Don’t let the McCain vs. Obama debate ruin your marriage

For immediate release – October 27, 2008
For more information or to book an interview, please contact:
Dan Couvrette, Publisher of Divorce Magazine: danc@divorcemag.com, (888) 217-9538 ext. 24

Don’t let the McCain vs. Obama debate ruin your marriage

TORONTO – Many couples’ relationships suffer during political races when each spouse hangs on ferociously to political views that differ from their mates’. This year’s run for the White House will be more contentious than ever. Divorce Magazine and DivorceMagazine.com, which have provided first-rate information and resources on relationships and divorce for over 12 years, are offering tips for couples in political disagreement, via one of the publication’s trusted Advisors.

“We just had a federal election in Canada. My wife and I voted for different candidates, and it has not affected our relationship,” says Dan Couvrette, the publisher and CEO of Divorce Magazine and DivorceMagazine.com. “Try letting go of the need to control how each other must vote. Marriage is not about controlling each other’s opinions; it’s about accepting and working with each other’s differences.”

“No couple has to ruin his or her relationship or cause a permanent rift just because they are polarized on candidate choices,” says Stacy D. Phillips, a Divorce Magazine Advisor and celebrity divorce attorney with Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra in Los Angeles. She suggests that couples with opposing politics take advantage of one or more of the following tips:

1. Agree to disagree—and have that talk openly and soon.
2. Set some ground rules—that both of you can honor. For instance, should you or should you not talk about politics? If so, what are the boundaries for discussion? Having specific agreements in place will preserve both your sanity and your relationship.
3. Host your own debate—with a “non-partisan” friend or family member (even one of your children) as the moderator. Time this debate. When it is over, it is over. You can partake in one or more between now and November 4.
4. Refrain—from any discussion about politics. Refraining is something you both have to agree to, though, and when you make such an agreement, keep it.
5. Employ a sense of humor—at all times if you do get into heated discussions over your personal political preferences. Humor has a wonderful way of breaking.
6. Set time limits—for any political discussions and make sure each of you has equal time. When the timer goes off resist the temptation to carry the discussion any further.
7. Focus on what you have in common—immediately after you run out of breath spewing your political viewpoints. This election will come and go, but hopefully it will not take your relationship with it. Focus on those aspects of your relationship that indicate you belong together.
8. Promise to make equal donations—or agree not to make any donations at all to either political party. Be fair, up front, and honest, or risk having such silly deception impact your relationship adversely.

You can read more on
• How the issue of control can impact a relationship: http://www.divorcemag.com/articles/Health_Well_Being/anatomyofcontrol.html

• Top 10 marriage-saving tips: http://www.divorcemag.com/articles/Relationships/valentine.html

Launched in 1996, Divorce Magazine is North America’s only magazine devoted entirely to divorce, published twice a year with six regional editions full of helpful articles as well as guides to local divorce professionals. Its website, DivorceMagazine.com, has been the leading divorce-related website since 1996, offering a diverse archive with thousands of pages of self-help articles as well as public forums, polls, and information on local divorce professionals.

For more information on Divorce Magazine and DivorceMagazine.com, contact publisher Dan Couvrette: (888) 217-9538 ext. 24 danc@divorcemag.com

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