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John Nichols: Baldwin's a player at convention

John Nichols  —  8/26/2008 8:46 am

DENVER -- Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin took some hits during the spring for staying true to her endorsement of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. The Madison Democrat was one of Clinton's highest-profile backers in Wisconsin, but Wisconsin went by an almost 3-2 margin for Barack Obama. And the congresswoman's south-central Wisconsin district gave the Illinois senator the highest vote of any in the state.

Obama backers were frustrated with Baldwin's steadfast refusal to endorse their candidate until the long primary season was over.

Baldwin allies were worried that a still-young representative who they see as a rising star in state and national politics might be marginalizing herself.

But, as the Democratic National Convention opens in Denver tomorrow, Baldwin arrives as an even more essential player in the party.

It is not just the speech she'll give to the convention Tuesday night, as part of the party's "rising stars" program -- although Baldwin's address on women and the economy will be an important message at a convention that will seek to assure that blue-collar women who got enthused about Clinton's candidacy will get just as enthused about electing Obama and Democratic congressional candidates.

Baldwin also served on the 15-member committee that drafted the party's platform, which will be approved this week by the full convention. And that document will reflect her contributions.

The congresswoman, who was elected in 1998 as an advocate for single-payer health care and who has become a key player in congressional debates on the issue, helped to prod the committee to make a clearer commitment to reforms that guarantee health care for all than the Obama camp had proposed.

In addition, the first openly lesbian member of the Congress made sure that the party expressed a commitment to equal rights for the LGBT community. Baldwin says the platform is "the most pro-equality platform in Democratic Party history."

"It is not enough to look back in wonder of how far we have come; those who came before us did not strike a blow against injustice only so that we would allow injustice to fester in our time. That means removing the barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding that still exist in America," declares the platform.

"We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment nondiscrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us."

Baldwin does not say that the platform is perfect.

But she identifies it as "a statement of aspiration," and her role in drafting it has assured that the Democratic Party reflects the values that Baldwin learned in Wisconsin and has championed in Washington. And her high-profile role in bringing those aspirations and values to Denver makes it clear that -- even if she came later than some to the nominee's bandwagon -- Baldwin is an essential player in the politics of her party and the nation.

John Nichols is associate editor of The Capital Times. He will be reporting all week from the Democratic National Convention in Denver at www.captimes.com.

John Nichols  —  8/26/2008 8:46 am