Why drop God and Jerusalem out of the Democratic platform?

Democrats have dropped any mention of God and Jerusalem from their platform this election cycle. To me, the following interview between Dick Durbin and Fox News Bret Baier addressing this issue is kind of one of those silly pointless questions with a gotcha quality. But it is worthwhile for a news organization to point out platform differences since not only is it their job, this illustrates a fundamental difference between 'godless' Democrats and Republicans. Democrats are hostile to religion particularly Christianity (but not so much to Islam)so, of course, one may expect that they would consider removing the word God from their platform. Historically, we have seen autocratic and authoritarian regimes that are hostile to religion since religion is an alternate to the authority of these regimes. Communism particularity singled out religion to be outlawed since they felt that it was a threat to the control of the people. Transcript below... If one thinks that one needs to drop religion or God from national discourse, then this is fatuous thinking. I have heard arguments over-and-over that there should be a separation of church and state. But to think that separating people and their religion from the state is just bankrupt thinking. God, faith, Christian based morality has a place in a government of people since these facets of humanity are part of the fabric of these very people. We cannot divorce our faith from whom we are or how we lead our lives. What the founders were concerned about when Madison considered these issues and resulting in the Bill of Rights it was written that ....

Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As we see here, the nation was to be a nation of liberty. A nation where there would be no support of any specific religion or restriction thereof through congressional action, that the press can exercise unimpeded from government interference and that people have the right to assemble and protest or support whatever or whomever they feel compelled to. This is not an edict that forces individuals to drop or restrict how people incorporate God into their lives or that only secular individuals are qualified to lead or represent the people. And the drop of Jerusalem from the Democratic platform as a bone to Islam is a warning to not just Jews but to people of all religions. Jews should be very wary with the Democrat's appeasement of violent Islam and have markedly dropped the nation's support of Israel in this administration. Appeasement to violent foes never works. It shows a fundamental weakness and naivete. As Churchill said on appeasement....

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last

. TRANSCRIPT:

Bret: God was taken out of the platform, why do that? Durbin: Well, I can just basically tell you if the narrative that is being presented on your station, and through your channel and your network is the Democrats are godless people, they ought to know better. God is not a franchise of the Republican party… (Bret: no, no, but) Those of us who believe in God and those of us who have dedicated our lives to helping others in the name of God, don’t want to take a second seat to anyone who is suggesting that one word out of the platform means the Democrats across America are godless, come on Bret. Bret: No, no, no – I don’t think that’s what’s being said; we’re reporting what’s in the platform – in 2008, God was mentioned once; in 2004, it was mentioned seven times; in 2000 it was mentioned four times, so it’s just a question… (Durbin: what’s the question) So the question is, why take it out this time? Durbin: What I’m basically saying to you is if you’re trying to draw some conclusion (Bret: I’m not trying to draw…) that the Democrats are godless, present your evidence, present your evidence. Bret: I’m just asking the question: why was the word taken out? Durbin: I’m just telling you, you are carping on a trifle. We know that both parties are are devoted to this country, both parties are God-fearing parties, let’s get on with the agenda about creating jobs in America about justice in this country. Bret: And we’re going to talk about that in a second, we are talking about the platform here and there are two changes that we just noted, one is that God was taken out from 2008 to 2012 and two, that Jerusalem was not mentioned; I’m not drawing conclusions, I’m just asking why these changes were made. Durbin: Bret, let me just say, I chaired the platform committee for two Democratic conventions. We produced the most unread document in the history of American politics, to suggest that this document and the insertion of two words here and one word there, now defines politics in America suggests to me that you’re not focusing on the real issues that American care about. (Bret: But senator, you know…) We want the American people to get back to work (Bret: I understand that…) We want to continue to create jobs. Bret: And let’s talk about that in one second, but you know that Democrats in Tampa talked about the Republican platform and what was and what is not in there, so when I’m asking you about these two changes and two words, I’m just asking why, I’m not drawing conclusions. Durbin: First, I’m telling you your conclusions are wrong if you’re drawing them, (Bret: I’m not) and secondly, let me tell you the first president to recognize the state of Israel was Harry Truman, a Democrat and every president since, Democrat and Republican, has stood closely with Israel. I know what’s going on here, (Bret: okay…) It’s an effort to justify Sheldon Adelson and the money he is spending in the name of really standing up for Israel (Bret: Listen), the Democrats and Republicans are committed to Israel’s future and security, and I’m one of them. Bret: Understand, no Republican took those words out of the Democratic platform, so I’m just making the point. Durbin: and your taking those two words coming out means our relationships with Israel has changed Bret: No, I’m just asking the question. Durbin: Is that fair? Bret: I’m just asking why it was changed. Durbin: Is that fair, is that balanced? Bret: Why was it changed? Durbin: I wasn’t on the platform committee… Bret: I’m going to move on. Durbin: I hope you will.