When we heard Congressman Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, talk about his experience in working with Democrats in Congress, it was hard not to get a sinking feeling.

An absence of bipartisanship in Congress is inimical to a well-functioning democracy. The way Bentz described the political climate — and despite efforts he makes — we are not going to get much bipartisanship.

“Let me first of all say how challenging it is to work with Democrats right now,” Bentz said Wednesday night at The Bulletin’s Brews and News. “It is not because Democrats are bad, although some of my fellow Congressmen would say so. It’s because you are not rewarded by your constituency for getting along with Democrats. What you are accused of being is a squish or a RINO (Republican in name only)….”

“Why would you?” he added. “If the loudest of the people you represent are going to become angry and upset because you worked with a Democrat, why would you? And the same is true on the Democrat side.”

He asked Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, how he could meet more Democrats. She suggested he join the Congressional prayer group

“Well, I said, I don’t think I have really joined prayer groups in the past but sure,” Bentz said. And he started going. “I noticed that they had two guys that play guitar for the one song they sing and they only played four chords.”

He said he knows five.

“I can keep up. So I joined the best band on Capitol Hill,” he said. “I have met more Democrats in that space than any other space. And it’s been extremely helpful and I have made some very good friends.”

Bruce Abernethy, a former mayor of Bend, former member of the board of Central Oregon Community College among other things, later followed up with a related question, asking Bentz what could be done about the lack of bipartisanship.

“I would say that this is the problem right here,” Bentz said, holding up his phone. “I would say that this device is designed to respond to anger and be mad and be upset. And if anybody comes in and does not evidence that anger and is rational, then you are not fighting. You are not trying. And so it has been astounding in some of my meetings where people stand up literally and say: You are not fighting for us.”

“Here’s what I did – believe it or not – over the last three days,” he added. “I went back and tried to figure out what Madison was talking about when he talked about getting along. And how he designed the Constitution to make it more likely so it would be more likely that we would compromise…. It was designed to force it. It’s the most amazing thing, but most people don’t think of the Constitution in that light.”

You could argue Bentz should ignore the loudest of the people he represents, if they have such disregard for members of Congress working together. Instead, make it easier for him. Be loud and tell him and others in Congress that compromise and bipartisanship are not crimes. They are how our democracy should work.

You can watch the full discussion with Bentz here: tinyurl.com/Brewsnewsfeb.