What Happened at the Democratic National Convention?

The Democratic Party held their national convention September 4-6 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Held every four years leading up to the general election, the Democratic National Convention is where delegates gather to approve the party’s platform, and officially nominate a candidate for president and vice president. This year, 5556 delegates and 611 alternates were in attendance, along with about 15,000 members of the media. The theme was “American’s Coming Together”.

Platform

On September 4, the Democratic Party unveiled “Moving America Forward: 2012 Democratic National Platform”. Democrats included what they have accomplished over the past four years, in addition to what they believe and plan to accomplish if Barack Obama and Joe Biden are re-elected.

You can read the platform for yourself here. It features sections on rebuilding the middle class (including the economy, taxes, healthcare, and education), civil rights, energy and the environment, national defense, and strengthening foreign alliances.

• Rebuilding Middle Class Security – The Democrats believe in an economy built from “the middle out” instead of the top down. Their plan for creating jobs is to continue the American Jobs Act. They support tax breaks for companies who hire veterans and that do not ship jobs overseas. They support reforming the tax code so that it is fairer and simpler, but oppose the kind of tax reform proposed by the Republicans. In addressing healthcare, the Democratic Party opposes any efforts to privatize Medicare or use a contribution plan in which the government pays a fixed amount. On education, Democrats are committed to reforming the student loan program, as well as working with states to give them the flexibility and resources they need to improve education in a way that works best for their students.

• Civil Rights – A core belief of the Democratic Party is that no American should face discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. As such, they support access to affordable family planning services, and oppose any effort to overturn a woman’s right to have an abortion. To protect the freedom to vote, the Democrats oppose laws that place unnecessary restrictions on that right. In supporting the right of all families to have equal protection under the law, they would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and replace it with the Respect of Marriage Act, allowing gay couples the right to marry. On the issue of immigration, the Democratic Party supports reform that meets our country’s economic needs, keeps families intact, and follows the law.

• Energy and the Environment – Making our country more energy dependent is a priority of the Democratic Party. To do so, they support an all-of-the-above approach that includes development of wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, hydropower, nuclear oil, clean coal, and natural gas. Protecting our country’s natural resources is equally important. Creating clean energy jobs, encouraging conservation, and reducing waste are ways the Democrats believe we can be protect the environment.

• National Defense – The Democrats are committed to the pursuit of those who threaten our homeland. They believe the best way to accomplish this is by preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, defeating Al-Qaeda, and by bolstering security to protect against cyberthreats and biological weapons. With the support of our allies, the President has set a clear goal of ending the war in Afghanistan by 2014.

• Strengthening Foreign Alliances – Facing global dangers such as terrorism, climate change, and economic disaster takes the help and cooperation of other nations. There are focused efforts in place to repair relationships, address the global financial crisis, promote free and fair trade, advance global development, and champion universal rights without imposing any system of government on another country.

Speakers

Political speakers play an important role because they reinforce the endorsement of a candidate, or shed light on a particular issue. This year’s speakers were made up of former high-ranking Democrats, US Representatives, Senators, state governors, city mayors, business owners, former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Michelle Obama, and special guests.

Closing out the convention, after the official nominations were made, Vice Presidential nominee, Joe Biden and President, Barak Obama gave their speeches. President Obama spoke of the accomplishments of his first term, and called for Americans to be patient as his administration moves forward.