Agreed - the title and the long line of people make it sound like they locked a door and not letting Trump people into the convention. Obviously if that IS the case it is wrong, and I imagine it can be investigated beyond a few twitter posts.
Based on how Washington state works, I was at our local caucus. Poor turnout - my family was the only group from our neighborhood so we voted me and my daughter to go to the district caucus.
At the district caucus there were maybe 100 people voting to select 27 delegates and a bunch of alternates. My daughter and I gave a 20-second speech and said who we supported at the moment. I said I support Cruz, or whomever isn’t named Hillary. (With the assumption that Bernie wasn’t close.)
My daughter and I were voted to go to the state convention by the other citizens. While many of them were volunteers in the state GOP, most of them were just folks that vote Republican and wanted to be part of the process. Two of the delegates selected were names I had heard of from previous elections where they had run for something and lost. (Very liberal area.)
Anyway - my daughter and I are going to the state convention with about 1500 other delegates. The state of Washington gets to send 47 delegates to the national convention. While my young daughter is hoping to go, I told her that the people elected to go will probably be from the few names from each district that people have heard of due to their earlier political stuff. Not some 18 year old out of high school!
Almost all of the delegates at my district supported Cruz. Some said Kasich, two said Rubio, and one said Bush. Two said Trump. The two Trump supporters were not voted as delegates, but they did get votes to be the last two alternates. (I’m guessing they voted for themselves and each other). I have no idea if they put out a twitter post that they were “blocked from being part of the convention delegation!”
I have no idea what the state convention will look like. It will be interesting. But if it is mostly Cruz delegates that get voted in by the various delegates - most just typical folks involved in the process like me - there is no basis to think that the GOPe is involved. Other than I suppose the name recognition of previous political campaigns.
In the state of Washington, the caucus delegates must vote on the first ballot for whoever wins the statewide primary vote. Which the Democrats in power forced until after the caucus convention! The State Democrats don’t use the primary - and Bernie won the recent Democrat caucus. Washington state doesn’t ever seem on the national radar - I have not seen any polling results for Trump of Cruz.
My daughter saw a “Feel the Bern” sticker on a car. She also pointed out the Handicap License Plate and said “Well duhh!” (I know - mean, but funny).
Well it turns out they will meet one week before the convention and can change 1237 to any number they choose. Along with changing many other rules.
So choosing non-Trump supporters as delegates will work out great for them to eliminate Trump. Once they change the required delegate number, these chosen are no longer bound to vote Trump, and conveniently will not be inclined to do so.
You have to see the big picture.