PRESS RELEASE from Ron Paul 2008
Presidential Campaign Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008
Ron Paul to
speak in Rochester
Not invited to MN GOP convention, Ron
Paul to speak to delegates before the gavel drops
Minneapolis, Minnesota –
Presidential candidate and Congressman Dr. Ron Paul will speak to his
supporters, and other delegates and alternates to the Minnesota
Republican State Convention, Friday morning, May 30, at 7:30 AM at the
Mayo Memorial Park, 30 Civic Center Drive, Rochester MN. The park
features an amphitheater setting adjacent to the rear of the Mayo Civic
Center where the convention is to be held.
After repeated requests for an invitation, the Republican Party of
Minnesota’s Chairman, Ron Carey, issued a letter to Marianne Stebbins,
Minnesota Campaign Coordinator for Ron Paul 2008 PCC, denying Ron Paul
a speaking opportunity at the convention. (Letter attached.)
“I put in five calls to the MN GOP over the past several weeks,
requesting a simple yes or no on letting Dr. Paul speak, with no
response,” said Stebbins, “and only received the written denial
following a demand for response via certified mail. So the Ron
Paul campaign extends our invitation to all GOP state delegates and
alternates to hear for themselves why this remarkable man has created
such a stir in this presidential election.”
When
the gavel drops in the Civic Center at 9:00 AM, Stebbins anticipates
the convention Rules Report will favor the MN GOP Chairman’s picks for
national delegate, allowing only “qualified” candidates to appear on
the ballot, to be named later by the Nominating Committee, while not
defining such qualifications. Paul’s supporters will appeal to
the delegates of the convention to amend the rules in the interests of
fairness and openness to allow for all who filed their intent to run
with the MN GOP to appear on the ballot.
“Other challenges to the rules may be brought in an orderly fashion,”
said Stebbins, “by no means as an attempt to disrupt the convention,
but strictly to favor an open, democratic process to allow for the
delegation to make decisions about whom it wishes support, as opposed
to an orchestrated election of unopposed, backroom candidates.”
MN GOP Chairman, Ron Carey, last week sent an email (attached) to party
officers urging them to turn out their McCain delegates, forwarding an
email message from the Ron Paul campaign as an additional
motivator. Contrary to Carey’s claims, the vast majority of
caucus attendees voted against McCain.
Marianne Stebbins, Minnesota Campaign Coordinator for Ron Paul 2008 PCC
stated, “Ron Carey is misusing his office of Chairman to encourage
turnout only of delegates for one candidate. The Republican Party
Bylaws clearly forbid this activity. If Mr. Carey wishes to
actively campaign for one candidate and for his slate of candidates for
national delegate, he should relinquish the Chair to someone who can
more impartially handle the duties of the office.”
Dr. Ron Paul, tenth-term Congressman from Texas, is one of two
candidates remaining in the Republican race for President, and has
earned seven national delegates so far out of Minnesota. With his
new book,
The Revolution: A Manifesto, now in its third week on
the New York Times Bestseller List, he remains in the race to offer
conservatives an option in the primaries, and to spread the message of
Liberty, Peace and Prosperity.
-30-
TEXT
OF LETTER (on Republican Party of Minnesota letterhead)
May 23, 2008
Ms. Marianne Stebbins
Minnesota Campaign Coordinator
Ron Paul for President
119 Grove Street
Excelsior, MN 55331
Dear Ms. Stebbins:
I would consider Congressman Paul addressing the Republican State
Convention on one condition: Congressman Paul withdraws from the
Presidential race and pubically endorses our party's presumptive
nominee, Senator John McCain, prior to our convention.
Please send me confirmation that Congressman Paul has met this
requirement, and I will be happy to discuss his potential participation
at that time.
Sincerely,
Ron Carey