The Demise of the Compassionate Conservative

In researching the term "compassionate conservative", it appears it was first coined in 1979 by historian and presidential adviser Doug Wead.    Wead contended that the policies of Republican conservatives should be motivated by compassion, not protecting the status quo. And Wead declared himself to be “a bleeding heart conservative,” meaning that he cared for people and sincerely believed that a free marketplace was better for the poor.  (Don't you just love that phrase "bleeding heart conservative"?)

 It entered the public's (or at least my) awareness during George W. Bush's presidential campaign of 2000.  

It has also been used by Democrats.  In 1984, Democratic representative from Oklahoma Robert W. Jones offered his take on the term:  "I think we should adopt the slogan of compassionate conservatism...We can be fiscally conservative without losing our commitment to the needy and we must redirect our policy in that direction."

I liked the term then and still do.  It resets the image of conservative to be caring as opposed to the cold blooded "slash spending no matter what" image.  It introduces a gray area into the left versus right argument.  

Perhaps that is what disturbs me so to announce its demise.  We seem to live in an era where gray areas are not allowed.  You are either this or that, left or right, Democratic or Republican, saint or sinner.