Democrats Reinstate God Into Party Platform

Though critics on the far right would argue that the Democratic Party has abandoned God, party delegates Wednesday chose to add language concerning The Almighty back into the official party platform.

After a contentious voice vote taken three times at the Democratic National Convention, the official platform of the Democratic Party was changed back to language included in 2008 that had been removed when the platform was announced Monday.

“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 platform read.

Slate noted that the move came after criticism from Republicans who were quick to point out the removal as another example of what they perceive to be President Barrack Obama’s hostile stance toward religion. USA Today, however, reports that the change came about as a result of personal intervention by the president, who questioned why the language was removed.

Inserting the reference to God back into the platform was hardly a unanimous decision on the floor of the convention. The convention chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, had to call for a voice vote three times before deciding that two-thirds of those in attendance voted to include the reference to God in the party platform. When the decision was announced, numerous boos could be heard throughout the half-empty arena.

In another change, the platform was also amended to include President Obama’s view that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, another topic the right had criticized Democrats for not previously including.

Whether the acknowledgment of God in the Democratic Party platform will effect any other changes in the party remains to be seen, but party platforms typically serve only as outlines of a party’s goals and politicians are not required to abide by them.