Progressives Gain Some Ground on Platform in Miami



Miami.com



John
Kerry's presidential campaign avoided a platform fight Saturday by
persuading activists to drop virulent language about the Iraq war that
would have declared the conflict a mistake from the beginning.



. . .
The committee adopted language brokered by the Kerry campaign saying
that as other nations add troops, “The U.S. will be able to reduce its
military presence in Iraq, and we intend to do this when appropriate so
that the military support needed by a sovereign Iraqi government will
no longer be seen as the direct continuation of an American military
presence.”



Supporters
of presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, still campaigning despite
Kerry's evident victory, said the language was not what they had wanted
but called it a victory. They agreed to withdraw amendments to the
platform on Iraq in exchange for the new language.



“What we
got was a commitment to begin the process to talk about bringing the
troops home, and the Kerry campaign and the DNC from the outset didn't
want this language in there,” Kucinich deputy campaign manager Tim
Carpenter said.



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