I have experienced this phenomenon myself.
I am conservative and have some friends who are liberal. We have always gotten along great–laughed a lot when we were together, discussed absurdities in politics, etc. Until Obama.
One of them posted a blurb on a social networking site that basically denigrated tea party-goers. Having attended a tea party myself and knowing that they knew I was not a hatemonger, etc. I posted a humorous little thing about having attended a tea party. Can’t remember now what I said but in the past they would have seen the humor and laughed with me. Instead their spouse posted a stinging retort said I should “get informed” and on and on. It was really a big surprise to me. Their sense of humor has clearly gone missing.
I later found out they’ve got what can only be described as a little shrine to Obama hanging in their kitchen. I guess if you attach hopes and dreams to a political figure and that political figure turns out to be seriously flawed, that’s bound to curb your humor.
