Ron Paul delegates ROUTED!!

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News > Missouri State News > Story
GOP cracks down on Ron Paul activists
By Jo Mannies
POST-DISPATCH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
04/20/2008
GOP
Emily Platt, 18, a delegate from Wildwood, pleads her case Saturday at the registration table for the 2nd Congressional District convention in Kirkwood. Platt objected to having to sign a statement that she would support John McCain. “Where is the room for dissent within the Republican party?” she asked.
(Emily Rasinski/P-D)

KIRKWOOD — Ron Paul's local forces came armed with a portable copier and Robert's Rules of Order as they marched Saturday into the cafeteria of Kirkwood High School.

But that wasn't enough to counter the tactics of Republican regulars at the party's 2nd Congressional District convention.

Within minutes, amid a mix of cheers and protests, district GOP leaders disqualified almost half of the convention delegates or alternates — most of them suspected supporters of the Texas congressman's presidential bid.

Ousted delegates included St. Charles County's contingent and some from west St. Louis County.

Paul's army of allies had counted on using Robert's Rules of Order, which govern meeting procedures, to mount a takeover. Perched on a back table, the copier whirred as Paul supporters frantically produced copies of the rules list when it became clear that a confrontation was inevitable. Instead, on the orders of convention leaders, angry Paul allies and the copier were escorted out of the cafeteria shortly after the meeting began.

"It was a ramrod job!'' shouted Don Griffin, a conservative Republican activist and Paul supporter, as he confronted convention chairman Rich Magee after the session adjourned. "You should be ashamed of yourself.''

Magee, mayor of Glendale, said the delegate purge complied with last-minute changes in convention rules approved by the state party, which placed credentials committee business atop the agenda. That was necessary, Magee added, to protect the results of the state's Feb. 5 presidential primary, won by John McCain. As a result, McCain is guaranteed all 58 Missouri's delegates.

At issue were Paul supporters "who came in here and don't want to support John McCain at the presidential convention," Magee said. "These are not Republicans, in my opinion."

Although Paul garnered only 5 percent of the statewide vote, some of his supporters are seeking to advance their man's candidacy or views by changing the state GOP rules so that presidential delegates don't have to back McCain at the convention.

After Saturday's ousters, the largely pro-McCain delegates who remained quickly approved a bloc of like-minded presidential delegates — labeled the "Faithful Republican Slate" — to be sent to the presidential convention in Minneapolis in September.

But Brent Stafford, the pro-Paul chairman of the ousted St. Charles delegate bloc, said some old-guard Republicans misunderstand his side's motivation. "We're trying to return the Republican Party to its conservative roots, '' Stafford said.

Among other things, Paul opposes the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, proposed national identification cards and the use of eminent domain to obtain private property.

After being tossed out, Stafford chaired a hastily organized counter-convention of Paul delegates in the high school's hall. The group approved a report listing the alleged procedural violations by the 2nd District GOP leaders, which Stafford said will be forwarded to the national party headquarters.

In the party's 5th District, in the Kansas City area, the Paul forces were in the majority. And as a result, the presidential convention slate (3 delegates) are pro-Paul, but they are rule-bound to vote for McCain on first ballot.

Despite Saturday's setbacks, the Paul camp isn't ready to give up. Organizers announced plans to arrange for buses to transport Paul delegates and supporters to Branson for the state convention.

"If nothing else,'' Stafford shouted, "we'll have a big party!"