In general, I tend to associate myself with people who are moderate or liberal just because our personalities tend to be alike. I do, however, socialize with several conservatives as well. It can be hard for me, at times, to think of them the same way when I learn of their political leanings; but the key, as many people have said, is to not talk about politics.
At school, I have befriended two people in particular who are conservative, and I have learned that we just can’t talk about politics. My best friend since childhood who had been moderate and leaning liberal after talking about politics with me and dating an illegal immigrant and saw what they go through to become citizens, has very recently decided that she is a republican. This is upsetting to me not because she is a republican, per say, but because she seems to only be a republican because her father is a conservative extremist, because she is very impressionable and Romney “won” the first debate, and because her boyfriend broke up with her and she has now lost all sympathy for illegal immigrants.
Some of my family is also conservative, and you really don’t have much of a choice when it comes to family. I love my family, but I can’t talk about politics with my grandfather, for example, who has completely dismissed my opinions and told me on several occasions that I’m only liberal because I’m young.