If you thought the “optics” of an impending #EmptyStadiumDay looked bad for the Democrats, a floor fight at the convention over restoring the words “God-given promise” certainly didn’t help, either. It was former Ohio governor Ted Strickland who introduced the amendment to restore the language on God and Jerusalem, but Democrats have quickly turned to an “unnamed source” to credit President Obama with the sudden change of heart.
Party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, last seen denying that she fabricated a quote by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, released a statement saying the language regarding Jerusalem was reinstated to reflect the president’s personal views.
The platform is being amended to maintain consistency with the personal views expressed by the President and in the Democratic Party platform in 2008. 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.
So, just how deeply did the president intervene, if at all? Many on both sides of the aisle doubt that the voice vote showed a clear two-thirds majority on the issue.
https://twitter.com/jamiesw/status/243479628314992640
