May 2004

      As you may know, at each convention the delegates get a written  ballot where they vote on whether to "retain" each plank of the Platform. A plank can be deleted by simple majority vote. In 2002 the Women's Rights plank passed by only 53%.  (Any changes to planks come later in the proceedings.)
     There are a number of reasons people vote against the plank besides opposition to it.  Some delegates vote down all the planks because they want a new platform, some are tired of the debate, and worst -- some pro-choice delegates don't bother to vote, even though they want to retain the plank.
     Imagine that the Libertarian Party removes the women's rights plank this year.  What do you think the second biggest story coming out of the convention (after the Presidential nominee) will be -- LIBERTARIAN PARTY ABOLISHES WOMEN'S RIGHTS PLANK or LIBERTARIAN PARTY COMES OUT AGAINST ABORTION. (We can be sure the press will misrepresent it.) 
      Remember, the headline in the Seattle Post as we went into the 1987 Seattle convention was LIBERTARIAN PARTY SPLIT ON ABORTION ISSUE -- just because some of us were vocally against Ron Paul promoting the anti-abortion issue.
      ***If you want to retain the Women's Rights plank, PLEASE get to the Convention the first day of the business meetings, get your ballot, and vote!***
      ***If the plank IS removed no doubt there will be much out cry and protest from delegates, including those who arrive later in the convention. We encourage all pro-choicers to bring a motion to the floor at every opportunity to put the plank back in to the platform. However, remember it takes a two-thirds vote to get the plank put BACK in the platform.  SO LET’S KEEP IT IN!!***.

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