Both sides do demonize each other, that's not the question. The question is if they understand each other. Abortion is a perfect example. Conservatives understand the liberal position, that a woman's "right" to an abortion is more important than a fetus's "right" to live. Obviously they disagree, and obviously they consider the other view abhorrent. But they understand what that view is.
On other other hand, liberals overwhelmingly do not understand conservative positions. Sticking with the same issue of abortion, most liberals say conservatives oppose abortion because they hate women and want to control their bodies. This despite the fact that the majority of people opposed to abortion are women. They simply believe the reverse of what I stated above: that the fetus's "right" to live is more important than the woman's "right" to have an abortion.
On other other hand, liberals overwhelmingly do not understand conservative positions. Sticking with the same issue of abortion, most liberals say conservatives oppose abortion because they hate women and want to control their bodies. This despite the fact that the majority of people opposed to abortion are women. They simply believe the reverse of what I stated above: that the fetus's "right" to live is more important than the woman's "right" to have an abortion.