happy hour?
— melliemel (@wxmel) January 21, 2019
It’s assholes like you that turn a lot of people to the right.
— Gary Eaton (@garysteveneaton) January 21, 2019
Why not just throw people who disagree with you in re-education camps? You must be super fun at parties. Fascist.
— Lady Hecate (@Hecate40) January 21, 2019
Sure, it's not like making people feel isolated and cutting them off from reasoned disagreement has ever encouraged extremism before…
— Dr. Mindermast (@DrMindermast) January 21, 2019
This is precisely not what our nation needs. We need once again to recognize the common humanity of people with whom we disagree. We need for people not to vilify other people. We need to be able to discuss our differences and try to persuade one another. Tolerance arises…
— Mike Kelly (@ezralbntseliot) January 21, 2019
…from greater social connection, not less. We have too much, not too little, political Balkanization.
— Mike Kelly (@ezralbntseliot) January 21, 2019
Guess we have dispensed with being open-minded.
— Courtney Shadegg (@CShadegg) January 21, 2019
This is one of the most cynical, not to mention morally bankrupt tweets I've ever read. Good luck with your race to the bottom.
— Sherry Smith (@sherryds) January 21, 2019
Yep, because that's loving everyone right? That's not hateful at all.
— Daniel Bragg (@Daniel_Bragg) January 21, 2019
I suggest Republicans be forced to wear yellow stars on their breast pockets so we can publicly shun them. I think that’s the next logical step.
— ConservativeSatire (@RightlyLaughing) January 21, 2019
You seem nice
— Emma the Operatic Bot (@OperaticBot) January 21, 2019
I really wish you guys were just crazy, but some of you actually believe in this junk. Please seek help my dude.
— Street Guru (@LordStreetGuru) January 21, 2019
Oh man …I was so hoping we be friends ….how will I ever move on ? pic.twitter.com/evnconmN5Y
— Gondor Partners (@GondorVau) January 21, 2019
You must be an amazing friend.
— Bria Valentino (@BriaValentino) January 21, 2019
Democrats “invite republicans for drinks” only so they don’t have to pay for their own.
— Kurt (@KOdellis) January 21, 2019
If I check your timeline, I will find this outrage from the 8 years of Obama when this was happening, right? And similar attacks on Democrats, since it was happening under a sitting Democrat president, yes?
Or is your outrage partisan and only present when your side loses?
— Elenti (@ScarletElenti) January 21, 2019
How's that echo chamber working out for you? No doubt plenty of meaningful discussion going on there. Group think is fun. If a person's political persuasion is going to be your sole identifier for choosing friends, I feel you'll end up rather lonely. Have a nice evening.
— Thomas Mayer (@therealtomsteam) January 21, 2019
Unbelievable pic.twitter.com/oyj28Fd3ub
— tim ghidotti (@Repoman33Tg) January 21, 2019
You act as if you haven’t been trying this for at least 39 years, with a major ramp up since 2001. How’s it working for you?
— Anthony Trant (@Trantan01) January 21, 2019
This one deserves a massive ratio, so here’s my contribution.
— Jennine (@jenninejones) January 21, 2019
Related:
'Utter DUMB*SS'! Blue-checked journo has the HOTTEST 'free speech' take you'll see today (or maybe EVER) https://t.co/huIfQK7oBj
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 9, 2018
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