Progressives owned this platform. Pretty much everyone in the room was a genuine progressive, so debates were about things like whether to use the word "immediate" or "timely" in calling for an exit from Iraq ("timely" won), or whether we should condemn both CAFTA and the FTAA or just the latter because the former is a moot point (we kept it to just the FTAA). If only Congressional Democrats acted like the YDA Platform Committee.

The only moment that I can recall when some serious Republican-type language made inroads into the platform was when somehow, quite inexplicably, we ended up passing language that called for immediate deportation of undocumented workers. About half the room sat stunned, then appalled, then immediately regrouped, got organized, and moved to revisit the issue. At that point the person who introduced the language in the first place withdrew it, and we passed new language that was OUTSTANDINGLY progressive, including encouraging the use of passes for day laborers. I was tempted to introduce language for the right to unionize day laborers while we were at it, but didn't want to push my luck too far.

Everyone was pretty happy with the new immigration language but one guy. The delegate from North Carolina flipped out when the language was introduced, and told us we were "wiping our asses with the Constitution." He stormed out of the room before we passed the amendment, and shortly after that resorted to leaving mildly threatening notes on the desk of one of the many pro-immigrant delegates. That was our only brush with the reactionary wing of our party through the entire process.

Lest anyone be deceived by stereotypes, by the way, some of the most progressive delegates on the committee were from the South. The NC delegate was an exception.

Anyway, here's some of the features of the platform that will be introduced for ratification tomorrow:

-unambiguous support for civil marriage equality
-single payer healthcare coverage
-opposition to U.S. base presence in Iraq
-support for re-joining the Kyoto Protocol
-strong affirmation of a woman's right to choose, including in the case of late-term abortions if the mother's health is at risk

There were many more strong clauses, but I'm too tired to remember what they were.

Oh, and our Action Caucus resolution to pledge the YDA to mobilize its members in the races of 1,000 progressive candidates by the end of 2007 was passed unanimously.

Now I'm going to bed.