A floor fight is brewing at the Republican National Convention as grassroots activists face off against establishment Republicans over a proposed new rule that effectively would allow future presumptive presidential nominees to veto states’ selection of delegates.
The RNC rules committee report allows state primary winners to veto state delegate elections, meaning no more tea party in the platform
— John Galt (@Liberty2point0) August 27, 2012
On Friday, the Convention Committee on Rules adopted a top-down delegate selection process which Republican National Committee Vice Chairman Jim Bopp called “one of the biggest power grabs in the history of the Republican Party.” Starting in 2016, the candidate would have the power to refuse delegates, theoretically freezing out insurgent grass-roots delegates nominated by their state committees.
The change has raised the ire of conservative groups including FreedomWorks, Republican Liberty Caucus, Eagle Forum, Tea Party Patriots and others.
Tea Party Patriots, Eagle Forum, Republican Liberty Caucus, Leadership Institute and FreedomWorks all oppose proposed rules changes. #TCOT
— Earl Bandy (@efbandy) August 27, 2012
EagleForum, RepubLibertyCaucus, FreedomWorks, #teaparty, TX IA NEV NEB MINN VA SC & IND GOP delegations are UNITED==> http://t.co/xMUl2hsa
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 27, 2012
Damn it, defeat this RINO power grab! http://t.co/oikoipyZ
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) August 27, 2012
UPDATE: Protect your state's delegates! http://t.co/ScFSSjcq #RNC #GOP
— Eagle Forum (@EagleForum) August 28, 2012
http://t.co/YncLZtH1 @MittRomney @PaulRyanVP This is wrong. You need to address this directly. The RNC is not being respectful of the base.
— Mare (@broodcow) August 27, 2012
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RNC rules committee trying to eliminate the caucus system as a means for presidential selection!
— Mark Johnson (@MarkJohnson561) August 27, 2012
I never believed the Repubs had a war on woman but they just declared war on the #TeaPartry! #ruleschange
— TeaPartyViews (@TeaPartyViews) August 28, 2012
Just when I'm starting to get back together w/ the Republican Party…#RulesChange. #GOP2012
— SFK (@stephenkruiser) August 28, 2012
“This isn’t Reagan vs. Ford, Goldwater vs. Rockefeller. This is George Washington vs. King George.” ~ GOP delegate #RNCpowergrab
— Dean Clancy (@DeanClancy) August 28, 2012
Georgia delegate Julianne Thompson’s open letter to the Republican National Committee argued on behalf of the “boots-on-the-ground” wing of the party.
GA Delegate's open letter to RNC #cspan2012 http://t.co/aFLHuqDh
— Julianne Thompson (@JEThompson) August 27, 2012
The GOP is the political Party of the grassroots. Our national delegates are the boots-on-the-ground that get Republicans elected. We are there for County meetings, State Conventions, National Conventions, and most importantly we spend our time and money canvassing our neighborhoods, going door to door, making phone calls, writing personal endorsement letters, and getting-out-the-vote for Republicans. We are the worker bees, and we are the heart and soul of the Republican Party.
Blogger Drew McKissick is spearheading the effort to file minority reports that will force the Rules Committee to reconsider the changes, and delegates such as Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, are fighting to bring the changes to a roll call vote.
https://twitter.com/DrewMcKissick/status/240158796394135553
RT #TXgop Chairman Steve Munisteri tells TX delegation he wants roll call vote on #GopPowerGrab he got a standing ovation. #rnc #gop #tampa
— TexFred (@littlefreddymac) August 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/KristoferCowles/status/240081618658816001
The tea party and other grass-roots movements are no strangers to making waves for the establishment, and the trend looks set to continue as grass-roots conservatives fight for their place at future conventions.
All I keep thinking is, 1) This better go to floor fight. 2) Grassroots better win. *IF* not? BRING. ON. A. THIRD. PARTY. #WaveByeBye #Whigs
— RedBrightandTrue (@RedBrightandTru) August 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/MichaelDuncan/status/240212712074919936
Update: Washington’s GOP chair says his state’s delegation is on board with the minority report.
@michellemalkin @twitchyteam #RNC2012 Washington state delegation will support minority report.
— Kirby Wilbur (@KirbyWilbur) August 27, 2012
Missouri? Colorado?
Missouri's Delegates on Rules Committee Haven't Signed Onto Minority Report Opposing Power Grab http://t.co/ZjlERDPq
— St. Louis Tea Party (@stlteaparty) August 28, 2012
Received an email from Colorado delegate members of the #RNC Rules Committee that BOTH signed the minority report. Thank you! #RNCPowerGrab
— Whitney Munro (@whitney_munro) August 28, 2012
Is this grass-roots movement to protect the grass roots getting results?
Just got a reply from my states Rules committee member stating that she will vote no on Rules change!
— Pamela Rice (@cactuswren_az) August 28, 2012
Update: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rules Committee Monday night reached a compromise agreement and is backing away from the rule changes.
Republicans reach a deal on #GOP2012 rule change to avert a messy floor fight: http://t.co/MB29Bnf7
— Jennifer A. Dlouhy (@jendlouhyhc) August 28, 2012
An email detailing the compromise reads, in part:
The Convention is our party’s opportunity to energize our supporters and activists. It would be unfortunate to squander the opportunity fighting an internal battle which we have now been able to successfully resolve and which will accomplish the goals of all parties involved.
The resolution that we have reached is straightforward. It simply prevents a bound delegate from nominating or casting a vote for a different presidential candidate than the one to whom the delegate was legally bound by state law or state party rule.
Instead, under this new provision, a delegate who attempts to violate his binding pledge is deemed to have resigned and the Secretary of the Convention will record the improper vote as it should have been cast based on state law or party rule.
It leaves the actual selection of delegates completely to state parties under state law and state party rules.
We are pleased that we were able to reach an acceptable resolution and urge the members of the Convention Rules Committee to adopt the revised Rule tomorrow to be included in their report to the Convention.
So, are these “energized” supporters and activists satisfied with the revised language?
Q for grass-roots: Is GOP party bosses' olive branch enough? Or is this Kabuki to squlech dissent on rules power grab? http://t.co/xMUl2hsa
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 28, 2012
https://twitter.com/JasonBWhitman/status/240260947669819395
@michellemalkin Hi Michelle – at first glance, I do feel the new verbiage is fair, if indeed it is as stated. Going to really study it.
— Julianne Thompson (@JEThompson) August 28, 2012
https://twitter.com/jimmiebjr/status/240262326866038784
@KonniBurton @michellemalkin According to my rep the vote will be in the morning so keep up the pressure until then but looks very good.
— James R. Dickey (@jamesdickey) August 28, 2012
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