A major controversy erupted on the floor of the Democratic National Convention Wednesday surrounding God and Jerusalem inside the Party's platform.
Hours later, DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz gave CNN an absolutely ridiculous explanation for what transpired resulting in her being mocked for her "alternate reality" by numerous commentators including Anderson Cooper and John King (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):
CNN White House correspondent Brianna Keilar, on the floor of the convention with Wasserman Schultz, asked about the process of changing the platform, the three voice votes, and the “discord.”
Wasserman Schultz amazingly replied, “There wasn't any discord.”
Keilar responded that it seemed like people on the floor didn’t feel it was a two-thirds vote.
Wasserman Schultz again amazingly replied, “It absolutely was two-thirds.”
Continuing to press, Keilar noted that this seemed to be a change in policy from yesterday by the Obama campaign because they made it clear Tuesday that they stood by the platform with the controversial language regarding Jerusalem and the word “God” left out.
At the end of the interview, the segment switched back to CNN’s booth at the convention where Anderson Cooper said, “I just got to go to the panel with this. I mean, Debbie Wasserman Schultz said it wasn’t a change of language, there was no discord that we saw, and it was a two-thirds vote.
“And it was a technical oversight,” added David Gergen.
“I mean, that’s an alternate universe,” replied Cooper.
“That's why people I think, one reason people are so tired of politicians frankly in both parties,” observed Republican strategist Alex Castellanos.
“But let me just again point out that this is the same person who last week or two weeks ago was attacking the Romney campaign saying that it is the candidate who sets the platform, who designs and writes the platform,” interjected Cooper. “It wasn't true what she was saying two weeks ago, but now isn't it fair if she claimed that about the Republican platform to claim that about the Democratic platform?”
Cooper added a few moments later, “I just think from a reality standpoint, you can defend it as the head of the DNC, but to say flat out there was no discord is just not true.”
At that point, John King fabulously said, “If I had a follow-up question, it would be did she ever get away with the dog ate my homework?”
That led to laughter from all present making it clear that this panel was not buying the DNC chair's explanation.
It will be interesting to watch how other media outlets handle this matter in the next 24 hours.
Stay tuned.
