Why We Miss Moderates

At RealClearPolitics former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh calls for ending the “vicious cycle” that lead to the shootings in Alexandria yesterday:

American democracy is supposed to be a competition of ideas. Elected officials are supposed to have spirited debates. As the saying goes, “politics ain’t beanbag.” But whatever their disagreements, an indelible comity once existed across the partisan divide. Fellowship did not end at the partisan edge.

In an age of increasingly heated debate—in an era defined too often by rhetorical vitriol—the Congressional Baseball Game was one of the few remaining respites. Each spring, colleagues who might otherwise be prone to excoriate one another on the floor of the House or Senate have met for a friendly game of balls and strikes. Their disagreements were never resolved in the course of nine innings. Members were unlikely to see eye-to-eye on a big vote simply because a Democratic second baseman chatted amiably for a moment with the Republican who’d hit a double. But for the few hours when they were engaged in America’s honored pastime, the stain of partisanship was overcome with a feeling of goodwill.

Now even that is tarnished.

Here’s his prescription:

The shooting in Alexandria shouldn’t become fodder for political talking points. It’s a personal tragedy for Rep. Steve Scalise, the other victims and their families. Of course, Americans’ foremost liberty is the freedom of speech. Even the most ardently held views have a right to be expressed. But some level of civility and proportion is important. No one should shout “fire” in a crowded theater and be surprised by the ensuing chaos. No one should strike a match near dry tinder and be surprised at the ensuing flames.

We all need to redouble our efforts to find the common humanity beneath every political disagreement. In the end, no matter how wrongheaded you may believe the other side to be, we all want America to thrive. We all want a better future for our children. We’re all invested in one another’s success.

Let’s hear more reconciliation in our political debate. Let’s rethink our propensity to make every disagreement apocalyptic. Let’s resist the temptation to infer the worst motives to our adversaries. In the end, the American values that unite us are much stronger than those tearing us apart. Let’s remember that. And even amid a horrible tragedy, let’s celebrate and defend the great blessings of American democracy. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once observed: “We may have arrived on these shores in different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”

As Plato noted, moderation is the virtue that makes republican government possible.

And that’s why we miss moderates.