@Smashley Don’t make assumptions. Don’t assume that just because someone agrees with Obama’s healthcare that they also agree with everything the Democrats are saying of late in the media. Be willing to end a discussion, to agree to disagree. Don’t try to convince someone they are wrong, rather state your view, it is up to them whether to accept the view or not. Be genuinely interested in their point-of-view, don’t dismiss their ideas out of hand. You would be surprised how often people have made the wrong assumptiont about intent.
One example is prayer in school. People I talk to here in the Memphis area feel the area has changed, people from other parts of the country are taking religion away from our kids and hate Christianity. In the minds of the people who want public school to be secular, we want just the opposite, to protect religion, protect a persons right to teach their own religion to their children, and not have state influences indoctrining their children. A political/religious discussion can reveal this, but only if people are discussing the motives behind the opinions, and everyone listens to each other.
Lastly, if someone is very religious, whatever religion, they are most likely not going to be open to changing their point of view, you have to know going into the conversation. They also might feel easily offended or judged. They also tend to have some fear wrapped up in their faith, especially the evangelicals in my experience, so entertaining another way of thinking about something worries them the world will go to hell in a handbasket. It is not just an exchange of ideas, but the end of the world, God, and afterlife. So tread lightly. With many people who maintain a strict adherence to religious doctrine it is not difficult to punch holes in it, and religious people don’t want to think about inconsistancies many times. You have to feel it out, and pull back, or change the subject if the conversation starts to go south.