Is it OK to forswear family and friends for political beliefs?

[Lemur]

@Vuk, as per usual, is a cascading fountain of sparkling disinformation. The video of scary black people he posts is from 2008. When Fox tried a repeat this year, all they could find was a single scary black man who was ... opening doors for old people. EVIL NEGRO INTIMIDATION!

As for the OP, I'd say it's a thing not to be done lightly, and dependent on judgment. If my close friends and/or family were supporting a cause or politico who was a clear and present danger, sure, I'd lay into them. But (a) even the most horrifying monsters of history usually had some sort of excuse or rationale to give a figleaf of justification to their crimes. The Khmer Rouge, Mao, Hitler, Vlad Tepes, take any one of them. All had their rationales. All had well-meaning people who helped them. If we refuse to engage, how do we persuade, and possibly peel away supporters?

(b) I'm not clear on how cutting someone completely out of your life is a convincing argument. My uncle, for example, is a Fox News Republican. He lectures me about how Wisconsin is a "socialist state," how liberals hate America, and when he's had enough gin he'll go off about how America should be split in two so "conservatives won't have to live with people who aren't real Americans."

Not clear how cutting him off would be helpful. I'd much rather be in his presence, calm and reasonable, and let the rest of my family observe the difference between us.

Anyway, what the current crazyfest reveals is that a measurable fraction of the right in America has convinced themselves that Obama is the Antichrist. The dangers of this sort of self-delusion should be evident. Just look at Vuk.

Meanwhile, some on the right continue to engage in a full-throated mental meltdown, such as this. (Warning: Profanity and hilarity.)