Democrats change platform to add God, Jerusalem

[Dave]

As I have noted before, I'm not much for religion and judging by the response of some at the Democratic Convention, some them are not either. Granted some of those that opposed the amending of the platform were of different religious backgrounds like Muslim's for instance but it was obviously awkward for all involved and provided for a bit of embarrassment to organizers apparently expecting the platform change to go smoothly. A 2/3 vote was needed to make the change, judging by the video, I'm not sure if they got it or not.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Needled by Mitt Romney and other Republicans, Democrats hurriedly rewrote their convention platform Wednesday to add a mention of God and declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel after President Barack Obama intervened to order the changes.

The embarrassing reversal was compounded by chaos and uncertainty on the convention floor. Three times Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the convention chairman, called for a voice vote on the changes and each time the yes and no votes seemed to balance each other out. On the third attempt, Villaraigosa ruled the amendments were approved — triggering boos from many in the audience.

The episode exposed tensions on Israel within the party, put Democrats on the defensive and created a public relations spectacle as Obama arrived in the convention city to claim his party's nomination for a second term.

"There was no discussion. We didn't even see it coming. We were blindsided by it," said Noor Ul-Hasan, a Muslim delegate from Salt Lake City, who questioned whether the convention had enough of a quorum to even amend the platform.

"The majority spoke last night," said Angela Urrea, a delegate from Roy, Utah. "We shouldn't be declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."

The language in the platform — a political document — does not affect actual U.S. policy toward Israel. The administration has long said that determining Jerusalem's status is an issue that should be decided in peace talks by Israelis and Palestinians.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group, welcomed the support of Democrats and Republicans alike on Israel. "Together, these party platforms reflect strong bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship," AIPAC said.

Obama intervened directly to get the language changed both on Jerusalem and to reinstate God in the platform, according to campaign officials who insisted on anonymity to describe behind-the-scenes party negotiations. They said Obama's reaction to the omission of God from the platform was to wonder why it was removed in the first place.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the party chairman, said both the God and Jerusalem omissions were "essentially a technical oversight." She insisted in a CNN interview there had been no discord on the floor and said the vote definitely met the two-thirds threshold.

The revisions came as Obama struggles to win support from white working-class voters, many of whom have strong religious beliefs, and as Republicans try to woo Jewish voters and contributors away from the Democratic Party. Republicans claimed the platform omissions suggested Obama was weak in his defense of Israel and out of touch with mainstream Americans.

GOP officials argued that not taking a position on Jerusalem's status in the party platform raised questions about Obama's support for the Mideast ally. Romney said omitting God "suggests a party that is increasingly out of touch with the mainstream of the American people."

"I think this party is veering further and further away into an extreme wing that Americans don't recognize," Romney said.

Added to the Democratic platform was a declaration that Jerusalem "is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."

That language was included in the platform four years ago when Obama ran for his first term, but was left out when Democrats on Tuesday approved their 2012 platform, which referred only to the nation's "unshakable commitment to Israel's security."

Also restored from the 2008 platform was language calling for a government that "gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential."

For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have said it is up to the Israelis and Palestinians to settle Jerusalem's final status — a position reiterated earlier Wednesday by the White House. Both sides claim Jerusalem as their capital, and the city's status has long been among the thorniest issues in Mideast peace talks.

The U.S. has its embassy in Tel Aviv, although numerous Republicans — including Mitt Romney — have vowed to move the embassy to Jerusalem.

During his 2008 campaign, Obama referred to Jerusalem as Israel's capital in a speech to AIPAC. But as official policy, his administration has repeatedly maintained that Jerusalem's status is an issue that Israelis and Palestinians should decide in peace talks. The platform flub gave Republicans an opening to revive their attacks on Obama's support for Israel just as Democrats were hoping to bask in the glow of first lady Michelle Obama's Tuesday speech and gin up excitement for her husband, who will accept his party's nomination for a second term on Thursday.

But restoring the language did not placate Republicans, who used it to suggest that Obama's party is now more supportive than he is of the Jewish state.

"Now is the time for President Obama to state in unequivocal terms whether or not he believes Jerusalem is Israel's capital," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

Republicans declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel in the platform the party approved last week at its convention in Tampa, Fla. GOP platforms in 2004 and 2008 also called Jerusalem the capital.

___

Lederman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Steve Peoples in Utah, Bradley Klapper in Washington, and Ken Thomas, Ben Feller and Matthew Daly in Charlotte contributed

http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-change-platform-add-god-jerusalem-2...

[AQUAMAN]

More Obama junkit-type inuendo, and more Obama spin is all I see!  The more we hear, the more we see whom he really is, and can think on it before November, he's lost, and doesn't even know it yet, or does he? Frankly, I don't think he cares either, he's been the new Black Pres. already, so what's the expectation for a promotion now? All he has to do is write more books now, and that in itself will be more financially rewarding too.

[Willy]

I just don't understand how anyone can support Obama knowing what he stands for. He truly is Unamerican in his beliefs and his actions. I never thought our Country would sink this low and support such radical views. Those "Age of Aquarius" radicals have taken control of this Country and we must get it back.

[Dave]

Apparently the vote was planned to go smoothly and in one take... so much so that they had it already written into the script and on the teleprompter... Oooopppps!

 

[Dave]

Notice the empty seats too... I realize this was done a bit earlier in the day then all the big speeches but still, if I'm a delegate going to what in most cases will be a once in a lifetime event, I am going to take in as much of it as possible and go to as many of the events as possible.

[Brian Carlson]

THE FENCE TEST, THINK ABOUT THIS, IT IS TRUE
You can't get any more accurate than this!
This is straight forward country thinking from Jeff Foxworthy...

Which side of the fence are you on?

If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Democrats demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Well, I forwarded it.

[Willy]

That's funny and accurate, however I would not use the terms Republican or Democrat. Instead I would use the terms Conservative and Progressive.

[AQUAMAN]

Nice find Brian, and more true now than ever, and the terms are often more true too now than ever, irregardless of party affiliation. Methinks the voice vote was in favor of dropping out the God insertions too, and the party leaders had to override that for the sake of political correctness, nothing more.

[Brian Carlson]

I think the Democratic Party is on the verge of a split. Obama and his cohorts Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are pushing us down the road to Socialism. Not every Democrat is a Socialist.

[Willy]

Funny election video

[Willy]

[Marty Redman]

That's why you dont see Bob Hope doing any new movies lately.  Hes been blacklisted by elite Hollywood.

[Dave]

And he's dead.