Letters: No way to run a convention

It pains me to write this letter, but every Republican in Louisiana should know about Roger Villere’s behavior at the state convention last weekend. I was a delegate elected from District 6 and was appalled by the dirty dealings going on. I believe that most Republicans are kind, decent people and deserve to know about Villere’s work; sunlight disinfects.

Less than 24 hours before the convention opened, Villere issued “supplimental rules” that essentially negated the convention process. These were not minor changes or clarifications; they were rules specifically designed to overturn the caucus results and allow Villere to select the winners (see KTBS convention coverage for confirmation of this intent).

Villere had a minority of delegates so couldn’t reach quorum or win a majority vote under Robert’s Rules. So he set quorum at 1/3 (instead of 50 percent) and required 3/4 majorities to pass motions. That conveniently allowed the Villere faction to muster its own quorum and block votes even though they were in a substantial minority.

Rigging conventions and negating elections calls to mind Chavez’s Venezuela or Putin’s Russia. The Louisiana GOP executive committee should never engage in such antics. The Villere debacle violated every tenet of honesty, decency, and fair play. Does this behavior represent conservative values?

Villere and the executive committee have shown themselves worthy of the contempt and distrust that many ordinary people hold for elected officials. They have demonstrated the callous arrogance and autocracy with which the media paints Republicans. Do you ever wonder why these caricatures stick so well in the minds of the general public?

The Republican Party must clean its own house before it can improve government or win the trust and support of everyday people. I suggest starting with Villere and the executive committee. Any group this arrogant, this unfair cannot lead a party of kind, decent people; one or other must depart.

John Foster

engineer

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by ScotB - 07/06/2012

It's hard for me to believe that Mr. Villere was unaware that such drastic, last minute rules changes were not going to draw negative commentary. The caucus system may need review and improvement, but it seems a better solution might have been found than last minute changes to the rules.

2) Comment by DMJ - 07/06/2012

It seems the only thing worse than Louisiana Democrats are Louisiana Republicans. Don't look at me...I didn't vote for these yahoos.

3) Comment by tradewinns - 07/06/2012

if you don't like the way the republican party is run, get involved. the executive committees electes their leaders, so join and vote for who you want. if you are in the minority, do not expect to run things, the majority rules. regardless of the EC, the voters of the parrish/state/nation vote for who they want during the election. if the offered candidate is unacceptable to the majority of voters, they will lose. the choice is yours, do something or stay home and accept what you are offered.

4) Comment by Being_Stupid - 07/06/2012

Ron Paul wins 6% of the Louisiana Republican Primary Vote, yet somehow his supporters think he should have won. If anybody is trying to rig this primary, it is the Ron Paul Folks. Blame Ron Paul for rigging the Louisiana Primary.

5) Comment by Being_Stupid - 07/06/2012

The Ron Paul Folks tried to rig this primary convention with only 6% of the votes during the Primary, but somehow think they are entitled to win the Louisiana Primary even though their candidate came in dead last after Santorum, Romney, and Newt.

6) Comment by SuzanneMS - 07/06/2012

You really need to start with Jindal and his puppet, Kleckley. All of this just sounds like business as usual in this state.

7) Comment by gary - 07/06/2012

Villere and Woody Jenkins - yessir - the Louisiana GOP has got some excellent folk.

8) Comment by gravityassist - 07/06/2012

It makes me feel hopeful for the State to read a Republican's evaluation of today's Republican Party. A wounded, dying animal can be dangerous, and this one is truly an existential threat to America's democratic legacy. This is not your father's GOP. Thank you for your honesty.