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The RNC’s Non-Concession on Rules Changes

TAMPA — The conventional wisdom is that the RNC’s proposed rules changes allowing presidential candidates veto power over state delegations were an effort to dampen the impact of dissident factions within the GOP, such as Ron Paul’s hundreds of delegates. But over the last 24 hours, a number of prominent conservative insiders and conservative groups […]

TAMPA — The conventional wisdom is that the RNC’s proposed rules changes allowing presidential candidates veto power over state delegations were an effort to dampen the impact of dissident factions within the GOP, such as Ron Paul’s hundreds of delegates.

But over the last 24 hours, a number of prominent conservative insiders and conservative groups including Morton Blackwell, Phyllis Schlafly, the Republican Liberty Caucus, FreedomWorks, and Sarah Palin have come out strongly against them. The New York Times reports an acceptable compromise was reached late last night that effectively scrapped the delegate-selection rule 15. But rule 16–mostly a pro forma plank that binds delegates to party policy and state law (this one is definitely intended to deal with the insurgent Paulites)–and rule 12, which allows the RNC to rewrite the rules between conventions, both remain, which means the support of grassroots conservatives and a sizable number of delegates remains in doubt going into the roll call vote this afternoon.

Michelle Malkin has a play-by-play with statements from prominent conservatives, and this one from activist Dave McKissick:

Let me stop here and say that this is NOT…REPEAT NOT a move by a bunch of disgruntled Ron Paul supporters. This is a group of long-time conservative activists, even “party regulars” and lots of Romney supporters, many who go back to the Goldwater days.

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