Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them."
- George Washington

It is election time and as sure as the swallows come back to Capistrano every year, the Democrats and the Republicans create a platform that supposedly reflects the party principals and goals.

At least in the modern era of politics we doubt that many people except the party diehards even know or care what the platform states.

The main reason that changes in the Democratic party platform were noticed this year was that for some reason not yet explained the mention of God was eliminated from the Democrats' platform.

It is encouraging that the elimination of God's name in the platform caused a firestorm of disbelief and anger across the country.

On Wednesday, the Democrats tried to correct this unacceptable breach in good common judgment and, on national TV in front of millions of viewers, it took three called votes before the name of God was placed back in the party platform. And the third vote was questionable - it is doubtful the vote represented the wishes of the two-thirds majority of the party faithful that were present.

This country was founded by the strong will of a group of patriots who recognized that God was the very heart of its creation.

Since that time and through every battle or every crisis that our country has found itself in the middle of the name of God has been exalted to lead us to victory or to help us recover from crisis.

Today we live in an economic mess that has destroyed families and businesses and threatened our way of life.

We have no doubt that the name of God is mentioned daily in the majority of households who have suffered through one crisis after another.

We are sure before our valiant troops stationed around the world go out on any mission that the name of their God is on their lips or carried in their hearts.

To even fathom that members of the Democratic Party elites could think for even a minute that the name of God was not important to the future of our country is a national disgrace and any attempt to right that disgrace is a good thing, because we believe our God is a forgiving God.

But by making this original decision, it showed a total disregard of the strong faith of a majority of the American people.

This was unacceptable.