The new Democratic platform

Just four short years ago, when Barack Obama was running for re-election, the Democratic Party platform addressed the sticky question of illegal immigration this way: "Undocumented immigrants should 'get right with the law, learn English and pay taxes in order to get on a path to earn citizenship.'"

But that was then.

The newly-approved 2016 Democratic platform takes a major shift to the left by removing the English language requirement and strongly limiting the ability of law enforcement to monitor the immigrant population.

The new platform language for the Democrats reads like a La Raza wish list by defending the president's executive orders on immigration -- even those recently ruled illegal by the courts.

Under a Hillary Clinton administration, the platform would end law-enforcement raids of illegal immigrants from Central America and would open wide the door to immediate citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently here.

It seems like it was yesterday that the Obama administration along with Homeland Security was issuing warnings concerning the flood of illegals crossing our southern borders.

Day after day were headlines on the explosion in crime among the immigrant population. Administration officials warned about the estimated 17,000 convicted criminals among the immigrant population who still remain in the United States.

But 2016 is an election year, and some pundits believe the Hispanic vote will be a crucial factor in November's election outcome.

I hesitate to say the Democrats are pandering to the illegal population, but pandering is probably too kind a word.

Because of a variety of factors, the Democratic Party has clearly moved to the far left of the political spectrum on every single social issue facing this nation. Black Lives Matter, open-border advocates, gay rights' proponents and others are now firmly in control of the Democratic Party.

It's easy to blame President Obama for this progressive shift. But believe it or not, on some of these issues, Barack Obama is considered the conservative.

Newly emerging forces within the Democratic Party have now taken control of the party platform. And their policies, to be honest, are woefully out of step with the majority of the American public.

When the current administration began enforcing laws concerning illegal immigration, the left threw a tizzy and wanted their party to abandon current policy.

From the looks of the new Democratic platform, the radical element has won this round and the Democratic Party of the past is no longer.

Michael Jensen is the editor of the Standard Democrat in Sikeston, Missouri.