THE WASHINGTON TIMES
July 11, 2004
Kerry heads off platform squabble
From the Nation/Politics section
Stephen Dinan
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's
campaign headed off a showdown in the party platform yesterday over
Iraq, convincing rival Dennis J. Kucinich's supporters not to demand
withdrawal of U.S. troops or the establishment of a Department of Peace.
Saying party unity is more important than particulars, delegates
agreed to forgo amendments on Iraq, a broader call for same-sex unions
and a stronger endorsement of Palestinians' rights.
Mr. Kerry has ensured that his party will adopt a platform that
matches the centrist image the campaign is trying to portray for the
Massachusetts senator.
"They didn't think we could do this. They didn't think we could be
on message. We showed them, we did it," said Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones,
Ohio Democrat and co-chairwoman of the platform committee. "We have kept
our eye on the prize."
The platform was adopted unanimously and will go to the full
convention in Boston on July 26 for final approval. It is far shorter
than the 2000 Democratic platform, and instead of a list of specifics,
it is a broader statement of principles.
The document includes several pointed rebukes of President Bush's
policies, calling them "wrongheaded" and a "dangerously ineffective"
disregard of other nations.
Almost half of this year's platform is devoted to national and
domestic security -- something Kerry campaign officials said emphasizes
that Democrats, led by Mr. Kerry, are ready to assume the challenge of
defending the United States.
The platform includes Mr. Kerry's call for boosting military troop
strength, his initiatives to contain weapons of mass destruction and his
pledge to channel more funding to homeland security.
The Kerry campaign was very much in charge of the drafting process,
with deputy campaign manager Steve Elmendorf, adviser Miles Lackey and
campaign foreign-policy adviser Rand Beers on hand in the hotel ballroom
here in Hollywood, Fla.
full:
<http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20040710-113547-1423r>
--
Marxism list: www.marxmail.org
