Democrats change platform to add God, Jerusalem

Daily News Article   —   Posted on September 6, 2012

(by Julie Pace and Steve Peoples, YahooNews.com) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Embarrassed by Republicans, Democrats amended their convention platform Wednesday to add a mention of God and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel [after they had on Tuesday passed a 2012 platform that did not mention God or Jerusalem. This differed from their 2008 platform which did mention God and acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel].

[The 2004 Democratic Party Platform mentioned God seven times.  There was one mention of God in the 2008 platform, which stated:  “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 original 2012 platform passed Tuesday night (Sept 4) omitted the words “God-given.” The paragraph was restructured to say this:  “We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth – the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.”]

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 [to adding God and Jerusalem]. 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 original wording of the 2012 platform’s section on “The Middle East” began: “President Obama and the Democratic Party maintain an unshakable commitment to Israel’s security.”  The three-paragraph section detailed the Obama administration’s support for Israel-including boosting security assistance-but said nothing about Jerusalem.]  The amended language on Jerusalem states “it 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.”

The switch on Jerusalem puts it in line with what advisers said was the president’s personal view, if not the policy of his administration. The Obama administration has long said determining Jerusalem’s status was an issue that should be decided by Israelis and Palestinians in peace talks, but has been careful not to state that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital.  The White House wouldn’t say whether the change in the Democratic platform language reflected a change in administration policy.

Republicans argued that not taking a position on Jerusalem’s status in the party platform showed the president was weak in his support of Israel.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan also questioned Democrats’ initial move to omit the word “God” from the party’s official platform.

Romney said that “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 American’s don’t recognize,” he said.

…The decision to amend the platform did not rest well with some Democratic delegates.

Noor Ul-Hasan, a Muslim delegate from Salt Lake City, Utah, opposed the reinstatement of God and Jerusalem.  She said: “There are people who don’t believe in God and you have to respect that as well,” Ul-Hasan said.  She also questioned whether the convention had enough of a quorum to even amend the platform. “There was no discussion. We didn’t even see it coming. We were blindsided by it.”

Angela Urrea, a delegate from Roy, Utah, said she felt it was sprung on the convention without any discussion.  “The majority spoke last night,” Roy said, noting the platform was approved on Tuesday. “We shouldn’t be declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

Steve Peoples reported from Utah.

By Associated Press at YahooNews.com. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. Visit news.yahoo.com/democrats-change-platform-add-god-jerusalem-211928130–election.html for the original post.