Monday, 18 July 2016

Uproar at Republican convention as anti-Trump delegates revolt

A tense Republican National Convention erupted in turmoil Monday amid a loud revolt by delegates opposed to presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump, furious over being denied a floor vote on the event’s rules.

Several hundred anti-Trump delegates seeking to change the convention rules so that they could opt out of voting for the real estate mogul roared their disapproval after being denied the chance to debate the changes or have a full vote on them.

“Shame! Shame!” some shouted, as pro-Trump delegates yelled back. Some of those opposed to Trump even walked out.
A delegate protests a rule committee proposal on the opening day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016. The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee. DOMINICK REUTER / AFP
Delegates react to a rule committee proposal on the opening day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016. The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee. DOMINICK REUTER / AFP
A delegate reacts to a rule committee proposal on the opening day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016. The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee. Robyn BECK / AFP
Delegates react to a rules vote on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as its presidential nominee. Some 2,000 delegates descended on a tightly secured Cleveland arena where Trump's wife will take center stage later in the day to make a personal pitch to voters that her billionaire husband is the best candidate for the White House. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP


When a convention chair, congressman Steve Womack, failed to restore order, the convention ground to a halt for several tense minutes.

Anti-Trump delegates had said earlier in the day that they had sufficient signatures to force a roll call vote on all-important rules governing this week’s event that will see the provocative billionaire anointed as the party’s nominee.

It was one of the final efforts by the Trump opponents, including former US senator Gordon Humphrey, who presented the petition signatures from a majority of delegates in nine states.

Womack said there were insufficient signatures to force the roll call.

Humphrey told AFP that it appeared the effort, while sparking tense minutes on the convention floor, failed to generate sufficient support.

“I’m not surprised but I am disgusted,” he said.

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