The rules governing this summer’s Republican presidential nominating convention will be made by that gathering’s delegates, not a small group of GOP leaders, the chairman of the Republican National Committee told House GOP lawmakers on Tuesday.
While not new, Reince Priebus’ remarks reflect an effort by GOP leaders to blunt criticism from presidential front-runner Donald Trump and some grassroots Republicans. They have accused the party establishment of using the rules to try derailing Trump’s candidacy and wanting to open the door to a fresh candidate emerging from this July’s convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
“He is making sure that the rules are the rules, that we follow the rules,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, who like Priebus is from Wisconsin. “These are the kinds of questions we’re getting from our own constituents. And so what Reince wanted to do is simply walk members through the process as we’re going into it.”
Ryan, his party’s 2012 vice presidential nominee, has often been mentioned as a possible presidential nominee should the Cleveland convention be gridlocked. He has said he will not accept the nomination.
Trump has complained that GOP rules are rigged against him at a time when his chief rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, has aggressively recruited delegates from several states who would vote for Cruz if Trump falls short on the convention’s first ballot of the 1,237 needed to capture the nomination.
Priebus has said the rules governing the party’s nominating battle have existed for a long time and has denied that they have given Trump an unfair disadvantage.
“He said all decisions will be made by delegates at the convention, not by some smaller group of leaders in Washington or somewhere else,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who attended Tuesday’s meeting at the party’s national headquarters near the Capitol.
Some of the 168 members of the Republican National Committee want to change the convention rules to make it harder for party leaders to allow new presidential candidates to be nominated.
The RNC can recommend rules changes, but none take effect unless they’re approved by the 2,472 convention delegates. Party leaders gather later this week in Florida to discuss whether to propose revamping any rules.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Reince Priebus and paul ryan both come from the same state making it appear there is a lot of power and influence there.
If no one gets a delegate total of 1237,kasich,interestingly, will be labelled the spoiler with a little help from rubio.
It won’t be a happy convention
However, the other day a Convention official stated that if Trump gets to 1100, he is the nominee. No way to believe the RNC and never, ever Ryan, who apparently may be out in his own state election. We can only hope and pray that Trump wins because if not, America is done! and into NWO with Hillary elected.
I can tell you this, if they don’t give it to the leader whomever that is they are saying the people’s votes mean nothing and I personally will never again vote Republican and I doubt seriously if I will be the only one. I will not fall for that ole line that if you don’t vote Republican the Democrats will get into the Whitehouse. I think it needs to happen and let the scumbags lose even if Killery gets in to show the Republican Party they better listen or retire because they will never get in again. I estimate they will lose as much as 30% of their members and votes. I’m so damn mad I might even vote for Hillary as bad as I detest her!
I can tell you this, if they don’t give it to the leader whomever that is they are saying the people’s votes mean nothing and I personally will never again vote Republican and I doubt seriously if I will be the only one. I will not fall for that ole line that if you don’t vote Republican the Democrats will get into the Whitehouse. I think it needs to happen and let the Republicans lose even if Hillary gets in to show the Republican Party they better listen to the people or retire because they will never win again. I estimate they will lose as much as 30% of their members and votes. I’m so mad I might even vote for Hillary as bad as I hate to.
Ryan says “all decisions will be made by delegates at the convention, not by some smaller group of leaders in Washington. I worked within the GOP for many years and that is exactly why I got out of it. Hello, you either follow what the elite, Washington DC insiders tell you or you are out. Happens everyday and they can deny it but it happens… Said part is that the elite are willing to risk winning in November rather than allow DONALD TRUMP to be the candidate. Probably 80% of the Sanders voters will turn to DONALD TRUMP. Won’t happen with a career politician whether it be cruz, ryan, or Santa Claus. WE THE PEOPLE want something outside the box.
Al, Even more proof that Trump is a Democrat wearing GOP clothing. You are probably right about the 80% of Bernie’s voters going for Trump being as he’s either a Democrat and possibly even a Socialist in GOP clothing! I look at Trumps’ previous behavior and political leanings to see where he is going to lean if in the White House just like I did for Obama!! The Donald is just like him just drooling to be King by limiting even eliminating our Constitutional rights like the right to bear arms. I know he’s stated that he is for the 2nd Amendment but so was Obama.
I decide who I vote for. try and stop who I and the people want there is no reason to vote we tried it twice with romney we put paul ryan as speaker and the first thing he did was kiss obamnation butt . I will not vote for some delegate stooge
I think something stinks in Denmark about this whole thing! If they put someone’s name in that has not ran prior to the convention, all hell will break loose! In other words this would mean our votes do not count at all! This is unacceptable and the American voters will not be silent!
If the GOP inserts a ‘white knight’ for their nomination during the convention, there will be riots. How do We the People rationalize a delegate system that overturns our populace vote? We don’t. No different than when our colonials were forced to pay taxes without representation. I experienced the GOP at a local level and Al Wood Sr. is right. From the ground up it’s a power and control game. I hear from many reputable sources that the Dem delegate system is skewed but the Repub is worse. Like Boehner, demagogues like Mitch McConnell need to retire before they destroy our two party republic. Then what will we have? Hillary who should be in jail for the Clinton’s abuse of power (not to mention his impeachment) or Bernie who is really a socialist in Dem clothing.