Political Report: On the Scene at the DNC

I was in Pittsburgh yesterday for the Democratic National Platform Committee's final meeting. Clinton forces and single-payer advocates jockeyed behind the scenes to put their stamp on the healthcare aspects of the Party's final Platform to be presented at the convention in Denver August 25-28.

In the lead-up, Clintonites met with committee members to discuss language allowing for a Clinton-style solution. The result was a negotiated addition to the Platform acknowledging healthcare as a "shared responsibility between employers, workers, insurers, providers and government." Clintonites spoke glowingly of this compromise in opening remarks.

Not good enough said others, including Rep. John Conyers and his legion of single-payer advocates. By amendment passed to rousing applause, the Platform now declares: "While there are different approaches within the Democratic Party about how best to achieve the commitment of covering every American -with everyone in and no one left out- we stand united to achieve this fundamental objective through legislative process."

The practical political effect of these machinations is yet to be seen. The Platform is not binding on a future President Obama, but it's safe to say Clintonites walked away smiling.