A first draft of the GOP platform leaves a strong opposition to abortion in place while remaining strict on trade. The draft also includes ending a longstanding battle for a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a man and woman. The draft changed the focus on the issue to opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage, and instead will allow the matter to be decided on a state-by-state basis.
The draft also refers to Jerusalem as “undivided,” removing all language supporting Palestine.
The draft was shared by the Republican National Committee on Sunday night. The document will be the main focal point for members of the Platform Committee this week before a vote on the final proposal.
Trade underwent the biggest changes, with a close comparison to Trump’s strict trade recommendations. A “worldwide multilateral agreement” is mentioned with a focus on “massive deficits.” The draft took a line directly from presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump with the statement, “We need better negotiated trade agreements that put America first.”
Gay marriage also moves away from the 2004 position on the matter, with the statement reading “our laws and our government’s regulations should recognize marriage as a union of one man and one woman and actively promote married family life as the basis of a stable and prosperous society,”
The draft includes language that aims to support businesses that deny service to people in a gay marriage based on religious beliefs.
