I’m a writer. I know–most writers are liberals, which means Democrats, but give me a chance. What writers really do is analyze people, discern their traits so our characters are believable, then create protagonists (who you as the reader like) and antagonists (who readers dislike). That requires extremes and emotions, not banal facts. Otherwise, readers get bored.

I’m creating an outspoken liberal in a novel I’m writing so I’ve been evaluating the ends of the political spectrum and come up with this ‘liberal Democrat’ characterization:

1. Has great empathy for the world in general and its problems
2. Wants America to care for the world (the opposite of a Republican, who wants to impose our will on the world–according to the Democrat opinion)
3. Is against the death penalty, pro homosexual marriage, pro gun control and pro abortion
4. Is socially and fiscally liberal (open minded and open walleted)
5. Is in favor of bigger social programs, bigger government and more spending to support these programs
6. Considers poverty a Red Badge of Courage
7. Wants his/her values to over-weigh all others because these values are the type everyone would agree with–who doesn’t want world peace, to feed the hungry, to save the environment
8. Doesn’t like big business but likes trade unions (because they support the Little Guy)
9. Answers questions in generalities rather than facts. Republicans seem to believe in facts and Democrats seem to think facts can be skewed to anyone’s opinion
10. When asked a question, if s/he thinks the questioner has a different opinion or is trying to trap him, s/he filibusters. This happens also if s/he doesn’t have a good answer for the question or just doesn’t like it
11. When asked a question s/he doesn’t like, s/he reframes it as one s/he can answer
12. When asked a question s/he doesn’t like, s/he answers a different one, more suited to those broad unassailable opinions (see point 3)
13. When confronted with a ‘fact’ drawn from a quote or video which s/he doesn’t agree with, s/he responds that it is out of context or the presenter didn’t show the entire segment. Rather than address the big picture.

Warning: This isn’t a judgment. These are qualities if found in a character  would make him/her authentic as a liberal and would make you like or dislike him/her (depending upon the part s/he plays in the story).

Now, this is the interactive part: Characterize a Republican for me.

Some other ‘Character Traits’ posts you might like:

• Characteristics of a hacker
• Characteristics of an American
• Characteristics of military personnel
• Characteristics related to word pronunciation
• Characteristics of a Trekkie
• Characteristics of a Writer