Ooops! We Forgot! Let’s Put God and Israel Back In the Democratic National Convention

Neither poll examined the preferences of non-Jewish, pro-Israel voters, many of them evangelical Christians – a far bigger segment of the electorate than Jews. A Gallup poll in March found favorable views of Israel remain strong in America – 71 percent in total, 80 percent among Republicans and 65 percent among Democrats.

Critics accuse President Obama of being less enthusiastically supportive of Israel than predecessors of either party have been, an assertion disputed by his supporters.

Partisan Jewish groups were energized this week over the Democratic platform’s missing reference to Jerusalem – only the second time since 1972 that the issue did not make an appearance – with the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) calling the exclusion “unconscionable” and the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) hitting back.

“Republicans will do everything they can to shift the conversation away from talk of choice, Medicare, marriage equality, and the laundry list of issues on which American Jews overwhelmingly line up with the Democratic Party,” said NJDC president and CEO David Harris on Tuesday. “But it won’t work.”

The conversation clearly had shifted, however, for after taking flak from Republicans and others over the issue – as well as the fact the platform made no reference to God – the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. afternoon held a voice vote on Wednesday to amend the platform adopted the previous evening.