Posted on 12/28/2011 7:17:08 AM PST by Kaslin
That may be in other states and in other circumstances... but the fact remains that in, at least, the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 elections... that was not done. Nor is it a requirement by VAGOP regulations for primaries on national-level offices. (it is for local and state offices, however)
They applied that standard to Romney and Paul... but then applied the state/local standard to all the rest of the candidates. Of which, only Newt and Perry met the VAGOP criteria as it is written and as it was applied in prior precedence.
And that's the crux of the matter. Two simple things:
1. they did not apply the same standards to all candidates
2. the standard used for everyone except Romney and Paul was not the standard written into VAGOP regulations
The only option is to apply the standards *AS IT EXISTS IN REGULATION* and *AS THAT STANDARD WAS APPLIED IN PRIOR PRECEDENCE*.
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The rules on the books is that any candidate who submits 10,000 or more names of registered Virginia voters, with 400(?) coming from each district... will get on the ballot.
Perry and Newt both submitted more than 10,000.
That the VAGOP supposedly checked the names is not a requirement. It is for local and state elections, but not for national elections. Furthermore, the VAGOP did not apply that standard to all candidates, selectively choosing to not do so for Romney and Paul.
That is an unequal application of law and is contrary to equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
As precedence has already been set in past elections (ie: the non-checking of submitted names... in all previous Presidential primaries), then that is the standard they must uphold for all, not for some (Romney and Paul).
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It’s pretty cut and dry here. The VAGOP disregarded it’s own rules and precedents, following them for Romney and Paul... but ignoring them for the rest.
10,000 what? Registered Virginia voters? We have no evidence that they submitted petitions signed by 10,000 Registered Virginia voters. If you have such evidence, please produce it. If you can't, your rantings are for naught.
Good thing they didn’t axe me, ‘coz I’d tell ‘em that the Almighty State has no business organizing and carrying out and funding internal elections by private political parties. Let’s start out by reforming this absurdity.
But supposing Romney turned in 17,286 and Paul turned in 18,884 and the general disqualified signature rate was, say, 6%, then not sampling the signatures may have been statistically justified.
Further, if Perry turned in 10,380 and Gingrich turned in 10,651, then it would most certainly be prudent to examine their petitions since they are within the statistical disqualification rate range.
I really can't say from the information given. Thus, if the Virginia GOP can show that standard statistical sampling techniques were used and no political bias was involved, then there is ample justification for tossing the suit out.
However, another report is saying the Virginia GOP is requiring voters to sign a loyalty pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee. If so, that would certainly weaken their case since there is no precedent for doing it before.
The state statute requires 10,000 signatures with at least 400 from each of the congressional districts. For federal office there is nothing in the statute requiring verification, only for state and local (2 different statute sections.) At some point the RPV said there would be no verification if a 15,000/600 number was reached anything below would require verification, nothing said about sampling. My understanding is the RPV made this announcement very late in the game.
I live in an area totally ignored by TPTB - heck one of the GOP primary candidates for Governor in ‘09 didn’t even include this part of the Commonwealth on the map he used for his letterhead. I know no one that was approached by any candidate or the party itself to sign a petition by any candidate.
I gave up on the RPV quite a while ago and knew they were and would push for Romney, but did at least expect the other candidates on the ballot just like in ‘08, even though they were pushing for mcCain.
Here, I'll repost it for you. I know you'll probably not be able to read it, as you missed it already, but for those who can make use of it...
The rules on the books is that any candidate who submits 10,000 or more names of registered Virginia voters, with 400(?) coming from each district... will get on the ballot.
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Selective editing to omit already posted, pertinent facts is exactly what we've come to expect from the MSM. How could a conservative stoop so low?
It's sad.
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