Update time?

Submitted by R. Craigen (Canada), Sep 8, 2012 at 02:18

In light of the very recent fiasco over the changing of language vis-a-vis Israel in the Democrat party platform during the 2012 DNC Convention I would expect there is sufficient new data and current events to update the information on this page again. Although not strictly "data", the oral votes on the floor certainly reflect some of the conclusions you have come to and speak a dark possibility about how your later graphs will trend in '11-'12. It is particularly disconcerting that in the motion they introduced during the suspension of rules, two separate and quite distinct changes to the platform were made, one concerning adding a reference to God and one concerning the capital of Israel. Now, there is nothing wrong with this procedurally, but it speaks volumes about (a) the beliefs of the party leadership about the likelihood of one or other of these motions being able to pass muster on its own in an open vote; and (b) the vote itself, and the thinking of those on the floor. Of course, my perception may be skewed by the fact that the network cameras focussed on Arab delegates with signs identifying them as such.

I found particularly disturbing the talking points repeatedly put out by DNC leadership when interviewed on network TV about this: They are saying "The Republicans are using Israel for a Political Football", and claiming the high moral ground. I think this needs to be answered and given its proper treatment, publicly, devastatingly, and definitively.

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