Democratic and Republican voters both love civility – but the bipartisan appeal is partly because nobody can agree on what civility is

This illustration shows the lack of civility in American politics. Getty Images

When former Vice President Mike Pence declared, in a speech to a conservative group, that “democracy depends on heavy doses of civility,” several attendees stood up and walked out of the Georgetown University auditorium.

That speech came just three weeks before the midterm elections as commentators and candidates around the country were calling for greater civility in politics.