When former Solicitor General Theodore Olson announced last spring that he plans to fight California’s ban on same-sex marriage, a lot of people found themselves scratching their heads. Many of Olson’s fellow conservatives think he has sold his soul for a godless cause. Some liberals are reluctant to accept support from a man who has spent his career fighting against some of their most treasured beliefs. The more conspiracy-minded argue that Olson will purposely lose any gay marriage case he gets before the Supreme Court in order to deal the gay rights movement a devastating blow.

Olson says his defense of gay marriage stems from his long-standing commitment to individual liberty and that his position is consistent with his bedrock conservative values. I believe him, and I applaud him. I also think that his position and the reactions provoked by his announcement are wonderfully refreshing for the light they cast on our great national dysfunction.

The inability of both conservatives and liberals to take Olson at face value on this issue is a sad reflection of the state of American politics today. The positions of both the Republican and Democratic parties have become so entrenched, and their sacred cows so untouchable, that anyone who holds office and dares to question party orthodoxy risks being cast as a pariah.

Take, for example, Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, who has had to endure intense anger from fellow Republicans because of her support for health care reform. Or take Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York whose support for gun rights was seen by some Democrats as reason enough for Gov. David A. Paterson to not appoint her to fill the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton.

It’s no wonder that voters are abandoning the two main parties in droves, choosing instead to call themselves independents. By some reports, more than 40 percent of Americans now identify as independents, making them the largest bloc of voters. While some independents are moderates, others embrace more interesting, and more complicated, political stances.

Many Americans — and I count myself among them — are drawn to positions that appear to be inconsistent when viewed through the lens of party politics, but that are consistent when viewed through our own value systems. When we see someone like Olson take unexpected positions on controversial issues, we find ourselves inclined to trust him because he seems more human. As a result, we find ourselves more willing to consider other positions that person takes, even if we’re inclined to disagree on most issues.

If more politicians follow the lead of Olson, Snowe or Gillibrand, and adhere to their convictions despite political risks, they may find more than 40 percent of voters ready to embrace them.

Mark Rice is the chairman of American Studies at St. John Fisher College in Rochester and maintains the blog “Ranking America” (http://rankingamerica. word-press. com). Views expressed in this column are his own.