I'm actually also a registered independent, but I don't see any reason to believe the fable you've invented about the Republican academic. When it comes to
matters of lived experience we should prefer to discuss actual experiences, yes.
Please avoid putting words in my mouth (as well as needless swipes like calling me naive and implying I'm some sort of party cultist), as I never said "all debate must be centered around lived experience," I was making a suggestion for this conversation.