Posted on 04/18/2016 6:51:06 PM PDT by Kaslin
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said "there's no room for threatening the delegates or the convention or anybody that would be going to our national convention," but he passed off much of that talk as "rhetoric and hyperbole."
Priebus told NBC on Sunday that, as Donald Trump calls the delegate-selection process rigged, "I don't know what the motivation is."
"There's really nothing that's rigged or being changed or altered. These are the same rules that were in place basically for over a century," he said. "But, at the very least, there's no way around the fact that all of these states submitted their delegate allocation plans by October 1st of 2015. And not a single thing has changed about it."
"These conventions that people talk about, number one, it's not common but a few states out West use a convention system, where delegates start competing at the county level a month ago and they go through the county, the precinct, the congressional district and a state convention. And the candidates participate the whole way through. And no one was complaining except for when it was all over," Priebus continued.
"And, look, every state is different. And to -- you can reform the system. I mean, look, we've all -- we -- this has been an ongoing debate."
The chairman stressed that "the RNC doesn't write any rules."
"The RNC has basically an administrative role at the convention. It's by majority rule the delegates can run the convention. So it's on them to decide what they want to do about a lot of these issues, not us," he said.
"...The voters empower the delegates. But ultimately the delegates, who, in most cases are bound by the outcome of caucuses and primaries and conventions, make the decisions at the convention."
Priebus added that if Trump "was winning the majority of votes, he'd likely have the majority of delegates -- but that's not actually what's happening."
"He's winning in plurality of votes. And he has a plurality of delegates. And under the rules, and under the concept of this country, a majority rules on everything. A majority rules on the electoral college. Majority rules at the DNC, the RNC and I don't know too many places where a majority doesn't rule," he said.
Asked if he'll let Trump bully him and "cave to his demands," the chairman replied that "the rules are set."
"I've been pretty clear," Priebus added. "I think I've done more TV in the last two weeks than I have in two years and it's because I'm not going to allow anyone to rewrite the rules of our party."
Trump's recent warning to the RNC: "You better straighten out the system, because the people want their vote. The people want to vote. And they want to be represented properly."
Priebus responded on CNN that "it's not a matter of party insiders -- it's a matter of 2,400-plus grass-roots activists, and whatever they want to do, they can do. And that's where the power lies."
He told CBS: "If they want to have 100 percent of everything they want to have happen, they have to be 100 percent committed to each of these states and how they select delegates."
"We are going to have plenty of security, plenty of protection for all the delegates," added Priebus. "We will be prepared. It will be a great convention. It will be an historic convention."
PING!!
See article and comments, esp. #33, #38, #43, and others
Thanks, WildHighlander57
“Virtually no Trump supporters showed up at our County Convention to become delegates to the State Convention”
Similar to what happened in GA. One must attend the Mass Meetings to become delegates to the County, District and State Conventions. Trump people did not show up in many numbers to the Mass meetings, but were sent out notices to show up and demand they be seated as delegates at the ensuing conventions. They, like Trump, didn’t bother to prepare and follow the procedures that have been in place since we have been involved in GA. But, what the heck-—if bullying and name calling works for their idol, Trump—they thought it SHOULD work for them as well.
Why do people keep repeating this lie?? The only thing that was changed in August is they canceled a straw poll that was not, and never had been, used to award delegates! The delegates have always been selected by the caucus system.
Lather, Reince, repeat. It won’t be ‘your’ party long if y’all keep this up.
Yep, and the Demoncrats are even worse!
What kind of idiots need a RULE to tell them it’s best to nominate the guy with the largest support?
They, in fact did just that last election to block Ron Paul's delegates from being a factor in the convention. That is the legendary rule 60.
Here is a reference to that:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/12645-rnc-disenfranchises-delegates-rigs-rules-to-nominate-romney.
You need to give me a source that says that can't happen.
B T T T
POST OF THE DAY.
If the candidates can not select their own supporters as delegates, then everywhere there will be Anti-TRUMP forces, most especially on those committees.
I suspect TRUMP will find surprising support tucked in the At Large delegates.
Yes.
TRUMP and his supporters have finally learned the “system” this cycle, that power and influence for your candidate always begins at Point A...... showing up.
These little sweaty rustic neighborhood/precinct meetings set your candidate in motion right there, because you’re there.
It does take a sleuth to find out when the damn things are scheduled, because those already involved in the county are very territorial and don’t want you there, unless you are friendly forces.
“OUR PARTY,” who’s party !!!
Isn’t that also Donald Trumps party, insane idiot ???
Making ignorant comments is one thing - sharing the ignorant comments of others is another...
Unless they prevent someone from voting on the basis of sex, race, color or creed, there is no constitutional violation, because there is no constitutional right to vote for the nominee of a political party. They can allow a vote or not allow a vote as they see fit. Whether or not that is wise is a different question.
YOU GOT IT?
Amazing isn’t it?
You have to try better than that.
Incorrect. Although I usually am at odds with opinions from the Washington Post, I found a very helpful detailed article that helped me understand this cycle/a>
The Republican National Committee recently enacted a new rule to increase the significance of bound delegates. According to the rule, states that have a "presidential preference poll" must bind their delegates to the outcome of the poll, meaning that most caucuses and primaries should result in bound delegate allocations. Some states, however, have chosen to circumvent the rule by altering their primary voting processes. For instance, in Colorado, Republican voters won't caucus directly for delegates to the national convention. Rather, they'll caucus for delegates to the state convention. Then, the state convention will choose delegates to send to the national convention.
I don't think this Washington Post article written back in February was lying about the change in the Colorado process on behalf of Trump. I encourage people to read it all, because it seems to be rather helpful in understanding how the delegates work and all.
The delegates have always been selected by the caucus system.
This is not actually true either. They did primaries in 1992 and 1996. But whether they did primaries or caucuses is not at issue. Its that they intentionally changed their caucus system for selection of delegates radically so it would not be a "presidential preference poll". They had a long series of meetings for one to be able to vote in the caucus they did have, and then the people voted directly for delegates who gave 10 second speeches, rather than the traditional way of voting for a "presidential preference". The number of Republicans that participated was obviously only a tiny fraction of those that would have voted in a regular caucus, and there is evidence by those who have researched this more thoroughly that this was likely by design with the purpose of making it less likely outsider candidates would do well.
Why do people keep repeating this lie??
In this case I don't think you were actually lying. I just think you were mistaken.
They used primaries to award the delegates; they used the caucuses and state conventions to select the delegates. Two different things, as we have all come to learn.
"For instance, in Colorado, Republican voters won't caucus directly for delegates to the national convention. Rather, they'll caucus for delegates to the state convention. Then, the state convention will choose delegates to send to the national convention."
This wasn't a change. According to Green Papers, here was the delegate selection process from 2012:
"Precinct Caucuses meet in each precinct to choose delegates to the County Assemblies and District Conventions. There is no formal system applied in the Precinct Caucus to relate the presidential preference of the participants to the choice of the precinct's delegates to the Colorado County Assemblies and District Conventions; however, a non-binding Presidential Preference poll of the delegates will be conducted."
"Distict Caucuses choose the 21 National Convention Delegates (3 in each of Colorado's 7 Congression Districts) along with the district's delegates to the Colorado State Republican Convention. There is no formal system applied in the District Caucus to relate the presidential preference of the District Caucus delegates to the choice of the election district's delegates to the National or State Republican Convention. The delegates in attendance at each District Caucus alone determine if presidential preference is to be a factor and, if so, how it is to be applied."
"The Colorado State Republican Convention convenes. The State Convention chooses 12 of 36 delegates from Colorado to the Republican National Convention. There is no formal system applied in the Convention to relate the presidential preference of the Convention delegates to the choice of the Convention's delegates to the Republican National Convention. The delegates in attendance at the State Convention alone determine if presidential preference is to be a factor and, if so, how it is to be applied."
So as I said, other than the non-binding presidential preference poll being eliminated, the process this year was exactly the same as it was in 2012.
Although I still suspect the rhetorical flourush about always having caucuses was simply a mistake.
“POST OF THE DAY.”
Thanks.
“If the candidates can not select their own supporters as delegates, then everywhere there will be Anti-TRUMP forces, most especially on those committees.”
Exactly the RNC is selecting Trump’s delegates.
It’s rigged.
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.