The Washington Post's editorial board recently asked George Bush not only why he found it so difficult to find common ground with Congress but why his succcessor almost certainly will confront similar difficulties. The president cited gerrymandering as one of the reasons Congress cannot tackle tough issues such as immigration and the war in Iraq.

Gerrymandering discourages compromise, Bush explained, as congressmen are more likely to fear primaries than general elections. Indeed, primary challengers often accuse incumbents of abandoning the party's principles. Purity becomes essential. Although most voters do not demand ideological purity, the activists who dominate nomination contests do.

A comparison of elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives suggests gerrymandering's effects. The Senate has changed party control six times since 1980; during the same span the House has changed twice. Senators represent entire states, which cannot be gerrymandered. Congressmen represent districts, which are easy to exploit.

Gerrymandering distorts state politics as well, as Virginia knows. Last year offered vivid evidence that the commonwealth needs redistricting reform. Of the 140 seats at stake in the State Senate and House of Delegates, probably fewer than 20 saw legitimate two-party competition. Central Virginia produced only one legislative race worthy of the name. The extraordinary turnout in last month's presidential primary shows what can happen when citizens believe their votes can make a difference. Artfully drawn lines that make districts safe for one party or the other silence the electorate's voice.

This year the Senate passed legislation to take partisanship out of redistricting. Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine and Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling embraced reform. Republicans in the House of Delegates spiked the bill without even bothering to discuss the issue. Their action occurred in a subcommittee, thereby denying the proposal an open debate and a public vote before the full committee. It is difficult to suppress suspicions that the GOP feared sending reform all the way to the floor.

We have no idea whether Bush would have endorsed the Virginia effort. Yet surely it is comforting to know that Republicans in Virginia's House would not have allowed the president of the United States to express to them opinions he volunteered to The Washington Post. The action disgraces Virginia Republicans generally. There is no health in them.