wgadget
06-15-2008, 04:28 PM
Convention reality disheartens delegates and volunteers
By ALEX WUKMAN
awukman@hcnonline.com
06/14/2008
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Hundreds of boots line the Discovery Green lawn facing the George R. Brown Convention Center. They were a silent protest against the Iraq war.
Hundreds of boots line the Discovery Green lawn facing the George R. Brown Convention Center. They were a silent protest against the Iraq war.
As the sun broke on the final day of the Texas Republican Convention Saturday, a sight greeted the delegates. Perfectly lined rows of combat boots stretched across the lawn of Discovery Green. Each boot represented a member of the U.S. military who died in Iraq.
It was a silent reminder from Veterans for Peace of the human cost of the war, and it was the only discussion of Iraq at the convention.
“It’s good to see someone trying to stop this mayhem and destruction,” said William Blalock, a delegate from Brazoria County.
Blalock, a Ron Paul supporter, had left the convention after the second day of Congressional District Caucuses because, in his words, “it’s spiraling downward.”
“They’re seating illegal delegates,” he said, “They’re not the conservative party; they’re a sham.” Blalock wasn’t alone in his sentiments; in fact, they were so prevalent they were being echoed by some of the convention staff.
“It seems like the Ron Paul supporters are being turned away more often than they should,” said Davis Manoushagian, a 16-year-old volunteer page from Bridgeport. Manoushagian and the other 150-plus pages had been at the convention since Wednesday and had seen how the fights with the Nueces County rump convention and Ron Paul’s delegates had played out.
“It doesn’t seem right that the Ron Paul people haven’t been allowed to speak as much,” said Taylor Huse, a 15-year-old page from Springton. Huse and Manoushagian, along with teenagers from all over the state, were sent by their parents to learn about the political process and received an odd lesson.
“Every now and then I hear people being silenced,” Manoushagian said. The silencing of delegates is something that went beyond votes into simpler forms of speech.
“This is the first time that they aren’t allowing signs on the floor,” Blalock said. He quickly clarified that while candidate signs were on the floor, homemade signs were forbidden. “Only pre-approved signs are allowed” he said.
Manoushagian noted that the convention isn’t exactly what he thought it would be.
“I think we’ve compromised our values,” he said. “We’re the open door party and we’re telling people they can’t speak.”
By ALEX WUKMAN
awukman@hcnonline.com
06/14/2008
email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly
Hundreds of boots line the Discovery Green lawn facing the George R. Brown Convention Center. They were a silent protest against the Iraq war.
Hundreds of boots line the Discovery Green lawn facing the George R. Brown Convention Center. They were a silent protest against the Iraq war.
As the sun broke on the final day of the Texas Republican Convention Saturday, a sight greeted the delegates. Perfectly lined rows of combat boots stretched across the lawn of Discovery Green. Each boot represented a member of the U.S. military who died in Iraq.
It was a silent reminder from Veterans for Peace of the human cost of the war, and it was the only discussion of Iraq at the convention.
“It’s good to see someone trying to stop this mayhem and destruction,” said William Blalock, a delegate from Brazoria County.
Blalock, a Ron Paul supporter, had left the convention after the second day of Congressional District Caucuses because, in his words, “it’s spiraling downward.”
“They’re seating illegal delegates,” he said, “They’re not the conservative party; they’re a sham.” Blalock wasn’t alone in his sentiments; in fact, they were so prevalent they were being echoed by some of the convention staff.
“It seems like the Ron Paul supporters are being turned away more often than they should,” said Davis Manoushagian, a 16-year-old volunteer page from Bridgeport. Manoushagian and the other 150-plus pages had been at the convention since Wednesday and had seen how the fights with the Nueces County rump convention and Ron Paul’s delegates had played out.
“It doesn’t seem right that the Ron Paul people haven’t been allowed to speak as much,” said Taylor Huse, a 15-year-old page from Springton. Huse and Manoushagian, along with teenagers from all over the state, were sent by their parents to learn about the political process and received an odd lesson.
“Every now and then I hear people being silenced,” Manoushagian said. The silencing of delegates is something that went beyond votes into simpler forms of speech.
“This is the first time that they aren’t allowing signs on the floor,” Blalock said. He quickly clarified that while candidate signs were on the floor, homemade signs were forbidden. “Only pre-approved signs are allowed” he said.
Manoushagian noted that the convention isn’t exactly what he thought it would be.
“I think we’ve compromised our values,” he said. “We’re the open door party and we’re telling people they can’t speak.”