Reality Check: GOP Refuses To Seat Maine Delegation Unless They Agree To “Compromise”? [video]

Posted by clnews _Featured_, Politics, Videos Wednesday, August 8th, 2012

Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at the Republican National Committee’s attempt to block liberty delegates from Maine who support Ron Paul from being seated at the Republican National Convention unless they vote for Mitt Romney and not speak to the media, and the ramifications if the committee succeeds.

In the state of Maine, 21 of the 24 delegates support Congressman Ron Paul – not Governor Mitt Romney.  Over the weekend, 20 of those 21 Liberty delegates received notice that the Republican National Convention has been asked to not seat their entire delegation. The official notice came in a manila envelope from a 02109 zip code in Boston, which just happens to be where Romney headquarters are located.

Next, the Maine delegates received an offer of “compromise” from the Republican National Committee (RNC) with five criteria:

1. The majority of the delegates sign a statement agreeing if Ron Paul is not on the ballot, then they will vote at the Convention for Mitt Romney.
2. Instead of Brent Tweed, Charlie Webster or Paul LePage would serve as the spokesperson for the delegation and announce the votes cast for president.  That spokesperson would also handle all media on behalf of the Maine delegation.
3. There is nothing negative said about Mitt Romney or positive said about Obama (especially to the media).
4. The Delegation will be admitted to the Convention and to all committee assignments, without barrier.
5. The Contest brought by Jan Staples and Peter Cianchette will be withdrawn.

Yesterday, the Maine delegation responded saying “NO DEAL” to the so-called compromise.

There is a reason the Romney campaign is trying to block the Maine delegates. Under the RNC rules, in order for a candidate’s name to go into nomination at the convention, they must have support of a plurality of delegates from five states.  Congressman Paul has the plurality in Minnesota, Iowa, Nevada, Virginia, Maine, Oregon, and Louisiana – seven states. Already, the GOP in Louisiana and Oregon are replacing Paul supporters with Romney supporters.   That leaves five remaining states with a plurality of delegates who support Ron Paul.

So, if the RNC is successful in blocking the liberty delegates from Maine, then the only name that can go into nomination at the Convention is Mitt Romney.

At this point, it doesn’t appear to be about winning the nomination.  It’s seems to be about the appearance of things – the appearance of unity behind Romney at the Convention.  That is why in the Maine compromise, delegates are asked not to speak to the media.  In order to create the appearance of a unified party, the RNC wants to not just bind delegate’s votes; they are also attempting to bind their freedom of speech as well.