This understanding of politics makes it a kind of game that is divorced from consequences lived by people. It’s an extreme conclusion of how the newsmedia treats elections - something other people do, that we watch, vs a collaborative impactful civic process.

You are, of course, allowed to cut people out of your life who support policies or candidates which make your life - or the lives of others - materially worse. It would be strange to continue being friends with someone who doesnt meet your expectations for respect + consideration

This perspective tries to turn politics into a rhetorical game of debate with no actual outcomes - which we all know, now mourning the hundreds of thousands dead in the last 6 months - is not at all the reality of the situation. One does not support just a candidate, in a vacuum.

The counterpoint here may be: “if you cut them out, division rages on” and sure, fine. Please do that work if you can. But on the order of what a ‘friend’ is? You don’t have to and should not put up with defending your rights, existence, safety, worth unless you want to.