GOP Convention: Then vs. Now
The first day of the Republican Convention in Cleveland provided drama worthy of a Telenovela. Boos, shouts for roll call, and people storming out. The emotions ran high on Monday in Cleveland as the Republican party sits on the cusp of officially nominating real estate mogul, Donald Trump as their presidential candidate. While the initial shock of Trump becoming the GOP nominee has worn off, there still remains a Trump sized rift among the Republican party and portions of the party.
It was apparent on Monday the #NeverTrump crowd remains, and they were determined to try and thwart Trump’s nomination. Anger erupted when the party leadership blocked the roll call vote on the convention rules. In anticipation of backlash against Trump, Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack to preside over the convention and “initially determined on a voice vote that the rules package – as approved by a convention committee last week – would be adopted without changes.” Delegates opposing Trump demanded by shouting, ““Roll call vote! Roll call vote!” in an attempt to demand a vote by all 2,472 delegates on a procedural motion that is required before the convention can formally begin.”
Sadly, the 2016 Convention is riddled with strife in a similar fashion of the 1912 Convention when incumbent Howard Taft was challenged by populist candidate Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt beat Taft in all the Republican primaries except in Massachusetts. Conversely, Taft “dominated the caucuses that sent delegates to the state conventions.” When the Republican party converged on Chicago, the affair was anything but joyous. The GOP was split, and there were fistfights on the floor among delegates. Spoiler Alert: Taft won the nomination, Roosevelt went on to run as a third party candidate, and both lost, including the Republican party, who watched as Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson took home a win on Election Day.
By comparison Trump is today’s version of Roosevelt, and the red line drawn between the GOP nominee and their members could not be more visible and divisive. Trump has been from the beginning channeled former populist candidates such as Pat Buchanan to rally those who have suffered for seven years at the hand of Obama’s policies. Trump’s campaign has spent more time focusing on doom and gloom to enrage an angry base, and the fervor seen in Cleveland is a by-product on a campaign built on fear and vitriol.
Similarily to 1912, ideology is playing a leading role in the GOP’s internal struggle, and as the RNC works to push through the rest of the 2016 Republican Convention, it may behoove party leaders to look back and study up on how their 1912 counterparts handled a fractioned party. After all, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Just ask George Santayana.
Originally written and published for Political Storm, July 20, 2016.