Trouble Brewing For RNC’s Approval of Mel Martinez
Written by Mark Harris on January 16th, 2007The Corner reports that there is trouble brewing for tomorrow’s Republican National Committee meeting in Washington, during which Sen. Mel martinez is supposed to be elected “General Chairman.” The Washington Times has the details:
Rebellion is brewing among conservatives on the Republican National Committee over President’s Bush’s attempt to “impose” Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida as “general chairman” of the party, who favors “amnesty” for illegal aliens.
“I will be voting against Senator Martinez if he is nominated for any chairmanship of the RNC,” Tina Benkiser, Texas Republican Party chairman, told The Washington Times yesterday.
Bill Crocker, the elected national committeeman from Texas, says that when the RNC convenes here tomorrow, “Absolutely, I will vote against Martinez.”
The conservatives — one of whom accused the Bush White House of “outsourcing” party leadership — say the general-chairman post does not exist under RNC rules, which can be changed only at the party’s presidential nominating convention.
The Times further reports that the rebellious conservatives have enlisted the help of a certified parliamentarian, to prevent violations of Roberts Rules and the RNC’s own written rules.
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PM
You fogot the best part:
You can thank North Dakot later.
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PM
Martinez will pass through. There are too many trough feeders in the upper levels of the GOP who won’t want to rock the boat.
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PM
Guys, President Bush personally selected Martinez. If we don’t back him then we’re with the enemy.
16
PM
LoL.
Woodroe is a funny guy!
Surely you jest.
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PM
There is precedence for the position George W. Bush has asked Senator Mel Martinez to fill. President Ronald Reagan made the exact same request in the early 80’s. Some members of the RNC at the time argued the same things that the current RNC members are arguing, but in the end went right along with Reagan and supported his guy.
Now, the current RNC can has options. They can take precedence into consideration, though not called for in the rules, and vote Senator Martinez in as the General Chair. They could vote him down, directly defying the wishes of our sitting Republican President. They could also nominate someone to run against Martinez for General Chair and let the chips fall where they may. Lastly, they could just follow our own Party rules as say that since the General Chair doesn’t exist, there shall be no election to fill a non-existant office.
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AM
Should have been Steele.
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AM
I agree with bvalentine, it should have been Steele. Let’s see if anyone nominates him to the position — cause that would be a major and amazing upset.