Dear Fellow Delegate,
On Tuesday of this week, as Republican National Convention delegates, you and I will be voting on rules changes that could fundamentally change our Republican Party — and not for the better.
Over the years, I’ve served on the Louisiana and Virginia GOP Rules Committees. I currently serve on both the Republican National Committee’s Standing Committee on Rules and on the National Convention’s Committee on Rules and Order of Business.
I was Barry Goldwater’s youngest elected delegate in 1964, I was honored to serve 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 and to vote in favor of amendments to Rules 12 and 15. The Minority Reports will restore important rights and protections which state parties and grassroots Republicans would lose under the Rules Committee Report as written.
These amendments to Rules 12 and 15 are contained in Minority Reports supported by at least 25% of the members of this convention’s Committee on Rules and Order of Business.
It’s rare for Minority Reports to come before our national convention, but the issues involved here are vital to the future of our party.
I must tell you there is tremendous arm-twisting now to peel signers off of the Minority Reports.
Finally, whether on Minority Reports or on voting down the Rules, it will require at least six states’ delegations to insist upon a roll call vote.
I will not pretend that the deck is not stacked against us.
But many state leaders, liberty-minded activists, and grass-roots conservatives are up-in-arms as word of this power grab spreads.
Our convention will make this important decision Tuesday as some of our first work. Many folks skip these procedural sessions thinking nothing of importance occurs.
This year, that is far from the truth.
If the Rules Committee Report were to pass without adoption of the Minority Reports, 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 by:
*** Handing national party officials the power to change national party rules adopted by state and grassroots leaders at the Republican National Convention. For generations, the prohibition of manipulated changes in the national Rules of the Republican Party between national conventions has served as one of the crown jewels of our party. It’s a power grab which opens the door to many future power grabs.
*** Stripping state parties in all states with binding primaries of the power of choosing who will represent their states as national delegates and alternate delegates.
This outrageous change would empower presidential campaigns to disapprove and remove delegates and alternate delegates selected by rules adopted by state Republican parties. Rather than grassroots activists who won delegate and alternate delegate slots by following state party rules, a large majority of positions would be handed to top donors of the winning campaign.
*** Gutting the great and successful reform adopted in the current election cycle to stop the dangerous trend to front-load the selection of national convention delegates. Our party would move again toward a national primary which would deny grassroots Republicans the opportunity to vet presidential candidates in a nomination contest of reasonable length. This reform must not be abandoned.
Like most of us delegates to this convention, I’ve spent years gladly battling in the trenches for our Republican Party.
And as the President of the Leadership Institute — which specializes in training thousands of conservative activists, students, and leaders to fight for our country’s future –I can’t tell you how disheartened I am to see these rules changes even considered.
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.
At a time when Tea Party activists have re-invigorated our Republican Party — leading to massive gains in the U.S. House, the Senate, and many state legislatures in the 2010 elections — why would we want to discourage activism?
Thanks to their efforts, you and I have a new generation of exciting conservative leaders in Washington, D.C., who — in many instances –were elected despite the opposition of establishment-backed opponents.
Certainly this is not to say GOP leaders are always wrong.
But history shows that our Republican Party grows when we welcome newly active participants and treat them fairly.
Our Republican Party is strongest when we listen to the wishes of grassroots conservatives.
Instead of strengthening our party, these insider power grabs will weaken it.
For these reasons, I urge you to join the growing effort to adopt the Minority Reports when the Rules Committee Report comes up for consideration by the convention.
Morton Blackwell
P.S. Some of the most important work of the convention will take place on Tuesday where you and I will be voting on rules that could fundamentally change our Republican Party for the worse.
New rules will be voted on that have been designed to silence state Republican parties and Republican grassroots in favor of party insiders and Washington, D.C.-based consultants.
The vote will take place at Tuesday’s convention session, and I’m counting on you join the growing effort to defeat these new rules.
Please vote to adopt the Minority Reports on Rules and urge your delegation to call for a roll call vote on all Rules-related votes.
This fight is too important for us not to make a stand.
On August 27th, 2012 at 7:39 am
Mitt, I am amazed at the stupidity of the RNC, after the Tea Party and the Grassroots people bring you to the point where we can get Obama out of office, they change the rules and give us the boot at the convention. They are as untrustworthy or worse than Obama, you don’t bite the hand that feeds you, Mitt, do you see what your people are doing to you? They are a bunch of idiots and they may just cost you the election. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!
On August 27th, 2012 at 9:07 am
If it’s not good for the People and fair to the process, then Vote No. Whoever should pass such a notion as a Power Grab should be exposed and sanctioned.
On August 27th, 2012 at 9:20 am
If these tactics of silencing grassroots Republicans are adopted, you can be assured, I’ll NEVER vote for another Republican candidate. Yours, James Gibson.
On August 27th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
As a card carrying Republican, I am disgusted to see this happening to this party. If it goes forward, I will tell you that I will never vote Republican again. I feel like the last hope I have has just been destroyed by DC elites who think the people of this country do not matter. If this passes, I am not sure I will even vote in November eventhough I can’t abide the thought of four more years of Obama. For too long now there has not been an ounce of difference between the Republicans and Democrats. It is obviously time for a third party.
On August 27th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
You are right. This is a power grab to run the party from the Top down and not now from the bottom up.
We must stop this.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Mike
On August 27th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
RINOs don’t care about anything except bullshitting the masses and keeping power. What’s good for the country is of no concern to them.
On August 27th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Thank you Mr. Blackwell for bringing our leaders desire to minimize grass roots and states delegates for the benefit of Washington’s insiders. Those in support of this rule change should be required to resign from the party.
On August 27th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
I called both delegates AND left a message in the general mailbox for the Tn GOP party headquarters with Chris Devaney’s name on it.
It’s as simple as this: If they decide to usurp the power of the constituents to nominate their own delegates then we have the right to go elsewhere and tell them to go fly a kite.
If they don’t think it can’t happen tell them to as Arlen Specter about it, or one of the other multitudes of republican incumbents that we threw out.
They like that power but there’s one thing that trumps their power. Our will.
so, GOP..cut your own throat if you want to. I really don’t care 1 way or the other. We can do it the easy way, where we are allowed our voice or we can do it the REALLY easy way and at the next RNC convention, you won’t see anybody. they’ll be at the TEAPARTY convention voting on their candidates and running your butts out of power, money and Washington.
It’s our money and our vote. remember that.
On August 27th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
I am firmly against these insider Power grabs. WE THE PEOPLE are important. Please listen to our wishes since we put you there.
On August 27th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
I for one have never liked the RNC. I am a registered Republican but I don’t agree with their inclinations. The Tea Party is how we got Marco Rubio and West….this is outrageous, our party basically telling us what and how it will be…that’s no different than our worthless President telling us how it will be. If this rule passes, the republicans will be minus 1 – me.
On August 27th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
I totally disagree with the anti-leaders, the power grabbers, those outrageous political thugs that think its time to shut out We The People.
I am going to appeal to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to get this behavior under control and prove to me that you believe in We The People as well.
Cannot believe this is happening, hope that my message counts for something here.
On August 27th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
This type of action is exactly what has been happening to the Ron Paul (crazy fringe loonytune) Republicans since day one of the Romney campaign. If you care to investigate, you will find plenty of video evidence of the cheating and strong arm tactics Romney has used against his fellow Republicans. Now that the Romney tactics are out for all the Party Hacks to see, even they don’t like it. I will NEVER vote for Mitt Romney. My disgust with him is perhaps enough to cause me to vote Democrat for the first time in my life. Anybody but Romney.
On August 27th, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Thank you Mr. Blakwell for bringing this to our attention. I will call my delegates. This is unbelievable that the RINO’s would try this when we need every single vote to win.
Mr. Romney please stop this.
On August 27th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Go grassroots, go Tea Party, and if this rule change passes, go away RNC. I for one did not vote to elect my state’s delegates at our state convention so the elitists in the RNC could strip them of their votes because they don’t toe the liberal establishment line.
This is one of the many reasons I do not support the RNC. When they called asking for money a couple of days ago, I told them that I support individual candidates. I refuse to send the RNC any money which they can then use against me.
On August 27th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
The establishment Republicans and their power grab are as big a threat to our Liberty as the liberal socialists that are currently in power. If Gov. Romney follows their lead, we might as well have another four years of the current idiot… at least we know what to expect from him.
On August 27th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
At a time when a majority of Republicans are so apathetic that they abstain from even voting in the elections, the RNC pulls this and reveals that indeed our votes don’t count and the Republican Party is no different that the current socialist anti-american president and his democratic party of tyrannts and vampires. When any party reveals that its true goal is to enrich its elite and serve special interests rather than the will of the people, then it is time to disband that party and go elsewhere to elect honest representation for our freedom-loving people. The RNC is writing its own obitutary, whehter they know it or not. I will be singing Ding Dong the witch is dead. The party elits disgust me.
On August 27th, 2012 at 11:58 pm
I will still vote Republican. Look what the Dems have gotten us over the years… This is still pathetic politics, as usual…
On August 28th, 2012 at 4:22 am
This is why I’ve not been a Big R republican since Reagan. It is also why I will NOT donate to “The Party.” Contempt isn’t enough to show my feelings for the RNC. Lead, Follow or GET OUT of The WAY!
On August 28th, 2012 at 6:18 am
Massive gains? The tea party cost us the Senate in 2010 by running horrible candidates. Harry Reid was ripe for the picking but Sharon Engel was too fringe to win in a general election. Same goes for Christine O’Donnell.
We have to run candidates who appeal to the middle in order to win. If we don’t do that, the Democrats will hold on to permanent majorities.
On August 28th, 2012 at 6:53 am
Fully HALF of Americans are now under the planned control of government subsidies. The forefathers warned us of government tyranny. now, with the enforcement of the Elite Order, it is the opportunity for the World Order to take more aggressive action because of the apathy and self-serving subsidies of the majority of the US population. There will be no way out until there is a REAL revolution. The government is now poised to react thanks to the Patriot Act, NDAA, B347 and the Supreme Court willing to rule that the Police State has domain over the people. Face it; We are at the end of liberty and freedom. Only a revolution and the blood of patriots can win over the biggest threat to our Constitution… The Enemy Within. ” The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”.
Thomas Jefferson
On August 28th, 2012 at 7:00 am
The GOP better wake up. The grassroots movement is what has invigorated the GOP. The RINOs proceed with this power grab and I predict the rise of a 3rd Party. The GOP will go to the dustbin of history and rightly so! They should be ashamed! The GOP is all about power. The grassroots are all about principles that these dullards care nothing about!
On August 28th, 2012 at 7:55 am
Why are you doing this to the people who have worked tirelessly to get you where you are today? Do you not think we as the grass roots of this organization can work tirelessly against you as well. We the people are a very strong willed group, now is not the time to upset our momentum.
On August 28th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Mr. Blackwell: You did AWESOME again!!! I was at one of your “Leadership training” seminars in 1988. The way you invigorated me 24 years ago has kept me going in politics.
Contact me to catch up. I have some goodies you may not have heard of.
Kelly Z. Mordecai- Author, “The Hidden 4th Branch”
(A book about solutions, receiving rave reviews.)
On August 28th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
This Republic just walked out the exit door to the Republican Party and will never turn back.
On August 28th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
I remember meeting and exchanging campaign buttons with Mr. Blackwell at the 1994 Virginia GOP Convention that nominated Oliver North for the US Senate seat. After agreeing to support Oliver North if he won the nomination over Jim Miller, I worked hard for North until Election Day 1994. Miller recommended me as one of his better campaign staffers and I proved him right.
I’m still at it 18 years later in Florida. This summer I ran for a local county volunteer office and came up short of both the local establishment and TEA party candidates. At least it gave me a chance to be a candidate, campaign treasurer and campaign manager. I did learn a lot anyway, and I got a lot of support from good Republicans and a few moderate Dems. It made my father proud, too. I was the second Republican he voted for after Rick Santorum in his first Congress election. After the Florida Primary I returned to my task as a District Manager for 18 precincts in the city of Sarasota, FL. It’s full speed ahead for Romney/Ryan, Connie Mack and the rest of the local Republican ticket.
Before I moved to Florida I was a Christian Coalition admirer and supporter. Those grassroots folks would ALWAYS do their best to lit drop and support their candidates. Gov McDonnell of VA can surely attest to that. Va. Beach CC members were some of his strongest supporters when he was a House of Delegates member. The TEA Party is tne next generation of conservative activism. The GOP needs these activists to stay as an active part of the GOP, not just a tolerated group by the NE based Establishment. If the GOP doesn’t get new generations of activists, it will be on display in the Museum of Politics beside the moderate Democrat Party and the Whigs.
Mr. Blackwell, stay in touch and keep standing up for the TEA Party and any future activist groups.
Paul A. CajkaSr
District 12 Manager
RP of Sarasota, FL
On August 29th, 2012 at 5:14 am
My Republican friends, while it may seem that this is a power grab by insiders and consultants, it is in fact a grab by infiltrators from Soros’s camp. He has inundated and changed the Democrat party into the new American Communist party and now wants to finish the job of destroying America by populating the beloved Republican party with neutral or left leaning “RINO’s”. This is the last glimmer of Hope and Change that America has to right all of what Obama has done to destroy this magnificent country. Do NOT ascribe to any suggestion, dictate, or opportunity that dismisses grass roots efforts. The party is made of people, American people who in times past trusted political leadership in this land. Don’t let the Republican party be the other choice of sheeple, but be the party of Leaders!
On August 29th, 2012 at 5:42 am
I am done. When traveling toward a cliff at 100 mph, It does no appreciable good to slow down to 95.
Let the GOP go the way of the Whigs. It’s their time.
It’s time for a 3rd party, and yes, that means Obama will win, this time.
On August 30th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
This is same ole same ole Rupublican Establishement at work. They have not got the message and they will not get the message until Tea Parties, conservatives, and Republicans who truley believe in the verbatium Republicans principles take over! The real grassroot people in the last couple of years has done the real heavy lifting for the Party in spite of the Party. But when election times comes and goes and/or Convention come they just want you to sit in the corner and shut up! Look what the grassroot movement did in 2010 they got the House back with one more chance for Republicans. And the reason was to stop deficit spending and what did the leadership do allow the Defict ceiling to go up with a aggreement of Super Committee!?!? and language it that did not work hard cuts to our Defense spending! And now watch them come to another agreement that will allow spending to continue to save the drastic cuts to defense. I thought the Party belived in Defense spending so why make that agreeement and play into the other party hands? What is the party view on immigration, same sex marriages, etc… they are not saying anything and watch what they do after the election. They will then they will tell us to shut up cause we have a election in 2 years and on.
Why has the Republican party not done anything about the exective order of the President circumventing the Law of the Land and giving illegals anemesty? Do you realy think that if the Republicans win the White House they will change that. No way Thats why I vote for Candiates I believe in only!!!