The following first-person report on the process used to try to come up with a unity slate of delegates to the GOP national convention from Nevada was submitted to us yesterday. Here it is in its entirety…
Well thank you, Chuck, for that vote of confidence. Everything happened pretty much the way you said it did, so let me add my perspective.
Other members of the committee besides me, Doug, and Bruce included Patti Chipman of Pahrump (full disclosure: Mrs. Paul Willis) and Paul Jackson of Reno (full disclosure: McCain campaign Nevada director).
My role was that of chief scribe and record keeper. I drafted the application form, set up the e-mail address for electronic responses, got permission from the Carson City Republicans to allow us to have the mail delivered there (and thereby save about $75 cost of a post office box), picked up the mail every day on my lunch hour, scanned all the applications to save on a CD-ROM, answered numerous e-mail inquiries, and prepared a daily summary of applications including roster and breakdowns by geography and sex.
I was not present at the Thursday meeting before the convention because I have a full time job with insufficient flexibility to do so. However, I was on hand on Friday when the final decisions were made to recommend a slate.
I am very proud of the work the committee did, and am humbly honored to be chosen to work with my colleagues, all of whom are the best people in the Nevada GOP. We came up with a slate that truly reflected the composition of the Nevada Republican party electorate.
I am sorry that those misguided delegates who voted to scuttle our report (not all Ron Paul people, to be fair about it) did not understand the function that we served. Didn’t they realize that their own counties had nominating committees for THEIR conventions?? Didn’t they realize that what they did [by voting Saturday morning to change the rules and allow nominations from the floor] was the equivalent of having a one-hour filing period for Congress with an election immediately after with no campaign and 200 candidates from which to choose?
As for the Ron Paul people, the only contact I had was with Brian Kominsky, their Clark County coordinator, in a lengthy and unproductive e-mail exchange (although he was quite reasonable when he finally acceded to my request for a phone discussion earlier this week). I repeatedly pointed out that I didn’t consider Paul’s candidacy illegitimate, even if I was not a supporter myself, but also that it would be a lot more helpful to their cause if they could provide us with a delegate slate to be considered. He bumped this suggestion up to Jeff Greenspan, and I can tell you I have had no contact with Greenspan whatsoever.
As for last Saturday’s circus at the Peppermill, well you can view it on a number of videos on youtube.com. Just enter tags “Ron” “Paul” “Nevada” “Republican” “Convention”.
I think the point at which I realized the whole thing was an exercise in futility came when we returned from lunch. Chairman Beers ruled just before we recessed that one hour would be allowed for self-nominations which should be placed in a basket on the podium. My interpretation was that upon return from lunch and devolution into CD caucuses, the only names that would be considered would be those who did that within the one hour time frame, but much to my surprise and chagrin, several individuals took it upon themselves to start a sign-up sheet for that purpose, and well . . . you know the rest.
We also didn’t get to pick presidential electors, and that seems to be more problematic as the convention is charged by statute to do so.
At this point (Wednesday 10 PM) it’s anyone’s guess what will happen next. Three things seem clear, however:
1) There was more than sufficient irregularity to challenge the results from ALL three CDs at the national convention credentials committee.
2) Party rules preclude re-convening in Las Vegas, as has been suggested in newspaper accounts.
3) If, as I suspect is likely, we don’t get a quorum for the re-do, we have to figure out another approach.
Stay tuned.
Howard Hirsch
Chairman, Lyon County Republican Central Committee
Dayton, Nevada
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
Chuck, I am beginning to see a conspiricy here by the “Ron Paul” fringe people. Could it be they are getting their orders from George Soros who would love to see a third party candiate take votes away from McCain and have the Democratic Candiate win like Bill Clinton did. Now they have me going crazy
I have heard some horrible bashing of RP supporters the last few days. I am ashamed to say I am Republican at this point. Not only are the party uppercrust rude to newcomers at the county and state level, but their slander and liable is opening us up to lawsuits. I beg them to stop the transparent attempt to ruin Jeff Greenspan and others I’m reading their statements about. I had the opportunity to meet Jeff and found him to be intelligent, reasonable, and faithful to his beliefs. He expressed his sincere thoughts about our country and the importance of the next presidency. I don’t want to be part of a party that would attempt to ruin someone for choosing a different candidate. I am saddened by the nature of the remarks I see coming from McCain supporters and I must say, I’ve not seen any public statements made by RP supporters.
Had I not been in attendance at the convention, I’d be tempted to buy this seemingly sane, and benign report of events. At least Mr. Hirsch has refrained from repeatitng the bogus excuses (room expired, couldn’t print ballots, etc.) that I’m seeing from Lowden and Sadrowski. Still, to assert that “the party” had selected a slate that was representative of the people is, well, just not true. How can it be when “the party” leadership (according to Hirsch in this report) had included 4 Ron Paul delegates in their slate with a total of 31 available? Ron Paul supporters far outnumbered McCain supporters, so how could a McCain slate fairly represent a Ron Paul majority? Is “the party” not supposed to be “the people”?
Dear “Nevada Delegate,” it’s called “math.” Ron Paul received less than 14 percent of the vote at the January 19th caucus. There are 31 slots available to attend the national convention. 14 percent of 31 is 4. It’s that simple. And it’s what Greenspan originally agreed to. If you don’t like it, take it up with Greenspan.
Hmmm. Muth math. Interesting, but, once again, nonsense. Ron Paul’s 14% was second only to Romney. If you’re citing percentages, let’s see the whole picture. Are you forgetting that McCain trailed Paul? Please, for the record, what percentage did McCain take?
This is amazing new math if it shows McCain favored - in numbers: by the people - over Paul. In a vote, aren’t we counting numbers? The NV candidate of choice is Ron Paul, the first runner-up. The delegate count should reflect the voice of the people they are representing, yes?
After reading all this back and forth about what happened or did not happen regarding deals and so forth I am dismayed.
No I’m not a Nevada citizen but looking at this thing now for a week it appears that:
1) Jeff Greenspan attempted to cut a deal to give 4 delegates to Ron Paul which would have been fair particulalry for the Nevada GOP.
2) The State GOP “Slate Ballot” did not include those names on the day of the convention. (basically reneging on their “deal” )
3) The Ron Paul delegates had enough support (along with many other delegates that were not for Ron Paul who were upset with a forced slate) to defeat that attempt and were able to open the nominations to the floor.
4) The state GOP which should have anticipated something like this delayed and delayed the convention and finally after seeing the CD results decided that they were going to beat soundly trounced.
5) Beers and Lowden and most importantly the OUT OF STATE McCain operatives when seeing the CD results forced the Nevada GOP to close down the convention for fear of being embarrassed.
6) It is perfectly acceptable for any national campaign (I.E. Ron Paul’s or McCains’s) to have out of state campaign staff at a convention to help organize and represent the candidate’s interests.
To place blame on Jeff or the Ron Paul campaign for what happened is simply not fair.
The bottom line is that the Ron Paul campaign had a large percentage of delegates. If Nevada wants to say now that the National Convention Delegates sent to St. Paul should represent the apparent nominee, then they should structure their process in that fashion.
The Ron Paul campaign simply had more votes. Live with your rules that are now in force and quit making excuses.
If the will of the party is to change the process then go ahead and do so for 2012. But in the meantime quit trying to obfuscate the issues.
Set up a reconvened convention allowing only those that participated as delegates and alternates in Reno and finish the voting. And to be fair the votes already cast for the three CD’s should stand.
Instead of making excuses and doing the blame game, realize that there are many more people than Ron Paul delegates that are not happy with the state’s GOP leadership and the way the convention turned out.
Quit worrying about the “wrath” of McCain and do what is right. In the Long run it will be better for the NEVADA GOP!!
Rolf, you have basic facts wrong, therefore, your entire argument is moot.
“Nevada Delegate,” you are obviously the product of the public school system. McCain got almost the exact same number of votes as Paul, therefore, he was also to get 4 delegates. Romney won more than half of the caucus votes, therefore he would get more than half of the delegates. The problem for you is that Romney has endorsed McCain which means the Romney votes will go for McCain. THAT’S what you’re whining about.
Chuck,
Yes, it’s taken me years to overcome my public schooling, but that has no relevance here. How can you (or the NRP), with a straight face, presume to reassign voters from Romney to McCain? Romney’s backing doesn’t count as votes. Only votes count as votes. Romney won our precincts 9-1 to Ron Paul. McCain didn’t even get a blip. And of the 12 other delegates in my precinct, plus alternates (every single one a Romney supporter), not one showed to the county convention. None of these Romney voters like McCain, not even if Romney tells them to. I did voter registration and heard Republicans say over and over again that they would never vote for McCain - and this was after Romney dropped out. In spite of Romney’s endorsement, Paul took the votes he gave up. Insulting me doesn’t change the truth nor does it make you look right, and certainly not credible or intelligent. Your argument is empty, sir, and transparently so.
“Nevada Delegate,” please stop making yourself look like a boob.
Almost 87 percent of Republican caucus voters voted for a candidate other than Ron Paul. That’s a fact. The people, meaning the vast majority of Nevada Republicans, overwhelming rejected Paul. Of course, they overwhelmingly rejected McCain, as well. The difference being that McCain is the party’s nominee.
The Romney delegates are Romney delegates. If they are selected to go to the convention they can vote however they choose. Heck, they might even vote for Ron Paul. But since McCain will be the nominee and Romney has endorsed McCain, the odds are the Romney delegates will vote for McCain.
What part of this are you having such difficulty understanding? If you still don’t get it, let me know and I’ll have my 8-year-old take a stab at ’splaining it to you.