oh yeah, and "Don't Mess with Texas" Ahhh...I get 'em now.
- Deborah R.
Platforms reflect growing gulf between the parties
State conventions reveal that only disdain crosses the aisle
Friday, June 18, 2004
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
HOUSTON - Texas Republicans and Democrats, if you get their drift,
are moving further apart.
At the Democratic convention Friday and today and at the Republican
convention two weeks ago, both sides took pride in waving American
flags, wearing silly hats and talking earnestly about the future of
democracy. And they also shared an attitude, one of mutual disdain
for each other.
"I think they've gotten further apart," said Tony Proffitt, who has
worked for both former Republican Gov. Bill Clements and Democratic
Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.
Many of their differences are reflected in the hardened language of
the party platforms.
"The planks end up being hand grenades that the parties throw at
each other," Mr. Proffitt said.
Longtime Democratic consultant Ed Martin conceded that the more
generalized, sweeping, big-tent statements of the party's past
platforms have been chiseled down to sharper points. Now, long
paragraphs blame Republicans for mediocre education, uninsured
children, weakened pollution standards and costlier prescription
drugs.
"This platform is much more aggressive about driving home the
distinctions about how Republican policies have failed the people
of Texas," Mr. Martin said.
Ted Royer, a spokesman for the state GOP, said the Democrats are
responding to Republican success by becoming more liberal.
In fact, Republicans are so pleased with the direction of the
opposing party that GOP state chairwoman Tina Benkiser on Friday
endorsed the re-election efforts of Democratic state party chairman
Charles Soechting.
"I would fully expect their platform to reflect a more radically
liberal agenda," Mr. Royer said. "The eternal pressure within the
party is forcing them further and further to the left."
He acknowledged that the Republican platform is right of center,
"but that's where I think the majority of Texans are."
Countering, Mr. Soechting said the Republicans have veered so far
to the evangelical right, that he describes their platform as "a
political suicide note."
"I think the Republican voters are guilty of not reading their own
platform. If they had, they wouldn't be Republicans," Mr. Soechting
said.
But in the long run to the November general election, do platforms
really matter?
"The platform is a good starting point for either party to have a
political discussion," Mr. Proffitt said.
"It says, 'This is how we are different: The Republicans want a
tougher embargo against Cuba, and the Democrats want to go there
and have a good time.' "
And beyond that, he said, "I suspect the vast majority of voters
don't pay attention."
WALKING THE PLANKS In platforms and meetings, the two parties at
their state conventions have staked out their differences.
[Chart follows: / separates Dem plank from GOP plank]
Democrats / Republicans
Separate church and state / Affirm that the United States is a Christian nation, dispel the myth of separation between church and state
Prohibit the execution of juvenile and mentally etarded offenders/ Extend the death penalty to rape crimes
Trust women to make their own reproductive choices / Ban abortion, no exceptions
Keep Social Security strong and certain, opposeprivatization / Begin privatization of Social Security, phase out the Social Security tax
Increase the minimum wage /
Repeal the minimum wage
Attain equity among school districts and commit needed resources to improve public schools /
Prohibit regulation of private schools and begin state-funded voucher programs
Fight all forms of discrimination, protect privacy rights/ Criminalize homosexuality, oppose same-sex insurance or retirement benefits, deny child custody to gays
Fight efforts to weaken environmental protection /
Oppose the Endangered Species Act
Encourage purchase of public and private land for conservation / Government land ownership is the cornerstone of socialism
===== " How come people always flip and think they're Jesus? Why not Buddha? Particularly in America, where more people resemble Buddha than Jesus. 'Ah'm BUDDHA!' 'You're Bubba!' 'Ah'm Buddha now..All I gotta do is change 3 letters on ma belt...' " - Bill Hicks