True North

The politics surrounding the MNGOP state convention is if nothing else predictable. This is indeed a "political" convention. In light of the lack of substantive drama on the convention agenda, there is plenty of drama being generated by two distinct factions.

Are you ready to rumble? MNGOP establishment vs. Ron Paul Movement acrimony spiked again just days before the convention opens in Rochester. It is apparent that the division between the party insiders and the Paulites is growing deeper by the day. Naive idealists like me find the whole hubbub deeply disheartening. More experienced political junkies find the whole tawdry mess downright mouth-watering.

An anonymous group (with an Edina address) called "The Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team" distributed a letter today to all state convention delegates and alternates. The letter makes a few solid points (the imperative to unite conservatives in order to defeat Obama, McCain is the presumptive nominee, etc.). The letter also sets out a slate of national delegates, alternates and presidential electors. That's where the constructive nature of the missive from this shiny new "conservative" group comes to an end.

The letter also, unfortunately, formalizes the alienation of anyone who engaged in the republican party this year as a result of their enthusiasm for Ron Paul. Instead of creating an arena for the Paulites to exercise their rights as elected delegates, the group behind the letter seeks to neuter any effort the Paulites may exert. Instead of allowing the Ron Paul delegates to try (and almost surely fail) to influence the direction of the party in any way, they are threatened with removal from the process.

This is a very serious step that didn't need to be taken for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that the Ron Paul delegation, fervent as it is, does not have even close to the number of delegates it would need to exact any sort of outcome at the convention.

Instead of tolerating the energy of the Paulites, party insiders are saying loud and clear that the Ron Paul delegation is not welcome in the republican party. Fear of losing power has caused the Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team (whomever they are) to ostracize a legitimate duly elected body of republican activists. That's a recipe for taking the embattled MNGOP farther away from it's self-proclaimed goal of uniting the party.

The voice of the minority is arguably important, if not imperative to the very credibility of leadership. The willingness of party stalwarts to hear out the minority is a tangible measure of the party's very ability to unite. But fear threatens to discount that potential unification. By squelching the voice of the minority, while presumably a well-intentioned leadership strategy, could rather be the final nail in the coffin for the entirety of our party leadership team.

Perhaps party insiders have decided that there is no way that the Ron Paul delegation would ever make a contribution of any value to the party. How that conclusion could be reached by "leaders" on behalf of the whole delegation begs for scrutiny. If that is the party line I must take exception. Love them or hate them, the Paul contingent has threatened to breathe vital fresh oxygen into our lips of blue party. I think we would do better with their help than without. Perhaps I am very alone in that belief. So much for bolstering the contingent of sign pounders and lit droppers in our district this year.

Certain party pundits have clung to the threadbare idea that Ron Paul supporters are all liars because of the strategies they used to get elected as delegates. Poppycock! Others in leadership decry the libertarian (albeit largely Reaganesque) parallels to the Ron Paul issue positions. We have become mired in a cesspool of perceived differences. But aside from entitlements traditionally conferred by the party to longtime republican activists, we are all drinking from the same cup.

The Sneetches with stars on their bellies have declared that Sneeches without stars on their bellies are for all intents and purposes to be rejected. And to think we could have simply covered up our stars instead of multiplying our scars.

Perhaps the Ron Paul folks will make it easy on all of us by wearing hoods in Rochester. That way we can treat them with the respect intended by our "conservative leaders".

Cross-posted and comments welcome at Wright County Republican.