2004 Republican National Convention

Platform

Apart from nominating a candidate for President and Vice President, the 2004 Republican National Convention was also charged with crafting an official party platform and political agenda for the next four years. At the helm of the Platform Committee was United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, Congresswoman Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania and Colorado Governor Bill Owens. The committee worked with the Bush campaign to develop the draft platform.

Related Topics:
United States Senator - Senate Majority Leader - Bill Frist - Tennessee - Congresswoman - Melissa Hart - Pennsylvania - Colorado Governor - Bill Owens

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The platform adopted by the 2004 Republican National Convention was the longest in the party's history compared to the mere 1,000 word platform adopted at the first convention in 1856. At 48,000 words, it was twice the length of the one adopted at the 2004 Democratic National Convention which was only 19,500 words.

Related Topics:
1856 - 2004 Democratic National Convention

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The platform was aligned with the social conservatives in the party. It calls for federal amendments to ban abortion and gay marriage, and further opposes civil unions. In foreign policy, the platform praised Bush for his actions following September 11 and said that the invasion of Iraq had made America safer. Reflecting the shift in political goals, the platform shifted from the 2000 platform toward Russia and China, no longer challenging them on economic policy and removing the 2000 platform's rebuke of Russia for the Chechnya conflict.

Related Topics:
Gay marriage - Civil union - Chechnya

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