Democracy on Display at the Democratic Convention

Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, was visibly taken aback at the Democratic Convention today when the vote he called to reinsert “God” and “Jerusalem” back into the Democratic platform met resistance from the convention goers. The proposed amendments were an emergency measure reportedly taken at the urging of the candidate himself.

After the first vote clearly failed to garner the two thirds votes required for adoption of the amendments, he tried again and emphasized the “AYE” when urging all those in favor, to say “AYE.” But again the “Nays” kept pace.

Stymied for a second time, the Mayor was clearly not sure what to do. Fortunately for him a sweet lady, she looked like someone you might find working at a local precinct polling station, explained to the Mayor, “You gotta rule, and then you gotta let them do what they’re gonna do.”

In other words, you have to disregard the vote, rule, and let them be ticked off about it.  At least they were allowed to do what they were going to do. Still, they probably “feel like the system is rigged against them,” as Elizabeth Warren put it later that evening…in another context. Democracy was on display today at the Democratic convention.