The Clinton Campaign Is Obstructing Change to the Democratic Platform

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/06/28/clinton-campaign-obstructing-change-democratic-platform

I’ve had a front-row seat to the first round of the process, as 1 of 5 delegates Sanders named to draft the platform. (The Clinton campaign named six, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee, added four more.) We spent two weeks listening to powerful testimony from citizens around the country, and then on Friday in St. Louis we started taking votes.

And it was there that the essential dynamic quickly emerged. The Clinton campaign was ready to acknowledge serious problems: We need fair trade policy, inequality is a horrible problem, and unchecked climate change will wreck the planet. But when it came to specific policy changes, they often balked. Amendments against the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and backing Medicare for all failed, with all the Clinton delegates voting against.

At which point we got (about 11 p.m., in a half-deserted hotel ballroom) to the climate section of the platform, and that’s where things got particularly obvious. We all agreed that America should be operating on 100 percent clean energy by 2050, but then I proposed, in one amendment after another, a series of ways we might actually get there. A carbon tax? Voted down 7-6 (one of the DNC delegates voted with each side). A ban on fracking? Voted down 7-6. An effort to keep fossils in the ground, at least on federal land? Voted down 7-6. A measure to mandate that federal agencies weigh the climate impact of their decisions? Voted down 7-6. Even a plan to keep fossil fuel companies from taking private land by eminent domain, voted down 7-6. (We did, however, reach unanimous consent on more bike paths!)

...

Which is why we need not platitudes but a platform. Not aspirations but commitments. Not happy talk, but the fully adult conversation that Sanders engaged the country in for the past year. Cornel West, with his usual succinct eloquence, said that in the end the platform debate came down to telling the truth. The truth is, we’re in a world of hurt. That hurt—economic, social, environmental—is driving the unsettling politics of our moment. That hurt needs to be addressed.

Disappointing, to me at least, that actual policies are being rejected in favor of platitudes. There are problems to be fixed and the Democratic Party should be on the vanguard of leading the fixes.

46 replies	Author	Time	Post
The Clinton Campaign Is Obstructing Change to the Democratic Platform (Original post)	Scuba	Jun 2016	OP
This paragraph clearly shows what the priorities are: corporate donors	arcane1	Jun 2016	#1
But Bernie needs to convince his supporters to vote for her. I think he could use a bit of her help	floriduck	Jun 2016	#28
She needs to convince his supporters to vote for her. It's her job, not his n/t	arcane1	Jun 2016	#30
I forgot my sarcasm emoticon. Sorry.	floriduck	Jun 2016	#31
:)	arcane1	Jun 2016	#32
81 percent of Sanders supporters are now fully behind HRC.	NYC Liberal	Jun 2016	#38
I don't doubt it. But to be fair to Hillary,	forest444	Jun 2016	#2
This is one of the reasons reasons Clinton won so handily.	NCTraveler	Jun 2016	#3
The platform is meaningless without votes in the House and Senate to pass	lewebley3	Jun 2016	#4
That said, there is nothing to "pass" with respect to a platform. nt.	NCTraveler	Jun 2016	#7
This message was self-deleted by its author	Cali_Democrat	Jun 2016	#6
I have no intentions of rehashing the primary.	NCTraveler	Jun 2016	#8
so the compromise in these negotiations is...	leftinportland	Jun 2016	#9
There is something I never said. Well done. nt.	NCTraveler	Jun 2016	#13
With every negotiation there is compromise...	leftinportland	Jun 2016	#22
Yup. That is negotiating.	NCTraveler	Jun 2016	#23
The compromise comes from understanding you have to give when you have fewer votes.	CrowCityDem	Jun 2016	#16
+1	uponit7771	Jun 2016	#42
Decree via platform? Solutions are actioned in the legislative bodies.	LuvLoogie	Jun 2016	#17
"many of us look at the Brexit vote"	joshcryer	Jun 2016	#5
The author's point seems to be about his ego not wht actually got done.	Buzz cook	Jun 2016	#10
No-action platitudes are facts being reported, regardless of the 1st-person verbiage.	JudyM	Jun 2016	#29
No action platitudes are the "opinon" being reported.	Buzz cook	Jun 2016	#36
"We need not platitudes but a platform. Not aspirations but commitments."	CrispyQ	Jun 2016	#11
To the victor go the spoils	pokerfan	Jun 2016	#40
I like Bill McKibben, but he doesn't need to worry about winning an election.	DanTex	Jun 2016	#12
Yeah, McKibben couldn't even get 100 people to attend...	joshcryer	Jun 2016	#20
This message was self-deleted by its author	stopbush	Jun 2016	#14
Shock! The Clinton people voted for the Clinton platform, the winning platform. Shock!	CrowCityDem	Jun 2016	#15
Bill McKibben's panties got knotted because he didn't get his way.	cosmicone	Jun 2016	#18
dear commondreams, the primaries will not be revoted no matter how much you want it to be nt	msongs	Jun 2016	#19
Amazing that the person who won and has to face a general election	geek tragedy	Jun 2016	#21
CommonNonsense	JoePhilly	Jun 2016	#24
The nominee gets to approve the platform. Hillary gave Bernie much more of a voice	pnwmom	Jun 2016	#25
So, the Platform represents the vision of the winner, Hillary.	Lil Missy	Jun 2016	#26
And here is that vision. Do you agree with the results of these votes?	arcane1	Jun 2016	#27
Some info from the other viewpoint.	Eko	Jun 2016	#33
Excellent, EXCELLENT post. Thanks a lot.	Herman4747	Jun 2016	#44
What is the large scale alternative to fossil fuels right now?	sufrommich	Jun 2016	#46
Neoliberalism with bits of progressivism.	JRLeft	Jun 2016	#35
Bike paths through a vast strip mine and abandoned factories	leveymg	Jun 2016	#43
If this platform truly is going to be about commitments...	SaschaHM	Jun 2016	#34
GOOD!!!	MohRokTah	Jun 2016	#37
This may come as a surprise, but the person who wins generally has more say in the platform	TwilightZone	Jun 2016	#39
No, she won and he lost	MaggieD	Jun 2016	#41
Kicked and recommended.	Uncle Joe	Jun 2016	#45

The Clinton Campaign Is Obstructing Change to the Democratic Platform

1. This paragraph clearly shows what the priorities are: corporate donors

28. But Bernie needs to convince his supporters to vote for her. I think he could use a bit of her help

30. She needs to convince his supporters to vote for her. It's her job, not his n/t

31. I forgot my sarcasm emoticon. Sorry.

32. :)

38. 81 percent of Sanders supporters are now fully behind HRC.

2. I don't doubt it. But to be fair to Hillary,

3. This is one of the reasons reasons Clinton won so handily.

4. The platform is meaningless without votes in the House and Senate to pass

7. That said, there is nothing to "pass" with respect to a platform. nt.

8. I have no intentions of rehashing the primary.

9. so the compromise in these negotiations is...

13. There is something I never said. Well done. nt.

22. With every negotiation there is compromise...

23. Yup. That is negotiating.

16. The compromise comes from understanding you have to give when you have fewer votes.

42. +1

17. Decree via platform? Solutions are actioned in the legislative bodies.

5. "many of us look at the Brexit vote"

10. The author's point seems to be about his ego not wht actually got done.

29. No-action platitudes are facts being reported, regardless of the 1st-person verbiage.

36. No action platitudes are the "opinon" being reported.

11. "We need not platitudes but a platform. Not aspirations but commitments."

40. To the victor go the spoils

12. I like Bill McKibben, but he doesn't need to worry about winning an election.

20. Yeah, McKibben couldn't even get 100 people to attend...

15. Shock! The Clinton people voted for the Clinton platform, the winning platform. Shock!

18. Bill McKibben's panties got knotted because he didn't get his way.

19. dear commondreams, the primaries will not be revoted no matter how much you want it to be nt

21. Amazing that the person who won and has to face a general election

24. CommonNonsense

25. The nominee gets to approve the platform. Hillary gave Bernie much more of a voice

26. So, the Platform represents the vision of the winner, Hillary.

27. And here is that vision. Do you agree with the results of these votes?

33. Some info from the other viewpoint.

44. Excellent, EXCELLENT post. Thanks a lot.

46. What is the large scale alternative to fossil fuels right now?

35. Neoliberalism with bits of progressivism.

43. Bike paths through a vast strip mine and abandoned factories

34. If this platform truly is going to be about commitments...

37. GOOD!!!

39. This may come as a surprise, but the person who wins generally has more say in the platform

41. No, she won and he lost

45. Kicked and recommended.