Palin: Rules Change 'Attack on Grassroots'

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin joined a chorus of grassroots conservatives in calling for two proposed rule changes, backed by the top brass of Mitt Romney’s campaign, to be rejected on the floor of the Republican National Convention. Palin said the two proposed rule changes that would impact delegates and would allow the RNC to change the party rules in between conventions in the future were “very disappointing” and “must be rejected.”

“It’s a direct attack on grassroots activists by the GOP establishment, and it must be rejected,” Palin wrote in a Facebook note after spending a day in Arizona campaigning before thousands for Arizona House candidate Kirk Adams (R). “Without the energy and wisdom of the grassroots, the GOP would not have had the historic 2010 electoral victories. That’s why the controversial rule change being debated at the RNC convention right now is so very disappointing.

“We have to remember that this election is not just about replacing the party in power. It’s about who and what we replace it with.”

Palin then linked to Michelle Malkin’s thorough, real-time updates concerning the looming fight over the proposed rule changes. 

On Friday, Republican officials associated with the Romney campaign strong-armed two rule changes into the draft platform. The first rule would have effectively allowed future presidential candidates — and not states — to choose the delegates that represent them. In what appears to be a compromise, the text of the rule has been changed to allow states to still select delegates.

Of more concern, though, is Rule 12, and the compromise on selecting delegates will be moot if Rule 12 remains in place. 

Rule 12 would allow the RNC to change the rules between conventions if 75% of committee members agree to do so. Since committee members usually agree to what the RNC chair wants, this effectively is a rubber stamp that allows the RNC to amend the rules whenever it wants. 

“As long as the proposed Rule 12 remains in place, this ‘deal’ or ‘compromise’ must be a no-go,” Malkin wrote. “Don’t back down, activists!”

Conservative talk radio host and author Mark Levin said the power grab was akin to something President Barack Obama would do. 

“Conservatives of all stripes, especially Tea Party activists, this is an attempt to destroy your ability to influence the presidential and vice presidential nomination process in the Republican Party,” Levin wrote. “It is an attempt to eviscerate the input of state parties.  It is a brazen assault on the grassroots.  And it is sleazy to the core.”

A Romney delegate from Georgia, Julianne Thompson, wrote that the Republican establishment was “essentially striking the first blow that chips” away at the freedoms Republicans have been fighting for by disenfranchising “the very people that turned the tide for the GOP in 2010 by returning power in the U.S. House of Representatives to Republicans.”

Thompson noted that this rule change would allow large campaign donors to be rewarded with delegate positions, which would be given out like ambassadorships. 

In a letter to the national rules committee, the Texas delegation said: “The only way a floor fight can be avoided is if the rule is stricken.”

Prominent conservatives noted that these objections were not being made “by a bunch of disgruntled Ron Paul supporters,” but by “a group of long-time conservative activists, even ‘party regulars’ and lots of Romney supporters, many who go back to the Goldwater days.”

Morton Blackwell, an influential conservative from Virginia who worked in the Reagan administration, said the rules could “fundamentally change our Republican Party — and not for the better.”

“These rule changes are the most awful I’ve ever seen come before any National Convention,” Blackwell wrote. “This fight is too important to not make a stand.”

Six states’ delegations must insist on a roll call vote for Rule 12 to be stricken.

On an appearance on FOX News’ “Hannity” on Monday from Arizona, Palin talked about how important the grassroots are to the future of the party and country. 

“We need people to agree with the sudden and relentless reform that is needed to tackle the problems in D.C.,” Palin said. “The status quo has got to go.”