“The Democratic Socialists of America want to defund the police,” Graham said. “They want to disarm all law enforcement officers. They want to free all incarcerated people, legalize the sex trade, the drug trade, homelessness and squatting. I could go on.
“Those are some really good high points that we found to be in strident contrast to the DFL’s values.”
But he said Protect Our Platform eventually withdrew the proposed rule change “because it has become incredibly divisive,” counter to the group’s intent to strengthen party unity.
The convention opened Saturday morning with a speech by Minnesota DFL Chair Richard Carlbom, who framed the gathering in terms of national goals: putting a Democrat in the White House by repairing the party’s brand (currently popular with just at 38% of Americans) and reminding voters that Democrats are the party of working families, Social Security, Medicare and universal school meals.
“We are a coalition by definition, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party,” Carlbom said. “Our party is made up of farmers and laborers. Our party is made up of progressives, environmentalists, feminists, democratic socialists” — applause broke out at this — “gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender.
“We come from different places. We come from different spaces. We represent what is best about America. Our differences are our strength. If you want to be an authoritarian party, go be a Republican.”
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