We wrote about the extreme 2012 Democratic platform this morning, noting that it excludes God and Jerusalem, yet includes taxpayer-funded late term abortion. Even the media found these decisions slightly unusual, leading to a noisy chorus of criticism that eventually built to a critical mass. The decision was made to uproot the platform and undo the controversial language and omissions. The problem? The platform was formally adopted yesterday. Democratic officials couldn't just quietly tweak the document behind closed doors; they had to put the modified platform up for another vote. When they did so, chaos erupted. In three separate voice votes, delegates were asked whether they supported the inclusion of God and the recognition of Jerusalem in their party's guiding policy document. Three separate times, loud shouts of "no" grew in volume and intensity. A flummoxed Chairman Villaraigosa ultimately just declared that the "ayes" had it -- even though multiple reports indicated that the consensus was nowhere hear the requisite 2/3 majority. As God and Jerusalem were inserted back into the Democratic platform, the hall exploded in boos -- a humiliating disaster for the party. The stunning video:
Are people of faith and Israel supporters listening? Even some DNC delegates were astonished and disturbed by that spectacle, which is guaranteed to find its way into GOP attack ads. Every last Democratic candidate for office -- at every level of government -- should be asked where they stand on these issues, and whether they'll repudiate the large element within their own party whose hostility toward the Almighty and our great Israeli allies was on full display at their national convention. Even consummate Democratic partisan Paul Begala didn't attempt to spin this into anything other than a giant mess:
Team Obama is in full, desperate damage control mode:
President Barack Obama personally intervened to order Democrats to change language in their party platform to add a mention of God and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, campaign officials said Wednesday.
Except...it's the Obama White House's official policy not to recognize the fact that Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel. In fact, the platform committee says it made the eyebrow-raising changes in order to better reflect Obama's views. Delicious:
Changes between the 2008 Democratic Party platform's language on Israel and the 2012 version were due to a deliberate effort to refocus the platform toward President Barack Obama's policies, two officials directly involved in its drafting process told The Cable.
The Romney campaign is demanding answers:
"Mitt Romney has consistently stated his belief that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Although today’s voice vote at the Democratic National Convention was unclear, the Democratic Party has acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. President Obama has repeatedly refused to say the same himself. Now is the time for President Obama to state in unequivocal terms whether or not he believes Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.” - Andrea Saul, Romney spokesperson
Parting thought: Will Democrats boo apple pie and baseball during tomorrow's session? Obama 2012: Boo God, No Jobs. Forward!
UPDATE - "Keystone cops."
UPDATE II - Charles Krauthammer reminds us that several important Israel-related elements weren't restored to the DNC platform. The delegates may have burned the joint down if party leaders had tried that.