Same Family. Different Politics: Becca Kearl and Robbie Lawler

Let's Find Common Ground

USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future

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5.0 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2020

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In a time of deep and sometimes bitter political division, what are the most effective ways to have conversations with family members who vote for a different party or don't see the world the way that you do? In this episode of "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast, we explore the challenges and opportunities faced by many families, especially as they come together during the holidays. Our guests are Becca Kearl, a Joe Biden supporter, and her mom, Robbie Lawler, who went for Donald Trump. Becca is a Managing Partner at the non-profit group, Living Room Conversations. She is a founding member of the Utah Dialogue Practice Network. Becca is also fully engaged in the non-profit venture of raising five kids with her husband in Provo, Utah. Robbie Lawler is a mother of six and was named National Mother of Young Children in 1996. She has received awards for community projects she worked on, and most recently was events coordinator for the Law School at Brigham Young University. She lives with her husband in Alpine, Utah. We share tips and ideas about how to have difficult or awkward conversations with those you love. Find more constructive suggestions here from Living Room Conversations.

Transcript

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0:00.0	What are the most effective ways to speak with family members who don't see the world the way you do?
0:06.0	Let's say you voted for Trump, but your brother or parents went for Biden?
0:10.0	How do you get past those differences that divide us so deeply, especially at the holidays?
0:17.0	That's what we're going to talk about.
0:25.0	This is Let's Find Common Ground. I'm Ashley Melntite.
0:29.0	And I'm Richard Davies. Today, a mother who voted for Donald Trump and her daughter who supported Joe Biden.
0:37.0	And put out a yard sign in a mostly Republican neighborhood. They discuss with each other and with us how they deal with difference.
0:46.0	Rebecca Curl is a managing partner at the nonprofit group living room conversations.
0:51.0	She's a founding member of the Utah Dialogue Practice Network.
0:55.0	Rebecca is also fully engaged in the nonprofit venture of raising five kids with her husband in Provo, Utah.
1:01.0	She's the daughter.
1:03.0	And Robbie is her mom. Both are Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1:10.0	Robbie has six adult children and has received awards for her community projects.
1:15.0	She lives with her husband in Alpine, Utah.
1:18.0	First question to both. Robbie, you're the Republican.
1:23.0	Yeah. Oh, yeah.
1:25.0	And Becca, you're the Democrat.
1:27.0	I'm all over the place. I'm a little more varied.
1:31.0	Even with the local candidates, I'll look into it. I voted for a libertarian this time.
1:36.0	I voted for someone from Utah, United Party. I voted for Republicans and I voted for Democrats.
1:41.0	Robbie, you're the Republican, as you say, but that doesn't always mean you go for all the parties candidates.
1:49.0	I think in the past, if I didn't know a candidate, I definitely voted a straight Republican ticket.
	...

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