Posted on 08/30/2012 2:31:29 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
TAMPA, Fla. — The Texas delegation at the Republican National Convention is, for the most part, backing the candidacy of Mitt Romney.
But that doesn't mean everyone here is enthusiastic about the former Massachusetts governor.
Romney, who is expected to accept the nomination tonight, was not the first choice for many members of the Texas delegation, several delegates said this week.
Gov. Rick Perry, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum each sent their backers to Romney after they dropped out of the race.
And like good party soldiers, the converted supporters see Team Romney as the best option to oust President Barack Obama.
"I think we're seeing the delegation coming together. ... It's the way the system is supposed to work," U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi said Wednesday.
Still, not every Texan attending the convention is sporting a Romney pin on his or her white cowboy hat. Many are suspicious of his conservative bona fides because he enacted a health insurance mandated when he was governor of Massachusetts.
The civil liberty-loving, government waste-hating supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul tend to feel the same way as their leader, who hasn't endorsed Romney. And Paul is popular with a good chunk of Texas' 155 delegates, 20 of whom voted to nominate Paul on Tuesday.
In Texas, it doesn't matter much that there is fractured support for Romney, said University of Texas professor James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project. There's plenty of animosity toward Obama for Romney to win the state.
"Nationally, it becomes more important," Henson said. "A big part of both campaigns is mobilizing the base."
The fact that Romney is not enthusiastically supported by core voters in his own party is a problem, especially in battleground states, where the winner will be decided by a narrow margin, Henson said. The danger for Romney is that Republican voters simply won't show up to cast ballots, he added.
Don Zimmerman, a delegate from Bee Cave and Paul fan, joked about Romney's support among the Texans. "There's evidence that the Romney team is going to return manufacturing to America because they are manufacturing unity at the national convention," Zimmerman said. Come November, Zimmerman said he will probably vote for Romney, though he won't like it.
"I'm going to vote against Obama," said Zimmerman, a self-described anti-establishment voter and cynic. "Obama is a powerful motivator to drive you to Romney."
Jeff Milburn, a 46-year-old alternate from Dallas and another subscriber to Paul's philosophies, said there is dissension in the delegation over Romney.
The liberty-minded Milburn said he's still not sure if he will vote for Romney in November.
"He would not be my first choice," Milburn said. "I have been hearing the words ‘vote for lesser of two evils' since the mid-'80s. ... It's very disheartening."
Milburn said he and other Paul supporters remain suspicious of Romney and his pledges of small government and reform. "You don't know much about what he really stands for," Milburn said. "Is he going to make cuts that are going to piss people off? I don't think so."
One encouraging component of the Romney campaign is his running mate, Milburn said. U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan brings credibility to the ticket because of his fiscal conservatism, he said.
Mark Boldger, an alternate delegate from a small town near College Station, says he's a Romney supporter now. He agreed that Ryan satisfies the need for fiscal conservatism called for by both Paul backers and fiscal conservatives. Boldger didn't back the Massachusetts governor originally. He supported Gingrich in the early days of the race and had worries about Romney's Massachusetts health care plan. Boldger has since come around, and these days he focuses on Romney's positive traits. "I believe it's going to take a businessman to balance this budget," said Boldger, a retired financial adviser. "I think it is going to take running this country like a business."
Most factions of the Texas party seem to have dutifully jumped on the Romney wagon.
Following the lead of Santorum, perhaps the most socially conservative candidate in the presidential primary, Texas' religious conservatives are generally behind Romney. Santorum, who addressed the Texas delegation Wednesday, said that he is sometimes asked why he threw his support to Romney after such a bitter campaign. Shrugging, he told the crowd that he always answers by saying: It's easy. Obama is on the ticket, and he must be defeated.
For tea party-affiliated members of the Texas delegation, the reasoning is similar. Rosemary Graber, 20, a delegate from Yoakum, said she cannot cast a ballot that could lead to Obama's return to the White House. "If I vote for a third party, my vote is lost," she said.
Will you sell your Christian soul for 30 pieces of Planet Kolob minte silver coins ... made by satan, the blood brother of Jesus Christ ?
Sums up my opinion succinctly, because America cannot withstand four more years of a marxist anti-colonialism administration. Disgustedly, that's the only way I've been voting for the Presidency since 1992, always against someone, never for someone.
I was pretty sure there was a typo in there somewhere. I find that statement to be not credible. The only explanation I can think of, other than a typo, is that somehow Democrat moles got in and hijacked the Texas delegation. Or maybe I am missing something.
/Jacquerie
Correction: a few months after his inauguration.
So you mean to decrease Romney’s vote count thereby handing a vote increase to Obama?
Nice going, you are one of the reasons we have problems winning, you and the dopey women who vote their feeeeeelings.
Voting on principle is not voting on feelings.
BTW, Welcome to FreeRepublic. I see you joined up last month to push your liberal candidate.
/johnny
I think that we are in a new era. At least I hope so.
What is different now?
1. We have a wealth of sources for information, places like FR. We are not at the mercy of the liberal media any more.
2. We are paying attention. Zippy has shocked many complacent Americans into paying attention to what is really happening in our government and what is at stake.
I believe that these two factors make a third party (Tea Party?) candidate a viable option for 2016. My opinion is that Romney will be watched very closely. If he governs as a conservative, re-election should be no problem. If he turns out to be Democrat-lite, he will lose all support from the conservative base. Four years is enough time to launch a viable third party candidate.
I, like many, will be voting against Zippy in November. My vote for Romney will be first a vote against the Marxist currently occupying the WH, and second a vote for Ryan. I’m not a Romney fan, but I will defend him against liberal attackers. I also think he is a better choice than McCain was.
See tagline.
So — you stayed up all night smoking dope?
Really? Many who are uninformed about how voting works believe as you do. Let me educate you.
The election is over and the winner comes down to which candidate wins Fla (Or Ohio,etc). The winner gets the Electoral votes and the election. There is just 2 people left to vote, you a Conservative and an Obama slug. The Lefty votes for Obama giving him the lead, and you stay home letting him win. Every vote counts. The only reason not to vote is you simply think Obama is not that dangerous and another 4 years with him in power will be no different than with Romney in power.
Your choice and your responsibility.
Well said.
Normally, a Presidential Candidate seeks the support of every voter block that he can find, and especially voter blocks with grassroots energy.
Thus, it is important to pause and question the motives of Romney/Ryan as to who they will try to represent if they win.
Your posted reply of boots on the WH grounds will probably be our best recourse to have R/R understand that America’s prosperity is inversely proportional to the Federal Spending. The smaller the Government, the bigger is the prosperity of America.
______
Another point to examine is the sincerity of trying to win over the “undecided” voter. Let us look at Prof. Henson’s quote: “ - - - Henson said. “A big part of both campaigns is mobilizing the base.”
The fact that Romney is not enthusiastically supported by core voters in his own party is a problem - - -.”
The first part of his quote stresses the importance of the base, and the second part makes the assertion that the Romney Campaign has not been effective in that regard.
By the Romney Campaign treatment at the Convention of Conservative delegates, rules and potential guest speakers, it is easy to conclude that Romney/Ryan are confident that they will squeak by Obama with a narrow win in November without strong support from the undecided Conservative voters.
The “neutral” undecided voters plus the now adrift undecided Conservatives will make the total Undecided vote a bigger voter block than before the RNC Convention.
Thus, the total Undecided vote will be a more significant wedge vote than before, much to the delight of the Democrat Candidates for the Senate and House who are looking for long Obama coat tails.
Will Romney try to correct this Campaign blunder? Will he even recognize it as a blunder?
Romney could, in his Convention Speech tonight, choose to include the TEA Party base in his Campaign, but this may be his last chance to do so - - - .
Tick-Tock Romney, Tick-Tock.
/johnny
Yeah....I dont really care what his kooky religion thinks, if he get rid of Obama, and doesn’t screw up as president, he can wear all of the secret underwear he can fit on his rear.
I have only one priority and that is bouncing Obama out of the White House.
/johnny
Actually, it isn't.
I am voting for Paul Ryan. This is two elections in a row that I find the top nom revolting. The nomination for President gets worse and worse every election.
Excuse me all to hell for being concerned with the future of my country. Concerned enough even to put the country AHEAD of my own selfish allegedly “principled” position.
Like others on this forum who have run out of reasons why their “principles” are more important than the Nations survival you invoke the tired argument of “You have less to say because you are a N00B.”
You cannot respond to my example as to why every vote is important so like a liberal you go on the attack.You lose, “Old timer”
Signed, The “N00B”
Having been here for several elections, I've seen your type come and go, and have a very good historical reason for not trusting posters that signed up right before an election.
I will vote my principles, which means that I will not vote for a pro-abortion, anti-gun, socialized medicine, big government liberal.
As far as the nation's survival? I've heard that hysteric crap every single election season for years. It doesn't sell any more. We're still here, and we'll still be here in 4 years, regardless of which liberal wins.
You want to win elections? Get the GOP-E to quit badtalking conservatives (Rove), or cheating (Virginia, Florida, etc). to get their liberal boy the nomination.
/johnny
Your vote is precious. Don't waste it.
The establishment, who own both major horses in this race thank you for your support.
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