EDITORIAL: Seek common ground on forums with voters

April 02--Carrie Lane had issues.

She was born in 1859 on the cusp of the Civil War, which put the lie to the "self-evident" truth that "all men are created equal" while excluding women from that equation.

She grew up in Charles City and enrolled at Iowa State Agricultural College, later Iowa State University. She joined the Crescent Literary Society, which promoted educational advancement and self-confidence with one condition -- women couldn't speak. Lane dared to do so, and the rules changed.

Lane was valedictorian of her 1880 graduating class and its only female. Three years after embarking on a teaching career, she became the first female Mason City superintendent of schools. She wed Leo Chapman, editor of the Mason City newspaper who died of typhoid fever within a year while in San Francisco. His wife stayed, becoming the city's first female reporter.

In 1890, Carrie Chapman married Iowa State classmate George Catt and devoted her energies to securing the women's right to vote, succeeding Susan B. Anthony as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1900.

For the next two decades Carrie Chapman Catt campaigned tirelessly across the nation and around the world for that right. In 1919, Congress approved the 19th Amendment. In 1920, it was ratified by 36 of the 48 states.

That same year, she formed the League of Women Voters as a "mighty political experiment" to help 20 million newly enfranchised female voters become better educated on public policy as a "nonpartisan" advocacy group. It does not endorse candidates, but studies and takes stands on issues.

Walt Rogers has issues.

The Republican state representative for the 60th District, covering portions of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, doesn't want to participate in any more League of Women Voters of Black Hawk-Bremer Counties forums.

Rogers, chairman of the House Education Committee, attended only one of five LWV forums this year.

He released a statement, "That forum has become a place for left-wing activists to shout at those that they disagree with and negatively spin their message on social media. The moderators are left-leaning partisans and the atmosphere has become toxic. It is not an environment that fosters a respectful, constructive dialogue."

Rogers was not alone. Other area Republicans have not attended LWV forums. In Cedar Rapids, Rep. Ken Rizer declined to attend the Linn County events, stating, "The League of Women Voters forums have long been a tool of the Democratic Party to excite their activists. ... There are much better ways to communicate with my constituents."

Republicans have complained the LWV on a national level has championed legislation contrary to the party's agenda -- abortion rights, stricter gun control, climate change initiatives, campaign finance reform and having citizens' committees draw congressional districts rather than political parties, while opposing school vouchers.

After the emergence of the tea party and other insurgent, Republican-affiliated groups following Barack Obama's election in 2008, Democratic elected officials took the brunt of the outrage at town hall meetings.

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Now that Democrats are out of power, they've taken a page from the tea party playbook at town hall meetings where Republican Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst have faced protests over the attempt to replace Obamacare and other conservative initiatives.

As a beleaguered President Harry Truman once said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." To their credit, they didn't run from the kitchen.

We don't perceive the LWV as rabble-rousers, but because a group is "nonpartisan" doesn't mean it's apolitical.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is "nonpartisan," but largely backs a pro-business agenda that is anathema to pro-labor Democrats. That doesn't mean Democrats should boycott forums sponsored by the chamber on the local level. In fact, it behooves them to attend if only on the outside chance of finding common ground.

The Founding Fathers weren't particularly civil to each other but recognized the need to overcome fundamental differences "to form a more perfect union."

Unfortunately, today's political environment is exceedingly contentious, forsaking compromise for a "winner-take-all" model.

We don't have any insight into Rogers' complaint about LWV moderators and decorum, but it would be beneficial for him and the LWV to find common ground on staging the forums. Civilized discourse and an exchange of ideas in such gatherings are far preferable to party-only echo chambers.

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