Following public outcry, Democrats took a vote today regarding whether or not to restore the mention of God and Jerusalem to the party platform.

Much to the confusion of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who presided over the voice vote, delegates were just as strongly opposed to reinstating the mentions as they were in favor of them. When Villaraigosa polled the crowd, asking, “All opposed say no,” he received a resounding “NO!” from a large part of the audience.

Villaraigosa then took a second vote, but was once again met with as much fervor with the “no’s” as he was with the “aye’s.”

Befuddled, he stood silent for a second, trying to figure out what to do. Much discussion then began to break forth between delegates as the rumble of the crowd could be heard throughout the room. A woman walked up to Villaraigosa and stated, “You’ve got to let them do what they’re gonna do.”

“I’ll do that one more time,” the mayor announced to the thousands present. “All those delegates in favor say aye.”

The room exploded with a loud and long response.

“All those delegates opposed say no,” he then requested for the third time.

A loud “NO!” again resounded, but not quite as loud as the “aye’s.” Some stood to their feet, demonstrably waving their arms against the proposal. Others shook their head as they called out  in opposition.

“In the opinion of the chair, two-thirds have voted in the affirmative. The motion is adopted and the platform has been amended as shown on the screen,” Villaraigosa then declared.

The response from the delegates to the announcement was as mixed as the vote, with some applauding the passage of the amended platform, and others decrying it and shaking their head in disapproval.

As previously reported, the Democratic Party released the text of its party platform earlier this week, which drew much discussion when it became quite noticeable to some that the mention of God had been removed. The recognition of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel had disappeared from the text as well.

“We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth – the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us,” the platform stated, replacing the original phrase from 2008, “God-given potential,” with “our talent and drive.”

After much public outcry yesterday and today from members of the general public, the party decided to take a vote at the Democratic National Convention to consider whether or not the mention of God and Israel should be restored to the text. Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland proposed the amendment on the convention floor.

“As an ordained … minister, I am here to attest and affirm that our faith and belief in God is central to the American story and informs the values we’ve expressed in our party’s platform,” he announced.

However, Strickland appeared just as confused as Villaraigosa as to whether the majority was in favor of restoring the inclusion. Some are accusing Villaraigosa of “ramming God” back into the text.

“They had to vote three times to do it – and they had to lie to deem it passed, even though it was clear that the measure did not pass a voice vote in the chamber,” stated writer Ben Shapiro.

With the amendment added, the sentence now reads, “[W]e 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.”

Taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand was also inserted into this year’s party platform as well as homosexual “marriage,” including the party’s intent to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which was instituted by President Bill Clinton in the 1990’s.

Clinton will be delivering the nomination speech tonight at the Charlotte Convention Center in support of the reelection of Barack Obama.

Click here to view our photo gallery of the Democratic National Convention

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