Reader comments
Will Utah GOP release Mitt's delegates?

Stop nit picking. It is Mc Cain or Obama. Try 4 years with "Osama" and see how life is at that point.

"And that could be embarrassing for Romney, who is clearly trying to convince McCain to pick him as his vice presidential running mate."

Maybe things are little clouded for me, Bob, because I don't clearly see Romney trying to convince McCain to choose him. McCain is considering him, and wisely so, but what hard evidence do you have that Romney is activly seeking to be nominated vice president? What I see is Romney is Romney trying to avoid an emberassing moment at the convention and make a run in '12 or '16 if the oppertunity arrises.

but Utah isn't the only state where McCain was not chosen. So what happens in those states? Do they automatically switch to McCain? If so, why is it an issue here. If not....well, why is it an issue here?

Marsha:

Standing up for rule of law and against party bosses who think that rules were only meant for little people like you and me is hardly nitpicking.

The arrogant disregard for rule of law on the part of modern-day Republican neo-con infiltrators like George W. Bush, Mike Leavitt, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Karl Rove, Orrin Hatch, Chris Cannon, and Rob Bishop has virtually obliterated any respect that the average American voter has for the Republican Party nationally (and in Utah) and has likewise obliterated what respect citizens of other countries once had for the United States of America.

Ignorant and apathetic mockers such as yourself who take the defense of tyrants, cheats, and liars who come dressed in Republican clothing will have much to explain when the flames of freedom are extinguished in our nation and in the world once and for all.

My compliments to Republican activists like Don Guymon (and others not mentioned in the article, such as GOP state central committee members, Nancy Lord and Dale Kay, who have publicly called for Stan Lockhart's resignation).

I share their sentiments. Lockhart must be deposed.

National Bylaws clearly state that the rules must be in place on or before the first tuesday in September before the primary elections. When this matter was brought before the State Delegates at the State Convention they voted against this from happening.

To me this appears to be a direct abuse of his and others in power in our State GOP and a violation trust of all county delegates who voted for the State Central Committee members if they allow it.

Furthermore, why would our National Delegates need to be unbound? Check out "the green papers.com" for the real Delegate count that the general public doesn't know about. McCain is not the automatic nominee.

Romney does not wish to be embar. at the convention by having his name put forth but not having enough votes?

Emb.? Really. I would be proud to be considered a candidate for president from any party.

Isn't it stupid what politicians do to "look good" or "look presidential"? Good grief, just be human.

This reminds me of the elections in Iraq when Saddam Hussein used to receive like 99% of the vote... Did anyone really buy that? Is anyone really going to buy it if McCain goes to the convention and gets 99% of the vote or whatever... come on! Show that we have a real democracy here and not the same smoke and mirrors done by dictators! If everyone votes how they should McCain will win anyway... Show that the process has some integrity and let it play out!

The article said "Romney, hugely popular in Utah in part because of his management of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics"

Give me a break! Only the Deseret News would claim this is the reason for Romney's popularity in Utah!

If this was so cut and dried, why was there a vote in May about this. The vote failed to pass.

If this was so cut and dried, why has it taken two more months before it shows up again.

If Lockhart does this without even 120 votes to unbound from the committee, he is risking all of Utah's votes and even if that is not the case, he will not be re-elected.

It was decided in May we couldn't unbind the delegates this time. Leave it alone.

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.

It 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.

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.

Wow Mr. Guymon. You've accomplished the impossible. By comparison, you have actually made Stan Lockhart appear the reasonable and rational in an article.

I had to sign up as a republican to vote for Romney in the primary. I want my vote to count for Romney, not to go to Mr. War-Lover McCain. At least I had the great pleasure to use that republican designation to vote AGAINST Chris Cannon and Mark Walker. Sweet.

Clair, I'm a delegate and Legislative Chair in a distant county from your own, but your explanations are really very helpful. You manage to get to the heart of issues quickly and understandably. You probably don't convince any of those directly in opposition to what you're saying, but to any outside observers - you're spot on.

So I guess the fact that the Delegates boo'd Mr Lockhart at the state convention when he requested additional time to argue his case doesn't matter.

I guess the fact that the delegates indefinitely tabled (aka: defeted) this at convention doesn't matter.

Lockhart may be able to creatively bend the rules to make himself look good to the RNC, but it won't come without consequences. He's falling on his political sword to do it.

Re: Clair Ellis

FEC information indicates Romney is still technically a presidential candidate.

Also, at Romney's Web site, clicking the "Continue" link will take you to his campaign Web site, which is still titled "Mitt Romney for President" and is still functional and informational.

It appears that the situation of the winner of the presidential primary suspending his campaign prior to the national convention was not contemplated in the party governing documents. However, the overwhelming voice of the Republican voters at the presidential primary and delegates at the state convention has been heard for this year on the issue.

Rob Alexander
REPUBLican State Delegate, Salt Lake County
REPUBLican Candidate for State Representative
Utah Legislative District 35

It's very clear from my reading of Clair's comment that the delegates should vote for McCain. Since Mitt dropped out, he is no longer a candidate. McCain is now the "candidate who has received the most votes in the Republican Presidential Primary".

What ever happened to common sense. Mitt dropped out of the race. Get over it Utah. Maybe even, shall I dare say it - MoveON!

The realty behind this is not people wanting to vote for Mitt, they are creating conflict and confusion so people like the above mentioned Ridgeway and Alexander can vote for their favorite son which is Ron Paul. What a waste of time.

Clair's argument hinges on whether or not Mitt Romney has "withdraw" as a candidate. Mitt "suspended his campaign" which means that he could resume it at some future time. Whether it is likely that he will resume it or not he continues as a candidate. He has not withdrawn.
The Republican Party's own rules (which they cannot legally change a this time) prevent them from doing anything but what they say.

If you voted for either Mitt Romney or John McCain, than you are a liberal, and your delegate is the same anyways.

If you voted for Mike Huckabee or Fred Thompson, you cannot be blamed for this debacle of liberal leaning.

The RNC rules, not the candidates themselves, define who is a candidate for the national convention voting:

40(b) "Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination."

Mitt Romney has a majority of delegates in only 4 states - MA, MT, UT and WY. As of now, he doesn't qualify for nomination at the convention. Of those who do qualify (only McCain and Huckabee) McCain got more votes in the Utah primary.

This could change by convention time, if Romney decides to pursue his candidacy again, but that seems unlikely.

Personally, I would like to see Utah's GOP delegates be able to vote for Romney, or be unbound to vote their own choice, but the party Bylaws may not allow it.