My boyfriend and I are the political Jack Spratt and his wife.

We live in a community that doesn't allow public political expression, so he plastered Ron Paul signs and bumper stickers all over his car which he deliberately leaves in the driveway. He's never heard a conspiracy theory he couldn't espouse. Only a select few of his fellow Americans are true patriots and his commie girlfriend is not one of them.

I've learned to embrace this insult. Liberalism runs in my veins. My father cast only one vote for a non-Democrat, and that was for a Socialist because he couldn't bring himself to pull the lever on the Republican line. I embrace every social program that comes down the pike, as long as it's funded with more taxes on the rich.

Bill and I learned early on that we couldn't discuss politics without blowing our relationship to smithereens. But the glue that has held us together these past 8 years has been our mutual disgust with George W. Bush and the Iraq war.

When I returned from voting in the primary, he said he didn't care whom I voted for, as long as it wasn't Hillary. Though I share many Democrats' misgivings about both candidates, I don't fear for the country if either wins the election. I fear for my relationship.

Sent by Patricia Lynn | 2:12 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My brother has been a staunch Republican for many years and I was flabbergasted two days ago when he says he's supporting Barack Obama!

Sent by Rachael from Chicago | 2:15 PM ET | 02-07-2008

The night before the election I persuaded my husband to change his vote from Obama to Hillary. He's a smart man and listens to reason. If you can actually get an Obama supporter to LISTEN to you they really don't have much of substance to argue their emotional choice. I am very very fortunate to be married to a wonderful man who actually listens to me and yet thinks for himself. Neither of us had made a choice until we watched last week's debate and after that it was clear to me. He had bought into the divisive fear being put out by Obama supporters that Hillary can't win. Otherwise, he thought she was the better candidate. It's pretty easy to point out that fear is not a good way to vote. My large family in the Midwest are all over the place but we are able to have teasing but respectful discussions.

Sent by Maggie | 2:16 PM ET | 02-07-2008

In my family we have had political discussion, -and political differences- for decades. One memorable moment was when my (late) mother challenged her brother for voting for Nixon. She argued that their abolitionist grandfather's support for Abe Lincoln was no longer a reason to be loyal to the republican party.

I am disturbed by the emphasis on "identity politics" in discussions of the democratic candidates on NPR news programming. In the interest of citizenship (as compared to "consumerism") NPR ought to be discussing candidates views on policy.

Sent by Sandy Carmichael | 2:21 PM ET | 02-07-2008

Can someone explain the difference between "suspending" the campaign and "ending" their bid. Suspend sounds like it's not final.

Sent by Cindy Rosborough | 2:22 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My wife (53)says she has been waiting her whole life to vote for a woman president. I (52)enthusiastically support obama. I guess that shows Obamas' support is with younger people.

Sent by edward hamlin | 2:22 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I am not fighting with my sibs or spouse at the ,
but with my almost 11 year old son. He is
very upset with my choice to vote for Obama. He thinks that Hillary is the best candidate and backs his opinion with the facts. I unlike the other emailer at least he remains a democrat.

Sent by Jennifer mother in Fresno | 2:23 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My wife and I have NEVER once agreed on a political candidate above the town council level. She is a life-long Democrat and I am more inclined to vote Republican, though I consider myself an "ultra" moderate.

We don't give money to candidates (we'd have our own style of "matching campaign funds). We don't put bumper stickers on cars (have to have one of each).

She knows how I feel and vice versa so we really don't discuss politics, unless I want to get her as mad as a hornet.

Sent by Bob (last name withheld in the name of marital harmony) | 2:23 PM ET | 02-07-2008

at my house even though we are all democrats we still can't talk about politics. my father gets so fired up that he ends up yelling towards us (yelling, but not at us).

Sent by Ruth Huge | 2:26 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I'm a Republican and my wife's a Democrat. That way we don't have to argue during the primaries. Then, at the election, I always vote Democrat. Problem solved!

Sent by Trevor | 2:27 PM ET | 02-07-2008

This isn't an example of family members coming to blows over politics, but an example of two people with differing opinion actually getting along. Back in 1972 I was supporting the Democrats, my mother, however backed the Republicans. She didn't drive at the time, so my side of her car had a McGovern bumper sticker, while her's had one for Nixon, which we both thought was hysterically funny.

Sent by David Cummer | 2:33 PM ET | 02-07-2008

As a new Iowan I attended my first Democratic caucus and was amazed at how many couples in my neighborhood and in my family reflect what is going on in my own marriage- we are divided for this election- wives for Hillary and husbands for Obama. The part of this that puzzles me most- and makes me mad at my otherwise wonderful and like-minded spouse-is what happens in November. If Obama gets the nomination, I will have no problem supporting him as I expect most of my women friends who supported Hillary will. But if Hillary gets the nomination, I am not so sure about some of the men I know. My husband says she has too much baggage. I sure hope we dont lose these independent minded voters to a moderate like McCain.

Sent by Mary Donegan-Ritter | 2:35 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My 7 year old daughter is an avid Hillary supporter, while my 10 year old son stands firmly behind Barack. Of course, they pressed me for my stance and I explained that, while my heart beckoned me to vote Obama, my head won out in voting for Clinton. In the big picture, this is not the last election and there is still time for Barack to be President. In the short run, I'm holding out for a "dream ticket" with Hillary selecting Barack as her VP. Imagine that in the history books!!

Sent by Patti Perez-Haidinger | 2:36 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I am against immigration reform and this makes my wife mad. Im a Republican, but I cant vote for McCain because he is Pro immigration.
I cant vote for Obama for the same reason. I may not vote this year.

Sent by J | 2:38 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I'm a radical leftist (w/f/30/grad student) while my 80 year old grandmother is a staunch Republican.
She has a life size cardboard cutout of Bush in her living room that she has flag draped over! She forwards every pro-Republican, anti-everyone else email to me. Every now and then I comment on an email, but she doesn't take my comments very well. After a particularly pointed barb regarding my naivety??, I asked her to stop forwarding the emails to me...she still sends me everything but I hit the delete button upon arrival in an effort to keep the peace:-)

Sent by Jenny | 2:39 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My husband and I live in Illinois and both voted in the primary Tuesday, canceling each other's votes for the democratic candidates. Last evening, I spoke with my sister in Ohio, whose husband and three voting daughters are also democrats. In speaking with my sister last night, she teased that she was mad that we (the Super Tuesday voters) didn't resolve things on Tuesday, particularly because she is having trouble deciding which of the two candidates to vote for.

Sent by Pam | 2:39 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I work for a conservative/primarily republican office. As a result I tend to keep my (in their view 'misguided') liberal views to myself. My boss, though, is a closet democrat! I see him attend republican party rallies and donate to their candidates, he even has pictures in his office with both President Bush's. But I also know (having mailed the checks off myself) that he donates twice as much to democrats! This is something that (to this day) we have never discussed.

Sent by J in FL | 2:41 PM ET | 02-07-2008

During the New Hampshire primary my household split in two very different ways.

My wife a 25 year-old teacher in Pittsfield, NH voted for Obama. She sited his stance on education and abortion as her main reasons.

I however voted for Ron Paul siting: immigration, taxes, and gun control.

Surprisingly in her schools mock election, 5th graders by wide margins split along the exact same lines. The majority of students chose Obama on the Democratic side and Paul on the Republican.

Apparently we have more in common with 5th graders than we do with the majority of voters in our state.

Sent by Brian | 2:41 PM ET | 02-07-2008

Prior to Tuesday's Massachusetts Primary, my husband declined to tell me whom he was supporting - I'm an incredibly partisan Clinton supporter. I promised him that if he voted for Clinton, I'd make it worth his while. He's looking forward to his presents! And, I'm extremely pleased with the primary outcome in Massachusetts.

Sent by Cathy | 2:42 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I am what may be referred to as an independent. My wife and her family are all Republican conservatives. My family are all Democratic liberals. I play my cards close to my body. At family get-togethers with my family the joke with me about voting Republican, my wife's family considers me a Democrat. Even if my wife asks me I will not tell her what I plan on voting. So, given that I have not shared my decision with anyone, I feel that I should tell NPR first, after all I don't have to identify myselft. I voted for Obama.

Sent by Blake | 2:46 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I have been following this election very closely, as have many Americans. One thing that bothers me is the deliberate favoring of Obama over Clinton in the media. I know this is not a new phenomenon, but this time it's a little ridiculous. Today on MSNBC's political page there are 5 stories about Barack Obama, and not 1 mention of Hillary Clinton's name. Clearly this is not unbiased delivering of the news. I just wonder if the media machine can push their agenda in the end. I am a fervid Hillary supporter, and cannot understand why the media is so dead-set against her getting the nomination, let alone the presidency.

Sent by Ben Mannes | 2:47 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I laugh at the marriages split over two democrats. My husband has been always will be a Rush Limbaugh republican, I have been always will be a strong liberal Democrat. We discuss politics some and have a sense of humor and neither one of us will back down so we have to end our discussions sometimes and then we just smile. He was a Guiliani fan though and now that Guiliani is out he is not even going to vote, the first time ever for him. He thinks Mccain is a democrat. He just loves Bush. I am supporting Obama because he has a better chance of winning than Clinton. If Gore couldn't win, and he is a man, Clinton won't either.

Sent by Caroline Houle | 2:49 PM ET | 02-07-2008

Normally politics doesn't cause much strife in my family. But this year I've found myself at odds with my grandparents who support Clinton. Our conversations about politics normally involve me trying to convince my grandparents to support Obama, they respond by citing the "wisdom of age" and my parents end up moderating the discussion.

Sent by Robert Blanchard | 3:00 PM ET | 02-07-2008

As mother of two, what I taught my now-grown children about our political parties is that the difference was "how" they approached solutions to our country's problems, not which separate interests the parties supported. Republicanism meant social issues were solved by the states, while Democrats looked to the Federal government. Since keeping tax dollars local is so much more economical, it is a shame that this basic premise has been shrouded by the adoption of social issues by both sides for purely politcal advantage. Our family will vote for candidates that focuses on trade and defense at the national level while energizing local and state governments to handle social concerns. Any takers?

Sent by Suse Q (midwest mom) | 3:06 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My husband, a political science professor, responded to an expression of my desire to see Barack Obama enter the presidential race: "You are out of your mind -- Barack Obama does not have a chance!" I asked him to put that remark in writing and it hangs on my filing cabinet dated December 3, 2006. As the race has developed, I and my children who also support Obama love to taunt him about his remark. He is for Hillary.

Sent by Annette Bagley | 3:12 PM ET | 02-07-2008

During the first month of my marriage, a Dukakis/Bush television debate led to a huge argument, tears, and me walking out the door. My husband followed me down the street in his truck, picked me up, and we decided that discussing politics was not for us. (I had thought I was marrying a former hippie and found I had married a conservative instead! Since that day, for almost 20 years, we absolutely never discuss politics. He knows I am a Democrat. I know he's a sorta-independent, sorta-libertarian, sorta-conservative. (He says he once voted for a Democrat--McGovern). We've been on opposite sides of most issues -- Iraq, gun control, etc. His saving grace (luckily for our marriage) is that he is pro-choice. In most cases, I suppose our votes cancel each other out. However, I had two children with my former husband -- and I raised Democrats!

Sent by Jo (name withheld in case my husband reads this!) | 3:15 PM ET | 02-07-2008

A life in six words: A child of the world, homespun.

(I left the country at 11 for 10 years and now live in my grandmother's home.)

Sent by Anne Richards | 3:21 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I think that it is wonderfully exciting that people are so engaged in this current election cycle that they actually are discussing it at the table. There is a feeling in the air that something new is happening this time and it has us all talking whether we agree are not. Rather than politics as usual, people feel that history is being made and so people are vocalizing their opinions rather than ignoring the process.

Sent by Vince | 3:23 PM ET | 02-07-2008

Most of my family (myself NOT included) has voted Republican for decades and are probably the picture of Midwest conservatives. We only see each other at the holidays, and a longtime unspoken rule is to avoid political discussions, maybe because no one can leave in the event of a fight since we all have to sleep under one roof. However, my uncle announced at Thanksgiving that "the monkey has to go," which got a laugh from the rest of my relatives. You could gave knocked me over with a feather! And even moreso when they made it sound like they were behind Obama! I finally felt I had some tangible indication that the Republicans were losing their base...

Sent by JP | 3:23 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I lost contact with half of my family over political vies. I could not reconcile myself to their Republican leanings because of the underlying attitudes it reveals to me.

As a lifelong Democrat, I have trouble understanding anything about the Republican point of view.

I am suspect of the Carl Rove need to fan the flames of hot button social issues to win elections. Policies such as trickle-down economics are obvious failures - I hold up the current legacy of 20 years of this as proof. But more fundamentally, it seems to me that Republicans are all about "me" and Democrats are more focused on "we."

I find it irksome for Republicans to point at "liberals" as "defective" or as "intellectually inferior." This is not a discussion. I have definitely thought things over. Do rich Americans that keep pushing for less government not realize that their wealth rests on the backs of the Middle Class workers? If they continue to erode the Middle Class, they will also fall.

Please correct me if I am not "getting it"

Sent by Jeff Rapport | 3:50 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My husband and I have encouraged our children to get involved in politics and our dinner discussions can be quite lively, though we have avoided throwing any knives! My daughter is a decided liberal for Hillary, my eldest son is conservative,( I don't know what he shall do with Romney out of the picture) and my youngest son is the Devil's Advocate,saying anything to get the competative juices flowing!
Tonight's meal should be interesting!

Sent by Barbara in Albion, MI | 4:22 PM ET | 02-07-2008

What was the name of the river?

Chappaquidick?

Sent by Harold | 5:24 PM ET | 02-07-2008

My grandpa once told my sister, "You could run for president, I just won't vote for you," as my grandma nodded in agreement. My mom and sisters are democrats. My dad is a libertarian, and the rest are die-hard republicans. I'm the only independent. My brother's favorite game was/is to walk into a room with one side, the other or a mix and say something politically divisive and then leave the room again, seeing how long the "discussion" would last. As a family, at least our desire to reconcile is as great or greater than our political stubbornness. It definitely taught us at a young age that if you are going to take a stand on something, sound bites are not going to get you through the marathon arguing that will start- you better know your stuff!

Sent by Jennifer Bell | 6:20 PM ET | 02-07-2008

After years of Bush's lies, the Patriot Act, the 'bankrupting' of our economy and being economically beholden to China, cowboy politics, & our human rights travesties, the Democracts represent values we treasure. Go Hilary!

Signed: for all Women who value children, life and eliminating poverty!

Sent by F. Cass | 6:53 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I am a black republican who went independent so that i could vote democrat in the general election. I am leaning towards Obama. I am sadden at the thought that because Obama is black he is getting the majority of the black vote. If all of the black people that could vote. voted for Obama. He probably would have dropped out long ago. The United States is overwhelmingly white. I live in an major majority white suburb in Massachusetts, 95 percent of them voted for Obama. Maybe they remembered that his mother was white.

The press needs to stop trying to sway people into thinking that Obama is winning because of a strong black vote. Actually it is a strong white vote. The people in the United states don't want to be divided by more lies. our current administration has done enough. Could you all in the media try doing something different? Try telling the truth.

Sent by Christopher Long | 6:57 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I always find it interesting and disheartening that so many people have an "A" or "B" view. When did democracy become only Republicrats.

Sent by Philip in N.C. | 9:24 PM ET | 02-07-2008

When I was listening to today's show, I was reminded about how important it is to have the (sometimes uncomfortable) discussions and debates about politics and issues. This is what has made the US great.

In Federalist No. 10, Madison argued that arguing was key to protecting liberty. That unless we all had the same interests and needs (not possible and tres boring), we would need to hope that interest vs interest and idea vs idea would protect the majority and the minority.

I'm lucky that my family has been usually in agreement, but growing up I was usually in dissent with classmates...I wouldn't trade those discussions for the world.

I recently wrote on my blog about this (http://barnesconti.blogspot.com). But what really continues to strike me about a good, dignified debate is what Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) says at the end of The American President: "America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours."

Sent by Grace Boone | 11:33 PM ET | 02-07-2008

I actually have had the opposite experience this campaign season. I was brought up Republican, and still consider myself a "fiscal conservative", in that I believe government should be as efficient as possible in achieving its ends. Throughout college, in the late 90's, I began to side more with Democrats as candidates, and actually changed party affiliation. That made talking to my relatives about politics a lot tougher. My grandpa even once asked me if pointedly "has that University turned you all liberal?" I politely denied it, while thinking to myself "I guess it has, but you seem to see the term very differently". So it was with trepidation this year that I actually wrote friends and family a long, well-researched e-mail about why I was supporting Barack Obama, in particular because I was afraid Hillary would just bring back the old Clinton-Bush dynasty status-quo of divisive politics and disappointing results. After the Bush years, I think I finally found a true reformer. Lo and behold, my staunchest conservative relatives wrote back to express their support of Barack Obama too! They even wrote explanations of why they changed party affiliations in time to vote for him in the primaries, and about the same reservations about Hillary. I was shocked but elated! Barack has brought my family together, talking about politics in a way we haven't for over a decade.

Sent by Jared Hardy | 12:47 AM ET | 02-08-2008

I'm pretty peeved when I hear that since Clinton and Obama are similar on most issues the choice comes down to identity politics; this idea that our decision simply comes down to whether you prefer a black man or a white woman.

There is a huge difference between these candidates when it comes to the actual implementation of the issues they care about. Obama has an open mind to all sides and is disgruntled with the partisan politics of the ???90s that got absolutely nothing done. This is why independents and even republicans are coming to his side. His attitude towards policy i.e. his democratic, inclusive, discussion based politics is one that is fresh, new and necessary if our political system will continue to work.

These two candidates may be similar on many issues but Obama has the wisdom and foresight to see what is needed to get the job done. Please, let's not return to the partisan, ineffective, inefficient policies of the '90s. Remember, Clinton's "experience" is based in this very period of stale government.

Please! I guarantee, if you support Clinton but actually watch an entire Obama policy speech, you will change your mind.

Sent by Joe Szymczak | 10:33 AM ET | 02-08-2008

Barack Obama is the first candidate in my 28 years which my entire family can vote for. My family talks of politics rarely except to say that we vote on issues not party.

With Obama, this is the first cycle that i have been really fired up over a candidate. i had to share my enthusiasm with each of my family members and inquire if they knew why they too should be excited about Obama.

To my suprise, though not gushing as i was, they each expressed positive impressions of him and their feeling that he was the best potential candidate for the job.

Obama's greatest strength is bridging the divide to achieve real progress on pertinent issues. He is the first candidate who has been able to embody the very concept of progress through our similarities.(And he has proven he can do it with real legislation.)

The truth of democratic society is validity of individual vision realized through the compromise of mass movement. Obama moves in this truth in Washington. Obama brings people together to increment progress we all can believe in.

Sent by daniel johnson | 12:17 PM ET | 02-09-2008

Do you know how to catch wild pigs?

You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn
again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again.

You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side.

The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn.

They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.

That's exactly what I see happening to America. The government keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, free medical, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms -just a little at a time.

There's NO such thing as a Free Lunch!

A politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then God help you when the gate slams shut!

Sent by JuleS | 5:20 PM ET | 02-10-2008