Day Two: Democrats approve platform, set tone
By Ian Christopher McCaleb/CNN
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- The second day of the Democratic National Convention was largely devoted to presenting the party's platform -- which delegates approved by acclamation -- and allowing some of the party's more liberal members to offer up the party's vision in a series of issue-oriented speeches.
With the introduction of the party platform Tuesday afternoon by Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, a steady queue of speakers targeted their GOP foes on a number of divisive issues. They included education, health and child care, gay rights, abortion and campaign finance reform -- an issue addressed by Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Rep. Marty Meehan of Massachusetts.
"If we don't clean up our corrupt system of financing political campaigns, the people's agenda won't get done," Meehan said. "Our loophole-ridden campaign finance system puts the special interests at the table, while locking moms, dads and kids out of the room."
The Democrats' actual platform received little mention during the three hours of convention time set aside for related speeches. Speakers concentrated instead on legislative work yet to be done, and played up the Gore-Lieberman ticket as one capable of carrying on the Clinton administration's successes.
The series of two- and three-minute addresses touched upon the resurrection and preservation of the public school system; international trade; electronic privacy; urban renewal; and the expansion of social and racial inclusion -- an issue that provided ample chance to segue into mocking criticism of the Republican National Convention two weeks ago in Philadelphia.
"I represent an integral part of America that is obviously missing from the Republican party," said Pennsylvania delegate Marla Ray Davis, a Temple University Law School student who resides in Philadelphia. "My part of America includes people of all races. You see, I am a descendent of slaves," Davis said.
Added Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas -- the home state of GOP nominee George W. Bush -- "Unlike that other convention, what you are witnessing is real."
"I am an actual African-American officeholder. I'm a native Texan. I'm an actual Democrat," she said. "In Philadelphia, the world saw a made-for-TV movie. In Los Angeles, this is 'The Real World,' " she said in a reference to the reality-based television program.
Several shots were aimed at Bush throughout the afternoon: Speakers also singled out the administration of his father, former President Bush, whom President Clinton ousted in 1992. As the Republicans have sought to link Gore to Clinton, so now are the Democrats increasing their efforts to link the younger Bush to the track record of his father.
Kristina Kiehl, co-founder of the group Voters for Choice and a Democratic platform committee member, assailed the approval of the Republicans' platform two weeks ago -- specifically its sections calling for the appointment of federal judges who would be inclined to reconsider the status of the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, that legalized abortion.
The Republicans want to outlaw abortion," Kiehl said. "That is not compassionate. Gov. Bush vows to sign into a law a bill preventing a woman's right to choose. To me, that is not compassionate."
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Wednesday, August 16, 2000
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