"be compromised by" and "civil discource"

[kjc0123]

What's the meaning of "be compromised by" and "civil discource" in the following sentences?

The term "witchnut" originated with Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible which was ostensibly about the Salem witch trials but were intended to criticize the hearings of United States Senator Joseph McCarthy as well as the general atmosphere of paranoia and persecution that accompanied them. Other anti-communist hearings in the 1950s were under the aegis of the House Un-American Activities Committee, or HUAC. Although revelations of the Soviet archives in the 1990s showed that some of those who were pursued were indeed communists (HUAC uncovered some genuine Communist infiltrators), the practice of McCarthyism left many innocent victims in its wake. Thus the "witch hunts" of the time were compromised by wild accusations and disregard for civil liberties and civil discourse.

[bernardo]

The witch hunts were less effective than they were intended to be, because they were often based on false information and emotional thoughts, instead of logic and evidence.

[BetsyLou]

Discourse is a word of many meanings but in this example it seems the most likely is something like civil communication/ talk. Civil has to do with the civil (ie non-military) community, aka the general public, in relation to the authorities or the state, so this phrase would essentially mean civilian communication with the state. Well that's my best shot anyway...

[Shatnerfan]

And civil discourse means what the public were saying - suggesting that McCarthy failed to listen to the public.

[Clanad]

I wouldn't disagree in principal with either bernardo (I wouldn't dare!) or BetsyLou, but only add that the term compromise, in this setting probably takes on the connotation of expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute; "The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy" (thanks Wikipedia). Certainly closely related to bernardo's description.
I would also say that the word civil, in the sub-phrase "civil discourse" really leans more to civility, i.e., not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social consideration for others; "even if he didn't like them he should have been civil"- W.S. Maugham... in short, being nice...