WUNDERKINDER WONDERS WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE DEMOCRATS:

I might not be a super-lefty on this subject, but the fact remains that I’m far more liberal than President Bush (perhaps to be expected) but I’m also far more liberal than the entire leadership of the Democratic Party. What gives? Why are Democrats getting a pass on this issue. In fact, the Dems are more to blame for how slowly the gay rights debate is emerging than any other group. In contentious issues like abortion rights, for example, the dichotomy between the two parties naturally leads to compromise and the overall protection of abortion rights. But how can you expect even a compromise to occur when not even the leaders of your party support your position?

Many key Democratic constituencies — the remaining Democratic blue-collar workers, and blacks, for example — are not particularly pro-gay. In fact, they’re probably less supportive of gay rights than average. I suspect that the leadership fears getting too far out in front of them on this issue.