1988 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION : Platform of GOP Is Long, Conservative : Detailed Document Intentionally Differs From Democrats’

NEW ORLEANS — The 1988 Democratic and Republican platforms are dramatically different in vision, in tone, in length and, perhaps most important, in objective.

The Democratic platform is a mere 4,500 words, a statement of principles, less specific than any platform in recent memory. Republicans say it could “fit on the back of a postcard.”

It is “an effort to combat the problem the party had in the past,” said William Schneider, the Los Angeles Times’ political consultant. “Platforms . . . were a fruitcake, laden with goodies for every special interest.”

Rivals Avoid Offense

The Republicans deliberately took just the opposite approach. The Democrats tried to avoid saying anything that would offend anyone, but the platform formally adopted by the Republicans Tuesday is unapologetically conservative.

“Bush had to use his platform in his continuing efforts to convince the right wing that he isn’t, gasp, a moderate,” Democratic pollster Harrison Hickman said.

The Republican document leaves few stones unturned. It runs more than 30,000 words and covers everything from abortion to Afghanistan, from grazing fees to the growth of the congressional bureaucracy, from habeas corpus reform to home education, from pornography to product liability reform, from Radio Marti to rent control, from welfare fraud to the windfall profits tax.

In an attempt to hammer home the difference between the two, the Republicans released a list of 125 “issues evaded by the Democrat platform,” including all the subjects above and many, many more.

Emphasizing Agenda

“The Republican platform is trying to say we have a program, we have an agenda for the future, something no one’s been able to detect in anything George Bush has done or said so far,” Schneider said.

There is, however, no bold departure, such as the 1980 call for dramatic tax cuts and the 1984 “Star Wars” proposal.

Historically, the party in power uses its platform to point with pride at the state of the nation, while the party out of power describes it in alarming terms. This year’s platforms are no exception.

The Democratic platform, for example, assails the Reagan Administration’s economic record in one Faulknerian sentence, a 129-word diatribe against “voodoo economics, trickle-down policies, fiscal irresponsibility (and) economic violence against poor and working people.”

Nation’s Debt Cited

Those policies, it said, have “converted this country into the world’s largest debtor nation, mortgaged our children’s future by tripling our national debt . . . permitted the rise of poverty and homelessness on the streets of America” and brought about “the decline of our industrial, natural resource and mining base.”

The GOP platform, however, declares: “America again leads the world . . . sure of our future, the pacesetter for all mankind . . . . By almost any measure, Americans are better off than they were eight years ago. . . . Government didn’t work this economic wonder. The people did. Republicans got government . . . off the backs of households and entrepreneurs, so the people could take charge.”

Nowhere is the Republican platform’s conservatism clearer than on the issue of abortion, where it reaffirms its support for a human life amendment and opposes the use of public funds for abortion, even for victims of rape.

There was an impassioned debate when moderate delegates attempted to soften this plank. In relating the agony of women impregnated by rape or incest, Connecticut Rep. Nancy L. Johnson pleaded: “Where is your compassion? Where is your flexibility?” But Frank Graves of Minnesota retorted: “Why would we execute the babies of rapists when we did not execute the rapists themselves?” The amendment was defeated.

A few Republicans suggested that, in some areas, the platform might be a little too specific, too much like past Democratic platforms in its concern for special interests.

“There are five separate references in this platform to tort reform,” Warren Scoville, a Kentucky delegate, said. “It looks to me like the staff paid too much attention to insurance industry lobbyists when they wrote this platform.”

Nonetheless, Scoville joined with the majority Monday when the platform committee voted 104 to 2 to adopt the document. The dissenting votes were cast by Rep. Johnson and, to no one’s surprise, Connecticut Sen. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., the party’s closest approximation of a liberal.

“I’m not running on that platform,” Weicker said. “I want to elect Republicans to the House and Senate, but you can’t do it with the kind of platform this party wrote.”

Tuesday morning, Nebraska Gov. Kay A. Orr, the platform committee chairman, presented the document to the convention. It was approved by a voice vote, for which neither Weicker nor Johnson was present.

COMPARING THE PARTY PLATFORMS FOREIGN POLICY

OVERALL PRINCIPLES

DEMOCRATS

Calls for “a clear-headed, tough-minded, decisive” policy that will “reflect the changing nature of threats to our security and respond to them in a way that reflects our values . . . a foreign policy that will respect our Constitution, our Congress and our traditional democratic principles.” Advocates resumption of a “role of responsible active international leadership based upon our commitment to democracy, human rights and a more secure world.” Declares that the U.S. “can neither police the world nor retreat from it.”

REPUBLICANS

Describes “strength, realism and dialogue” as the three basic pillars of a foreign policy aimed at fostering “peace, stability and security throughout the world through democratic self-determination and economic prosperity.” Proclaims its support of “the Reagan doctrine: America’s commitment to aid freedom fighters against the communist oppression which destroys freedom and the human spirit.” Denounces “excessive interference” in execution of foreign policy “by the current Democrat majority in the Congress.”

SOUTHERN AFRICA

DEMOCRATS

Condemns South Africa as “a uniquely repressive regime ruthlessly deciding every aspect of public and private life by skin color, engaging in unrelenting violence against its citizens at home and promoting naked aggression against its neighbors in Africa.” Calls for a declaration that the apartheid regime is “a terrorist state,” accompanied by “comprehensive sanctions” on its economy. Calls for “further assistance to Mozambique” and other countries in the region that are long-time opponents of South Africa.

REPUBLICANS

Deplores apartheid as “morally repugnant” and “evil,” but pointedly opposes economic sanctions, asserting that they will adversely affect “the rising aspirations and achievements of black South African entrepreneurs.” Opposes “the maintenance of communist forces and influence in Mozambique.” Declares that the nation’s first priority in Southern Africa is “to oppose the forces of Marxist imperialism, which sustain the march of tyranny in Africa.”

ARMS CONTROL

DEMOCRATS

Calls the recently ratified U.S.-Soviet Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) “a commendable first step” toward additional “mutual, verifiable and enforceable” reductions in strategic weapons. Advocates a reduction of conventional forces in Europe to “ equivalent levels . . . requiring deeper cuts on the Warsaw Pact side.” Urges a ban on chemical and space weapons in their entirety, a clear reference to “Star Wars,” the Strategic Defense Initiative. Urges maintenance of “a stable nuclear deterrent” but proposes a halt to “all nuclear weapons testing.”

REPUBLICANS

Asserts that the INF “was made possible by our commitment to peace through strength.” Says the treaty will impose “new demands” on U.S. armed forces and calls for correction of “dangerous imbalance of conventional forces” in Europe. Contends that the U.S. “must continue to rely on nuclear weapons as our chief form of deterrence.” Favors “rapid and certain deployment” of SDI “as technologies permit” and condemns Democrats for opposing it. Calls for “modernization of our own chemical weapons” coupled with efforts “to achieve a verifiable agreement to eliminate all chemical and biological weapons.”

MIDDLE EAST DEMOCRATS

Accuses the Reagan Administration of having “abandoned the peace process in the Middle East.” Urges “maintaining the special relationship with Israel founded upon mutually shared values and strategic interests.” Says the U.S. “should provide new leadership to deliver the promise of peace and security through negotiations that has been held out to Israel and its neighbors by the Camp David accords.”

REPUBLICANS

Outlines a goal of “a stable and lasting peace” in the region and says the way to achieve it is to “maintain Israel’s qualitative advantage over any adversary or coalition of adversaries.” Flatly opposes “the creation of an independent Palestinian state.” Declares that the Palestine Liberation Organization “should have no role in the peace process unless it recognizes Israel’s right to exist.” Urges repeal of the United Nations resolution that equates Zionism with racism.

LATIN AMERICA DEMOCRATS

Condemns the current Administration for “consistently” undermining the peace process in Central America. Calls for new leadership to deliver the promise of peace and security held out by the Arias Peace Plan. Omits any mention of the Sandinistas and the Contras of Nicaragua. Calls for debt relief to “rekindle and sustain economic growth and democracy in Latin America” as well as in other parts of the Third World. Proposes “a policy of economic cooperation instead of confrontation with Mexico and our other hemispheric friends.”

REPUBLICANS

Reaffirms the Monroe Doctrine as the foundation for U.S. policy throughout the hemisphere. Condemns Nicaragua as being “a Soviet client state” and says the region is “threatened directly by the Sandinista military machine and armed subversion exported from Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Soviet Union.” Says the party “stands shoulder to shoulder” with Nicaraguans opposed to the Sandinista regime and calls for “both humanitarian and military aid.” Acknowledges the “special . . . importance” of Mexico and urges “close cooperation” to strengthen “this critical relationship.”

DOMESTIC POLICY

ABORTION

DEMOCRATS

The word “abortion” does not appear in the platform. It simply says that “the fundamental right of reproductive choice should be protected regardless of ability to pay.”

REPUBLICANS

Declares that “the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.” Reaffirms support for a human life amendment to the Constitution and “for the appointment of judges at all levels of the judiciary who respect . . . the sanctity of innocent human life.” Opposes use of public revenues for abortion and would “eliminate funding for organizations which advocate or support abortion.”

AIDS DEMOCRATS

Says the HIV/AIDS epidemic is “an unprecedented public health emergency requiring increased support for accelerated research . . . and expedited (federal) approval of treatments and vaccines, comprehensive education and prevention, compassionate patient care, adoption of the public health community consensus on voluntary and confidential testing and counseling, and protection of the civil rights of those suffering from AIDS or AIDS-Related Complex or testing positive for the HIV antibody.”

REPUBLICANS

Says victims of the disease and their families deserve compassion and help. Advocates continued research on the virus and a process within the Food and Drug Administration to expedite review of drugs that may benefit AIDS patients. Strongly urges protecting persons who don’t have the disease, utilizing AIDS education that emphasizes abstinence from drug abuse and sexual activity outside of marriage. Calls for penalties for “knowingly donating tainted blood or otherwise deliberately endangering others.”

CHILD CARE DEMOCRATS

Calls for major increases in government assistance “making child care more available and affordable to low- and middle-income families, helping states build a strong child-care infrastructure, setting minimum standards for health, safety, and quality, and thereby enabling parents to work and their children to get an early start on their education and personal fulfillment.”

REPUBLICANS

Urges establishment of a tax credit for preschool children “available to all families of modest means, to help them support and care for their children in a manner best suited to their families’ values and traditions.” Says child care by close relatives, religious organizations and other community groups “should never be inhibited by government programs or policies.”

DRUGS DEMOCRATS

Says every arm and agency of government--federal, state and local--should be “mobilized and coordinated with private efforts under the direction of a national drug ‘czar’ to halt both the international supply and the domestic demand for illegal drugs.” This would include efforts “to educate our children at the earliest ages” on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, “readily available treatment and counseling,” and strengthening of the Coast Guard.

REPUBLICANS

Supports strong penalties, including the death penalty for major drug traffickers. Says convicted drug offenders should be made ineligible for discretionary federal assistance, grants, loans and contracts for a period of time. Urges states to suspend the eligibility for a driver’s license of anyone convicted of a drug offense. Urges expansion of the military’s role in stopping drug traffickers. Also calls for drug education in schools starting at early grades.

FISCAL POLICY DEMOCRATS

Calls for a “full employment economy” with more “good jobs at good wages.” Opposes proposed privatization of Social Security system. Urges expansion of community reinvestment laws and reversal of recent trend of financial concentration and deregulation. No specific proposal on how to lower the deficit. The word taxes is not mentioned in the platform.

REPUBLICANS

Advocates “incentives for educating, training, and retraining workers for new and better jobs.” No specific proposal on reducing the deficit. Calls for a “youth training wage,” also known as a sub-minimum wage, “to enable unskilled young people to enter the work force.” Calls for reform of welfare and unemployment insurance and an end to the Social Security earnings limitation. Flatly opposes “any attempts to increase taxes,” and calls for lowering of tax rates for long-term capital gains to 15% from 28%.

EDUCATION DEMOCRATS

Calls education “our highest priority.” Urges expansion of the availability of preschool education for disadvantaged children. Proposes creation of a National Teacher Corps. Calls for equalization of financing among local school districts within each state “to ensure equal access to education.” Urges reversal of cuts made in compensatory reading, math and enrichment services for low-income children, expanded support for bilingual education and “an aggressive campaign to end illiteracy.”

REPUBLICANS

Supports right of parents to educate their children at home. Calls for choice and competition in education to foster quality, including support for tuition tax credits for parents who choose to educate their children in private schools. Favors performance testing for students and teachers, merit pay for teachers. Urges improvements in teaching foreign languages: “To compete successfully throughout the world, we must be able to speak the languages of our customers.”