Pros and cons of having political parties in the first place aside, what is it that gets people so factionalized that they absolutely abhor anything remotely associated with “the enemy” even when the “other side” occasionally winds up having a better idea or beliefs more in line with them? Can we not admit that there are at least a few good people on the other side who not only mean well but do well?  Unless your political views are particularly way out there, I guaruntee you’ll find a stereotype defying senator or two of “the enemy” who is probably serving your own ideals of American Government better than many from “your side.”

I’m not implying that you should turn Independent or moderate here (supposing that you aren’t already).  But you might be the particularly left wing on social issues and therefore likely quite prejudiced against the Republicans.  But supposing a Republican suggested a better fiscal policy (of course, it’s not like there are any real fiscal conservatives in either party at the moment.  The Republicans are on a spending spree while pretending not to be.), would you immediately discount it because it was by a Republican?

At first glance, I would say parties take their bases for granted.  The truth, however, is a bit different.  Parties know they need their bases, but when the special interest groups (often far more of a minority than the minority bases) need the party to move in a different direction, it seems to that the parties are actively, but subtly maneuvering their bases.  The Christian churches don’t run the Republican Party.  That might’ve been briefly the case some time back, but the Republican party is actually controlling them.  Politically active megachurches are preaching the merits of the latest Republican policies.

I think even the most loyal Democrat or Republican owes it to their party to challenge the party line every now and then and support good ideas and good people from the opposing party.  Whether you’re Christian, black, gay, or maybe all three, or something altogether different, if you really want a party that fights for you and your ideals and does more than just pay lip service and spend your tax dollars on big business or special interests, show your favored party that they have to earn your vote.  Try courting the other side’s party a little and make them want you too.  YOU are “Middle America”–Don’t sit around and let “Middle America” be defined as the average of the left and right wings.  You’ve spent enough time working hard for your party.  Now it’s time to take your issues front and center and leave your party with no other choice but to work for you.  And while you’re at it, you’re luring the other party over to your views as well.  Even if you never actually switch parties, any legislation you are interested in will be far more likely to pass now that you’ve lead to change in both parties.

Update: Wayne Besen briefly made the same argument today:

This past week will be remembered for McCain abandoning his efforts to win GLBT votes, but it will also mark the moment the GLBT community lost much of its leverage over the Obama campaign. The only way Obama could now lose significant GLBT support is by selecting an anti-gay Vice Presidential candidate, such as Sam Nunn.

The moment the opposing party stops trying to steal a demographic group away is the moment that group becomes taken for granted by their own side.