In its 2012 platform, the Democrat Party removed any reference of God while refusing to affirm Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. After facing outrage at the removal, the Democratic National Committee suspended convention rules and re-inserted language regarding God and the State of Israel into its platform. Surprisingly, the convention delegates had to voice vote three times to re-insert the language; and even then, the voice votes were inconclusive as a loud crowd booed and roared its opposition to putting God and Jerusalem back into the platform. As a result, Antonio Villaraigosa, the Mayor of Los Angeles and head of the Democratic National Convention, who was clearly embarrassed about the situation, subsequently — and falsely — declared the measure passed. You can watch the embarrassing incident here:
It is surprising that the Democrat Party chose to reinsert language affirming God and Jerusalem; after all, President Obama’s foreign policy has consistently delegitimized the State of Israel.
Furthermore, as AFLC Advisory Board Member Andrew C. McCarthy points out in a blistering article, “The omission of God and Jerusalem from the Democratic party’s 2012 platform was quite intentionally meant as a demotion, very much in keeping with Obama administration policy. The jihadists, by contrast, are moving up in the world.”
McCarthy continues:
As for God, there’s not room in this universe for two The Ones. In cases of conflict, the president has made it abundantly clear that his pieties control, and the pious better get with the program: Domestically, abortion-on-demand and wealth-redistribution to assure free contraceptives for thirty-something co-eds; internationally, close cooperation and billions in U.S. aid for regimes that abet the persecution of Christians, Jews and other religious minorities.
But, as McCarthy explains, God and Jerusalem were not the only names dropped from the 2012 Democrat Party platform. Indeed, the 2008 party platform contained this language:
Our … commitment [to Israel], which requires us to ensure that Israel retains a qualitative edge for its national security and its right to self-defense, is all the more important as we contend with growing threats in the region – a strengthened Iran, a chaotic Iraq, the resurgence of Al Qaeda, the reinvigoration of Hamas and Hezbollah…. [W]e must help Israel identify and strengthen those partners who are truly committed to peace, while isolating those who seek conflict and instability, and stand with Israel against those who seek its destruction. The United States and its Quartet partners should continue to isolate Hamas until it renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel’s right to exist, and abides by past agreements.
According to McCarthy, the Democrat Party’s removal of Hamas and Hezbollah in the 2012 platform confirms the Obama administration’s ongoing relationship with Islamists to the detriment of Israel. McCarthy explains:
Regardless of U.S. law, which designates Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorists whom it is a crime to support, administration has sided with the Islamists: When Secretary of State Clinton launched Obama’s “Global Counterterrorism Forum” — in conjunction with Turkey, and in partnership with Egypt and Saudi Arabia — Israel, the world’s leading terror target, was excluded. The administration’s preferred allies regard terrorist attacks against Israel as legitimate “resistance” against an illegitimate “occupier.” The Democrats are going along for the ride.