National Political Divide

Public citizens, self-described conservatives and liberals, gathered at a New York City community center to discuss the “Red State-Blue State” divide. The participants talked about their differing views on a variety of political and cultural topics during this event hosted by the Skirball Center as part of its Ideas Cafe series. Moderator Roy Wasserman of the Skirball Center facilitated discussion among groups of audience members who are made up of local New Yorkers (blue staters) and Republican club members and other invited guests from so-called “red states.”

“Red state” and “blue state” referred to the presidential electoral map which, when colored red and blue to show a state’s electoral vote, showed a deep geographical divide similar to the near 50-50 split along party lines nationwide. close