As being someone with a great regard for the U.S. Constitution, I thought it appropriate to investigate where the two major political parties stood with respect to it, particularly as stated in their party platforms.

The following is a comparative listing of references to the United States Constitution as found in the  2012 (DNC) Democratic National Platform and the 2012 (GOP) Republican Platform. A party platform is a declaration of principles and policies adopted by a political party, a manifesto, a statement of identity and belief.

Cited references to the U.S. Constitution are limited to those alluding to the document as it now exists, and include opinions of constitutionality. Support for, or opposition to proposed amendments are omitted.

Based on this study alone, there can no doubt that the Republican Party holds the United States Constitution with greater esteem, and as the primary foundation for their political philosophy and character. Furthermore, the comparative lack of references to the Constitution within the Democrat Platform clearly indicates an utter disregard for the document as a whole.

SUMMARY:

*Update.1: 09.07.12 The DNC published a new version of their platform at the same link I originally provided for this comparison. Haven’t the time right now to compare the two, so I’ve uploaded the archive which was the source of this article. Page nos cited are those on the printed pages, not the PDF file page nos.

http://assets.dstatic.org/dnc-platform/2012-National-Platform.pdf
(*Updated version of platform as found 09.07.12)

2012 (DNC) Democratic National Platform
https://subconch.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/2012dnc-national-platform-09-05.pdf (note: This document is as published while the party convention still underway, *and the source of the comparisons made in this article)
~Total pages: 40  Total references to the U.S. Constitution: 5
~Never names the Constitution as the “United States Constitution” or the “Constitution of the United States”.
~There are NO statements of overall support or defense of the U.S. Constitution itself.
~The text of the U.S. Constitution is not actually “quoted”.

2012 (GOP) Republican Platform
http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf
~Total pages: 56  Total references to the U.S. Constitution: 60+
~Platform appears to be entirely rooted in and based upon the U.S. Constitution.
~Reverence, support, defense, and adherence to the U.S. Constitution are found throughout.
~The Constitution, its framers, and our founders are quoted regularly.

tdv

CITED REFERENCES TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IN THE 2012 PARTY PLATFORMS:
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