The amazing conclusion to yesterday’s snafu involving the Democratic platform’s language on Israel. After an evening of bad press they decided to reinsert the language about Jerusalem being the capital of Israel, along with some language about God after people noticed that the phrase “God-given” in the 2008 platform had been dropped in the new one. Simple process, in theory: Have someone from the floor propose adding the new language, then let the delegates approve it via a voice vote. The result? A trainwreck so awful that even Paul Begala didn’t try to spin it. As you’ll see, Villaraigosa’s astonishment that there are so many nays is palpable, and pure gold. Reporters were taken aback too:
Jon Ward @jonward11
wow RT @ByronTau: Talk about bad optics. RT @Timodc: Widespread boos for Jerusalem and God in the convention hall 5 Sep 12
Reply Retweet Favorite
As were some delegates:
Ben Smith
✔
@BuzzFeedBen
A California delegate just told me she screamed “yes” on the platform vote and found the loud no votes on Israel “disturbing” 5 Sep 12
Reply Retweet Favorite
To my ear it’s hard to tell which side had the better of it, but a few people on the scene said there was little doubt:
Matt K. Lewis @mattklewis
"It seemed pretty clear to me that the 'No's' had it." - CNN's Dana Bash 5 Sep 12
Andrew Kaczynski @BuzzFeedAndrew 5 Sep 12
That certainly didn't sound like 2/3rds.
Alex Yudelson @AlexYudelson
@BuzzFeedAndrew from NY delegation it sounded more than 2/3 opposed 5 Sep 12
Mollie Hemingway’s right that the boos at the end are ambiguous. Some people might be booing the language added to the platform, others are likely booing the procedural sham by which Villaraigosa railroaded this through even though there obviously wasn’t two-thirds support for the amendment. (John Boehner and the RNC railroaded their own delegates just last week.) The takeaway, though, for attack-ad purposes isn’t the boos but the degree of opposition to adding the language in the first place. In a few years, they’ll quietly omit it without a second thought. Be who you are, guys.
Update: Let the damage control begin:
✔
A Democratic source emails: " The President personally interveaned to strengthen the language. "
That’s the second time in 24 hours that Obama’s been forced to disclaim responsibility for some terribly counterproductive messaging at the convention. Weird how the rank-and-file have these crazy ideas that he in no way shares, isn’t it?
