DEMOCRAT

When I got home and looked my blind date's online profile again, one word popped out that I previously overlooked: CONSERVATIVE. It hit me like a bullet: I am a staunch liberal Democrat. I started to panic, fearing he could be Paul Ryan disguised as Ben Affleck. Even if I were even lucky enough for him to be interested in me, the political lines were drawn. Could I really date someone who was a conservative?

Sometimes love is blind, especially when your partners supports the opposing political party. But, even a loving relationship can combust when those contrasting viewpoints lead to conflicts.

Let's say you're a staunch republican, and you fall madly in love with a hardcore democrat — can you make your relationship work in spite of your wildly different political views? And how can you deal with the inevitable rising tensions as election day fast approaches? It's certainly not easy to manage, but it's not impossible either. Here are a couple of things you can do.

Ready to smile because your work week is (finally) over? These inspirational love quotes from famous Democrats are sure to brighten up your weekend.

If only I could give Sandra Fluke a high-five right now! As a fellow American woman, I've been fuming over the incredibly disrespectful, ignorant, and downright detestable comments Rush Limbaugh made about the Georgetown Law University student since that oafish blowhard called her a "slut" on the air back in February (for daring to voice her opinion that universities should provide contraception coverage).

What was truly intriguing about Michelle Obama's DNC address last night was her vulnerability, her realness, in front of such a huge national audience: She admitted that she wasn't too down with Barack running for president at first because of the time constraints it would put on their family.

Michelle Obama's hugs — once the source of a minor diplomatic scandal when she embraced the Queen of England — are now the keystone of her campaign, Jodi Kantor, the first couple's biographer, wrote in the New York Times.

Kevin D. Williamson's article starts with the premise that women — even Michelle Obama! — must elect Romney because he's blinged-out rich, and of course women are attracted to status — while men go for youth and fertility. Then he goes on for a couple more unbearable, rambling pages.

Do these women actually believe everything they're so eagerly supporting? How much of a relationship between a couple like Mitt and Ann Romney is for love, and how much stems from sharing dare-we-say intellectual ideas, values and beliefs? After all, Ann Romney is pro-choice and the Republican platform couldn't be clearer about their anti-woman stance on abortion. Do their dinner conversations just never "go there"?

While everyone's favorite killjoy Mitt Romney has vowed to toss out Obamacare if he's elected president (in your dreams, Romney), today, in a move that proved that America is finally taking a step in the right direction, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plan. Let's raise a glass.

Senate Democrats appear to be setting up a fight with the GOP over extending the Violence Against Women Act. Republicans wary about being branded anti-woman object to the inclusion of gays and illegals, and say the Dems are trying to score political points.

Match.com recently conducted their second-annual comprehensive study of single people in America, who now constitute one-third of the population. Over 5,000 singles participated in the Singles In America survey, with questions ranging from "How many times have you had sex in the last 12 months?" to "Has the economy affected your dating life?" The survey produced some pretty juicy results...

In the wake of the Iowa caucuses, many pundits are scratching their heads. Favorites like Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich lost to the relative unknown, Rick Santorum, who tied with Mitt Romney at 24% of the vote. But perhaps, the result is less confusing when you look at it from the angle of love and relationships.

Do you love someone who doesn't share your political values? Or perhaps you know an R or a D or an I who is making a life with her opposite number? Purple States is casting red-and-blue couples for a docu-drama that will air in the fall of 2012.

Note to the male population: If you don't share my bleeding heart liberal views, we will not be having sex. Just something to think about during this pre-election season, which has already bombarded us with incompetent GOP debates and Rick Perry's overtly bizarre behavior. I'm apparently in the minority on this one, however.

A new study found that when it comes to online dating, people are more likely to confess that they're more on the, um, "fluffy" side when it comes to their physique than what their political stances are.