Report from Platform Committee

I am a fourth generation Democrat, the mother of two fifth generation Democrats. I spent most of my career leading media businesses and became involved in this process to help put America back on track. Earlier this year, in Tanzania, a young African banker told me, “I just want America to be America again.” Our country cannot afford to stay on the current path. And so, our platform puts us on a new course to deliver the change we need that will allow America to be America again.

Our Democratic platform includes the best ideas from across our country. Thirty thousand people from every state participated in platform hearings. It includes many of the outstanding ideas from my friend Hillary Rodham Clinton and it lays out the agenda of the nominee who will lead us to victory, Barack Obama. As Democrats, we know there is no more important priority than returning America to its leadership role in the world.

After 9/11, we had the potential to build the foundation for a world that was safer, freer and more peaceful. Instead, our government instigated an unnecessary war in Iraq before it finished a necessary war in Afghanistan. We cannot continue this failed approach. Barack Obama will deliver the change to enable America, once again, to lead. We will end the war in Iraq, defeat al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and focus on preventing the use and spread of weapons of mass destruction. We will work for our common security around the globe, joining with other nations to promote economic development, democracy and human rights.

As Democrats, we will expand opportunity for women. We are proud our party has the most women governors, senators and members of Congress. We will not rest until there are even more women in public office, until we end the disgrace of women earning less for their work, until American families don’t have to choose between a pay check and caring for a sick child. We will continue our commitment to a woman’s right to choose and we will never put ideology above women’s health. We support equal rights for women. And Barack Obama, along with more Democrats in office across America, will deliver the change that will allow every child to get the early education they need and every American to get the health care they deserve.

As Democrats, the moments that make us most proud are those when we unite to find common ground to turn challenges into opportunities: ending slavery, fighting two World Wars for the cause of freedom, expanding human rights at home. And so, we will rekindle our spirit of common purpose, to turn new challenges into another great American century of opportunity.

Under Barack Obama’s leadership, we will renew the frayed connection between opportunity for all, and responsibility from all, for our American community. We will make it possible for all Americans to serve. We will turn our values into action, standing up for families, supporting our seniors, defending our civil rights and strongly denouncing sexism, which sadly continues to be so prevalent throughout our society.

When our neighbors are in trouble, on the rooftops of New Orleans or the farms of Iowa, we will step in, not sit by. We may not always agree with others, but we will work with respect and good will, to find again the common ground on which we have always built our greatness as a people. In that spirit, our Democratic platform reflects what is best about America, our highest ideals and our commitment to be a respected and respectful world leader. With our platform, we Democrats take the next step on our road to victory and real change in November.

As a businessperson, I have always believed it is possible, indeed, imperative, for business not only to do well, but also to do good. Under Barack Obama’s leadership, with the support of a strong Democratic Party and our embrace of this platform, we will move forward to rebuild an America where our people will prosper and we as a nation will take up our role again to do good in the world.