From education to healthcare, Missouri Delegates talk about this year's party platform that was approved this week at the Democratic National Convention. KSMU's Katie Hummel reports from Boston.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF A POLTICAL CONVENTION IS TO CHOOSE THE PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.
BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PARTY PLATFORM.
I ASKED SOME MISSOURI DELEGATES HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS YEARS PLATFORM, TITLED STRONGER AT HOME, RESPECTED IN THE WORLD.
LORRAINE MILLER IS A DELEGATE FROM MANCHESTER MISSOURI.
MILLER SAYS THERE ARE SOME THINGS THE PARTY WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE ON THE PLATFORM, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T PUT ON THERE.
AND WHILE MILLER SAYS SHE BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, OTHERS THINK MORE CAN BE DONE.
DAN WORLEY IS A DELEGATE FROM VERSAILLES, MISSOURI.
WORLEY SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE PLATFORM IS SPECIFIC ENOUGH.
ANOTHER THING WORLEY SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THE PLATFORM, IS A PLAN TO MAKE PUBLIC HOUSING MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE POOR.
AND WHILE SOME MISSOURI DELEGATES FIND THE PLATFORM SOMEWHAT LACKING, OTHERS COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH THE FINAL RESULT.
DUTCH NEWMAN HAS BEEN A MISSOURI DELEGATE EVERY YEAR SINCE 1968.
SHE SAYS SHE HASN'T SEEN A BETTER PLATFORM IN YEARS.
BUT ONE MISSURI DELEGATE DOESN'T EVEN THINK THE PLATFORMS IMPORTANT.
BURTON BOXERMAN IS A MISSOURI DELEGATE FROM ST. LOUIS.
HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE PLATFORM HAS NO EFFECT ON A CANDIDATES RACE.
HE SAYS IT'S MORE OF A GUIDE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THE 2004 DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM FOCUSES ON NATIONAL ISSUES SUCH AS TERRORISM, ECONOMY AND HEALTH.