Posted on 08/07/2012 9:54:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Former Sen. Rick Santorum gave Mitt Romney a run for his money during the Republican primaries. In return, Santorum will get a major speaking role at the Republican National Convention, organizers will announce Tuesday. Convention organizers will also announce they are giving major speaking roles to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Sen. Rand Paul, the son of Rep. Ron Paul, another of Romney's more dogged rivals.
Handing Santorum a prime speaking slot is a hat tip to his underdog presidential campaign. The under-funded, little-known former senator notched a surprising upset in Iowa, where his brand of social conservatism played well among activists. Santorum has been aggressive about wanting a speaking slot. "I have no doubt that we'll have some role at the convention," Santorum told CNN last week in an unusually forward statement.
Picking Paul looks like a particularly elegant solution to what might have been a thorny problem. Ron Paul's campaign didn't gain traction with voters, but his supporters understood party rules better than other campaigns, giving them the opportunity to win delegate seats at county and state party conventions. Had Paul won a majority of just one more delegation, he would have been allowed to be formally nominated for president, which could have been a hurdle for organizers trying to arrange an event that will serve as a Romney coronation.
The four speakers are the second wave of convention headliners to be named by the organizing committee. On Monday, the committee said South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would address the convention.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Levin said he continues to be “very concerned” about Romney, particularly with the candidate’s public reticence in recent days to join conservatives who have made statements and appearances on behalf of the embattled fast-food chain.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Mark Levin to Romney: Not ‘Standing Up’ for Chick-fil-A Is Wrong
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama’s Re-Election? Vote Here Now!
I like Rick and Rand Paul, Jeb Bush not so much. What about Rand’s daddy? Congressman Paul needs to speak also. He may br loony in a lot of ways but he has a large group of followers who believe in limited government.
Screw the GOP-E.
and NEWT!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to hear Newt!
Without Sarah, and Newt as well (IMHO), this is a terrible thumb nose to conservatives/tea-partiers, and bad harbinger of things to come, and notice that while we may vote ‘R’, we are NOT happy about it...
There is a price Romeny has to pay for the way he behaved in the primaries; he’s done really nothing to assuage up to now and showing every indication this will continue...
Anybody else feel like a red headed step child?
I have gone from a “never” vote for Willard to a “yes, but spit” but have now swung to a “maybe but probably not” vote.
Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? Seems like every election cycle now.
Why McCain? Is he gonna give a speech about how not to run?
Those are now three names you can likely scratch off the VP sweepstakes.
Basackwards: Time for Rice but not Palin.
Major error in judgement that will have a cost.
Huckabee, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum and every other speaker has officially endorsed. Why would the GOP invite Sarah Palin to speak if she refuses to endorse their candidate?
What speech would she give? “...join me in voting for Anybody But Obama!”
I am with you. Newt would be one of the best speakers.
The only person who needs to speak at the convention is Mark Levin. He will fire up the audience, hit ‘em with cold hard facts, make clear the case against the socialist, define the risks to our country, and explain why the socialist must be defeated.
SARAH PALIN!
Reince was on with Greta last night. He said Palin would have a speaking spot too. He said they are rolling out the program piecemeal and didn’t want to give away the plans.
I thought Palin picked Rice even though Rice is pro-abortion:
“I would certainly prefer a presidential and vice presidential candidate who had that respect for all innocent, precious purposeful human life and showed that respect via being a pro-life candidate,” she [Palin] said. “We need to remember, though, that it’s not the vice president that would legislate abortion, and that would be Congress’s role. And we’ll keep that in mind.”
“Reince was on with Greta last night. He said Palin would have a speaking spot too. He said they are rolling out the program piecemeal and didn’t want to give away the plans.”
Ok. But how does that allow me to scream bloody murder about the great conspiracy to screw conservatives??
Is there another period of grace for America or is this the end of my beloved country? If so, I believe it is because Jesus is coming very soon. His beloved country will exceed all others including America. We’ll be trading up.
Because she effectively represents the Conservative base and has done more to get TEA Party candidates elected than any of those other losers that the GOP-E is foisting on the convention.
Condi? Jeb Bush? Puh-leeze! Give me a friggin break!
Anyway, wasn't the ABO crowd around here declaring that she had virtually endorsed Romney anyway?
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.