Kucinich Campaign Now Supports Dem. Platform and Occupation

Democrats Avoid Platform Fight Over Iraq


Saturday July 10, 2004 11:31 PM

AP Photo FLJS104

By KEN THOMAS

Associated Press Writer

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) - John Kerry's presidential campaign avoided a platform fight Saturday by persuading activists to drop virulent language about the Iraq war that would have declared the conflict a mistake from the beginning.

The Democratic platform committee worked through the day at a beachfront resort to put final details on the party's statement of principles for the November elections.

The platform will be shaped heavily by national security crises and presumptive nominee Kerry's campaign.

First, however, the committee had to avoid demands by a group of activists that the document describe the entry into Iraq as a mistake and lay down an exit strategy to get American forces out of Iraq. Still, the document includes tough language on terrorism and President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.

It will be presented to the Democratic National Convention in Boston for its imprimatur at the end of this month.

``Democrats are stronger than ever on national security issues and are going into the election confident of winning the debate on who can keep America safe,'' Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said.

The committee adopted language brokered by the Kerry campaign saying that as other nations add troops, ``The U.S. will be able to reduce its military presence in Iraq, and we intend to do this when appropriate so that the military support needed by a sovereign Iraqi government will no longer be seen as the direct continuation of an American military presence.''

Supporters of presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, still campaigning despite Kerry's evident victory, said the language was not what they had wanted but called it a victory. They agreed to withdraw amendments to the platform on Iraq in exchange for the new language.

``What we got was a commitment to begin the process to talk about bringing the troops home, and the Kerry campaign and the DNC from the outset didn't want this language in there,'' Kucinich deputy campaign manager Tim Carpenter said.

``We've moved. They've moved. It's truly unity in that sense,'' Carpenter said.

Kerry advisers said the platform reflected the Massachusetts senator's long-standing position on Iraq. Kerry has said he would repair America's international alliances and build a genuine multinational coalition to secure Iraq.

``We think we've come to an agreement with the Kucinich people on a way ahead that we think represents what has always been John Kerry's position,'' Kerry adviser Rand Beers said. That, Beers said, ``is we shouldn't be in Iraq longer than we have to be, but we have to ensure that when we leave Iraq, we do it in a way that doesn't leave chaos and catastrophe in our wake.''

``I think that reflects a general view on the part of Democrats, no matter who they supported early on, that it's important that John Kerry be elected,'' said former President Clinton's national security adviser, Sandy Berger.

Kucinich later thanked supporters by phone, declaring: ``We pushed them on this issue. They needed to be pushed on this issue.''

Republican National Committee spokesman David James called the platform an ``extreme makeover'' of the Kerry ticket by the DNC.

``The makeover is designed to hide the fact their platform does not mention opposition to funding for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, which is how both ... Kerry and Edwards voted as part of a tiny, liberal minority in the United States Senate,'' James said.

The document contends Bush ``rushed to war'' in Iraq but does not call the war a mistake. That, it says, is arguable. It also does not rule out pre-emptive military action, if necessary.

``Platforms are about the future, and it is very clear that America must succeed in Iraq. It's got to stay there until the job's done,'' said Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, the platform committee's co-chairman.

About a dozen activists greeted committee members outside the ballroom with signs reading: ``Support Our Troops. Bring Them Home. Peace is Patriotic.''

National security clauses comprise half the platform. McAuliffe said about 20 percent of previous platforms dealt with security. DNC officials said about 200 amendments were filed for consideration at the final drafting conference, including those from the Kucinich activists.

The Democratic document offers few departures from party principles on social and economic issues and bears a strong resemblance to Kerry's campaign agenda.

It supports abortion rights, gay rights short of marriage and affirmative action, and it echoes Kerry's support of expanded health care, a modernized military, energy independence and middle-class tax cuts.

Committee members removed a reference to 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole in the text but included a mention of former first lady Nancy Reagan's support of embryonic stem cell research, which Democrats also approve. The Bush administration has restricted the research.

The gathering was in Florida, where Bush narrowly defeated Al Gore in 2000 after a spate of legal challenges, a 36-day recount and a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois said the meeting's location was ``in the middle of a crime scene. If I had a big yellow ribbon, I would tie it around this entire state.''