Fellow conservatives,
I'm writing this to you from the Hyatt Regency in Tampa just a few hours after finishing up the meeting of the RNC Convention Rules Committee, of which I am a member...and have been two other times in the past...as a delegate from South Carolina. I have been involved in the party for over 25 years, a five time delegate and a former member of the RNC. (Find me on Twitter @DrewMcKissick).
I am writing in hope that you will help spread the word to conservative activists about something terrible that is happening. Today, the committee voted - after several contentous votes - to change our party rules to allow future presidential candidates to essentiall pick who they want as delegates...rather than how most states do, which is simply allowing everyone to run, and if they win, they win. The new rules would let a campaign strike anyone they don't like.
I, along with 28 other members have started a Minority Report petition to the full convention to try and make sure that this change is NOT adopted into the final changes the full convention approves on Tuesday. But we need your help to spread the word. 28 members are required to issue a minority report for the convention to even consider...and you can be sure others are working to peel some of them off by Monday...so we need to add more by Monday.
Let me stop here and say that this is NOT...REPEAT NOT a move by a bunch of disgruntled Ron Paul supporters. This is a group of long-time conservative activists, even "party regulars" and lots of Romney supporters, many who go back to the Goldwater days.
Also, I'm sure that Romney probably has no idea about this. These things are usually driven by over-enthusastic staff or consultants looking to "control" things more than they should...and the result is that impressionable people who are showing up for their first such meeting are told that "the candidate wants this". This same type of thing happened in Minneapolis in 2008, but when word got out, McCain (to his credit) reined his people in. The same thing needs to happen now.
We need to generate enough PUBLIC PRESSURE from grassroots conservatives that they will back off before Tusday's meeting and withdraw their changes to we can avoid the need for a minority report and floor fight alltogether.
(You can find links to some of the coverage so fare here [4], here [5] and here [6].)
Here's what we need before Monday's session of the convention:
1) We need all conservative Republican grassroots supporters to contact their state GOP and let them know that they OPPOSE the rules change that will give future presidential campaigns control over who gets to be a delegate (current RULE 15, but is being renumbered to 16)...and OPPOSE the new RULE 12 which allows the RNC to change the rules at any time between conventions.
2) We need them to contact any DELEGATES to the convention they may know and tell them they OPPOSE the rules change and want them to support a move on the floor to amend this change via the MINORITY REPORTS - and support a demand for a ROLL CALL VOTE if necessary.
3) We need them to contact the CONVENTION RULES COMMITTEE members for their state (each state has two) and tell them they want them to SIGN THE MINORITY REPORTS before Tuesday's session at 2:00PM.
4) Finally, we would like them to help us spread the word that this is an insider power grab by a bunch of DC Beltway types who want consultants to be able to pick who the delegates are from their respective states in the future. Post a link to this page on Facebook and Twitter [7]...spread the word on the media...COMPLAIN. Let everyone know this is wrong, and that it is ANTI-GRASSROOTS!
This is still the party of Regan...not the party of the insiders, by the insiders, for the insiders.
Please help us spread the word to keep it that way.
Drew McKissick (Rules Committee member from SC)
PS: Here is a link to a list of the members of the Convention Rules Committee [8]...find the one from your state and call or email them. VERY IMPORTANT!
Also, below is a list of email addresses for RNC members as well as state GOP staff. LET THEM HEAR FROM YOU!
dlgosney@suddenlink.net [9], ahluckey@aol.com [10], agsutton@msn.com [11], efcox@pbwt.com [12], dwebb@arkansasgop.org [13], demetrademonte@gmail.com [14], jlambertjr@aol.com [15], Joel@scgop.com [16], drandall@nvc.net [17], castle@vvm.com [18], amandaladkins@gmail.com [19], ashley@ksgop.org [20], jag@rpof.org [21], dylan.nonaka@gmail.com [22], errol@71ranch.net [23], jwk@nhgop.org [24], ddvaughan@aol.com [25], davidl@davidlewis.org [26], chstein@rrt.net [27], everhart@mindspring.com [28], eagle051@gmail.com [29], james@cologop.org [30], gstarflake@comcast.net [31], allen@allenalley.com [32], DJGUAMGOP@gmail.com [33], bopalacios@gmail.com [34], collinsbfine@jccal.org [35], jonb@msbarnett.com [36], jreed@reedbrothersltd.com [37], curly@recsupply.com [38], bowen@mtgop.org [39], jim@usattorney.com [40], herbs@vitelcom.net [41], joslin@wildak.net [42], heyyates@live.com [43], flyingd@q.com [44], glenn.a.mccall@gmail.com [45], jadavidson@ameritech.net [46], dbitner@rpof.org [47], fisheram@msn.com [48], gcicione@gdcesq.com [49], JodyDow1@comcast.net [50], ChristineJToretti@mac.com [51], armistead.bill@gmail.com [52], adickinson@dfckc.com [53], jsaul92@me.com [54], dwatkins@melaleuca.com [55], crockerlaw@earthlink.net [56], juan10o@yahoo.com [57], helenvanetten@yahoo.com [58], chairman@nhgop.org [59], cindymoyle89@ymail.com [60], jonah@gophawaii.com [61], donnadcain@q.com [62], hbarbour@capitolresourcesllc.com [63], jterhes@aol.com [64], ahederman@hedermangroup.com [65], grussell@goldbergsimpson.com [66], bennett@ohiogop.org [67], dickwadhams@yahoo.com [68], jlrmr@cs.com [69], chairman@mogop.org [70], jonah.kaauwai@gmail.com [71], dutch2usvi@aol.com [72], chairman@orgop.org [73], jsigler@ps-corp.net [74], bash@paulashmgt.com [75], bakulo@guam.net [76], carlosmendezgracias@gmail.com [77], Donnadcain@Charter.net [78], gschiavone@mac.com [79], jboppjr@aol.com [80], eholcomb@indgop.org [81], alec@seminerals.com [82], bsullivan@sterilmed.com [83], bettihill@aol.com [84], devaney@tngop.org [85], deedeegop@aol.com [86], cnstein@rrt.net [87], jeffkent@interlube.com [88], demaruscarlson@yahoo.com [89], jlewis@texasgop.org [90], amataradewagen@comcast.net [91], bhough@nutracorp.com [92], amooney@mdgop.org [93], dewine@ohiogop.org [94], jryder@harrisshelton.com [95], Holly@hollyhughes.com [96], DRexrode@RPV.org [97], jhfrey@aol.com [98], janusa@maine.rr.com [99], cindycostarnc@gmail.com [100], jordan@negop.org [101], ctgop1@yahoo.com [102], bradcourtney1@yahoo.com [103], bmorioka@hawaii.rr.com [104], jnassour@massgop.com [105], Gschaefer@archcoal.com [106], dagema@tds.net [107], rlittle@teche.com [108], rwilliamson@salisburystrategies.com [109], okrncw@live.com [110], Kehayden@juno.com [111], sharongiese08@yahoo.com [112], lance.beshore@leggett.com [113], raraep@gci.net [114], pumphill@aol.com [115], websterheating@hotmail.com [116], mbuestrin@mac.com [117], rosietrippusa@netscape.net [118], thomas@thomasewright.com [119], paulr@reynoldstechnical.com [120], lifesgreat131313@yahoo.com [121], steve@rpk.org [122], lkadish@optonline.net [123], rgleasonjr@gleasonagency.com [124], ron.kaufman88@gmail.com [125], senft1hp2u@aol.com [126], trave@alliancecom.net [127], sanuzis@gmail.com [128], prezheidi@hotmail.com [129], Mstuart@suddenlink.net [130], ulrich.ruth@gmail.com [131], marylouada@yahoo.com [132], sduprey@foxfirenh.com [133], parishoner@comcast.net [134], kjorns@mdgop.org [135], shudson44@yahoo.com [136], lherren@bellsouth.net [137], rep-mumford@cox.net [138], robcressen@aol.com [139], mfahleson@gmail.com [140], tom@cagop.org [141], pjr@modrall.com [142], meamodei@sbcglobal.net [143], tomah3rd@aol.com [144], lstabler@lstablerassoc.com [145], rlist@rlistco.com [146], rwhitaker@rpof.org [147], norm@idgop.org [148], karen@thepalladiangroup.com [149], sharondaygop@gmail.com [150], ralph@seekins.com [151], patmcdonald8411@charter.net [152], un_chamorro@yahoo.com [153], mblackwell@limail.us [154], tbasile@nygop.org [155], patandjuliebrady@gmail.com [156], lbernstein@pagop.org [157], slscheffler@aol.com [158], lindaackerman@cox.net [159], retagop@aol.com [160], rogervillerejr@gmail.com [161], mhellreich@gmail.com [162], sandboeh34@aol.com [163], tpmorrissey38@gmail.com [164], pmullins37@aol.com [165], triplesxpress@yahoo.com [166], maryjeanjensen@hotmail.com [167], robert.kabel@bakerd.com [168], ryan@wygop.org [169], olilly75@yahoo.com [170], kirbywilbur@wsrp.org [171], shawnsteel@shawnsteel.com [172], leaxdahl@aol.com [173], rbasoud@aol.com [174], rcoupe@rigop.org [175], werronenB@aol.com [176], KimLehmanRNC@aol.com [177], mduncan@inezdepositbank.com [178], tiahrt@hotmail.com [179], pete@petericketts.com [180], matt@okgop.com [181], louismpope@aol.com [182], rick@rickbennett.org [183], ron@ronnehring.com [184], kanesma@frontier.com [185], shammond@indgop.org [186], wpalatucci@yahoo.com [187], kelli81198@verizon.net [188], priscilla@dca.net [189], newmanmonty@gmail.com [190], ultrasealglove@msn.com [191], matt_strawn@hotmail.com [192], ssraia@raiaproperties.com [193], parker@parkertide.com [194], kkmckay@verizon.net [195], lillynunez@comcast.net [196], reptrillo@aol.com [197], robinhayes@vzw.blackberry.net [198], zorifonalledas@yahoo.com [199], mh80807@yahoo.com [200], tony.clark@ndgop.org [201], plgop@aol.com [202], michelle@migop.org [203], tland@land-co.com [204]
CC: newsroom@indgop.org [205], okgop@okgop.com [206], joliver911@aol.com [207], info@mngop.com [208], feedback@tngop.org [209], smigli@pagop.org [210], hans@cologop.org [211], wygop@coffey.com [212], info@pagop.org [213], vtgop@vtgop.org [214], jason@ndgop.org [215], jhartley@utgop.org [216], info@massgop.com [217], info@njgop.org [218], don.povia@njgop.org [219], wvgop@wvgop.org [220], jtimmer@migop.org [221], info@msgop.org [222], info@texasgop.org [223], webmaster@rpof.org [224], thowe@algop.org [225], email@ncgop.org [226], jcraighead@mogop.org [227], contact@rigop.org [228], mcnulty@ohiogop.org [229], info@azgop.org [230], chardon@prtc.net [231], info@ilgop.org [232], jmcgop@aol.com [233], administrator@southdakotagop.com [234], amy@orgop.org [235], julie@mainegop.com [236], info@mogop.org [237], headquarters@gophawaii.com [238], info@ndgop.org [239], jhallowell@indgop.org [240], kedawson@aol.com [241], gary@okgop.com [242], jronk@idgop.org [243], dcgop@aol.com [244], tkester@rpof.org [245], info@nygop.org [246], james@lagop.com [247], ellen@lagop.com [248], max@southdakotagop.com [249], rpa@acsalaska.net [250], info@negop.org [251], cdenowh@mtgop.org [252], info@rpv.org [253], jkennedy@rpof.org [254], paul@gagop.org [255], republicanparty@ksgop.org [256], jtsarpalas@ilgop.org [257], arnie@msgop.org [258], apalmer@rpof.org [259], info@gagop.org [260], peaslee@ncgop.org [261], jfisher@texasgop.org [262], press@mdgop.org [263], chairman@scgop.com [264], chris@nevadagop.org [265]
