Democrats restore God, Jerusalem to party platform

CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Early today, Democrats announced that, out of an abundance of caution, they would move President Barack Obama’s Thursday night speech indoor – out of the way of violent thunderstorms.

Maybe they had reason to worry. From the Associated Press, just updated:

Campaign officials say President Barack Obama personally intervened to change language in his party’s platform on Jerusalem and God.

Democrats amended their convention platform Wednesday to add a mention on God and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

The officials said Obama’s reaction on the omission of God from the platform was to wonder why it was removed in the first place.

GOP challenger Mitt Romney said omitting a reference to God suggested Democrats were out of touch with mainstream America. Republicans also said omitting a reference to Jerusalem showed Obama was weak on Israel.

The officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about private discussions.

From the original file:

Many in the audience booed after the convention chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, ruled that the amendments had been approved despite the fact that a large group of delegates objected.

He called for a vote three times before ruling.

The party reinstated language from the 2008 platform that said “we need a government that stands up for the hopes, values and interests of working people and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.”

The platform also now includes what advisers said was Obama’s personal views on Jerusalem.

Look, the weather decision was a bet that went wrong, and Democrats pulled the plug as best they could.

But this was a pure bungle. Listen to the audio here, courtesy of WSB Radio’s Jamie Dupree:

Obviously, the best way to recover from a mistake is not to make one. The language shouldn’t have disappeared in the first place. But the remedy was flawed as well.

By including the restoration of God and Jerusalem in a single amendment – and then having those boos – Republicans will surely declare that Democrats have offered the Almighty a raspberry. Separate the God and Jerusalem, and you have a smaller problem.

Then, let the matter be handled by someone who knows how to handle a gavel

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.

75 comments Add your comment

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
5:43 pm

This is why God reduced the hurricane to a thunderstorm, but if they don’t stop saying Ann Romney was in the car when Mitt put Shamus on the roof I am SURE it will be upgraded!

Ralph

September 5th, 2012
5:45 pm

I wonder what “politically correct” liberal secular humanist screwed the pooch in the platform drafting. Talk about self inflicted wounds!

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
5:50 pm

I know! This is a Christian nation. It says God 77 times in the constitution! My uncle Robin says they bravely ran away from evil secular humanism. Both sides are bad. Both sides!

cc

September 5th, 2012
6:00 pm

“The move came after criticism from Republicans.”

I’m sure this statement is correct. Changing it after criticism will fool no one except, of course, the simple minded dims.

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
6:01 pm

You are so clever cc ;-)

Say something else!

cc

September 5th, 2012
6:06 pm

On a bumper sticker I saw today:

SHOW YOUR IGNORANCE – VOTE OBAMA

moses malone 3:16

September 5th, 2012
6:09 pm

How ’bout a shout-out to unicorns just to make sure you cover all the bases.

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
6:20 pm

@CC – That is Sooooooooooo funny and shows why both sides are bad! :D You make a good man of the center! :D

Don’t forget to tell people about why Obama is Kenyan based on this report by the heroic martyr Andrew Breitbart about the voice mail company biography that exposes the truth about his birth certificate!

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/17/Obama-pamphlet-in-use-2007

@Moses Malone – I like unicorns! Do you watch the new My Little Pony? It’s funny. My Uncle Robin is a secret Brony.

Li'l Aynie

September 5th, 2012
6:20 pm

What’s God to do with politics? Hasn’t he got enough on his hands with all the hurricanes, tornados, wars, disease, and poverty?

I read somewhere that one should not take God’s name in vain; doesn’t that apply to political platforms?

Just where is that “Jerusalem” that American politicians feel they control? Is it a town in rural Georgia, like Athens, Sparta, Troy, Rome, etc.?

20/20

September 5th, 2012
6:23 pm

MMM @ 5.43, 5.50 and 6.01p; Please, tell us what you are smoking (or mind-altering drug) and where you got it. We won’t tell but, based on the content of the toke or hallucinogen, we may be able to steer you to a free clinic that can help. No guarantee, but they will try

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
6:27 pm

@20/20 I only smoke premium cigars made here in the BEST state in the world of Georgia. I love my home state. Our politicians may be….less than functional, but everyone else is just so NICE. It makes me proud to call myself a georgian.

But smoking Georgia Cigars only clears my vision. It makes me see that both sides are bad. You could say it gives me….20/20. Get it? 20/20! :D

You’re funny :D

moses malone 3:16

September 5th, 2012
6:41 pm

mmm,

Amen, brother!

luangtom

September 5th, 2012
7:02 pm

Okay, the Dems have returned God and Jerusalem to their platform wording. How are they going to explain away their inclusion of gay-marriage approval to their many old and staunch Dems of the iron-worker, farmer or miner ilk? They have strong family-values and gay-marriage will not compute with them. Will the Dems cast them aside and hope there are enough gays to replace them? How about the mention of Islam? Will that sit well with the old-timers? I am curious as to what is going to happen to the old main-streamers that used to make up the Democratic-Farm-Labor party of old.

eddy

September 5th, 2012
7:05 pm

and this was announced by the trans-gendered, hispanic, african-american midget who is a prominent Democrat spokesperson and Mooch’s personal assistant. As if adding a mention about God and Jerusalem into the platform changes anything when the Dems wholeheartedly support gay marriage…see Bible to better understand God’s position on this issue. Meanwhile, Slick Willie is there trolling for another cigar holder while the Dems salivate and give him a tongue bath. Some convention….if you don’t where you are going, any road will get you there.

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
7:06 pm

@luangtom – So how is preventing people from having families promoting strong family values?

The center of the country says gay marriage is OK now, which means that its the moderate thing to do to support it. Anything else is extremism and thus anti american.

What the majority think is what is right! That’s the center like way. Do what the polls say!

Mitt Romney is a follower of the center. He does whatever the polls say. If it weren’t for Shamus (his wife did not help!) he’d have my vote in a heartbeat.

Obama is extreme. He has defied the polls more than Mitt Romney. Both sides are bad! Both sides!

Being center of center means being center of center in the NOW not the center of center of the historical perspective.

Both sides are bad!

td

September 5th, 2012
7:20 pm

Jim,

I wrote negative comments about two previous articles you wrote so in all fairness I think I need to say you stepped up to the plate and reported something negative about the Dems accurately and without sugar coating it.

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
7:22 pm

@td – What you said! Both sides are equally bad!

td

September 5th, 2012
7:23 pm

I wonder if the Democratic officials ever located Sandra and Bill. They have been missing for hours now.

Wilbur@gmail.com

September 5th, 2012
7:25 pm

All day the democrats have been telling us that leaving God out of the platform does not matter and that the change in the capital of Israel is irrelevant BUT tonight we learn that they have been lying all day and that it does matter. As we can hear for ourselves many, many of the democrat party faithful object desperately to the re-insertion of God and to the change in regard to Israel. What was politic trumped what the democratic party really believes.
The reality is that democrats were very happy to leave God out of their platform and throwing Israel under the bus is a long standing aim of the party. Its just that they did not believe they would be called on it.

Road Scholar

September 5th, 2012
7:35 pm

I wonder which God they were talking about?

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
7:38 pm

@wilbur – Amen and preach it! Changing your opinion justto pander to the extremes of your party is bad! Fortunately Mitt Romney does not do this and is a bedrock of conviction. If only he hadn’t roofed shamus (without Ann!!!!!!!!!!!!!) then I could vote for him.

Romney the Rock I call him. OBAMA is chaff and blows with the wind.

Both sides are bad. Both sides.

Mild Mannered Moderate

September 5th, 2012
7:46 pm

@road – Why the God of the Republican party, the God of this whole world of course!

Both sides are bad. Apply directly to the forehead

cc

September 5th, 2012
7:46 pm

I love being censored! Thanks, AJC!

Baron Dekalb

September 5th, 2012
7:50 pm

God is no respecter of persons.

20/20

September 5th, 2012
8:05 pm

The news media said that the convention had to go through THREE votes to get this into the platform. That pretty well epitomizes the Dimocratic Party: Can’t pass a resolution indicating that God shoud play a prominent role in the Party’s platform and that Jerusalem is the Capitol of Israel. This is almost unbelievable.
Bernie no doubt is right at home.

Going Right

September 5th, 2012
8:10 pm

I have posted this question three other times and will try again for the FOURTH time:

Will someone please answer this question?

Obama constantly has whined about the poor economy and debt he inherited (from GWB) when he took office, and, he has kept this up for the past 4 years…

QUESTION: If re-elected, will he still blame George Bush for the poor economy he inherited from the previous president who, by the way, would be none other than…(you guessed it).

td

September 5th, 2012
8:30 pm

I see the libs have left the building on this issue. Where is honested and the other atheist on the blog?

Bernie

September 5th, 2012
8:35 pm

A Least this President is willing and able to know when to compromise. The Republicans and Tea Party Leadership is stubborn and rigid in their thinking.
My WAY or the Highway mindset. President Obama continues to prove his Leadership every day for All Americans.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said or proven by the Leadership of the Republican Party.

Kris

September 5th, 2012
8:37 pm

@Going Right
“QUESTION: If re-elected, will he still blame George Bush for the poor economy he inherited from the previous president who, by the way, would be none other than…(you guessed it)”.
You may not want to hear this, but the truth is the truth President Obama did inherit the mess and 2 years in the Retard speaker of the house (Bonehead ) decided it was better to TRASH the ECONOMY. To get President Obama out of the White house. Guess what ? You cannot blame this on the former and present president. Look at the economy…we need President Obama now more than ever.

Re-Elect President Barrack Obama

Going Right

September 5th, 2012
8:43 pm

BERNIE! You’re back! Have you got an answer for on me for the other special question I asked you about believing in God? If you can’t recall, or you fled the scene to avoid answering it, let me know and I’ll re-post it.

As for your 8.35 drivel, what are you referring to? This President (bin Obama) willing to compromise?
This president (is) “willing to prove his leadership? Bern, you are on the wrong blog, sister. that’s a common mistake. Go to MoveOn.Org(asm) or the Huffingtop Post, or Media Matters…you were on one of those. The people who frequent those blogs have about the same IQ as you (somewhere in the ‘plant life’ category’).

Buford T. Justice

September 5th, 2012
8:53 pm

Dems lie. Tapes don’t. DNC boss Debbie Wasserman Shultz:

“I didn’t say he said that,” Wasserman Schultz told Fox News. “And unfortunately, that comment was reported by a conservative newspaper, it’s not surprising that they would deliberately misquote me.”

“What I always say is that unfortunately the Republicans have made Israel a political football, which is dangerous for Israel. And Ambassador Oren has said that we can’t ever suggest that there is any daylight between the two parties on Israel because there isn’t. And that that’s harmful to Israel. That’s what I said, and that is accurate,” she added.

But Wasserman Schultz didn’t count on Klein having audio of her making the comment.

In the audio, she is heard making the statement Klein reported. “We know, and I’ve heard no less than Ambassador Michael Oren say this, that what the Republicans are doing is dangerous for Israel,” she said in the recording.

cc

September 5th, 2012
9:02 pm

Buford T. Justice @ 8:53 pm:

She is a typical lying dim. They believe if you tell a lie often enough, people will accept it as truth. Unfortunately, this works very well . . . on dims and others of lesser intelligence.

orson swells

September 5th, 2012
9:06 pm

what if god was one of us? Just a slob like one of us?

Bernie

September 5th, 2012
9:10 pm

Going Right @ 8:43 pm – My Friend your User name does not represent you or your mindset. “GOing Right in Circles” is a more appropriate description. I know my comments stir moments of confusion and frustration. What you are not aware of, that is a good thing for YOU. It means that you are starting to really THINK about things.

To have a THOUGHTFUL process is normal and enlightening. It helps clears the cobwebs out of a mindset that is already preconceived and narrow. Free yourself my friend, from the chains of bigotry, intolerance, ignorance and racist thinking. Reject and question all that is said and told to you on channel 37. They do care about you or
for anything you believe in. Making money is their only GOAL!

Open your eyes, their is a world out here, that includes more than YOU and your short sighted thinking. Open your mind and free yourself! Life is good, we ALL are only here for a short period of time. Be nicer to your neighbor and those less fortunate. Your Next LIFE may not be as blessed. You may well be the unfortunate next time!

td

September 5th, 2012
9:12 pm

BREAKING NEWS:

After hours and hours of looking Sandra Fluke and Bill Clinton have been found at the convention center. It is reported that they looked a little frazzled and wrinkled but Sandra was in fine spirits while smoking a big fat cigar.

Wayne

September 5th, 2012
9:14 pm

The Dems have been caught dissing God, and then Jerusalem for good measure. We all saw it, and pretending it did not happen will not change the facts. Truth hurts.

Bernie

September 5th, 2012
9:18 pm

td -@ 9:12 pm – Sandra FLUKE as an AMERICAN WOMAN will be more of a MAN ,you will ever be or expect to be in your very SAD dim world of HATE.

Am going to love to see you EAT those words on November 6th!

I know a great place for a SWAN DIVE. :)

Bernie

September 5th, 2012
9:22 pm

So Strange, how the Party of INTOLERANCE, EXCLUSION, RACISTS, SEXISTS and Homophobic howls about the exclusion of the word GOD.

The Republicans and their supporters would be better practicing what they PREACH and put into ACTION those claims of belief versus what they CLAIM to Believe IN.

GaBlue

September 5th, 2012
9:36 pm

Jeff Daniels’ character on The Newsroom sums it up nicely:

“It’s ironic because the biggest enemy of the phony Republican isn’t Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid or Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. It’s this man. [image of Jesus Christ displays]. He said ‘Heal the sick. Feed the hungry. Care for the weakest among us. And always pray in private.” Will McAvoy

orson swells

September 5th, 2012
9:39 pm

cc

September 5th, 2012
9:43 pm

Bernie @ 9:18 pm:

You are very confident that the Kenyan will win in November. Are you confident enough to accept a challenge? Why not pledge to those here who have long suffered your childish, inane and unintelligent ramblings for so long that you will leave this blog forever (not returning with a new screen name or any of the other screen names you currently use) should the Kenyan lose?

How about it, Bernie?

orson swells

September 5th, 2012
9:52 pm

cc,

i challenge you to right your name in the sand without breaking stream.

Kris

September 5th, 2012
9:55 pm

Any one for a triple dog dare?

Bernie

September 5th, 2012
10:00 pm

cc @ – 9:43 pm I do not make agreements with Racists and Bigots. I pray for them that they find another way to release their hateful ignorant thinking and words in a more productive manner.

cc

September 5th, 2012
10:09 pm

Bernie @ 10:00 pm:

“I do not make agreements with Racists and Bigots. I pray for them”

If that is true, I suggest that you pray for yourself. You have demonstrated your racist and bigoted attitude in your writings time and time again.

double

September 5th, 2012
10:09 pm

Bernie give him the same option,should you take his bet.Or would this be killing two birds with one stone?Just asking.

Kris

September 5th, 2012
10:11 pm

Aha Bernie I triple dog dare ya….You too cc…

I’m leaving after the Election…(When President OBAMA wins)

orson swells

September 5th, 2012
10:12 pm

let us all pray for each other.

Going Right

September 5th, 2012
10:26 pm

Bernie @ 8.10p; Still waiting on you answer:

“Have you got an answer for on me for the other special question I asked you about believing in God? If you can’t recall, or you fled the scene to avoid answering it, let me know and I’ll re-post it.”

Going Right

September 5th, 2012
10:29 pm

Orson Swells @9.39p; Obama Must Go!