2008 Republican Party Platform

The finalized 2008 GOP platform is now available (PDF). So far I haven't noticed anything too remarkable, but I'm still skimming. NRO's Stephen Spruiell writes that the differences between this platform and the prior two are noteworthy:

The new platform is distinctly different from the two adopted during the candidacies of George W. Bush, which were constructed to essentially mirror his positions. The 2000 and 2004 platforms made exceptions for Bush in areas where he strayed from traditionally conservative principles. By contrast, the 2008 platform accommodates McCain’s maverick positions on issues like immigration and climate change without accepting his views as the official positions of the Republican party.

[...]

On some issues, the party was less accommodating. The new platform renews the call for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, even though McCain does not favor such an amendment. It also calls for a complete ban on all embryonic stem-cell research. McCain favors the Bush policy on stem-cell research, which allows federal funding for research that utilizes a few existing stem-cell lines. Unsurprisingly, Bush’s policy found expression in the 2004 platform.

Perhaps the most striking difference between the 2004 and 2008 platform documents is the removal of any references to the candidate running for office. In the 2004 document Bush was mentioned over 250 times, with the committee finding something about him to “praise,” “commend,” “hail,” or “applaud” over 70 times. By comparison, neither McCain nor Bush is mentioned at all in the 2008 document, except in passing in the preamble. Some conservative activists who attended the drafting of both platforms attributed this shocking difference to Karl Rove’s influential role in shaping the 2004 platform into an advertisement for the Bush campaign.

Is there nothing that man can't do?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 11:23 AM

Comments

1 You mean, that in 2004, the Republican Party wanted to help their incumbent President win re-election?


SCANDAL!!  IS THERE NOTHING THE RETHUGLIKKKANS WON'T STOOP TO?

Posted by: Techie at September 02, 2008 11:35 AM (c7g2P)

2 No. No, sadly, there is not, my dear friend Techie.

Posted by: Entropy at September 02, 2008 11:38 AM (m6c4H)

3 When dealing with a party platform in 2008, you have to wonder, does it matter?  If the candidate doesn't espouse the views in it, who cares?  Did party platforms ever really matter?

Posted by: MostOffensive at September 02, 2008 11:41 AM (0cwiO)

4 Obviously that, though, explains why McCain's name isn't mentioned as much...

Posted by: MostOffensive at September 02, 2008 11:42 AM (FJ2Bh)

5

Do the Dems have a platform?  I haven't noticed a link to theirs.  Would be interesting to compare the two if they've got one.  The common idea that I hear is that they don't believe in anything, so it would be hard to write one down.

I know Google's my friend, but I'm feeling lazy.

 

Posted by: Mephitis at September 02, 2008 11:45 AM (8vJF0)

6 Independents will bitch to high hell about government spending and paying high tax yet delighted to spend govenment money to find a cure-all to help them live forever ageless and sweet sixteen.  Heh.

Posted by: syn at September 02, 2008 11:50 AM (U/PTC)

7 "...By contrast, the 2008 platform accommodates McCain’s maverick positions on issues like immigration and climate change without accepting his views as the official positions of the Republican party."

What does that mean, "accommodates"? The presumed bully pulpit and would be signatory of law can freely wing it with the presumed majority Democrat Party while the likely minority Republican Party can righteously (and pointlessly) mouth the words of dissent with their platform going by the wayside? WTH? It isn't McCain's party. It's the conservative party. Supposedly.

Hello amnesty and government backed climate changey goodness.

Well, Palin brought in a breath of fresh air for a few days... and the platform promptly lets out a fart.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at September 02, 2008 11:54 AM (sI5Ho)

8

Bah.  They dance around Cap and Trade and drilling in ANWR, and leave it up old McCain to deal with them on his own terms.

Are they just hoping it won't come up or what?

Sissies.

Posted by: SlaveDog at September 02, 2008 11:58 AM (H6Jyg)

9 Nobody cares about the party platform. No candidate is obligated to abide by it. Remember Bob Dole's famous quote back in 1996 that he hadn't even read it.

The GOP party platform is a sop given to the base in compensation for all the crappy RINO candidates that they are asked to hold their noses and vote for. So in return for the crappy RINO candidates getting into office and wielding power, we get... words on a piece of paper. What a deal.

Posted by: OregonMuse at September 02, 2008 12:02 PM (FO+YO)

10

We call for education in constitutional rights in schools, and we support the option of firearms training in federal programs serving senior citizens and women.

Not to split hairs, but has anyone identified a problem with access by women and/or senior citizens to firearms training? Is this inspired by anything? Maybe it's just encouraging rhetoric to Second Amendment types (in which I count myself).

I'm all for nonmilitary firearms training courses, I'm just not sure it's within the federal ambit to provide it at taxpayer expense--and that's what this sounds like. The NRA does a pretty good job...

Posted by: railwriter at September 02, 2008 12:13 PM (nwEiU)

11 Internet Gambling
Millions of Americans suffer from problem or
pathological gambling that can destroy families. We
support the law prohibiting
gambling over the Internet.


Fuck you you nanny state cocksuckers.

Posted by: steve_in_hb at September 02, 2008 12:17 PM (7FHPf)

12 Hey, how's it goin' steve_in_hb? Card bidness still good?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at September 02, 2008 12:19 PM (7oois)






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