Partisan Psychology

Interesting article/audio from NPR about how it is actually painful for partisans to hear facts that challenge their pre-existing views.
In other news- stop saying that Obama can do anything about gas prices and that he's politicizing killing Bin Laden. It's hurting me.
It's hard to analyze this article- because anything I say could be skewed as my reaction as a supposed partisan.
But thinking about how our minds deal with challenging facts is quite interesting. Do you think one side or the other is more adept at hearing facts that challenge their beliefs? Or is it both sides, so partisan and polarized these past few years that despite facts staring them in the face that are contrary to their beliefs they stick to their guns? And, why are we electing people like that? We want politicians who have strong beliefs but are able to ebb and flow with the times and their constituencies- I mean, as a die hard Dem, I still would rather have politicians who can reach across the aisle and make things work.