This is what happens when bloggers write the Platform!

Over a year ago, the efforts of the DailyKos community helped elect me as a delegate to the California Democratic Party.  Shortly thereafter, I was appointed by Chairman Art Torres to serve on the Platform Committee.

Like I said in those earlier diaries--since you helped elect me by reading and recommending my diaries, which in turn got local readers and diarists to come vote for me, I view you as my constituents in a way--and I'd like you to know that your efforts have paid off.

The California Democratic Party now has a new plank on its platform called "Internet, Free Speech, and Communications".  This new plank was co-authored by me and my friend and fellow committeemember Brad Parker.  The new plank, as you can see below, supports net neutrality and bloggers' rights as an official position of the California Democratic Party!

The text is below.

Here's the text of the new plank:

Internet, Free Speech and Communications

California Democrats, in order to promote vigorous free speech, a vibrant business community, and unfettered access to all information on the Internet, support policies to preserve an open, neutral and interconnected Internet. California Democrats strongly agree with recent rulings by the Federal Election Commission that political communications, including blogging, which take place independent of a political party, committee or candidate, receive a media exemption from campaign finance regulations. California Democrats further reaffirm their support of the right to free speech as expressed in the First Amendment, including the right to critique any elected official or comment on any and all public policy, whether during war or peace, without fear of reprisal.

To promote and support the Internet, Free Speech and Communications California Democrats will:

• Support protections against any degradation or blocking of access to any websites or content on the Internet to which access is legal and guaranteed by the Constitution;
• Insure that consumers have the right to free email and that any and all communications will be protected from warrantless search and seizure as guaranteed in the Constitution;
• Encourage build-out of high speed networks to all homes and businesses so that everyone, especially rural and underserved areas, can access content of their choice and upload or download what they want on the Internet as a public utility maintained by union workers;
• Establish and secure ownership limits on private sector mass media to encourage and provide more cultural diversity, while protecting the openness, accessibility and integrity of the Internet as a public media resource for all Americans, regardless of income.

Now, keep in mind: This is from the official platform document, ratified by the governing body of the California Democratic Party.  This wording of this document is taken into consideration by the DNC when it comes time for the DNC to revise and adopt the official national party platform.

Other platform highlights include:

• An affirmation that global warming is a real and serious threat (not mentioned in the 2006 platform)
• Support for the right of the LGBT community to legal marriage while respecting the right of all religions to solemnize only the marriages they choose to recognize
• support for the repeal of the 2002 Authorization to Use Military Force in Iraq and opposition to further appropriations except those necessary for a safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops from Iraq to begin without delay.

I would encourage you to read the Full CDP Platform (warning: PDF) so you know exactly what we stand for here in California.

The Platform is only an effective tool if you know what's in it!  If an issue comes up in Congress or the California State Legislature and the Platform has a say in the issue, use the platform to lobby our legislators.  For instance: the CDP platform states that all communications shall be free from warrantless search and seizure, as guaranteed in the Constitution.  Next time a fight about FISA comes up and a legislator in California is wavering on the issue, well, guess what?  The official platform now takes a stand on that issue, and that's a strong lobbying point!

Same thing with marriage equality, environmental policy, or any other thing touched on by the platform.  So use it!

As a final note, I would like to give a special thanks to the other members of the committee for their hard work on it, especially our lead chair, Christine Pelosi (yes, Nancy's daughter) who made sure that everyone's voice was heard in a fair and respectful manner.  Special thanks too to the Committee's staff person, Monique Purnell, who was particularly overburdened with logistical requests throughout the entire process.