Democratic Party leaders, including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin have downplayed the omission of pro-Israel language from the party platform released Monday night. But on Tuesday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer said it was a significant gesture — one that will be noticed by parties in the Middle East.
“I think what happened with the change in platform language is extremely significant,” Krauthammer said. “It may be true that we here don’t read platforms. But I can assure you in the Middle East where the entire diplomacy is conducted in very subtle coded language, they could read what the Democrats have done.”
Krauthammer referred to Durbin’s earlier remarks, pointing out all the omissions from the 2008 platforms, which is certainly a cause of concern for Democrats.
“Four years ago they asserted Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and should be. That is nowhere to be seen,” he said. “That takes the rug away from the Israeli position. Four years ago, it said that any final solution and any final settlement, Israel must remain undivided. By removing that language, that means the United States — the Democratic Party — is prepared to see barbed wire go through Jerusalem as it did in 20 years and the ‘40s and the 1967 war.”
“No mention as four years ago of isolating Hamas. That’s a change in position on terrorism. No mention whatsoever of the platform stance four years ago that Israel is not to return to the ’67 line. These are all extremely important. And for Durbin to pretend it’s not and to mention Harry Truman, who recognized Israel 65 years ago I think shows how defense and panicked they are on this one important issue.”
The omission of “God” from the platform is something Krauthammer said was a product of President Barack Obama pushing his party further to the left.
“Platforms don’t really tell you what’s going to happen,” Krauthammer said. “But if you compare today with what people used to believe and used to say and used to proclaim, and you see these glaring changes — you know that something has changed within the party.”
“This is one place where Obama has led from in front and not from behind: moving the party, not just himself. And that I think is extremely politically significant.”