Every four years two months before the Democratic National Convention approximately 180 people gather to draft the party’s Platform. This document is supposed to reflect the values, policy positions and goals of the Democratic Party. The Platform is written by the staff of the perspective nominee supervised by the party establishment. While people from each state are proportionally represented on the committee when in meets they just act as a rubber stamp.
It’s time for this process to end. One of our goals through the vehicle of REFORM and other internet communities should be to forge a Platform that expresses the views of the people not the super-delegates in Washington or the prospective nominee.
Whoever the nominee may be his or her nomination is the result of those who took part in the primary process. They are our candidate and should be articulating those issues that are important not only to Democratic special interest groups but Independents, and yes, even some moderate Republicans.
On a personal note, I served on the Democratic Platform Committee in 2004-2000. In 2000, I was successful in strengthened the documents environmental plank. This of course was achieved when Al Gore was the perspective nominee. In 2004 this language was struck. It seems that banning drilling in the ANWR upset the Governor of Alaska.
In other to draft such a People’s document I propose we adhere to the rules as they are devised by the DNC. I will list composition below. However, everyone should participate and form advisory committees to assist those actual committee members. My proposition for selection is simple the first persons to volunteer to represent their state will compose the committee’s actual membership.
Once the document is drafted we need to secure the signatures of 15-percent of the DNC Platform Committee membership to move our document to the convention floor for a vote.
These signatures should not be difficult to generate when we attend the Platform Committee meeting which is covered by the press to present the document. The notion of a platform fight should increase media attendance.
I have provided a link to the party’s 2004 Platform document so you may get a sense of its style and content.
This is a historic year in our politics. Let’s continue people power by drafting a party charter that represents the needs and aspirations not only of the Democratic Party but of the American people.
To participate please send an email to 2008reform@gmail.com and specify the state in which you live and what kind of internet communication software you use.
There are some "pragmatists" within the party who believe we should abandon the tradition of a party platform altogether. This view is mostly espoused by the DC consultant crowd.
- How many members serve on the Platform Committee?
Each Convention Standing Committee has a total of 186 members (not including Committee officers) that cast 183 votes. Members are allocated as follows:
o A total of 157 members are proportionally allocated among the states based on population and Democratic voting strength. (The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are treated as states.)
o Four members are allocated to represent American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Democratic Party Committee Abroad ("Democrats Abroad") with each member casting 1/4 vote. (These jurisdictions are collectively referred to as the "territories.")
o Each committee includes 25 Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) members. These members are nominated by DNC Chairman Dean and elected by the DNC Executive Committee.
o Members selected by each state and territory, as well as the PLEO members, must be as equally divided as mathematically practicable between men and women.
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