Updated – Virginia RNC Delegation Prevented From Voting on Rules Changes
28. Aug, 2012 
12 Comments
The Virginia delegation to the RNC, one of the most outspoken against the proposed rules changes to the RNC which would destroy grassroots influence on the national party, was ‘delayed’ due to transportation issues which prevented them from being able to cast key votes. Virginia was not alone as the delegations from Rhode Island, Iowa and Minnesota, all of which also coincidentally opposed the proposed rules changes were also ‘delayed.’ This prevented an opposition minority report from being able to be brought to the floor for a vote.
John Brill, the Roanoke City GOP Unit Chair had this to say,
“The bus to pick up the VA delegation was over an hour late and took a very long route to get to the convention. Why? Because Morton Blackwell was on the bus. To get the Minority report out of the Rules committee needed Morton Blackwell’s vote. That kept Morton and the vast majority of our delegation away from the convention long enough for the rules committee to close its business so that a Minority report would not reach the convention floor.
Pat Mullins and Morton Blackwell led the entire VA delegation in opposition to the power grab coming out of the rules committee.
On the convention floor the Chairman ignored calls for division over the Rules Committee report. The RNC shut out all opposing voices over the Rules report.”
“The Virginia and Rhode Island delegations are apparently being blocked from entering the Republican National Convention. They’re keeping us all on a bus and not allowing us in the security perimeter.”
“We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the delay of the Virginia delegation’s arrival to the Republican National Convention. While it is possible the delay is attributable to human error, the timing of the delay has led many to suspect ulterior motives. our request, which I believe is being met, is that the Rules Committee be reconvened to allow a full and fair discussion of the contested issues. If an open vote is allowed on the contested issues, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. The Romney campaign has been informed of the intensity of our feeling on this matter, and I trust they will act accordingly.”
The bus finally dropped us off six blocks from the convention center with no directions. When I got to the gate I was told I didn’t have a 2 badge. I was turned away. I’m hanging around outside texting to find out what is going on. I was just texted that we lost. Sad day for Liberty! America will now run presidential politics much like Russia does.
“I was on that bus with Christopher Stearns, Morton Blackwell and RPV Chairman Pat Mullens. Our bus was redirected in a circular driving pattern around the Times Forum Venue four times, in heavy traffic. My opinion, this was no accidental, mistake. Our delegation was 100 percent against the rules changes. We were literally thwarted from entering the Tampa Times Forum in a timely manner…… we stopped the bus finally and we got off the bus and walked many blocks to get to the convention and our Rules committee attendees arrived just in time to have their meeting concluded……these are the facts…you decide what it means……very sad day for our republic. Power talks…….RNC to us……you lost move on…..Don’t go away mad, just go away.”
My open letter to Govs. McDonnell and Romney:
Dear Gov. McDonnell,
I have served RPV and its candidates as a volunteer for 22 of my 38 years. I have been chairman of my local unit, my legislative district, and a Republican member of my Board of Supervisors in Campbell County. I have been stabbed in the back plenty of times by party leadership for taking principled stands. But the rape of the vo
ting rights of Virginia’s RNC delegation today, especially in light of the early support you and Mr. Bolling gave Romney, DEMANDS a response. Will you demand an apology from Romney and the RNC, on behalf of your own state’s delegation? Please see the letter below that I sent to Gov Romney tonight, and I would appreciate your reply.
Gov. Romney,
I have swallowed numerous significant policy disagreements to support you (gay marriage in Massachusetts, Romneycare, conflicting positions on abortion, just to name a few), because the alternative is so bad.
But I have heard today from friends in the Virginia delegation who were ridden around Tampa in a bus for an hour and a half to keep them from voting against the naked power grab you and the RNC rigged with the change to Rule 15, taking delegate selections out of the hands of the grassroots in the future and leaving them to be handpicked by powerful establishment GOP politicians instead.
SHAME ON YOU, sir! You have left those of us who stand on principle, who actually do “believe in America,” including fundamental principles like “government by the consent of the governed, and power coming from the people up to our elected representatives instead of the reverse. You have declared open warfare on the hardest-working activists our party has, even as you need them the most. Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Malkin pegged this one exactly right, sir. You have left us with an impossible choice. This is even worse than the lesser of two evils: It is the choice of which practitioner of slimy, thuggish Chicago politics we will choose.
I believe I speak for all the liberty-loving Virginians you held hostage on a bus today outside the convention, keeping them from exercising their right to vote in true “New Black Panthers” style. SHAME ON YOU, SIR! Shame, shame, shame!
Today was disheartening for me. I’m a libertarian republican and maybe I’m a “sheltered child” because I come from Virginia where grassroots activists are embraced and supported by their local committees (i was certainly supported by mine) only to come to the real world of national politics where it honestly felt like the party was saying “hey, we don’t want your kind around here.” Sad. I am proud to be an alternate delegate from the sixth district and a member of the Augusta County Republican Committee, but I don’t think the RNC is proud to have people like me as part of THEIR party. I hope something can be done to ameliorate this atrocity but I won’t hold my breath.
I think its time for these states to remove the Mitt Romney name from the state ballot. If he can pull this off and think he can get away with it, just think what he will do once in office.
Virginians have long memories, especially those in the 6th District. The effects of these actions will be felt by the national GOP for years/decades to come.
Who said Republicans believe in voter suppression? What a lie that was huh?
I wouldn’t be too discouraged about missing the vote, Mr. Blackwell. They knew they were going to pass these rules, it was in the script.
From a local news outlet in Cincinnati, OH, video footage of the telepromter as Chairman John Boehner waits for it to give him the chair’s opinion. THE VOTE WAS PRE-DETERMINED; this should have grassroots republicans in an uproar.
http://www.fox19.com/story/19423487/reality-check-rnc-rule-change-starting-a-republican-civil-war
Looks like business as usual. I wonder if Governor Romney realzes yet that a few thugs at the RNC may have just cost him the election at least here in Virginia. I suspect that folks are already asking where to get “Goode for President” signs.
Gov Romney and the RNC need to call another meeting immediately before the prsidential vote and hear ALL members of he committee. Get Ginsburg out ot it and put a fair leader in.
Gov Romney and the RNC need to call another meeting immediately before the prsidential vote and hear ALL members of he committee. Get Ginsburg out ot it and put a fair leader in. Meeting needs to be held now. All the pro-Romney/Ryan promotion that went on at the convention will be lost if this does not happen.