Calls rise for RNC Chairman to resign over early endorsement of Mitt Romney

• May 9, 2012

Angel Clark

Reince Priebus

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Getty

On Tuesday, Mitt Romney won the Indiana and North Carolina Republican presidential primaries.  The Associated Press considers this no surprise, claiming that Romney has "no serious" challengers remaining in the Republican race for the presidential nomination.  Ron Paul, however, is still in the race.
The Republican National Committee threw their support behind Mitt Romney after Newt Gingrich announced he would be suspending his campaign.  Through the RNC chairman, Reince Priebus, the RNC will help register voters and encourage outreach for Mitt Romney.  Ron Paul, however, is still in the race.

“It is an endorsement, plus resources, energy, communication — everything the [Democratic national Committee] is doing for [President Barack] Obama, we’re doing times ten for Mitt Romney,” he told reporters.

The Republican National Committee will also be helping Romney with fundraising.

“It is a complete merger,” he said. “The RNC putting all of its resources behind Mitt Romney to be the next president of the United States.”

Ron Paul, however, is still in the race.
It may come as a surprise to many that there are national Republican rules that ban favoritism of one candidate while more than one candidate exists.

Rule #11 states:
"Rule No. 11 Candidate Support
(a) The Republican National Committee shall not, without the prior written and filed approval of all members of the Republican National Committee from the state involved, contribute money or in-kind aid to any candidate for any public or party office except the nominee of the Republican Party or a candidate who is unopposed in the Republican primary after the filing deadline for that office. In those states where state law establishes a nonpartisan primary in which Republican candidates could participate, but in which the general election may not include a Republican candidate, the candidate endorsed by a convention held under the authority of the state Republican Party shall be recognized by the Republican National Committee as the Republican nominee.
(b) No state Republican Party rule or state law shall be observed that allows persons who have participated or are participating in the selection of any nominee of a party other than the Republican Party, including, but not limited to, through the use of a multiparty primary or similar type ballot, to participate in the selection of a nominee of the Republican Party for that general election. No person nominated in violation of this rule shall be recognized by the Republican National Committee as the nominee of the Republican Party from that state."

Considering the behavior of the RNC and their chairperson, Reince Priebus, many were not surprised when a call arose from Jeffrey Bales, a Member-at-Large of the Pima County GOP Executive Committee (Tucson, Arizona) for Reince Priebus to resign.

“Due to violation of the RNC's Rule #11, I call for Chairman Reince Priebus to resign immediately. It is un-American and beneath the standards established by the Republican Party to violate this rule. It is unethical to support a single Republican Presidential candidate (Mitt Romney) while other Republican candidates remain in the race.
"Further, I call upon Mitt Romney to denounce this behavior and ask that the RNC repair the breach of trust by including the other remaining Republican Presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul, in any dispensation of funds, effort and labor. It would benefit all Americans if Mitt Romney would further clarify the fact that 2 candidates remain if he challenged Dr. Ron Paul to a debate."

Mitt Romney has remained silent regarding the endorsement and help from the Republican National Committee.  RNC Chairman, Reince Priebus, has yet to comment on this matter.