Democrats to Showcase Surprisingly Old-Line Platform at Convention

The California Democratic Party, in seeming disregard of its internal debate between traditional values and so-called new ideas, holds its election-year convention in Los Angeles this weekend to showcase some of its most familiar political faces and to present a surprisingly old-line, liberal platform.

Some up-and-coming Democrats complained that the convention is geared to satisfy party activists, and not to present voters at large with a renewed, vital image for the 1986 elections.

But party Chair Betty Smith of San Francisco said the program and the platform represent the best “of what it means to be a Democrat in California . . . a reminder of what we stand for.”

Normally, party platforms attract the interest of only the narrowest group of political enthusiasts. But this one might generate a wider audience for no other reason than that it so forcefully champions the ideals that have been the bread and butter of liberals for two decades.

“There isn’t much of a sign of new direction,” complained Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), who has been pushing the party for a year to reorient itself and project a futurist image.

The platform, which is subject to ratification by the 1,000 or more delegates expected to debate it this weekend, calls for a continued Democratic Party emphasis on homosexual, minority and other constituent caucuses. The platform affirms a commitment to “full” welfare benefits and Social Security, and calls for broader national health coverage for the needy. It also supports the concept of comparable worth to increase salaries of women in the work force, and demands deep cuts in military spending with an end to such weapons programs as the B-1 bomber.

There was only brief mention of entrepreneurial economic policy that is fashionable among many new-breed Democrats; there was just one paragraph on agricultural policy, and only the most general we-can-do-it appeal to young voters. Drafters of the platform said a more centrist approach was considered but rejected after hearings all over the state.

“When it came right down to the nitty-gritty, it didn’t happen. . . . I think we did address many of the old issues,” explained Kay Woodson, one of three co-chairs of the platform committee and a field representative for Rep. Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento). “Activist Democrats are not the ones sitting back saying something is wrong with the Democratic Party.”

On crime issues, Democratic platform writers did not alter their cautious support for the death penalty adopted in past platforms, saying delays and unfairness in its application should be rectified or capital punishment may have to be abolished. The platform confronted the reelection battle over California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird and five other justices only obliquely. It declared support for lifetime judicial appointments for the high court instead of forcing justices to stand for election.

Former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., who has long urged the party to consider untraditional “futurist” ideas, will be keynote speaker at the Saturday showcase session of the annual convention. This is the second year in a row that the reclusive ex-chief executive will have gotten top billing at the party convention. Other major speakers represent the top of the 1986 Democratic election ticket: Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, the expected nominee for governor; U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston, Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp and Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy.

Several ambitious younger Democratic officeholders complained about the content of the program as well as the platform.

“The party needs to reach out and showcase its emerging talent. This week’s agenda is a beginning but doesn’t go far enough,” said Assemblyman Gray Davis (D-Los Angeles), one of the few lesser officeholders to be given a place on the speaking schedule.