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GOP central committee to meet about Romney delegates

A vote for Romney was a vote for McCain anyways, since both were militantly against Huckabee's conservative campaign.

What does it matter if a delegate represents Romney or if a delegate represents McCain. They are both liberal and both served as nails in the coffin for the Party of Barry Goldwater.

I'd like to be able to support the Republican party, but they won't even follow their own rules. This is a very greasey manuver.

I too would like to support the Republican Party, but they are no different - and no less liberal - than the Democrats these days.

McCain equals Obama.

I must vote for Bob Barr.

If they couldn't figure out how to do it in May, when they had over 3000 delegates there, how do they do it without any delegates voting for it. If they were going to change the choice now, why didn't they do it in June, or July?

If they get 180 votes from the party central committee now, or at least 120, I would be OK with it.

This sets a bad precedent. Perhaps we should vote Lockhart out next year.

Let's face it! McCain isn't the most conservative. What's the choice? None...Vote for McCain. When he picks his V.P. it had better be Mitt. If not, we're in deep yogurt. I'll send money when Mitt is selected.

I am a State Delegate and I attended the recent GOP convention. Stan Lockhart should not have the authority to discount the opinion of the delegates and just do what he wanted to do in the first place. This is not the will of those who attended the GOP convention, and the fact is that many of us are wary of McCain as a presidential candidate and saw this as a way of telling him that he reluctantly has our support. It's a small gesture and it will not prevent him from receiving the nomination. Surely, this will not prevent him from choosing a Vice Presidential candidate, and it should have no bearing on Mitt Romney's chances. Mitt either has the clout to get the nod all by himself or he doesn't, but Stan Lockhart should just leave well enough alone. This is the exact kind of political manuevering that got the Cannon brother's booted, as well as, David Leavitt. The State Delegates do not take kindly to being ignored or overturned by those that think they know better because of their political position and good-ole boy network.

He tried to get a resolution passed at the state convention to release the delegates to vote for McCain to give the appearance of a unanimous decision at the national convention. The delegates at the state convention shot it down faster than he could count credentials. So he couldn't get this done by abiding Utah GOP rules, so I guess he's setting the standard that rules really aren't that important... except if they benefit his agenda...

As a state delegate, I'm outraged that Lockhart would attempt this kind of maneuvering. He may be able to pull a fast one at the State Central Committee meeting, but he'll be cashing in all his political capital in the state party.

But perhaps that's what this is all about isn't it, future Ambassador Lockhart?

A vote for Romney?

I'm still waiting for him explain what he meant when he told KSL-TV: "God hasn't spoken to man since Moses."

Was he suggesting Joseph Smith was a liar?

"This sets a bad precedent. Perhaps we should vote Lockhart out next year."

'Ya Think? That was the understatement of the day.

I voted for Romney in the Primary, but he threw in the towel in order to be gracious. I'd be willing to wager that McCain wouldn't have done the same. Is Utah the only state that binds its delegates to the Primary vote outcome? I suspect not, but since Romney is no longer a choice, who really cares? If Romney's not on the Republican ticket in November, I won't vote for the Republicans, but I doubt that the way Utah's delegates vote at the convention will have no impact on the outcome...

Stan,Stan,Stan... Not a good move.

Chairman Lockhart presented this exact action at the State Convention and when he saw that he didn't have enough support to get the delegates released, He and the establishment sent one of their obedient wannabe's to "table the action". At the convention, more than a dozen delegates discussed the "tabling" and we knew this would come up in the State Central Committee because Lockhart thinks he has a better chance of releasing the delegates with this committee. We, the delegates will remember how the establishment ignores our wishes. Ideas have consequences.

Although I wholeheartedly agree that Utah's GOP by-laws are flawed in this regard, as a matter of principle, I don't believe that it's appropriate to change election rules in the middle of an election process, as Lockhart keeps stubbornly trying to do. I keep wondering who exactly he's working for, since it's clearly not for grassroots Republicans like me.

Utah's Republican voters, on February 5th, voted overwhelmingly to bind their national delegation to vote for Mitt Romney. Their state delegates, despite opposition from party leaders, seemed clearly in favor of keeping it this way at their state convention. But these party leaders seem to be determined to get Utah's GOP to deliver the outcomes that they want, despite our wishes. It's as if we exist to serve their interests, and not the other way 'round. It's despicable!

As a lifelong Republican, I want a party ruled by law (or rules, in this case) and not by men. And one whose leaders serve grassroots Utah Republicans rather than powerful national elites. If Mitt and/or others feel "embarrassed" by their lack of dictatorial control over Utah's GOP, as evidenced by an undesired Romney vote during McCain's coronation, then so be it.

Who was the guy that ran against Lockhart last time and got 2nd place. He seemed pretty sharp.

The fact that Romney has asked for the votes to be given to McCain and the convention proposal wasn't accepted, creates a problem.

If getting the 180 votes from the committee since we are not meeting again as delegates until next year, was possible, it would have some credibility. If Lockhart tries to do this without 2/3 of the 180 votes, he not only will be tossed next year, there is a good chance that all of Utah's National delegates will be tossed, making the primary election void. That would be a nightmare for everyone. Lockhart should leave it alone.

Repeat: Lockhart better let everything alone.

It is real simple:

"Utah Congratulates Senator John McCain for the National party nomination for the Next President of the United States. Based on State Party Rules and according to the results of State Primary, the Delegates Of Utah support Mitt Romney for president. Gov. Mitt Romney has asked that these votes be counted toward Senator John McCain for any future voting. We agree."

Confused. I'm no political science major, so I don't get this whole debate at all. Can someone explain what's going on?

Here is the relevant text from the GOP Bylaws: "On the first ballot, the national delegation shall be bound to vote for the candidate who has received the most votes in the Republican Presidential Primary, but the delegation shall not be bound on any subsequent ballots."

The effect of that sentence depends on the meaning of the word "candidate." Is it inclusive of all those who were candidates at the time of the Primary or is it only those who are candidates "on the first ballot" at the convention? That is a legitimate question. Romney was a primary election candidate but is not a convention candidate, since he has withdrawn.

I can be argued that the tense of the verb "has received" places the question of candidacy at the time of the convention, not the primary. If it were written, "had received," the candidacy would be of the time of the primary, not the convention. (Editor, help us out here.)

The State Central Committee is being asked to render an interpretation of that ambiguity, which is its duty according to Roberts Rules of Order, page 570. The GOP takes its rules seriously, and the committee will do its duty.

Oops. Make that 3rd paragraph read, "It can be argued..."

I think this is a terrible move. The incredible resounding choice of the Republican voters in Utah chose ROMNEY in the presidential preference primary. The rules of the party absolutely do NOT allow for the delegates to be unbound. Sorry Mitt, would you rather us break the rules, and allow you to sully yourself, and further tarnish the Republican brand?

Just the Utah GOP at work again...bring out the hard hats! Please provide Utah a balanced representation of both Democrats and the Good Ol' boy Party. I like what I am seeing with the current line of Democrats such as Corroon and Matheson and willing to give other demos a shot over the socialistic Utah GOP and their croonies, Curtis, Valentine, Huntsman and the lot of them.

Sorry Utah repubs, you're just not impressive anymore and have forgotten the people of this fine state. For Lockhart and the others, its all about keeping the party line and screw the people of this state.

PS: Lockarts new GOP billboards state that "I can" meaning Lockhart can do anything!