RNC Research

When praising U.S. veterans, it’s usually helpful to display ships from the U.S. Navy, not Russia’s navy.

Navy Times: “Russian Ships Displayed At DNC Tribute To Vets”

http://www.navytimes.com/mobile/news/2012/09/navy-russian-warships-displayed-dnc-veterans-tribute-091112

On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the stage to pay tribute to veterans. Behind him, on a giant screen, the image of four hulking warships reinforced his patriotic message. But there was a big mistake in the stirring backdrop: those are Russian warships. While retired Adm. John Nathman, a former commander of Fleet Forces Command, honored vets as America’s best, the ships from the Russian Federation Navy were arrayed like sentinels on the big screen above. These were the very Soviet-era combatants that Nathman and Cold Warriors like him had once squared off against. “The ships are definitely Russian,” said noted naval author Norman Polmar after reviewing hi-resolution photos from the event. “There’s no question of that in my mind.” Naval experts concluded the background was a photo composite of Russian ships that were overflown by what appear to be U.S. trainer jets. It remains unclear how or why the Democratic Party used what’s believed to be images of the Russian Black Sea Fleet at their convention.

WFB: “DNC Tribute To Veterans Showcased Russian Ships”

http://freebeacon.com/dnc-tribute-to-veterans-showcased-russian-ships/

The backdrop for a tribute to U.S. veterans during the final night of the Democratic National Convention showcased a series of Russian warships, flying a Russian naval flag. The image was projected behind retired Adm. John Nathman and more than a dozen Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans on Sept. 6. The entire image was projected at the beginning and end of the tribute; a portion of the image (the right-most ship) could be seen at some points during the more than five-minute tribute.

Democrats Omitted Language Recognizing Jerusalem As The Capital Of Israel From The Party’s Platform. “Language calling for Jerusalem to be recognized as the capital of Israel has been omitted from the 2012 Democratic Party platform. … That language has been replaced by a broader statement about unshakable U.S. support for the Jewish state - with no mention of Jerusalem at all. The statement also omits previously included language about Palestinian refugees and the designed terrorist group Hamas.” (Byron Tau, “Jerusalem Capital Plank Not Included In DNC Platform,” Politico, 9/4/12)

• 2008 Democratic National Platform: “Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.” (2008 Democratic National Platform, 8/25/08)

CNN’s Dana Bash Said The DNC Was “Simply Following What The Obama Administration’s Policy Is” On Israel. CNN’S WOLF BLITZER: “Dana, we’ve been talking earlier about the buzz, a lot of buzz out there, that the Democratic party platform rejected the language that was in the platform four years ago, eight years ago, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, also deleting a reference to Israel as being America’s staunchest ally in the Middle East. I understand the democratic national committee is now responding. What’s going on?” CNN’S DANA BASH: “That’s right, Wolf. You asked me just a few moments ago why they did it. Well, I asked the DNC for their answer. And the answer was that they are simply following what the Obama administration’s policy is.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 9/4/12)

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Politico: “‘Jerusalem’ Comes Out Of Dem Platform Language”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/09/jerusalem-comes-out-of-dem-platform-language-134318.html

The language in the section of the Democratic Party platform on Israel has changed from 2008 until now, most notably as relates to Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State

Politico: “Jerusalem Capital Plank Not Included In DNC Platform”

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/09/jerusalem-capital-plank-not-included-in-dnc-platform-134317.html

Language calling for Jerusalem to be recognized as the capital of Israel has been omitted from the 2012 Democratic Party platform. As the Weekly Standard’s Daniel Halper noted, the 2008 DNC platform included this language proclaiming the city’s status: “Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.” That language has been replaced by a broader statement about unshakable U.S. support for the Jewish state - with no mention of Jerusalem at all. The statement also omits previously included language about Palestinian refugees and the designed terrorist group Hamas.

Washington Free Beacon: “Pro-Israel Language Removed From Democratic Party Platform”

http://freebeacon.com/pro-israel-language-removed-from-democratic-party-platform/

Several pro-Israel sections of the 2008 Democratic Party platform have been removed from the 2012 platform-on Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, and Hamas. The new platform represents another shift by the Obama Democrats toward the Palestinian position on key issues in the peace process. For Jerusalem, the new platform has been brought into line with the Obama administration’s policy of not recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and supporting its division. Jerusalem is unmentioned in the 2012 document, whereas the 2008 and 2004 Democratic Party platforms declared “Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel…It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.” The Obama administration’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem has been a point of significant controversy in recent months.

Weekly Standard: “Dems. Remove Pro-Israel Language From Party Platform”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/dems-remove-pro-israel-language-party-platform_651611.html

In the 2008 Democratic party platform, there was this language on Jerusalem, Israel: Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths. This year, however, that language has been removed. Indeed, there is no mention of Jerusalem in the 2012 party platform adopted by Democrats.

Who’s There?

SHOT:Last Month, To Mark 100 Days Before President Obama Accepts His Re-Nomination, The DNC Released A Video Entitled “I’m There” For The 2012 Convention. (“I’m There: 2012 Democratic National Convention,” DemConvention.com, Accessed 5/29/12)

CHASER:Today, West Virginia’s Democrat Governor, A Senator And A House Member Said They Will Not Attend The Convention. “A trio of West Virginia Democrats will not attend the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. to formally re-nominate President Barack Obama this summer. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Sen. Joe Manchin and Rep. Nick Rahall do not plan to attend the convention, according to state party chairman Larry Puccio, who released the state’s convention delegation list today in accordance with party rules.” (Susan Davis, “W. Va. Democrats To Skip Convention,” USA Today, 6/18/12)