How I came to respect centrists

Sticks in the mud. Overly cautious. Obstacles to progress.

That’s how I’ve tended to view political moderates — especially those in my own party. As a 30-something state legislator (1999-2005) deeply committed to individual liberty, limited government and personal responsibility, I often grew frustrated with moderate Republicans who always seemed to move too slowly toward those goals.

I remember telling Republican activists, “The most significant legislation often passes by the narrowest margin” and “nobody is motivated by moderation.”

Today, as progressive Democrats — and some Republicans — say many of those same things to drive moderates to the sideline, my exasperation with “centrist” lawmakers has evolved into grudging admiration — at least for those willing to stand strong for their beliefs. When emboldened, centrists in both parties serve an important function that benefits the vast majority of citizens who aren’t died-in-the-wool Republicans or Democrats: They slow the pace of change.

In a country as evenly and fiercely divided as ours has been for at least 20 years, the public shouldn’t be subjected to political whiplash when a few thousand votes in a handful of states narrowly shift power from one party to the other.

Convincing a skeptical centrist to support legislation can be like reasoning with that relative or neighbor who picks apart every one of your ideas but ultimately makes them work better. Accommodating centrists can be the difference between governing by executive order — which may last only until the next election — and actually passing legislation into law.

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