A Crucial Message to the Grassroots [the Rove/Romney GOP power grab]

SteveDeace.com ^ | 8/27/2012 | Morton Blackwell

[JediJones]

The following [are excerpts from] an email sent out by Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute

I was Barry Goldwater’s youngest elected delegate in 1964, I was honored toserve on President Ronald Reagan’s White House Staff from 1981-1984, and I have attended every Republican National Convention Rules Committee meeting since 1972. My wife and I have contributed major donations to the Romney-Ryan campaign.

These rule changes are the most awful I’ve ever seen come before any National Convention.

I’m writing you today to urge you to join the growing effort to stop the worst-ever changes in this Rules Committee’s Report

But many state leaders, liberty-minded activists, and grass-roots conservatives are up-in-arms as word of this power grab spreads.

it would amount to a power grab by Washington, D.C. party insiders and consultants designed to silence the voice of state party activists and Republican grassroots

These rule changes would give good folks like you less of a say over our Republican Party in favor of insiders and consultants in Washington, D.C.

[JediJones]

They just said on the Steve Deace show that the rules take effect in 2016, so it will benefit Romney in the 2016 election if he runs again.

Please note that activists are asking you to call THREE PHONE NUMBERS to make your voice heard, as well as to contact any delegates you know personally.

The bottom of this article has the state GOP phone numbers they want you to contact in bullet point #1 below.

In bullet point #3 they want you to contact the CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members for your state (2 per state) as well. THE BELOW LINK has the phone numbers for them.

CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members phone numbers/e-mails

1) We need all conservative Republican grassroots supporters to contact their state GOP and let them know that they OPPOSE the rules change that will give future presidential campaigns control over who gets to be a delegate (current RULE 15, but is being renumbered to 16)…and OPPOSE the new RULE 12 which allows the RNC to change the rules at any time between conventions.

2) We need them to contact any DELEGATES to the convention they may know and tell them they OPPOSE the rules change and want them to support a move on the floor to amend this change via the MINORITY REPORTS – and support a demand for a ROLL CALL VOTE if necessary.

3) We need them to contact the CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members for their state (each state has two) and tell them they want them to SIGN THE MINORITY REPORTS before Tuesday’s session at 2:00PM. You can find a copy of the list here.

Here is the e-mail I sent to my state's rules committee members:

CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members phone numbers/e-mails

Dear Mr. XXXXX,

As a Pennsylvania Republican voter, I am asking you, in your role as Convention Rules Committee member, to oppose the rules change that will give future presidential campaigns control over who gets to be a delegate (current RULE 15, but is being renumbered to 16) and also to oppose the new RULE 12 which allows the RNC to change the rules at any time between conventions.

I am asking you to sign the Minority Reports that will try and stop these rules changes from being adopted before Tuesday’s session at 2:00 PM.

I want a Republican party where the grass-roots are allowed a voice in what happens at the convention and not one where their votes can be overruled by a central authority.

[tsowellfan]

Thank you for posting this. Mark Levin’s doing a show on this now.

This is extremely important.

If this goes the wrong way we might as well start gearing up a third party for future elections. Tea Party, Christian Conservatives, any Conservative will not be welcomed in the new GOP

[JediJones]

Yup, heard Levin discussing it live during the 6-9 block. Now Steve Deace is on the topic on his show in the 9-12 block.

[tsowellfan]

Here’s a link Mark Levin posted on his Facebook. You can decide if you want to post the text in the thread...

https://www.facebook.com/teapartypatriots/posts/10151048425475779

Also Mark Levin posted this:

Tell RNC chairman NO to undermining grassroots participation in the GOP delegate process and YES to amendments to Rules 12 and 15 in the Minority Reports.

Chairman Reince Priebus’s office can be contacted by phone: call 202-863-8500, then press 9, and then press 4 for the Chairman’s office. PLEASE BE POLITE AND CIVIL AT ALL TIMES.

[publius911]

Sorry Skippy. I am no more a puppet of some unknown anonymous doofus, than I am of Karl Rove and the insiders.
Is this a troll?

Wouldn't it be useful for us to know what the proposed changes in the rules ARE, even if in abbreviated form?

I ain't emailing or phoning nobody until I find out more.

I don't care, nor do I plan to care what you emailed to anyone.

Gheeez!

The Soros flying Monkeys and Obamabots are really out in force, suddenly!

[muawiyah]

yup, there's a power grab underway ~ and what it will do is drive away a great number of the party base.

The guys at the top don't care if they win this year provided they can control the choices in 2016.

There are a number of other threads on FR that more thoroughly explain the situation.

[muawiyah]

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/08/republicans-reach-rules-change-deal-to-avert-floor-fight/ ~ there’s the story. names names. gives text. etc.

[JediJones]

Gotta love how Matt “Mitt Romney buttboy for 5 years and counting” Drudge isn’t covering this story.

[Diogenesis]

We MUST adopt the rule changes because
Mr. Romney demands it.
He will rule us with RomneyCARE and gay marriage
and anything else he wants.
He will be our king. Bow to our RINO. [/s]

[tsowellfan]

Drudge isn’t covering this story.

Interesting! But not surprised.

[JediJones]

Doesn’t sound like they overturned the rules changes about being able to change the rules any time without having to wait until the convention, nor the one where Romney or the nominee can veto any part of the platform.

[Texas56]

Michelle Malkin has an update on this story posted on her web site. The GOP Elite backed down and took the new rule change out.

The backlash from the grassroots delegates on the floor was mounting and they have caved this time.

My state Senator is a delegate there, and he has also posted the grassroots’ victory in getting the rule yanked.

[JediJones]

Not so. Scroll to the bottom for the 10:53pm update, which states there is no resolution over Rule 12 yet.

Update: 10:53pm Eastern…So here’s the upshot. As you read above in Drew’s summary, grass-roots activists revolted over Rule 15 (the delegate selection provision to be renumbered Rule 16) and Rule 12 (the power grab that would allow the RNC to make executive convention rule changes and rewrite the rules between conventions without any input/consultation with grass-roots, delegates, or state leadership on hand).

As long as the proposed Rule 12 remains in place, this “deal” or “compromise” must be a no-go. Don’t back down, activists!

A source tells me the situation on the ground and in delegate meetings right now is “tense” and “dynamic.” It’s a very healthy alternative to stale, apathetic, passive, and static.

I am also hearing complaints of heavy-handed legal maneuvering involving the brave dissenters.

Watch it with those brass knuckles, GOP brass.

This is a showdown worth having — the flexing of Tea Party/grass-roots muscle is a reminder that the rank-and-file are a force never to be taken for granted.

[JediJones]

Also, some clarification on the idea of Romney overruling the platform. This was only said to be possible if the Rule 15 change happens, where Romney can substitute his own delegates for the states’ delegates. So that will go away if Rule 15 goes away.

[STARWISE]

Is RPaul’s group behind this fight, or true tea partiers ?

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29m Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

If we see a minority report go to the floor for a vote tomorrow rest assured that all hell will break loose #RNC2012 #Resist44 #tcot
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30m Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

“I must tell you there is tremendous arm-twisting now to peel signers off of the Minority Reports” - Morton Blackwell earlier today
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33m Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

Per my source, Delegations are meeting as we speak to determine an official position on the proposed compromise #RNC2012 #tcot
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1h Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

I am hearing mixed reviews about this compromise, Drama over amendment to #RNC rule 12, I’ll bring you updates as I get them #RNC2012 #tcot
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1h Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

Side note ... the fact that I have 1,999 followers is a slap to my dignity, someone hook me up with an additional patriot #RNC2012 #tcot
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1h Shane Wright Shane Wright @ShaneWright22

I have 2 sources within the #RNC Rules Committee, there are still concerns with the compromise, waiting to heat about rule 12 #RNC2012 #tcot

https://twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23teaparty&src=hash

26m Michelle Malkin Michelle Malkin @michellemalkin

.@Greg_Wiesemann Nonsense. This isn’t about “tearing down GOP.” It’s about preventing GOP brass from tearing down #teaparty gains.

37m kris kris @Kriskxx

The Elite #Republicans don’t want their machine broken, have changed the rules to mute the #Teaparty & States by pick & chose rule Vote Tues

https://twitter.com/#!/search/?q=%23teaparty&src=hash

[luvie]

They need to just all shut up and get with the program. We do manage to make ourselves a laughingstock by the petty in-fighting! Geez!

[STARWISE]

Ain’t gonna happen if the elites are trying to shut down the tea party grass roots/smaller govt patriots. We shall see ..

[luvie]

The tea party is a group to be reckoned with and I guess they’ll find that out...with Paul Ryan on the ticket.

Ron Paul? blech...he should just disappear. I’m embarrassed that he’s a Texan!

[OldEarlGray]

Here comes da King.

FUMR.

[2ndDivisionVet]

BINGO!!