How important is the Party Platform?

[Dookus]

Every four years, both parties have a big ruckus about the platform, then shove it away in a filing cabinet.

Does ANY elected official ever say "Hrmm... I don't know about this issue. Let's see what the party platform says"? I doubt it.

A platform plank is a sop thrown to the party activists, then promptly forgotten.

But what do you think?

[BootinUp]

1. This year less important

As ejecting the chimp by any means necessary has become the priority. :)

[ewagner]

2. Hardest part

is to keep platform consistant with the nominees stated positions. Otherwise charges of inconsistancy, or hanging extreme positions on the nominee.

gotta be careful with this..........

[Dookus]

3. Can the people

who think it's extremely important explain why they believe that? History doesn't seem to back it up.

[Dookus]

4. anyone?

Hello... is this thing on? *tap tap tap*

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Historically, for the Democrats

it's been important only in that it is an extra thing for us to fight over.

[Dookus]

7. lol

you are correct.

[lams712]

6. The platform is generally unimportant, most candidates ignore...

....the specifics anyway.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Other.

The platform exists as a framework for how the party plans to handle issues and governing in general. And, yeah, a lot of it is just a sop to some of its special interest wings, but sometimes planks show a real difference in principle from the other guys. Like with abortion.

It defines the party, and gives everyone some kind of handle on how things might work out, but no one in his right mind thinks everyone in the party will even try to get all that stuff through.

The platforms are a joke, but you gotta have them.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. A joke, but you gotta have em - precisely.

It does define us to some extent, but on the other hand, part of belonging to a political party is the realization that yes, you can disagree with something in the platform and still work within the party. You can generally dislike another party member for whatever reason, and still show partisan support (within limits, of course). Parties, for all their warts and flaws, are the most effective political tool in our system. I don't have to like hammers in order to realize they are the most useful thing around for driving in nails.
And what I said earlier about the platform being another thing to fight over -- true -- but it's ok! We're Democrats. We actually can tolerate a variety of viewpoints in reality - it's not just meaningless rhetoric when we talk about tolerance.