Richard Engle talks about Ron Paul at the RNC

We call earlier today from someone said there was there appeared to be some disturbances on the floor. The doors controversy on the floor of the the -- convention today across the across the way. At the Tampa Bay times foreign. And we we just that we have someone with us now could fill us in on this Richard Engel he's the Oklahoma. Representative on the RNC standing committee on rules. I guess your run your pretty worked up about what happened here wrote this afternoon Richard. I am indeed for presented Oklahoma on the -- in the last two currency meetings and I'm standing committee on rules we presented to the convention committee on rules good rules that reflected the grassroots the party. Reflected down going to ask you this -- this -- Ron Paul thing. It goes way beyond that I know Ron Paul people are also opposed but I know the Christian conservative -- post I know that. The RNC didn't want the -- this way that's not the way they gave them the way the parents he gave it's proposed rules to the convention committee. It worked good rules. This is a power grab the past mr. Ginsburg from the Romney campaign. That creates a scenario in which the Republican Party goes back the smoke filled room of over a century ago. But music isn't it traditional with the the nominee of the party. Controls the convention. What happens controlling convention as far as the outcome certainly I'm glad that the nominee of our party controls the stage of this. I'm glad that the vice presidential nominees and our presidential nominee wants he's gonna get. Those are good things it's good that delegates bound to vote for their particular presidential candidate have to vote that -- those are good things. What's not good. Is a strong arm tactics. That creates a ever shrinking loop of who can become the Republican nominee. Not responsive to the people not responsive to the voters not responsive grassroots not responsibly into the donors but instead responsive to the previous holder of the office. You know -- the lead story in the New York Times -- tension under the surface that there -- NC in Tampa and and and they're they're walking the the mainstream media is looking for ways to to undercut that Romney would you agree with us. Unfortunately that's of course true and they always what I mean by social not a gun so now we're gonna have something to -- to -- focus on the -- lining up on the on the network newscasts are gonna say there was a big dispute the conservatives are are dissatisfied they're gonna try to so. So dissent is as is the great thing is these days. When when the party should be you know. Fight our road and there was every opportunity unified obviously Mitt Romney comes perspective fiscal certain fiscal. Security in and sound -- ideas and obviously the Ron Paul folks are concerned about fiscal ideas obviously the conservative Christian folks. Have seen that we don't need social issues that we don't have a country when -- borrowing 42 cents on the dollar. So there was every opportunity unify the party. In that unfortunately they overplayed their hand they pushed too far and they created a situation which we may have seen the last Republican National Convention. What's that's going president I mean that's the -- they have is not going out -- by any means. The problem is what is the purpose of the convention if the delegates are bound to a candidate right that's fine. If we walk into a convention knowing exactly who our nominee is going to be rate that's fine I mean that's always been for sixteen and plus years is no problem with that. But do those delegates represent their constituents when it comes -- the platform when it comes to the rules when it comes to the rest of the direction of the party. Does the party get to be an organic thing following its own zest soap. Leader Boehner this what I guess what really irritated everybody was that Boehner called for voice vote on these these new rules and that's speaker US house represented at the gavel. And it appeared that there -- more nose and eyes and yet he gaveled the through. As as a group as well as those of us -- as most people were familiar with legislatures. Noticed this. Happens many guys. I would agree that if if I were the speaker I would here and I would say I think more there were more nose and yanks but if I was the speaker I would also say I can't tell for sure and and I don't go for division. -- you know what the convention called for division and the repeated calls for vision and they were ignored. -- But regardless of that that the pressure to push rules that limit the party and and terror down the grassroots nature of the party and give it to a smoke filled room in the long run that's overplaying her hand and it'll bite us in the -- in the in the long run. You know I hate to seem like I'm an apologist for Mitt Romney here the establishment here but don't don't. Don't the people of the United States of America have bigger fish to fry than in this dispute over the rules mean isn't that isn't the goal of everybody. Every delegate here every. Observer an alternate politician super delegates to bid that the country oval Barack Obama and the democratic majority in the -- Whether we rebuild the country of Obama this time of four years from now you'll be gone. I'm concerned about the party in the long run I believe Mitt Romney when I believe that's good I believe we're gonna. You know taken November the problem is I. And young enough that I'm in have to live for years eight years twelve years sixteen years and so was my daughter and so my grandchildren. We have to continue to have a party that can be the institution spent reflecting the people it needs to be the majority party. And this has the opportunity to create a situation which we will not in the long run be the majority are. And I'm very concerned about that. Now are you Ron Paul person I came into this process sporting Michelle Bachman obviously which dropped out of voted otherwise but I think it has nothing to do with that. So this is not at this is not a Ron Paul -- skirmish now. The the conservative Christians didn't want it around powers didn't want the RNC didn't want -- the -- presented what it wanted to the standing to the convention rules committee. And they did not want this. Okay Richard Engel thanks for being with us we appreciate it then good luck you know again you're going to be you guys are gonna be the lead story tonight on the you know noose on the network newscasts this dissension at the Republican Convention in Tampa that's. Really -- But the lead story is the lead story and if mr. Ginsberg hadn't pushed further than needed to be -- or ought to be pushed and we would have this problem.