Found the nekuda that explains what bothers me when reading Yidden arguing without integrity about politics or whose rebbe is bigger:
Berdichever (as quoted by R Twersky) says – if you are lying in non-religious matters, you are losing out on many mitzvos. For example, when you say “Shma Yisroel” it is your testimony of your emunah. But if you are known to lie, you are not believed in this testimony and you are losing out on kriyas shma [ AAQ: even if you say it b’zmono]