PHILADELPHIA — “Unquestionably, it’s moving in a more progressive direction,” Bernie Sanders delegate Ed Fischman of Maryland said. This was a common sentiment at the Democratic National Convention.
“Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have forged the most progressive platform in party history,” Sen. Jeff Merkeley said from the podium. “The most progressive platform in party history,” was the standard description for the party document approved by delegates Monday. It calls for a $15 minimum wage, expanding Social Security. And the platform declares “every student should be able to go to college debt-free, and working families should not have to pay any tuition to go to public colleges and universities.” These are all shifts to the left.
On abortion, the platform is also far Left — supporting abortion on demand and more subsidies for abortion. The platform demands “repealing the Hyde Amendment,” which prevents U.S. tax dollars from funding abortion overseas.
The speaker lineup Monday highlighted this shift. Sanders and progressive hero Elizabeth Warren, Democratic senator from Maine, highlighted the day. Conservative or moderate speakers were nearly absent. That also reflects the shift within the party.
“The conservative Democrats have been weeded out,” Fischman said.
Timothy P. Carney, The Washington Examiner’s senior political columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]. His column appears Tuesday and Thursday nights on washingtonexaminer.com.
