Surprised by the anger toward McCain? Party loyalists can hate apostates as much as opponents.

Last Thursday, White House aide Kelly Sadler started a political firestorm when she reportedly joked about Sen. John McCain’s impending death in a staff meeting. The White House declined to apologize. …

Partisanship encourages intense animosity against partisan opponents, as a great deal of research shows. But partisan conflict can also increase anger at fellow party members who don’t toe the line.

We designed a national survey to measure extremely hostile partisan attitudes, both toward opponents and toward politicians in one’s own party who buck the party’s agenda — like McCain. CONT.

Lilliana Mason (U. of Maryland) & Nathan Kalmoe (LSU), Monkey Cage