UPDATED WITH NEW COMMENTS
Elements of the Sooner Tea Party and the Ron Paul for President campaign are prepared for an attempted takeover of the Republican State Convention in Norman on Saturday.
Sources within the Paul campaign and the Sooner Tea Party say there will be a challenge to the GOP’s slate of national convention delegates with an attempt to elect a slate compiled by them.
Other sources say the Tea Party is not involved despite numerous indications that it is.
The challenge is part of a nationwide attempt by Paul supporters to position Paul for the GOP National Convention in August. Their goal is the nomination of Paul as the GOP’s presidential nominee.
The state GOP has released its National Convention Delegate slate. Twenty five individuals were selected to serve as at-large delegates for the Convention (August 27th-30th), with an additional 25 chosen to serve as alternates. About 200 applied to be delegates and/or alternates.
Last Saturday, the party’s Executive Committee met to whittle down two hundred plus applicants into a slate of twenty five delegate nominees and twenty five alternate-delegate nominees. The committee also chose two at-large electors and two elector-alternates out of about another dozen applicants.
Blogger Jamison Faught reports, “Almost the entire State Executive Committee was present, either in person or via proxy. As a committee member, I had the privilege to participate in the process. The committee gathered around 8:30am, and interviewed hopefuls almost non-stop from 9am until 5pm. We were able to question around 165 applicants; about sixty people did not show up. The vast majority of interviews were done in person, although we did conduct a few over the phone.
“All of the applicants were asked a series of questions, which included their personal views on abortion/right-to-life and the 2nd Amendment, as well as past political involvement, and questions regarding voting at the national convention (all delegates are bound by the rules to vote for the candidate they are assigned to, unless that candidate releases his delegates).”
Pre-Convention Rally
The Paul campaign is holding a pre-convention rally on Friday night to prepare for Saturday’s action. An announcement reads, “Come join us as we rally for liberty with Tom Woods, Jordan Page, and Jason Rink! Let’s celebrate our growth and success in 2012, and get pumped about taking this movement to the Oklahoma GOP State Convention! The rally will kick off at 7pm at the Remington Park Casino. Enter at the casino, and go straight back to the left of the escalators to the banquet hall. This event is FREE and open to the public! All ages welcome. There will be a cash bar available.”
Sooner Tea Party Rhetoric
The Sooner Tea Party’s newsletter, under the control of the controversial Al Gerhart, had this report in a recent edition: “Once again there were some long faces after a GOP district convention as the establishment GOP officials watched their grasp on power slip away. This weekend at Pauls Valley the GOP insiders absorbed the loss of all three delegate elections, all three alternate delegate elections, and both the elector and the alternate elector positions to members of the Ron Paul movement.
“Former Chairman Gary Jones was on hand and argued against one of the candidates, whose papers had been misplaced, trying to salvage a single elected slot only to have the delegates override the decision. Jones, the current State Auditor, notorious for his poor treatment of the Ron Paul activists in the 2008 election so it was a bitter pill to swallow as he watched helplessly as ballot after ballot went to unknown new Republicans. Only two of the eight ballots needed a runoff vote so this wasn’t merely a close contest, the RINOs were soundly defeated. 5th District was lost by a sixty percent or more margin, as was the 3rd District. 2nd District was retained by the GOP establishment by two votes and the 1st District remained in GOP establishment hands after a contentious convention with charges of corruption being laid at the feet of the District GOP officials. [Gary Jones disputes this representation of events.]
“Next up is the state convention where anything is possible.The GOP itself is circling the wagons and preparing for a hostile takeover and that preparation is going to be needed if the Ron Paul activists stay involved in the process through 2013. Removing incumbent GOP officials is difficult unless they misbehave badly enough to break the GOP rules so the Ron Paul activists will have to bide their time till next February and go through the precinct meeting/county convention/state convention process again in order to wrest control.
“But don’t count out the GOP establishment as they control this year’s and next year’s Rules Committee. They will most likely use a mix of deceit, onerous rules, and co opt enough of the Ron Paul leaders to remain in power but if they don’t the days of the RINO in Oklahoma will be at an end. Without the silence of the GOP officials the corrupt elected officials couldn’t survive, as evidenced this week by Speaker Steele’s refusal to hear the personhood bill. As the GOP party platform is squarely on the pro life side of the abortion battle the GOP officials have nothing to offer as a defense of their refusal to pressure Speaker Steele or the other Republican House members.”
Allegations and counter-allegations are flying today as the Convention nears. The McCarville Report has been provided several emails, at least one of them containing allegations against longtime party fixture Richard Engle, a candidate for national committeeman. Others allege a lockstep relationship between the Paul devotees and Al Gerhart’s Sooner Tea Party. Others dispute any linkage.
For more insight: http://oktruthcouncil.com/
Delegate Offers Contrary Opinions, Insight
Delegate Steve Dickson offer these thoughts: “As one of the organizers of the Ron Paul grassroots efforts in Oklahoma, I can tell you with certainty that the Sooner Tea Party is not involved in the organization or operation of our efforts. There is no contact – none – between these two different groups. It should also be noted there is no involvement of the Ron Paul National Campaign. All efforts on behalf of the good Doctor are spontaneous expressions of support by regular people.
“Mitt Romney is represented by more than 60% of the slate chosen by the Executive Committee. [An assertion contested by others.] An alternate slate will be nominated from the floor, that is 100% NOT Romney, should the Romney Slate be defeated. The Liberty Movement / Ron Paul grassroots effort is mobilizing to stop Governor Romney from receiving more than the 13 delegates he won on Super Tuesday. That is one per Congressional District plus 8 from the at-large delegates. Any person on the non-Romney slate, should it be elected, is committed to following the rules of the Republican Party in this process, which includes how delegates are ‘bound.’
“The pre-convention rally at Remington Park is a free event, organized by some of us who wanted to gather our friends and celebrate our successes in advancing the cause of Liberty within the Republican Party. It is not paid for in any way by the Ron Paul campaign, but was funded totally by taking up a collection – passing the hat, if you will. It’s a party, and you’re certainly welcome to come – we’d love to have you!
“I have no comment on statements made in the Sooner Tea Party. I have only met Mr. Gerhart a handful of times, all of them at public events we both happened to be at. I wish him well in his efforts to seek out and expose corruption, since there is certainly plenty to find.
“…We have had no leadership battles within the grassroots effort – we all work on things until we arrive at agreement. Everyone has different talents and skills, and we all try to maximize those things. So, to be specific: Al Gerhart is not involved in our efforts beyond the fact that he is a State Delegate and we hope he will vote with us. Richard Engle is someone many of us have known and trust from his long efforts inside the Republican Party and as the Vice Chair of OCPAC. Some of us have asked his advice on procedure and process, and he has answered our questions. His efforts have not been divisive, but have been inclusive in growing the Republican Party. It is my understanding that the Oklahoma Conservative Alliance was an effort to tie together conservative groups in common cause, and that Americans for Prosperity, OCPAC, OK-SAFE and a variety of Tea Party and 9/12 groups were in it. Richard Engle’s involvement stemmed from his position with OCPAC, not any supposed affiliation with Al Gerhart. As you and many of your readers are aware, Charlie Meadows and Richard are not exactly on good terms with Al Gerhart, are they?
“There is a smear campaign under way to discredit the good name of Richard Engle. It is a sign of desperation from those who know they are about to lose the National Committeeman race. Very sad, and obviously false. I expect better of my fellow Republicans.
“I will be at the State Convention on Saturday with every Delegate I can find who is not a fan of Mitt Romney. We encourage everyone who is eligible to come down and help us stop another Dole or McCain moderate from being nominated, or at least slow him down.”
Oklahoma Delegates For Paul
Another Paul devotee, Mike Swatek in Rogers County, sent this email: “Ron Paul needs all of his delegates to the state convention to be there, so no dirty tricks can succeed and we can deliver Oklahoma for him. You definitely can make a difference. LET’S FIGHT TO WIN OKLAHOMA’S DELEGATES FOR RON PAUL AND THE RETURN OF LIBERTY!!!”
Rogers County GOP Chair Clears The Air
An angry Linda Lepak, Rogers County GOP Chair, sent this email: “As many of you know, the State Convention is this weekend in Norman. It has come to my attention that some Ron Paul supporters are spreading a rumor that I am trying to keep Ron Paul supporters from attending the convention as delegates. This rumor is both false and absurd. I know that many of you know that no impropriety has occurred, but I would like to set the record straight for those who are concerned.
“Anyone who attended the County Convention, signed up to be a delegate to the State Convention, and is a registered Republican living in Rogers County was submitted as a delegate to the State Convention. The people spreading these rumors have admitted to me that they know the rumors are untrue, but they want to keep other Ron Paul supporters fired up so they will be motivated and angry at the State Convention. They have told me that they will support none of the Republican candidates in the Second Congressional District race (those of you who have been paying attention know that we have 6 outstanding conservative candidates in that race that would represent our district and our party well in Washington). They have also informed me that their vision for this country is one of no government (not limited government) and no military, and they believe that the people who have long worked hard for the GOP, myself included, are fascists.
“I have spent most of my life working to make this country more conservative by supporting the Republican Party in its mission to make the United States more secure, more prosperous, and more free. It offends and upsets me that people who have hardly participated in this process would come along and accuse me, and others like me, of trickery, deceit, and impropriety simply because the candidate they support cannot garner even 10% of the vote from Republicans in this state.
“I expect all of you who have signed up to be delegates to show up and vote with your conscience on Saturday, and as county chair, I expect that the delegates from Rogers County will be civil and behave like adults at this convention.”
Very good article and very matter of fact. I would like to thank Mr Garry Jones for motivating the ground swell of Ron Paul Supporters. Because of his heavy handed, bully boy tactics and bag of dirty tricks during the last election. Ron Paul people are in the fight to win and win big. None of that abuse from 08 has been forgotten and have brought them back with a vengeance. Now he is working for Mitt Romney. Another not so Republican guy that can hire such thuggery to do his work. The fact that Jones is walking around in a neck brace has yours truly laughing as he still represents the small body of Republican power brokers that steer the Republican Party { the wrong direction} in this State. Still confused… Keep watching. With 87% of donations given to Dr Paul from the active duty military personal, who do you think knows more about American foreign policy.
Please take a moment to study Ron Paul debate the issues. But for Gods Sake turn off the TV to get your information on what it right for America.
Well it would be nice if the state slate committee had included any ron paul supporters at all….. so since they didn’t I would imagine that ron paul supporters would want a slate so that they too can be represented. the GOP is going to implode this way
Actually, Ron Paul does have support among the slate. However, none of the delegates can be bound to him, because they are all bound by rule to the three candidates who received delegates due to the primary results (Santorum 14, Gingrich 13, Romney 13).
Jamison Faught
OKGOP Executive Committee member
p.s. I am voting for Obama
Cortney, If you’re voting for Obama, then why would it matter to you whether Paul gets delegates or not?
Thus, you become part of the problem….
Lots of insight here – both in the article and the commentary. Has Ron Paul gained any support in Oklahoma over the last 4 years? With less than 10% voting for him, it is apparent that bitterness over real or perceived slights is not attractive. Why should a candidate who got less than 10% of the vote have 100% of the delegation? Makes no sense to me. Based on the rules, Paul deserves 0% of the delegation.
So, Tai — you actually think there is no vote fraud right? And that there really is an Easter Bunny, too?
Because we live in a republic. The whole reason for the delegate process is to hopefully eliminate bad candidates from getting into office. Ron Paul got less than 10% of the popular vote mainly because of media bias and Romney being hailed as the nominee. He can hardley get 300 people to attend his rallies, whereas Ron Paul draws 3,000-8,000 every time. If main stream media didn’t black out Ron Paul’s campaign I bet the beauty contests would not favor Romney so much. Most friends I’ve asked if they like Ron Paul, they respond just as the media programmed them to respond. He’s not electable or he’s still running? He’s a great man with real pricipals. He loves his country and hopes to straighten things out before it’s too late. Ron Paul 2012
Captain, the question lots ask: if Ron Paul is so…right…why has he polled so poorly in so many places, Oklahoma included?
Mike, Have you seen the press coverage on Dr Paul.. Pretty much ZIP, Nada or just invisible…. They keep shoving Romney down our throats. The Main Stream Media is bias. Yet Dr Paul is bring thousands to his event. Please don’t take my word for it. Google it. This election is going to be on the Net. The military has only the net when deployed. This is why my plea to turn off the boob tube. We only have one shot at getting this right for the generations to come. If your are not Angry at the way the Congress is voting lock step to give Oboma the authority of a King, you have not been paying attention. This is pretty easy to do when you are working to feed your family and keeping your taxes paid. Check into the details of what is in the NDAA. It strips you of due proses. And lets the President pick and choose who is a “assumed” terrorist. That could be anyone that speaks out against this Government. No trial or jury just a kick in of your door and off to indefinite detention (Life) Our Congressmen return from Washington and lie to our faces as to what is in that bill. It is almost as if they did not read it to begin with. Slap a Patriotic name on it and they will sign anything. Ron Paul reads the bills and has weight them to His Oath of office to protect and serve the Constitution. Principles and Logic Sir have been throw our the window.
Agree with all comments about lamestream media dismissal of Ron Paul. Were it not for the Internet and blogs, there would be a virtual blackout.
Tai – supporters of Ron Paul were the majority in 3 of 5 Congressional District Conventions, and probably a 4th. So, I’d say that is some support. Second, although Ron Paul only got 10%, Mitt Romney only got 28%. You tell me who is the more conservative, the guy with the 24 year track record of never voting to raise the debt limit or taxes, or the guy who created Romneycare?
We are not the democratic party, where majority rules. We are the Republican Party. It is the job of the Delegates to represent the wishes of Republicans – and in Oklahoma, those Republicans are conservative believers in small government, the Constitution, the Right to LIfe, and the 2nd Amendment. Again, which candidate best represents these values?
Mike – it is my opinion that there has been a great effort on the part of the media and the political class to either ignore, marginalize or dismiss Ron Paul. The positions he advocates, especially when it comes to the financial system, monetary policy, and defense vs. policing the world, makes him a direct threat to their empire. To borrow a quote of Ron Paul’s:
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies”.
Steve, are you saying that majority rule is not a part of the Republican Party? Or that the majority only counts when it is for Ron Paul, as was the case in at some of the District Conventions?
You are correct in saying that Ron Paul has some support. While it may be a lot less than what the other candidates have, the people who support Paul are very vocal and very active. Thus, the outcomes in some of the District Conventions.
You are also correct in stating that the job of the delegates is to represent the wishes of Oklahomans. Where you and I differ is in deciding which of the remaining two candidates the majority of Oklahoma prefers. Again, Romney had three times as many people vote for him in the primary. Along with a majority of Oklahomans, I didn’t voter for either Romney or Paul. Like many of the Republicans that I know, I, too, would choose Romney over Paul. This is for a number of reasons because both have their pros and cons. Paul tends towards ‘no government’ instead of small government, he is quite hypocritical in his treatment of earmarks, some of his policies don’t match the the philosophy of our Founding Fathers. More importantly for me, though, his supporters seem to be disdainful of others, looking for loopholes to push a minority opinion on everyone else, and willing to blame the media, the Republican establishment, or anyone about the lack of Ron Paul support instead of realizing that the message isn’t resonating. I don’t know if this is reflective of Ron Paul, but I fear that it is and that’s not what I want in the White House for another four years.
You misunderstand if you think Dr Paul is for no government.
He is for a smaller Federal government. The Founding Fathers warned against a large Federal government which is what we have now.
He is for the States having more governing power and the Federal government less. The people have better influence when the governing bodies are more local. That is a good thing for a country that is a government of the people.
You are right. Some of Dr Paul’s supporters are disdainful. It has been my experience that some of Romney supporters are dishonest, and, sneaky, and tyrannical . The reason I am not a Romney supporter is not because some of his supporters have faults, It is because Romney has said he will do the same things that Obama is doing and I feel that path is destroying America.
Here is a short you tube where Romney and Obama compare ideas.
Many people don’t realize how much they agree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IWDJEc92d38
Clearly, Tai, you don’t understand that the message of small limited government, just as the Founders are said to have envisioned (although Hamilton, for example, wanted an Empire), IS RESONATING, and Paul is getting thousands to come to his events. The Mainstream Media Blackout of Paul, coupled with the constant droning of “BE AFRAID” we need “SECURITY” leads people to vote for the same old war machine candidates. There is a disconnect between what people are against — bankers who commit fraud, for example — and understanding that Romney is funded and chosen by those same bankers.
There is good reason for those deeply involved in the process to be disdainful of those who merely listen to the mainstream media and vote without even understanding the candidates. I’ve been out there trying to talk to people about the issues. Most who listen to mainstream media have no clue what is really happening in this country, and they don’t want to learn either.
I don’t know if you are reflective of Romney people, but I certainly don’t want what you stand for in the White House for four years. If you are so clueless as to look at Romney’s record and think he is for small government, you are a good example of what is wrong with the Republicans.
To Tia—
The message that is resonating with the majority is based on lies and saying what the voters want to hear to get their vote. I love this quote:
“Well, what the hell does Romney stand for?”
Allow me to answer that for you:
The Romneybot 2012 is designed not to offend anyone. We did this with our amazing new technology-the blandinator. We programmed it to have absolutely no beliefs, principles or passion about anything other than to get elected and once in to do whatever his “experts” tell him to. Experts of course being Goldman-Sachs, the CIA, the military, the pharmaceutical, oil and insurance lobbies.
Let’s just look at the Romneybot 2012 in action shall we?
“So Governor Romney, do you prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream?”
“Well…they’re both really good flavors and that’s the great thing about America, we can have a choice of both of these great American flavors.”
Wow, what a politician! The average voter will be left with the impression that only in America and no other country can people enjoy the choice of both flavors thus subtly teaching the doctrine of American exceptionalism!
Did you notice how the Romneybot 2012 not only evaded an answer to the question but it managed to glorify America and even credit both chocolate and vanilla with being exclusively American! This makes the Romneybot 2012 very convincing with stupid people who are easily swayed by patriotic rhetoric and who by experts estimate make up more than 2/3rds of all voters! Wow what a product!
A better question would be Why has the Main Stream Media done a blackout on Ron Paul?
Unlike the other Presidential Candidates, Dr Paul does not get coverage but gets rediculed by the MSM. He does very well with people who have a chance to hear him. Have you heard of the crowds of between 4000 and 8000 people that he draws at his ralliesall over the US? The MSM is in the business of marketing their establishment candidate. Dr Paul is the candidate of the Amercan people.
.
Polls are targeted to different audience. In the polls that are geared more to people who get their news from the internet, he does very well. Also, in the Ramusan polls, Dr Paul polls better than Romney against Obama.
Good points, Phyllis. The lamestream media blackout on Paul has been…terrible.
I don’t get my news from the main stream media, so maybe I’ve missed all the Rasmussen polls where Paul is doing better than Romney. He does occasionally poll better, but he doesn’t always poll better than Romney. In fact, of the last few polls that I’ve seen with Paul vs. Obama, Paul tied in one and lost the rest. Whereas, Romney vs. Obama has been tied, had Obama winning and then today Rasmussen showed Romney ahead. So maybe your media coverage is more skewed to Paul than you think.
Well said, Mrs. Lepak. Well said.
I guess you have missed the Rasmussen polls where Dr Paul is doing better than Romney.
In any case, I was just answering your question about why Dr Paul doesn’t do well in the polls and it seems you have noticed that he does occasionally do better or tie Romney.
My question is How can Dr Paul beat or tie Romney at all if his ideas aren’t resonating with people?
Tai – I am saying we have Rules, and they are in place to protect the Process. Yes, we have elections, but we have a multiple stage process – you get elected at one level, you go to the next level. A majority wins at each level, but representatives move on. You are, of course, aware of this process. You imply that Ron Paul deserves no delegates. I disagree. I do not deny that Mitt Romney deserves delegates, I just think he should only get 13 from Oklahoma.
Are you seriously trying to say Mitt Romney is more conservative than Ron Paul?
Ron Paul is NOT an anarchist, which you misrepresent as his position. He is for Constitutional limited government – not the bloated monster we have now. You attack his postion on earmarks, but it is the same one as Senator Inhofe’s. He believes it is the duty of Congress to direct the spending of the government, and not the perogative of the President. You have cited no examples of where his policies differ from the Founding Fathers, but you make such a claim. That’s not a very good arguement on your part.
You say we use rules and loopholes, I say we follow the rules that others have written. We plan to continue to do so.
Steve, if we follow the rules and allow Romney only 13 delegates, then we have to stick to those rules and allow Paul 0. So no one should be upset that the slate of delegates at the Convention might distribute the delegates proportionally among Santorum, Gingrich, and Romney, right??
Romney has earned 13 bound delegates. 3 delegates are unbound by their nature (Chair, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman). That leave 27 Delegates. If Santorum is on the ballot, he gets 14 of them. If Gingrich is on the ballot, he gets the other 13. If either is NOT on the ballot, they are “unbound”, or at least that is my understanding.
At that point, the Delegate is “unbound”. Naturally, I want any “unbound” delegates from Oklahoma to support the most conservative candidate who’s name is on the ballot. That candidate will be Ron Paul.
Would you like to continue to try and twist words? Your statement “if we folow the rules and allow Romney only 13 delegates, then we have to stick to those rules and allow Paul 0” is false. The rules don’t “allow Paul 0”, they don’t award him any “bound” delegates. It is perfectly within the rules – in fact, it is required – for unbound delegates to choose who they think best. You imply that Santorum and/or Gingrich delegates should go to Romney because they endorse him – but that is not the case. They most certainly do NOT do that. They become free to vote their conscience.
You make it sound like there will be only one slate at the Convention. There will be a pro-Romney slate, and it will be challenged. Some of us don’t think the guy (Romney) who lost to the guy (McCain) who lost to Obama is our best bet.
Just because Romney is not a dog-eating communist doesn’t mean he’s the best candidate in this election.
Steve, to follow your sentiment: Some of us don’t think the guy (Paul) who couldn’t beat Romney (in 2008 OR 2012) who lost to McCain who lost to Obama is our best choice.
That is a fair and valid argument. As you know, I disagree, and I base that on my belief that the GOP is going to unite almost any nominee, but who is going to pull independents and democrats over? I would point out the large following and support that Paul has with those crucial general election swing votes, that Romney will not win. So, you could say that my head and my heart are in agreement.
Ron Paul is actually growing the Republican Party, like nobody I have ever seen. I was too young when Reagan stormed the gates of power, but I have read and heard about his Movement. This feels like what I have read about – it’s pretty amazing, and the thing is the leader of this Liberty Movement is someone who has lived it for decades. Hard to call it a cult of personality, considering the leader of it is not the usual polished, smooth talking, slick packaged candidate.
“…the RINOs were soundly defeated. ” Ah…music to my ears!
This is not just Ron Paul people however, there is beginning to be more and more establishment types that realize in an economy with high unemployment and a growing wealth gap, the aloof, impersonal, billionaire Mitt Romney will get SHELLACKED by Obama. Mitt held a rally in Columbus, OH, a swing state, there were at least 100 police, 25 reporters, about 10 Ron Paul supporters and NO ONE ELSE! Meanwhile Ron Paul can get 6000+ to show up with three days notice, and they have more enthusiasm then Obamabots did in ’08. And best of all, Paul is attracting blacks, Hispanics, YOUNG people and old! Clearly if the GOP wants to defeat Obama, they are going to have to nominate Paul! Plus, they’ll get the budget cuts everyone else always promises but never delivers on.
The only reason the polls are close between Paul and Romney right now (when paired heads up against Obama) is because a lot of Republicans who receive those polls vote against Paul. Why do they do that? Couple of reasons. For one, Fox News has scared them to death that a non-interventionalist policy will mean we will surely get attacked by terrorists again. Second, they want to discredit Paul and the best way to do that is to say you oppose Paul. Fact is, when all is said and done, almost all GOP voters will vote for whomever the nominee is. Even if it is Paul. On the other hand, Paul supporters, independents, and Democrats won’t ever vote for Romney in near the numbers they will vote for Paul. If Paul were to become the nominee, these polls would probably all be about 55-45 if not 57-43.
What is interesting about Real Clear Politics is that most of the Rasmussen polls as of late are Rasmussen Tracking for Paul and Rasmussen Reports for Romney. I am not sure what the difference is (I think tracking may be an average over a period), but there must be a difference so it’s not fair to compare those either.