Staff
An official complaint about the conduct of the 1st Distict Republican convention is in the process of being filed with the State Republican Party, Tulsa sources report.
GOP State Chairman Matt Pinnell confirmed the complaint, saying, “We are reviewing the complaint and talking with all parties involved. Ultimately it’s an issue that may be addressed at State Convention.”
The complaint was presented to the 1st District Committee by Jake Peters, one source said.
The Complaint Is Printed Full As A Comment To This Article; To Read, Click Comments Below
The complaint alleges that the convention chair was elected before the Credentials Copmmittee report was accepted. That apparently means the chair was not legally elected and that, in turn, means any action is void. This apparently means that the method of voting used at the convention is not legal, and thus, the delegates and alternates were not properly elected. At least that’s the contention.
Based on Rule 20 of the National GOP Rules, the convention must be either reconvened and a proper election held before the State Convention on May 12th, or it will be decided on May 12th AT the State Convention.
Not sure this tells even half the story correctly….
I agree.
For those interested, here is the complaint and the video link that was sent with it.
http://youtu.be/Swgk1iGL9Fc
Complaint No. 1: In violation of the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (16f) the following occurred: The 1st Congressional District Chairwoman, Grace Farmer, failed to receive the reports of the Credentials Committee and the Rules Committee and instead held the Election of the Convention Chairman at approximately 9:15 AM in the absence of an established quorum and any duly adopted Credentials or Rules Reports and in addition, prior to the scheduled close of Convention Registration. Subsequently, the Convention Chairman, Jim Williamson, proceeded with the Credentials and Rules Reports as well as the further organization and business of the Convention.
Complaint No. 2: In violation of the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (18e) and the Rules of the 1st Congressional District Republican Convention (VII.A) the following occurred: The Election of Delegates and Alternates to the Republican National Convention as well as Presidential Elector and Alternate were not called for or announced by roll call vote by each County.
Complaint No. 3: In violation of the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (19b) and the Rules of the 1st Congressional District Republican Convention (III.B) the following occurred: A recess until 3:00 PM was duly motioned, seconded and adopted by the Convention. At 3:00 PM, a motion from Jake Peters was made to “suspend the rules and re-enact a modified version of the same rules, in which the remaining offices shall be filled through a live runoff among the top two vote-getters for each position” in the interest of sparing time since each “instant” ballot was taking almost an hour to count, positions were being declared won by as little as a half-vote margin (which would, under any normal election, trigger a recount and take an additional hour), Convention Rules stressed that we had to adjourn by 2:00 PM or risk penalties by the hotel, Delegates were uncomfortable having the ballots counted at a later date at an unspecified location and this motion would have allowed the Convention to finalize the election transparently and prior to adjournment. The Convention Chairman ignored the main motion and asked for a quorum count. A point of order was made by Jake Peters as to the motion already made and the point of order was denied by the Convention Chair. A simple head count was made in which the result was 138 Delegates present and the Convention Chairman ruled that there was not a quorum which he defined as 186 Delegates. Further points of order were made regarding the Rules that require the quorum be calculated with the weighted delegate votes and the Convention Chairman refused to acknowledge them even going so far as threatening to have Delegates ejected by the Sergeant at Arms. In addition, even had a simple head count sufficed for the calculation of the quorum, State Party Rule 19b states that “once a quorum is established, a quorum shall be deemed to be present until fewer than two thirds (2/3) of the original quorum remain” which based on the Convention Chair’s ruling that the original quorum equaled 186 Delegates, a quorum should have been deemed to be present until fewer than 124 Delegates remained.
Complaint No. 4: In violation of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.), pp. 348-349 the following occurred: Jake Peters appealed the ruling of the Convention Chair that no quorum existed and was seconded but the Chair refused to state the question and instead replied, “You can appeal the ruling of the Chair until the cows come home but the business of the Convention, we are going to be in recess until they announce the final vote. That’s what’s gonna (sic) happen.”
Complaint No. 5: In violation of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.), 73 and pp. 650-652, the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (3a) and the Rules of the 1st Congressional District Republican Convention (VIII.E) the following occurred: After the Convention Chair ignored another point of order and threatened to eject Delegate David Tackett for making a point of order, Jake Peters addressed the Chair with a motion to remove the Convention Chair but the microphones had been turned off and the Chair did not recognize the motion. Jake Peters then addressed the Convention Delegates and made a motion to remove the Chair which was seconded and then adopted by the Convention body. However, the Convention Chair ignored the carried motion and continued to preside over the Convention. Jake Peters then called for nominations for a new Convention Chair from the Convention body. The body nominated Jake Peters and elected him unanimously but the previous Convention Chair ordered the Sergeant at Arms to eject Jake Peters further in violation of Robert’s Rules requiring a majority vote by the assembly.
We, the undersigned registered Republicans from Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, do hereby respectively request an impartial review of the complaints herein and would pray that the Oklahoma 1st Congressional District Committee take appropriate action including the removal and replacement of the 1st Congressional District Chairwoman and Vice-Chairman pursuant to the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party. Furthermore, in light of the numerous rule violations that occurred as detailed above, we pray that Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District Convention be reconvened in order to conduct the convention business in a manner consistent with the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party which require the seating of delegates prior to electing permanent officers and organization of said convention and also require a Roll Call vote by County to determine the election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention as well as Elector and Alternate Elector.
Complaint No. 1: In violation of the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (16f) the following occurred: The 1st Congressional District Chairwoman, Grace Farmer, failed to receive the reports of the Credentials Committee and the Rules Committee and instead held the Election of the Convention Chairman at approximately 9:15 AM in the absence of an established quorum and any duly adopted Credentials or Rules Reports and in addition, prior to the scheduled close of Convention Registration. Subsequently, the Convention Chairman, Jim Williamson, proceeded with the Credentials and Rules Reports as well as the further organization and business of the Convention.
Complaint No. 2: In violation of the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (18e) and the Rules of the 1st Congressional District Republican Convention (VII.A) the following occurred: The Election of Delegates and Alternates to the Republican National Convention as well as Presidential Elector and Alternate were not called for or announced by roll call vote by each County.
Complaint No. 3: In violation of the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (19b) and the Rules of the 1st Congressional District Republican Convention (III.B) the following occurred: A recess until 3:00 PM was duly motioned, seconded and adopted by the Convention. At 3:00 PM, a motion from Jake Peters was made to “suspend the rules and re-enact a modified version of the same rules, in which the remaining offices shall be filled through a live runoff among the top two vote-getters for each position” in the interest of sparing time since each “instant” ballot was taking almost an hour to count, positions were being declared won by as little as a half-vote margin (which would, under any normal election, trigger a recount and take an additional hour), Convention Rules stressed that we had to adjourn by 2:00 PM or risk penalties by the hotel, Delegates were uncomfortable having the ballots counted at a later date at an unspecified location and this motion would have allowed the Convention to finalize the election transparently and prior to adjournment. The Convention Chairman ignored the main motion and asked for a quorum count. A point of order was made by Jake Peters as to the motion already made and the point of order was denied by the Convention Chair. A simple head count was made in which the result was 138 Delegates present and the Convention Chairman ruled that there was not a quorum which he defined as 186 Delegates. Further points of order were made regarding the Rules that require the quorum be calculated with the weighted delegate votes and the Convention Chairman refused to acknowledge them even going so far as threatening to have Delegates ejected by the Sergeant at Arms. In addition, even had a simple head count sufficed for the calculation of the quorum, State Party Rule 19b states that “once a quorum is established, a quorum shall be deemed to be present until fewer than two thirds (2/3) of the original quorum remain” which based on the Convention Chair’s ruling that the original quorum equaled 186 Delegates, a quorum should have been deemed to be present until fewer than 124 Delegates remained.
Complaint No. 4: In violation of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.), pp. 348-349 the following occurred: Jake Peters appealed the ruling of the Convention Chair that no quorum existed and was seconded but the Chair refused to state the question and instead replied, “You can appeal the ruling of the Chair until the cows come home but the business of the Convention, we are going to be in recess until they announce the final vote. That’s what’s gonna (sic) happen.”
Complaint No. 5: In violation of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.), 73 and pp. 650-652, the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party (3a) and the Rules of the 1st Congressional District Republican Convention (VIII.E) the following occurred: After the Convention Chair ignored another point of order and threatened to eject Delegate David Tackett for making a point of order, Jake Peters addressed the Chair with a motion to remove the Convention Chair but the microphones had been turned off and the Chair did not recognize the motion. Jake Peters then addressed the Convention Delegates and made a motion to remove the Chair which was seconded and then adopted by the Convention body. However, the Convention Chair ignored the carried motion and continued to preside over the Convention. Jake Peters then called for nominations for a new Convention Chair from the Convention body. The body nominated Jake Peters and elected him unanimously but the previous Convention Chair ordered the Sergeant at Arms to eject Jake Peters further in violation of Robert’s Rules requiring a majority vote by the assembly.
We, the undersigned registered Republicans from Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, do hereby respectively request an impartial review of the complaints herein and would pray that the Oklahoma 1st Congressional District Committee take appropriate action including the removal and replacement of the 1st Congressional District Chairwoman and Vice-Chairman pursuant to the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party. Furthermore, in light of the numerous rule violations that occurred as detailed above, we pray that Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District Convention be reconvened in order to conduct the convention business in a manner consistent with the Rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party which require the seating of delegates prior to electing permanent officers and organization of said convention and also require a Roll Call vote by County to determine the election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention as well as Elector and Alternate Elector.
Thanks very much.
Sounds a lot like one of Oboma’s tricks.. Writing the rules to fit his needs.
Sounds elitist to me. Are you sure this was a Republican convention?
The GOP establishment can be just as corrupt as the Democrat establishment.
I wholeheartedly support these complaints. I was there and I must say it was the most convoluted, worst ran convention I have ever attended! Kudos to those standing up for what is right and demanding the rules be followed. The District leadership should be ashamed for putting on such a fiasco and humbly resign their positions in the face of such nonsense rather than bring more embarrassment onto the party.
Moreover, the rules governing the vote count that were introduced at the beginning of the convention were fraudulently adopted. Michael Bates assured the delegates that the convoluted and indecipherable method of counting the votes that he was proposing would guarantee that someone who gained as few as 5% of the vote would not be elected as a delegate to the national convention. Because of this arcane method, however (the ballots were counted over and over again), what ACTUALLY happened was that the TOP vote-getters (those who received upwards of a full third of the first place votes, or more) were slowly replaced with those who received far fewer first place votes, but who were more acceptable to those running the convention.
That’s a method Stalin would have been proud of. He famously said, “It doesn’t matter who votes. What matters is who counts the votes.” In this instance, how many times the votes are counted. You count over and over again until you get the results you want!!!!!
The complaints are a good example of Ron Paul trying to get his five states.
Another opinion can be found at the link below.
http://liamferguson.blogspot.com/2012/04/unscripted-district-convention.html
The complaint outlined serious violations of the rules – by the very people who wrote them. Without the rules we have chaos.
It should be noted Romney is entitled to 13 delegates from Oklahoma on all ballots. He will probably get a few more, but it appears the other delegates will bf unbound. That means they will vote their conscience.
Do you think Oklahoma voters consider Romney or Paul the most conservative, and who would they like us to cast our ballots for?
Romney got 28% here – hardly a ringing endorsement.
28% may not be a ringing endorsement, but it is much better than 9 or 10%, which is what Paul got in Oklahoma. I would say that if the Oklahoma Primary were held today, that Paul’s numbers would go up, but so would Romney’s, and Romney would be much more likely to get a majority of the vote. We don’t have the option of a ‘run-off” between the remaining candidates, but Romney did have better reception in the primary than Paul.
Then again, we’re not a democracy, we’re a Republic. The Delegates are elected to use their judgement if they are unbound, and ALL – bound and unbound – are expected to use their judgement on all other votes, such as VP, Credentials Report, Rules Report, Platform Report, etc.
Then again, this whole post is not about Ron Paul. It’s about the fraud perpetrated on the delegates to the 1st Congressional District GOP Convention by those in charge, including the Chair and Vice Chair of the 1st District, who should be removed from office for violating state party rules, and the illegally elected Convention Chair. Shame on them, for this whole mess.
You do realize, don’t you, that if this is NOT properly addressed, since it is now public, the credentials of those potential national delegates from the 1st District are open to challenge in Tampa now, right? Acting is no longer an option on this matter.