Fighting for folks who won't fight for you

Whoever first said "politics is a blood sport" hit the nail on the head. This 2016 presidential election cycle is Exhibit A, at least on the Republican side. Democrats might actually belie that assertion, as Sen. Bernie Sanders is clearly unwilling to hit Hillary Clinton where it hurts, choosing, instead, to give her a pass on the one thing that is probably her greatest vulnerability: her "damn emails." How sweet.

Not much sweetness exudes from the Republicans running for president, however. As determined as Sanders is to handle Clinton with kid gloves, the GOP is even more determined to don boxing gloves and pound each another to death.

Might this be one of the bloodiest Republican primaries ever? I'm no political veteran by any stretch of the imagination, but I've seen enough to know that it's been ugly and seems poised to get uglier. We've heard insults toward candidates, war heroes, people with special needs, debate moderators and more--and those were just from Donald Trump.

I suppose a certain amount of hostility is to be expected, but Re-publicans always seem more willing than Democrats to take it to one another, which provides the left with fodder for the general election. Who needs opposition research when a party opposes itself?

The GOP boxing match has gone far beyond the candidates themselves, however. Perhaps the fiercest fighting is taking place among candidates' supporters.

The battle intensified following last Monday's Iowa caucuses, as Dr. Ben Carson questioned the "ethics" of Sen. Ted Cruz's cam-paign team, which jumped on a CNN report that Carson was sus-pending his campaign, emailing and then leaving voicemails telling people to caucus for Cruz. As it turned out, Carson was simply going home for "a change of clothes." Cruz's people did not update their report, even upon learning the information was erroneous. Carson has since called for heads to roll, and Trump has joined in -- defending the doctor and blasting Cruz, who bested him in Iowa.

Alleged "dirty tricks" during a caucus may very well be worth fights between candidates. After all, they're in it to win it, right? Well, yes, if you're a Republican, you fight; apparently, if you're a De-mocrat, you flip a coin -- or six -- when things get tight. Fine, let the GOP candidates fight it out. Honestly, it's entertaining; I've been known to joke that when I gave up soap operas, I simply replaced them with politics.

But when I see supporters caught up in the fighting, it doesn't feel quite so entertaining. And I'm seeing plenty. Something as simple as an endorsement has set people off. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, for example, a tea party favorite, endorsed Trump. Many who see Cruz as a genuine conservative and Trump as a counterfeit were livid. Some questioned her conservative bona fides, which angered those who stand with her. Name-calling and mud-slinging ensued, with families angry with one another and friends walking away. And over what? Over politicians who typically never do what they say they're going to do anyway?

Look, we all want to believe those we support will honor their word -- rein in government, use the constitutionally granted power of the purse, defund Planned Parenthood, repeal and replace Obamacare, cut taxes, actually pass a budget. The truth is most politicians don't do what they say they'll do. Most go to D.C., drink the water and morph into what the others who drank the water before them morphed into. The Republican base should know this. After all, what came of the historic 2010 and 2014 midterm elections? What came of majorities in the House and Senate? How many have been willing to keep their word? Who consistently demonstrates a backbone? We can't even get some of these characters to stick around and vote on things they say are impor-tant, much less actually fight. There are fighters, no doubt, but they are certainly few.

Why in the world would anyone jeopardize relationships -- some of which have lasted a lifetime -- for politicians, many of whom they'll never meet and who won't do what they promised? It's foolish. Why would you kick the kneecaps of friends in defense of folks who merely kick the political can down the road?

When it's all said and done, the GOP will have one candidate, and the Party will coalesce around that candidate. Meanwhile, there are severed friendships and estranged families because of hurtful words spoken, spirits broken and tempers aroused over untrustworthy politicians. It's one thing to fight for someone with a record of fighting for you, but it's another thing when experience says that's not likely, and it's a shame and a waste.

Let it go.

Adrienne Ross is an editor, writer, public speaker, former teacher and coach, Southeast Missourian editorial board member and owner of Adrienne Ross Communications.