Iraq and the Democratic Platform

This morning, six Democratic superdelegates -- supporters of Clinton, Obama, or undecided -- joined me on a conference call with the national press corps to announce a united campaign to end the war in Iraq. While the superdelegates disagree on who should be Commander-in-Chief, they all agree that the Democratic Party should be united in calling for a responsible end to the war in Iraq, a diplomatic surge with Iran and an end to the use of torture. [Listen to the conference call and learn more here].

Three of those superdelegates, Reps. Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern and Sam Farr, explained this important effort in a posting today at Daily Kos, reposted here:

Iraq & the Democratic Platform
By Reps. Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, and Sam Farr

At a time when the media is concentrating on what divides us as Democrats -- our preferences for whom our party should nominate for president -- we think that it is important to speak out on matters that unite us. The debacle in Iraq and the failed foreign policy that led us there is of grave concern to the American people. It also offers a clear contrast between the Democratic and Republican parties, regardless of who our presidential nominee is.

On the issues of Iraq and foreign policy, Democrats can't be vague or fuzzy. We need to be clear, strong and unequivocal: the war must end; we must reach out to all parties in the region in a diplomatic effort; and we must rebuild our standing in the world by ending the use of torture and closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Regardless of when the nomination is decided, the Democratic Platform that will be ratified at the Convention in Denver will form our core statement of principles as a party for the next four years, principles that we will unite around in both the general election and beyond. With only months remaining before we unite as a party in August, it is critical that we take action now to ensure that a clear statement is made in our platform: we will end the war in Iraq; the Republican Party will not.

That is why we are coming together -- as supporters of Barack Obama, supporters of Hillary Clinton, and those who are still undecided in the nominating contest -- to press for the inclusion of strong language in the platform that addresses the war in Iraq, the need for a fundamental change in our foreign policy, and the need to end the use of torture including the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison.

These are positions that unite the vast majority of Democrats -- and, we would argue, the American people as a whole, who are ahead of their government on this issue -- and it is long past time that we made them a firm plank in the platform that defines what we stand for as a party.

Today we have begun to circulate this statement among our fellow super delegates encouraging the Democratic Party to incorporate clear language about the war in Iraq into the 2008 party platform:

We, Super delegates to the Democratic National Convention, support the incorporation of language into the Democratic Party platform that calls for:

• An end to the war in Iraq by initiating the safe and secure withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces, leaving no permanent military bases behind;
  
  
• A robust diplomatic surge in the Middle East and beyond that includes negotiations with the Iranian government without preconditions that make sitting down to talk impossible; and
  
  
• An end to the use of torture and the closure of our prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Over the coming weeks, we will be working to convince our fellow superdelegates of the importance of including this language in our party's platform. We invite you to join us in this effort by signing on to an open letter to the Democratic superdelegates that is being hosted by one of our important allies in this effort, Win Without War. You can click here to sign on to this letter today!

The online community has consistently been at the forefront of the debate as we work to fix our failed foreign policy, and we sincerely thank you for your work in this effort. While the nominating process has clearly stirred passions throughout our party, we feel that the unity among Democrats on the issue of Iraq overwhelms our current disagreements and should not be overlooked. And with your help, it won't be.

Sincerely,

Rep. Barbara Lee
Barack Obama Supporter

Rep. Jim McGovern
Hillary Clinton Supporter

Rep. Sam Farr
Undecided Superdelegate

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Win Without War, a 501(c)3, is working with Democrats and Republicans alike to call on both national parties to incorporate a withdrawal from Iraq into their party platforms in 2008. For more information on these efforts please email [e-mail]

Comments

[TunnelRat]

Ah, how exciting! A humiliating withdrawal from Iraq followed by some Neville Chamberlain-like chatting with Iraq.

I know you Dems like to pander to your base like MoveOn.org, Code-Pink, ANSWER, etc. but you first have to win the election before you can execute this brialliant plan to demoralize the troops and legitimize Iran. And with polls showing neither BO or HRC with a commanding lead over McCain, I think that is a long shot.

[burnt]

don't stop... keep talking, but also act aggressively to end this war. Time is of the essence.

alienated in Seattle

[grendl]

How about signing this petition

_________________________________________________________________
We the Superdelegates,

In order to form a more perfect union have come to the realization that our status as superdelegates is an undemocratic construct. While the Democratic Party is a private organization, we acknowledge that the mass electorate realistically has one of two choices of a viable presidential candidate, a Democrat or Republican. And in going to the mass electorate in an attempt to find a viable candidate we are trying to follow a democratic system.
So why do we hold such special powers. To override the will of the masses if they've fallen in love with a candidate with little chance of beating the GOP. But as we've seen in this election, should we exercise the so called expertise we wield, and override the popular mandate it will disenfranchise the party. So exercising our conventional wisdom, or rather our expert opinion doesn't seem to be an option. So why exactly do we exist?
We superdelegates are flattered at the attention you've paid us, but really we're no better than the common voter. We respectfully rescind, revoke, repudiate our status. Thank you.


Supers