Correcting The Public Relations Problem

The Hill is reporting today that the Democratic National convention has reinstated language into its platform that recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. They have also gone back to the language of the 2008 platform which included the concept of God-given potential.

The Blaze reported yesterday on the change from the 2008 platform:

This is a departure from the past. In 2008, the platform read (emphasis added), “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.”

With the words “God-given” removed, the 2012 platform sticks to a more secular script: “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.”

After three voice votes God and Jerusalem have been added back in. Frankly, I suspect the change had more to do with a focus group somewhere than any vote taken at the convention.

The article at The Hill tells the story of the three votes:

The additions were approved by a voice vote that seemed to split the crowd evenly and confused Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was leading the proceedings. 

 Villaraigosa looked around the stage and appeared uncertain over how to proceed after an initial vote, in which the “nays” to adding Jerusalem and God back into the platform sounded just as loud as the “ayes.”

Villaraigosa called for a second vote with similar results. He then called for a third voice vote, and while it sounded evenly split, he proclaimed that two-thirds of the delegates approved the changes, which sparked some grumbling in the audience.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the platform was changed to reflect Obama’s views.

Of course it was. Please note that in a voice vote, no one is on the record for their vote. Essentially, all of the convention voted ‘present.’

Please watch the video to see how the Democrats count votes: