Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Romney's "RNC Power Grab": What Really Happened (Freedom-Works chimes in)
FreedomWorks ^ | 8/29/2012 | Dean Clancy

Posted on 08/29/2012 12:55:52 PM PDT by Kolath

The noes clearly had it, but the party bosses gaveled the dissenters down, shutting off the microphones and ignoring cries of "Roll call! Roll call!"

Yesterday, the Republican National Committee in Tampa adopted some rules changes that shift power from the state parties and the grassroots to the RNC and the GOP presidential nominee. Former Governor John Sununu of New Hampshire touted the new rules as providing “a strong governing framework” for the party over the next four years. But in fact the the new rules should be very troubling and disappointing to conservative grassroots activists, because they move the national Republican Party away from being a decentralized, bottom-up party toward becoming a centralized, top-down party.

The Romney rules effectively disenfranchise grassroots delegates, and will thus tend to weaken and splinter the party over time. They specifically represent a blow to the Tea Party and the Ron Paul movement, and force grassroots conservatives of all stripes to contemplate their future within the GOP.

(Excerpt) Read more at freedomworks.org ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: cheaterromney; esmit; freedomworks; gop; rnc; romney; romneycheats; typicalromneyfraud; tyranny
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last
The proposed changes would do two main things:

1. Amend existing Rule 12 to hand national party officials, for the first time, the power to change the party's rules between national conventions, which take place every fourth year. Three-fourths of RNC members must approve a proposed change for it to take effect. This is unprecedented. It would enable top GOP officials to circumvent rules adopted by state and grassroots leaders at the National Convention. One can imagine how it might be used to shape and control the delegate-selection process to the advantage of insiders and special interests.

2. Amend existing Rule 15 to allow the presumptive presidential nominee to “disavow” duly elected delegates and force state parties to hold new elections to replace any delegate or alternate deemed unacceptable by the presumptive presidential nominee. One can imagine the influence this change would give a presumptive nominee over any delegate that doesn’t toe the line. He could, in effect, choose the people who are to choose him. It’s not hard to imagine the temptation a campaign would feel to use this power to intimidate delegates and to reward friends, supporters, and campaign contributors. The proposal also contained a provision altering the method of allocating delegates, in order to front-load and shorten the primary calendar.

Unfortunately, the proposed change to Rule 12 passed. Thankfully, the proposed changes to Rule 15 were stopped. But an “insiders’ compromise” version of the “disavowal” provision did pass.

1 posted on 08/29/2012 12:55:55 PM PDT by Kolath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

What does Romney’s RNC power grab mean for the future? At least three things:

Conclusions from FW.

1) As of today, the GOP is now much less representative of state parties and voters than it was yesterday, and thus more representative of whichever interests are smart and powerful enough to dominate the RNC.

2) Grassroots activists will now have to add “Monitoring the RNC” to their “eternal vigilance” list.

3) FreedomWorks will have to add “Influencing — and when necessary, fighting — the RNC” to our “Hostile Takeover” strategy.


2 posted on 08/29/2012 12:57:36 PM PDT by Kolath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

“engineering of consent”


3 posted on 08/29/2012 1:04:53 PM PDT by Lysander (Paul or not at all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

dirty tricks that were employed

1. Florida activist Laura Noble informed us that both of Florida’s Rules Committee members, Peter Feaman and Kathleen King, were removed from the Rules Committee and replaced with Romney-appointed delegates.

2. Some Rules Committee members were physically barred from entering the room, despite having proper credentials.

3. Some delegates were told that Blackwell was trying to use the situation as an excuse to reopen a settled debate that he had lost four years ago regarding Rule 12. Not true.

4. Some delegates were told Romney personally knew nothing of the matter and it was just his overly aggressive lawyers acting beyond their authority and there was nothing to worry about, he would put a stop to it once he found out what was happening.

5. Some delegates seem to have believed that the rules fight was really just a proxy fight in the larger battle being waged between the Romney and Ron Paul camps over who would represent certain states on the convention floor. This assumption may have discouraged some Rules Committee members from supporting the minority reports.


4 posted on 08/29/2012 1:05:28 PM PDT by Kolath
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kolath
I think events in Michigan are part of what drove the GOP to do this crap. One of the guys who voted in the middle of the night (Saul Anuzis) to change the Romney tie into a win was voted off the national committee just a few weeks later.

We won

Conservatives working in unison at the State Republican Convention sent a message to the establishment loud and clear: "It's our turn!"...No more `business as usual' politics orchestrated to appease the political masses with hollow claims of conservatism and principles each election cycle, only to disappear into the maze of lobbyists and special interests in the interim...This time, the false claims of an election year cycle fell on deaf ears, conservatism ruled the day...Libertarians, Tea Partiers, and true Republican conservatives unified in one of the most sweeping upsets of the incumbent power brokers I have seen in my lifetime...they have sent both the State and National GOP a clear ultimatum...This time we will not be silent, nor ignored, nor brushed aside.


5 posted on 08/29/2012 1:06:39 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

Well it does in fact give a “strong governing framework” for the party over the next four years. Any authoritarian need powers such as these. Vote individuals after being very skeptical of what they promise. The only reason I’ll vote this time is to support Art Robinson over Pete DeFazio for congress - likely a lost cause.


6 posted on 08/29/2012 1:07:03 PM PDT by JimSEA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

Romney lost my vote with this. We don’t need another dictator to replace the one we have. We need more grassroots not more big government bureaucracy.


7 posted on 08/29/2012 1:10:13 PM PDT by Zack Attack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

First Obama, then THIRD PARTY!!


8 posted on 08/29/2012 1:13:15 PM PDT by Jenny217
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

6. The driver for the Virginia delegation got “lost” and drove them around until it was too late for the vote. Both members were against the rule changes.


9 posted on 08/29/2012 1:14:05 PM PDT by BubbaBasher ("Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals" - Sam Adams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

So much for changing the GOP at the local level. Face it, the PUBs are an elephant in its death throe. What more will it take for Conservatives to get the message that we are not wanted?

Mark this date, August 29,2012 and this statement: “The GOP has no intention of beating 0bambi and Romney will find a way to throw the election.”


10 posted on 08/29/2012 1:14:34 PM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

There are silver linings no one seems to pay attention to. This MIGHT stop the individual states from moving their primaries into ‘me first’ dates that screw up ALL the primaries, not to mention states losing their full slate of delegates. It might also change some of the ‘open’ primaries where dem crossovers choose who wins. Maybe we will not see again what happened in Virginia this year.
MAYBE it isn’t as bad as you think.


11 posted on 08/29/2012 1:15:42 PM PDT by MestaMachine (obama kills)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kolath
I read earlier that some delegates were instructed to chant "USA...USA" during any roll call on this to drown out (no pun intended) the nos votes....

so make that:

6. As above

12 posted on 08/29/2012 1:16:21 PM PDT by spokeshave (The only people better off today than 4 years ago are the Prisoners at Guantanamo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

Myth RomneyCARE has made the GOP the ultimate
party of dirty tricks (against conservatives)
and DEATH PANELS.

Those who KNEW Mr. RomneyCARE WARNED you all about this.


13 posted on 08/29/2012 1:20:02 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Vi veri veniversum vivus vici)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

Demonstrates a real top-down, authoritarian streak in the RNC leadership, which I find repugnant. Like they regard the grassroots as ignorant rabble. The whole condescending attitude also totally goes against the government philosophy of federalism and small-government, which works best the closer it is to the people. Not dictated from above by our ruling-class “betters.” The whole GOP seems to have lost its bearings, and is morphing into a replica of the Dems.


14 posted on 08/29/2012 1:21:54 PM PDT by greene66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kolath
No vote for Mitt from me and mine.

15 posted on 08/29/2012 1:28:31 PM PDT by Mormon Cricket
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

This will come back to bite them in their oh-so-clever-by-half asses.

If a populist conservative speaking candidate does manage to garner enough primary votes in a future election cycle, he or SHE will be UNSTOPPABLE and they will cry and wail and gnash their teeth with no one to blame but themselves...........


16 posted on 08/29/2012 1:35:40 PM PDT by Red Badger (Anyone who thinks wisdom comes with age is either too young or too stupid to know the difference....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

From the article:

“4. Some delegates were told Romney personally knew nothing of the matter and it was just his overly aggressive lawyers acting beyond their authority and there was nothing to worry about, he would put a stop to it once he found out what was happening. “

I’ve said this before, lots of stuff seems to happen around Mitt without him having anything to do with it.


17 posted on 08/29/2012 1:36:10 PM PDT by DBrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NTHockey
Mark this date, August 29,2012 and this statement: “The GOP has no intention of beating 0bambi and Romney will find a way to throw the election.”

I've been saying all along. They want to leave either the senate or white house in democrat hands.

Vast changes need to be made in America and the party that does so will probably tear itself apart in the process. Instead they'd rather play games of making tiny adjustments and tiny cuts. The best way to avoid blame it to make sure there's some opposition.

Just look at governors on both sides of the aisle and their preparations for Obamacae, its pretty obvious they don't expect it to be repealed.
18 posted on 08/29/2012 1:36:23 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

I will not be voting for Romney. I would vote 3rd party but not Republican.
A few elite want to run things their way so good luck to them.


19 posted on 08/29/2012 1:36:38 PM PDT by Ramonne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kolath

I will not be voting for Romney. I would vote 3rd party but not Republican.
A few elite want to run things their way so good luck to them.


20 posted on 08/29/2012 1:36:46 PM PDT by Ramonne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson