The agenda for the State Central Committee meeting taking place at the RPV Convention on June 15th has been announced and as rumored, business has been filed to formally change the primary in 2013 to a convention.
11. New Business
· Party Plan Amendment submitted by SCC Member Chris Shores (included)
· Consideration of motions to amend or rescind the measure previously adopted by the State Central Committee designating a primary as the method of nomination for 2013 statewide offices to instead designate a convention as the method of nomination for said offices – submitted by CD1 Chairman Eric Herr, CD2 Chairman Gary Byler, CD3 Chairman Chris Stearns, CD6 Chairman Wendell Walker, CD10 Chairman John Whitbeck, and CD11 Chairman Terry Wear
· Method of nomination for 2013 state-wide candidates submitted by CD1 Chairman Eric Herr, CD2 Chairman Gary Byler, CD3 Chairman Chris Stearns, CD6 Chairman Wendell Walker, CD10 Chairman John Whitbeck, and CD11 Chairman Terry Wear
As you can see from the submissions, the amendment has the support of over half of the Congressional Chairman and with the turnover that happened in the State Central seats over the past two months, there may well be a likely change in the nomination fight. Bolling and McDonnell are against, Cuccinelli is in favor. Shocking, I know.
However, the Party Plan Amendment is a PR disaster that’s an attempt to band-aid over the largest problem that convention supporters face: what about the military?
You cannot vote in a convention if you don’t attend. Pretty simple, and makes sense but it hurts the Republican Party to do so because it excludes the military. So, we add a rule saying military members can vote absentee, right?
Wrong.
This seemingly-innocuous rule is nothing more than a talking point to try and ward off the biggest knock on conventions. Let’s consider this from an objective standpoint:
– How can a military member vote absentee in a convention that goes to more than ONE ballot?
– Why can only military members vote absentee, why can’t firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, or bartenders like me 🙂 Why are we excluding other professions that may not be able to attend a convention?
And the biggest problem with the amendment:
Active duty members are barred by military law from participating in political conventions (and no change to the Party Plan will solve this)
According to DoD Regulation 1344.10, a servicemember may:
4.1.1.9. Attend partisan and nonpartisan political fundraising activities, meetings, rallies, debates, conventions, or activities as a spectator when not in uniform and when no inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement can reasonably be drawn.
4.1.2. A member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not:
4.1.2.1. Participate in partisan political fundraising activities (except as permitted in subparagraph 4.1.1.7.), rallies, conventions (including making speeches in the course thereof), management of campaigns, or debates, either on one’s own behalf or on that of another, without respect to uniform or inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement. Participation includes more than mere attendance as a spectator. (See subparagraph 4.1.1.9.)
So while I believe State Central will vote to change the Party Plan (because who would vote ‘against’ military participation), it will do nothing to change the Party Plan. The ONLY way the military can participate in a convention while on active duty is to change the DoD regulation (which is admittedly pretty stupid). Otherwise, RPV is changing a rule that literally does nothing to change anything, just makes it look like they’re doing something.
Hopefully saner heads prevail and this amendment gets voted down, rather than cause Virginia servicemen and women to violate DoD regulations.
