McCarthy chairs Platform Committee
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Cathy Perfect
Kern Valley Sun
While Democrats were busy nominating their presidental and vice presidential candidates at their convention in Denver last week, Congressman Kevin McCarthy was hunkered down in Minnesota chairing the 2008 GOP Platform Committee, which is tasked with outlining the Republican Party's positions at the GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.
McCarthy's enthusiasm and energy for politics has made him something of a standout in his freshman class and the party in general. Already, the Bakersfield, Calif., congressman has been placed in an advisory position at the National Republican Congressional Committee and has been tapped to head up the party’s Platform Committee at the national convention in September.
"I'm excited to see my friend Kevin McCarthy asked to serve our party in such a key national role this year,” said California Republican Party chair Ron Nehring. “As we work to elect John McCain to the White House, Congressman McCarthy will be instrumental in developing a platform that showcases the Republican vision and our party's solutions for the problems everyday Americans face.”
For the first time, the Republican National Committee launched a website (gopplatform2008.com) for the general public to participate in the platform-writing process.
The Platform Committee is comprised of 112 members, one man and one woman from each state, the District of Columbia and five territories. Delegates convene every four years at the national convention to outline the party’s positions and principles on many issues.
The committee met Aug. 27 to finish hammering out the mountain of proposals for a final draft before the platform is sent for approval by delegates to the national convention. U.S. Senator Richard Burr (NC) co-chaired the committe with McCarthy; the pair co-wrote the preamble to the platform, as well. McCarthy lauded his co-chair as the committee’s work came to an end.
“It’s been an honor to serve with Senator Burr,” said McCarthy. “I didn’t know this man when we started this, but he has been such a resource.
“This platform represents our enduring principles produced with the most open and transparent process in American history. Our open process brought common sense ideas and utilized our values to produce a forward looking vision that applies our principles to serve as solutions to America's challenges," he said.
McCarthy echoed his party’s support for John McCain’s vice presidential pick, Alaska’s Governor Sarah Palin. “I met with her last month when I traveled to Alaska on the American Energy Tour, and found her personal story of hard work and dedication to her family a testament to the hopes and dreams of all Americans. She is a tough leader and a maverick who is ready to lead. Her record of fighting for stronger ethics will help fix a broken Washington and build a stronger foundation for America.”
The following is a copy of Congressman McCarthy’s address to the convention:
As we meet here today, our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Americans along the Gulf Coast - in harm's way.
My fellow delegates, and to those watching and listening at home, I am proud to present to you the 2008 Republican Platform – the People's Platform.
This effort, and this document, was the culmination of the most open and transparent process in American political history. To create a 21st Century platform, we used 21st Century technology and approach. We reached out beyond Washington to listen to REAL Americans. We asked people from all walks of life, from the Central Valley of California to the Research Triangle of North Carolina, to share their ideas and their dreams for the future. This is an American platform because it is guided by American principles and puts our faith in ingenuity and creativity rather than Washington's complacency.
In creating this 21st Century platform, we ripped out the traditional political platitudes that seemed to grow every four years, and the old rhetoric that reached an unreadable 40,000 words. We have built a modern platform that's half as wordy, but twice as bold. Your fellow delegates debated and negotiated. They pursued principle, and they sought common ground. They demanded accountability in government and common sense in our day-to-day lives. And that's exactly what we deliver to you today.
For those who say there really is no difference between the parties, this platform will prove them wrong. In energy policy, there are those who don't want to use American resources, and that means more Middle Eastern oil. We disagree.
Republicans believe in American oil and natural gas, American clean coal, American nuclear power, American wind, and American solar. In tax policy, there are those who never met a tax they didn't like… or hike. These are same people who want hardworking Americans to send even more of their money to Washington. We disagree.
We believe families work hard enough – it's their money, they earned it, and they have a right to keep it. And in government policy, some people believe Washington has all the answers. We disagree.
We believe the solutions to the challenges facing America today can be found in the states and the communities all across this great country. We say YES to greater government accountability and NO to new bureaucracies and the cost they bring. The platform the committee produced is one grounded in enduring Republican principles:
The principle of courage in the face of foreign foes – and a firm belief that the American way of life is worth defending.
A belief in a positive, optimistic patriotism, driven by an uncompromising passion for freedom and justice.
A healthy distrust of government's interference in people's lives, and; A dedication to the rule of law that protects and preserves liberty.
We have enthusiasm and confidence in this platform's vision for the future.
We are a nation of free and independent thinkers.
We are the party of ideas, not just a coalition of interests.
So yes, we are a party of mavericks.
We consider vigorous debate a strength, not a weakness – and accountability a necessity, not a luxury.
This platform captures America's hopes and dreams. This platform offers solutions. This platform reclaims our enduring principles. And this platform will guide us forward. Yesterday, this was our job. Now, this is our mission. For we are more than just Republicans. We are Americans – and Americans deserve only the best.
It is now my pleasure to yield to my co-chair, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, to also speak about our Platform.
