Dems do Afternoon Floor Vote: "Change Platform to Add God, Jerusalem " on THREE VOICE VOTES!

[KoKo]

Democrats change platform to add God, Jerusalem
By JOSH LEDERMAN and JULIE PACE | Associated Press – 20 hrs ago

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/YEHvtlDDwjdULwQum9zFxA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MTc2ODtjcj0xO2N3PTI2NTI7ZHg9MDtkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTQyMDtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/Enlarge Photo

Associated Press/J. Scott Applewhite - Los Angeles Mayor and Democratic Convention Chairman Antonio Villaraigosa blows a kiss to he delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, …more

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 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.

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.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."



MORE AT (WITH VIDEO)

http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-change-platform-add-god-jerusalem-211928130--election.html

[Swede Atlanta]

1. This is bullshit....

I think a party platform should articulate core beliefs and principles...

If we had anything in the platform on these two issues they should be....

(1) We support the right of every American to religious and spiritual freedom limited to individual freedom and not a right to forcefully promote or enforce such beliefs on others

(2) We support the right of every democratic government to undertake such measures as necessary for public safety. Such protections, however, must not infringe on the rights of citizens or others without due process

Something like that.

We should not be running around using the word "god" even though I am a Christian and we shouldn't be talking about Jerusalem.

[KoKo]

5. Yes...and with our Dems on a ROLL ...WHY would they do this?

It's kind of bizarre. WHY? I was hoping that there would be an explanation here from his Campaign Ops that made SENSE to me.......

[SunsetDreams]

2. Yeah that happened yesterday

and I really don't care.

[KoKo]

6. You "Don't CARE!!!

How can this be? Our Dems "Force a Floor Vote by Voice" to change the Party Platform that has to be ratified by the Dems in all States at their Party Conventions and at Mid-Afternoon our Party has a hissey fit and decides they need to put up a CHANGE when ALL Delegates were Not Even on the Floor?

Can you explain your reasoning as to why this was such an emergency and why it needed THREE VOICE VOTES and there was no RECORDING OF THE VOTES?



Maybe I'm old and read the Constitution wrong...or went to the wrong school, high school or college...but, I'm damned sure.. that you don't CHANGE a PARTY PLATFORM in the MIDDLE OF A DAMNED CONVENTION because REPUGS WHINED about it!

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. How can this be is actually the easiest question to answer.

Tony Villar got his marching orders from On High. Like a good and loyal "Chairman", he went about his task with gusto. Listen to the emphasis he puts on his words in the first vote. He might as well have said "Let those who agree be LOUD! and those who disagree be quiet".

He was shocked that he didn't get the result he expected. I don't think anyone told him it was a real voice vote and not just a "go through the motions to make it look good" kind of thing.

When the woman came to the podium and said "You just gotta let them do what they're going to do", it was obvious the fix was in. Tony still didn't get it though.

I would remind all who try to explain this away that for a 2/3 majority in a voice vote the winning side needs to be TWICE AS LOUD. Every person who claims they heard a winning 2/3 majority is a liar. That includes DWS.

[socialindependocrat]

3. Why didn't they just say that Dems support Israel?

There certainly wasn't a 2/3 agreement - how do you determine that?
The vote sounded 50/50 to me.

Next time suppose they have a vote on gay marriage or
some other thing they decide to spring on the convention
and railroad thru?

What a limp excuse for a political process.
It's like some shit-ass prank like a Repuke would pull!

Why didn't they have something about the right for all people to vote?
(maybe it's already in there)

[KoKo]

4. Even in the House and Senate when Voices are so Loud..they call for a REAL VOTE....

This was RAMMED THROUGH...on WHO could SHOUT the LOUDEST.

It was awful and that it took place around 3:00 p.m. is even worse ...even just for Apperances sake...

I'm a lifelong Democrat...you don't change the Platform which has to be ratified long before convention and do a STUNT LIKE THIS!

[KoKo]

7. I don't know why DU'ers don't know what was done with this

and or why ....they don't seem to care.

[Vattel]

8. This was a travesty.

So much for the delegates right to vote on amendments to the platform.

[KoKo]

9. Agree...but, not much interest here about this......surprising?

It is to me.

[Vattel]

10. Not really surprising. DUers are all pepped up by convention and only want to hear feel-good stuff.

And that's not a bad thing insofar as enthusiasm is needed to motivate the campaign work that will keep Romney out of office.