The Democratic Party: Beliefs, Values and Goals

The Democratic Party is the Party of strength at home and abroad.

We believe that our Nation is best protected by a military that is properly funded.

We believe our military force is at its greatest when it is employed to defend our liberty at home and democracy abroad.

We believe terrorism is a threat that requires America to fight for hearts and minds as much as it at times may require military force.

We believe in a strong State Department and Diplomats who are qualified and dignified, who will represent America and her interests around the World, rather than a State Department full of political cronies and campaign donors.

We believe our military presence in Iraq is making the situation worse, and that a responsible withdrawal is in the best interest of our troops and our country.

We believe that our country has a responsibility to protect those who can not protect themselves. This certainly applies to the crisis in Darfur.

The Democratic Party believes the United States should not have a policy of torture.

We believe diplomacy is the most effective tool that we can employ to spread a respect for basic human rights in those areas of the world community in which such a respect does not exist.

We believe in providing the funds to take care of our veterans.

The Democratic Congress passed legislation to end the war in Iraq. The President vetoed that legislation.

The Democratic Congress passed the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations.

The Democratic Party is the party of the middle class and the working class.

We believe unions have the right to organize.

We believe in a “living” wage.

We believe that a college degree is a right, not a privilege for only the well-off and well-connected.

We believe that every child in America should have health care.

We believe in affordable health care for all.

We believe in protecting social security through fiscal responsibility.

We believe in a balanced budget.

The Democratic Congress passed the first minimum wage increase in almost a decade.

The Democratic Congress passed a bill that increased Pell grants and cut student loans.

The Democratic Congress passed State Children’s Health Insurance.

The Democratic Congress passed the Pay-As-You-Go rule to rein in the federal deficit.

The Democratic Party is the Party of civil and human rights.

We believe in equal protection under the law for all citizens regardless of race, religion, creed or sexual orientation.

We believe in free speech as articulated in the first amendment of the Constitution.

We believe in equal pay for women.

We believe that all, no matter what class or race, should have access to a public education of comparable quality.

The Democratic Party is the Party that believes in the ability of the American people to overcome the greatest challenges.

We believe in an energy policy that will wean us from our addiction to oil. This policy will create jobs and make our country stronger and more secure.

We believe the threat of global warming is real, and that the American people should be called upon to fight this threat.

We believe the American people should be called to support their country in ways other than “shopping” or slapping a bumper sticker on the back of their car.