Republican Party approves platform
BERKELEY, Calif. (KTVU) - The Republican Party passed its 2016 platform at the national convention in Cleveland Monday, and some say it is the most conservative platform that the GOP has ever passed.
It comes at a time when the Republican party has shown an abundance of fractures and factions and is striving for unity behind a most unconventional nominee, with Donald Trump's apparent mix of some socially liberal views and more conservative stances on immigration, trade, and national security.
"I do think it has a symbolic significance in that it helps define the identity of the Republican Party," said Terri Bimes, Assistant Director of Research at the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies.
"Some planks are very consistent with Donald Trump's views. It calls for building a wall. It's very critical of international organizations like NATO and the United Nations," Bimes noted.
The Republican platform states that "a border wall must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic."
It also echoes Trump's criticism of free trade deals and calls for re-enacting the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 that would limit the size of banks.
On social issues, however, the platform swings to the right of Trump, clearly rejecting same-sex marriage and transgender bathroom choices.
"The cornerstone of the family is natural marriage, the union of one man and one woman," the platform states.
"Every child deserves a married mom and dad. The reality remains that millions of American families do not have the advantages that come with that structure," the platform also states.
Bimes says the Republican Party platform provides staunch conservatives and anti-Trump factions with one last means of trying to exert some influence on Trump.
"By allowing the conservative base to put that plank in, it appeases them and maybe allows them to stomach the nomination of Donald Trump," Bimes said.
Still, the platform is non-binding and therefore, Bimes says, it likely will have very little impact on Trump's rhetoric, policies, and campaign strategy as he moves toward the general election and trying to appeal to moderate voters as well.
"I think the American public will judge Donald Trump more on what he says, than what the Republican Party platform says," Bimes added.
To read the entire Republican Party 2016 Platform click here.