The Democratic Party's platform for 2008, which was approved earlier this week in Denver, is a marked departure that stands in stark contrast to the proposal that will be put forth by the Republican Party. At 94 pages, the Democrats' platform is more than twice as long as their 2004 version. Buried deep within it are planks that will take our country in the wrong direction, including plans to reverse the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Consider these troubling excerpts buried within the Democrats' 94-page document:

• Special Rights for Gay Couples: "We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us."
• Support for Card Check: "We will strengthen the ability of workers to organize unions and fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act."
• Overturning NLRB Decisions: "We will restore pro-worker voices to the National Labor Relations Board and the National Mediation Board and we support overturning the NLRB's and NMB's many harmful decisions that undermine the collective bargaining rights of millions of workers."
• Taxpayer-Funded Abortions: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right."
  
  According to the Grand Rapids Press, "The plank in support of abortion rights is even stronger than usual....Gone is the phrase from the past that abortions should be safe, legal and 'rare." (Editorial, Grand Rapids Press, 8/26/08)