Oklahoma Resolution Against the RNC Rule Changes

This resolution was written to make it clear that Oklahoma does not stand with the 2012 rules passed by the RNC in Tampa, FL. This was introduced and discussed at Oklahomas Republican state committee meeting on 12/8/12. The liberty movement in Oklahoma is working to make sure that this is put on the agenda for the next state committee to be voted on (and hopefully pass!). RESOLUTION TO RESTORE THE POWER OF THE GOP GRASSROOTS WHEREAS, the GOP platform reflects the principle of more local government in the words The Republican Party, born in opposition to the denial of liberty, stands for the rights of individuals, families, faith communities, institutions and of the States which are their instruments of self-government. In establishing a federal system of government, the Framers viewed the States as laboratories of democracy and centers of innovation, as do we; and WHEREAS, the new Republican Party Rules (rules) adopted at the 2012 Republican National Convention (convention) in Tampa were adopted under questionable circumstances with disregard for convention rules; and WHEREAS, 24-year RNC veteran and 13-time national delegate Morton Blackwell called the rule changes, like nothing that has ever happened before in living memory; and WHEREAS, prominent conservatives such as Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Phyllis Schlafly, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, and FreedomWorks (a million-member organization) denounced these new rules; and WHEREAS, the new rules impose a top-down structure of governance instead of the traditional bottom-up structure; and WHEREAS, the new rules reduce the power and autonomy of state and local party organizations; and WHEREAS, Rule 12 gives unprecedented power to the Republican National Committee (RNC) to change party rules without the input and/or approval of state parties and their members; and

WHEREAS, Rule 16 removes the rights of states to choose the method of binding their delegates by forcing all state parties to allocate and bind the states delegation to the National Convention through Presidential Preference Polls; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Oklahoma Republican Party rejects these rules adopted at the convention as they are antithetical to Republican values and therefore be it further RESOLVED, that the Oklahoma Republican Party asserts the primacy of the delegates to the Republican Convention in setting party rules and therefore be it further RESOLVED, that the Oklahoma Republican Party rejects the new top-down structure of governance as detrimental to the long-term success of the Republican Party. Originally posted here >>>

Posted by Qadoshyah Fish for R3publicans /OKGrassroots