Suspicions are reaching a fever pitch as to whether the GOP bosses are stacking the deck against Donald Trump in his quest for the Republican nomination.
That issue was explored in a meeting of the Villages Conservative Action Group on Thursday night at the Savannah Center.
Approximately 70 people listened to a presentation by Ocala attorney Henry Ferro on the rules which may impact the selection of the GOP nominee. Many were shocked to learn that Rule 40B, had been rescinded. That rule had been in effect since 2012 and required a candidate to have a majority of the delegates in at least eight states to have an active role in the convention. Ferro stated that the rule was done away with a few days ago which would allow party bosses to pick the candidate. This occurred despite the rule which barred such a modification of the convention rules during the primary season.
The crowd showed their displeasure with the GOP establishment. A question was asked about Mitt Romney’s anti-Trump speech which elicited an expletive regarding the former GOP presidential candidate’s character. Ferro then asked the crowd for a show of hands if any one would accept as the parties nominee anyone other than the two frontrunners, Trump or Ted Cruz? Only one woman raised her hand.
At that point a man raised his hand and announced that an Ohio newspaper had reported that 4,000 people had signed a petition to allow firearms in and around the convention in Cleveland. This elicited some applause and chuckles from the audience.
The consensus of the group seemed to be summed up by long-time Tea Party activist Mary Lynn Geisler when she said “the good old boys have been in office way too long, the system is corrupt and we need an outsider.”
