Michelle Obama touts values

Democrats opened their national convention yesterday, the next step in Barack Obama's historic quest for the White House.

A prime-time speech by Obama's wife, Michelle, and a planned appearance by Democratic icon Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts headlined the convention's first night.

In excerpts released in advance, the would-be first lady said she and her husband were raised with solid American values: "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."

She also said, "We want our children -- and all children in this nation -- to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

Sen. Kennedy's appearance at the convention was designed to be both a farewell to the last Kennedy brother and a passing of the torch to Obama as the leader of the next generation.

Kennedy, who's being treated for a malignant brain tumor, was to be honored with a brief video tribute. The Massachusetts Democrat arrived in Denver Sunday night, was examined at a local hospital and was expected to appear in the hall to receive an emotional tribute from a party that sees him as the last lion of a storied generation.

As the delegates took their seats in the Pepsi Center, Obama campaigned in Iowa, en route to Colorado.

He said he will not be "aiming for a lot of high rhetoric" in his speech accepting the nomination Thursday night, adding that he would use his speech to help voters understand what he planned to do to improve the economy.

At the same time, he said he'd spoken to former President Bill Clinton about the speech the latter will give tomorrow night, saying he told Clinton he could talk about anything he likes.

"Bill Clinton knows a little bit about trying to yank the economy out of the doldrums," Obama said. "It wouldn't make sense for me to want to edit his remarks."

Democrats adopted a platform that commits the party to Obama's policy ideas, but also credits his primary rival Hillary Rodham Clinton with putting "18 million cracks in the highest glass ceiling."

The phrasing refers to the 18 million votes Clinton got in the primary.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., gaveled the platform through after a voice vote of delegates assembled in the hall on its first afternoon.

The platform reasserts Obama's promise of health care for all, energy rebates to struggling families, pension subsidies, a crackdown on predatory lenders, higher taxes for families earning more than $250,000, tax breaks for others, billions for economic stimulus and "direct high-level diplomacy, without preconditions," in the case of Iran.

On Iraq, the platform states that Democrats "expect to complete redeployment within 16 months," reflecting Obama's time frame but not the tone of certainty he brought to it when he was running in the primaries.

The plank in support of abortion rights is even stronger than usual. "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right," it says.

Gone is the phrase from the past that abortions should be safe, legal and "rare."

The party also pledges to ensure access to adoption programs, prenatal and postnatal care and income support programs for expectant mothers who need the help.