Is there a middle ground?

Are we witnessing the demise of the middle?

For all of the push and pull of national politics, Americans have pretty much governed themselves from the center.

But these days, particularly when it comes to contentious social issues, the middle can be hard to find. And it may be in danger of disappearing altogether.

Consider, for example, the issue of gay marriage.

Only a few days ago, in the wake of the re-election of President Bush, we wrote an editorial suggesting that a centrist position on that issue might be a way of moving beyond that divisive question.

After all, both the president and his opponent had said they opposed gay marriage as such but could live with the concept of civil unions.

Could it be possible to draft federal legislation which defined marriage as a distinct entity but which also gave gay individuals “some measure of comity and legal protection equivalent to what is on afforded to their heterosexual fellow citizens”?

That’s what the editorial wondered, but you never had a chance to read it.

Before it could appear in print that middle course was quickly vetoed by the people at the opposite ends of this particular tug of war.

Appearing on “The News Hour” on PBS on Monday, spokesmen for gay rights and their opponents were asked by reporter Margaret Warner if it were possible to combine the gay marriage ban amendment with language that allowed for civil unions between gays.

The answer from the gay spokesman: Absolutely not. That would amount to second-class citizenship.

The answer from the opponent of gay marriage: Absolutely not.

The people supporting her organization want to ban civil unions as well.

And with those absolutes, the middle disappeared.

It’s going to take real leadership and a huge dose of political courage if it’s ever going to be found again. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]