Gerson writes, "What assurance did Clinton provide that Democratic elites even tolerate more conservative views on, say, abortion?"

Well there sparky, Clinton provided the same assurances that Republican elites give for tolerating more liberal views on, say, guns* or climate change. 

For generations Democrats have been"tolerating" more conservative views on most everything. Democrats have also been attempting to compromise with far right extremists for whom compromise is an evil word. But most of us are tired of this mushy middle. Until conservatives regain an interest governance and compromise, we Democrats should stop apologizing for and compromising our core principals.

And BTW when it comes to tolerating more conservative views on abortion, I'll be glad if Democrats finally tell big government conservatives who are trying block a woman's access to planned parenthood services to "go pound sand"...and I hope they tell them "to go pound sand" in the most intolerant way.