Disenfrachisement of grass-roots conservatives matters. IT MATTERS. Activists flexing muscle & party bosses want to squelch. #RNCpowergrab
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Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012This afternoon, the Republican National Convention Committee on Rules ignored conservative principles and voted in favor of a compromise that would jeopardize grass-roots activists ability to exercise their political voices. The Washington Examiner’s Tim Carney covered the Rules Committee vote:
Jim Bopp and Ben Ginsburg entered the Rules Committee together. They're proposing a compromise together on delegate selection.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Ginsburg, del. from DC, pushed the controversial rules change allowing candidates, rather than state parties, to pick their own delegates.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Jim Bopp is not a Rules Committee member. He's a national committeeman.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Former NH Gov. John gavels the Rules committee to order. This could be a fight, or could defuse a floor fight.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
"Mr. Chairman, we have a quorum."—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
As far as I can tell, the lead rebel in the Rules committee, Morton Blackwell, is not here–still on the bus from his hotel in Clearwater.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Entire Va. Delegation is on a bus. Blackwell is missing the Rules hearing. "This is not good. Not good at all" Blackwell tells me by phone.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
RT @matthewhurtt: @TPCarney – we're outside the convention. Morton is with me.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Sununu warns against stretching out the Rules hearing. "you may think its cute if that happens…."—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Sununu: "I suggest to you that we're at a state that five minutes presentation, matter your eloquence will not make a whit of difference"—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
"Meeting the intent of voters to honor the will of primary voters" while preserving state party control over delegate selection.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Two speakers volunteer to speak against the compromise as "My Girl" strikes up loudly from the stage.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Opponent: "This compromise pits a representative delegate process against a … National primary process.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Del Ryder calls compromise "tremendous victory for the grass roots."—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Dissidents want a vote on the floor on del-selection rules. They need 25% of committee members to sign a minority report.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Henry Barbour of Miss, supporting compromise, tries to rally committee: "Are y'all ready to defeat Barack Obama."—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Speeches over. Roll call vote now.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
By my estimate 90% of the committee is backing the compromise.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Now there is a fight almost. 12 nay votes by my count. To about 100 yays.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Blackwell never made it RT @bdomenech: @TPCarney Did VA delegation ever make it in?—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
78-14, compromise wins. There will be no floor fight.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
Adjourned.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
The fight may not be over yet:
I spoke too soon. The dissidents are gathering signatures to force a floor vote on a minority report.—
Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) August 28, 2012
There can still be a floor fight. #RNCpowergrab—
Dean Clancy (@DeanClancy) August 28, 2012
It's not over! The #RNCpowergrab fight will likely spill over onto the convention floor betw 3pm & 5pm today.—
Dean Clancy (@DeanClancy) August 28, 2012
Hoo-boy. RT @matthewhurtt Morton [Blackwell] just confronted Sununu. Video later. | #RNCpowergrab—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012
Hoo-boy. RT @ZekeJMiller Update: Colorado delegate claiming they have the signatures to force a minority report on the floor! |#RNCpowergrab—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012
Faced with the prospect of an unprecedented power grab by the RNC, grass-roots conservatives are fighting the GOP establishment with emails, phone calls, and the power of Twitter. Republicans should be bound by the principles they profess to cherish, and the “R” after their name does not shield them from criticism by conservatives. The Tea Party’s voice will not be silenced, and activists are not backing down.
==>More on #RNCpowergrab from @ShaneWright22 quoting TX delegate Jeremy Blosser on Rule 12 red flags is.gd/8owMyJ #RNC2012—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012
Just READ for urselves who blew whistle on #RNCpowergrab -EagleForum, FreedomWorks, many state delegations, #teaparty is.gd/Iv3oe5—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012
Whoever is claiming that the #RNCpowergrab is only/all about Ron Paul has no idea what's going on.—
Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012
So what is going on? FreedomWorks, one of the most vocal Tea Party groups raising hell over the RNC’s shenanigans, is on top of it:
Gettin' ugly. RT @MichaelDuncan: Romney Camp Removing Rules Committee Members bit.ly/Onh8cs #GOP2012 #RNCpowergrab #FW—
Dean Clancy (@DeanClancy) August 28, 2012
Stop the #RNCpowergrab bit.ly/RVkCYR—
Dean Clancy (@DeanClancy) August 28, 2012
#Rule12 is a tool with one purpose: strengthen insiders' power vs. the grassroots bit.ly/OnerYB #RNCpowergrab—
Dean Clancy (@DeanClancy) August 28, 2012
@michellemalkin Romney camp sends email to placate on Rule 15, create confusion on Rule 12 and Minority Reports http://t.co/zcV0hBLk—
Michael Duncan (@MichaelDuncan) August 28, 2012
Kristina Ribali, FreedomWorks New Media Director, summoned her righteous indignation and went after the RNC brilliantly:
Why the GOP delegate battle matters on storify sfy.co/f7EY #rnc2012 #goppowergrab #gop2012—
Kristina (@KristinaRibali) August 28, 2012
Legions of concerned conservatives and Tea Party activists are turning to Twitter to spread the word about the power grab and to stress the importance of holding the line:
RNC: You won't unite anti-Obama voters by silencing the grassroots you need to win. #rnc2012 #gop2012 #rncpowergrab @michellemalkin—
Michael Berry (@MichaelBerrySho) August 28, 2012
It's amazing how when the #GOP establishment tries to create "unity" they create more disunity than there was. #RNCPowergrab—
Colorado Tea Tweets (@COTeaTweets) August 28, 2012
Grassroots revitalized #GOP & brought 2010 success. #RNCPowerGrab is no way to thank us. For every action there is a consequence.—
Colorado Tea Tweets (@COTeaTweets) August 28, 2012
Silencing the very people who have promised to walk over broken glass to elect you? bit.ly/OngKLg Not smart.—
Kristina (@KristinaRibali) August 28, 2012
The GOP's fear of the #TeaParty led to #RNCPowerGrab to silence us – yet, it just makes us stronger and more active. #GrassrootsMatter #tcot—
Whitney Neal (@WhitneyNeal) August 28, 2012
Hard to Enjoy #RNC2012 when #RNC is shoving you in the back of the bus & saying ShutUp Uh No! #RNCPowerGrab #Teaparty #GrassRoots—
Rhonda Koenig (@Rhondako) August 28, 2012
I hate that I have to vote for @mittromney. And I hate that he knows I don't have a choice, so he keeps poking me in the eye. #RNCpowergrab—
David Fair (@davidfair) August 28, 2012
Praying for courage for all those conservative delegates who are being strong armed by #Romney @USMAgrandmother #RNCpowergrab—
Kim Floyd (@kimfloydflorida) August 28, 2012
Way to "win friends & influence people" -don't make us embarrassed that we told friends that ur different than Obama. #RNCpowergrab—
(@KatrinaRainbows) August 28, 2012
Instead of trying to silence our voices with #RNCPowerGrab the #GOP should be welcoming & harnessing #Grassroots energy against Obama.—
Whitney Neal (@WhitneyNeal) August 28, 2012
Mitt Romney on track to be first Candidate Booed at his own Convention! #RNCpowergrab #tcot—
(@Afterseven) August 28, 2012
Just as Obama does to anyone he no longer needs, @MittRomney is trying to throw the grassroots under his campaign bus. #RNCPowergrab—
Activist News (@activistnews) August 28, 2012
Thoroughly disgusted by this move, and disappointed…
#RNCpowergrab—
Matt Silvey (@MattSilvey12) August 28, 2012
@Reince It seems that @MittRomney & the @GOP forget who won their Elections !! Your going to Lose stop the #RNCPOWERGRAB #teaparty—
Karen (@kssturgis62) August 28, 2012
There is no circumstance under which anyone should accept these GOP rule changes. This is nothing more than a #RNCPowerGrab !! RT #tlot—
Jay Quick (@Jay_Quick_AnCap) August 28, 2012
Pitchforks and torches are now in short supply in Tampa.—
Kristina (@KristinaRibali) August 28, 2012
The Tea Party has never gone down without a fight. This is no exception. Whether protesting repeated power grabs by the Obama Administration or coming out swinging against the Republican establishment, Tea Partyers have always stood on principle and they will not buckle in the face of threats to their freedom.