Saturday afternoon, as staff were arriving in Minneapolis, Chairman Benkiser and I met with the state chairmen of the Hurricane Gustav “affected states,” here’s a look inside the McCain campaign Convention “nerve center” before it began to fill up with staff.

After the “Affected States Working Group” meeting, we picked up the delegation’s credentials, and brought them back to the delegation hotel. Here, Derek Ryan, RPT Research Director, and Betsy Schonhoff sort and catalog the various credentials.

An up close look at Guest Credentials

Betsy packages credentials for distribution to delegates

Michelle Burnett, RPT Convention Coordinator, counts delegate chairs on the floor.

View from above the press riser.

Craig Goldman, McCain Regional Campaign Manager, and our floor whip, with me in the background.

First Night of the Convention

Laura Bush speaks at the Texas Delegation Breakfast

Karl Rove speaks at Texas Delegation Lunch on Tuesday

Texas Delegates on the floor Tuesday evening.

Pollster Frank Luntz, speaking to Texas Delegation Breakfast

Breakfast room each morning before delegation arrives, thanks to the hard work of Andrea Antal, RPT Finance Director, and her assistant Emily Richter.

Jamie Mathis, RPT Political Assistant, and Candice Wigand, RPT Executive Assistant, distributing delegate packets.

RPT Staff

Hundreds of sets of clothes and gift bags.

Celebrating the Nomination!

By Cathie Adams, Texas Republican National Platform Committee Member

Let me share with you some of the highlights resulting from the efforts of the Republican National Platform Committee that met this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and will be presented for approval by convention delegates next Monday, September 1st.
The Preamble states, “Our platform is presented with enthusiasm and confidence in a vision for the future, but also with genuine humility—humility before God and before a nation of free and independent thinkers. As a party of ideas, rather than a mere coalition of interests, we consider vigorous debate a strength, not a weakness. Indeed, we are a party—as we are a nation—of mavericks.”
The section dealing with the economy is entitled, Expanding Opportunity to Promote Prosperity. In addition to calling for lower taxes, keeping jobs in America and unlimited tax-free savings accounts, it calls for a two-rate flat tax with generous deductions for families. I tried to strengthen language by committing Republicans to “speak up for American industry and jobs,” but the committee thought it was already adequately addressed in the platform.
The national security section is entitled, Defending the Nation, Securing the Peace. It affirms our full support and gratitude to our military, acknowledges that the gravest threat to our nation is nuclear terrorism, and calls for the enforcement of the rule of law at the border and throughout the nation. It plainly states, “We oppose amnesty;” and “Our common culture is based upon a common language—English—and every child must learn English to have the opportunity to succeed in America.” Concerning the United Nations, I added an amendment stating, “We will never support a UN-imposed tax.” Another member added an amendment stating, “Our strong ties with Canada and Mexico should not lead to a North American Union or a unified currency.” I tried, but failed, to remove support for a Palestinian state. I was successful, however, in adding our support of “Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel and moving the American embassy up to Jerusalem.”
The Reforming Government to Serve the People section states, “The American people believe Washington is broken…and for good reason…. Public disgust with Washington is entirely warranted.” The section continues, “As grassroots Republicans, we demand a return to our party’s core principles: Constrain the federal government to its legitimate constitutional functions. Let it empower people, while limiting its reach into their lives. Spend only what is necessary, and tax only to raise revenue for essential government functions. Unleash the power of enterprise, innovation, civic energy, and the American spirit—and never pretend that government is a substitute for family or community.” A strong message to control spending states, “Moreover, the budget’s review process is a sham” and that “No U.S. corporation could keep its books the way Washington keeps ours.” I especially appreciate this clear signal: “Earmarking must stop.” Texans will especially appreciate the platform’s support of the “right of states to require photo identification for voting.” A call for integrity of the upcoming 2010 census urges “Congress to specify—and to justify—which census questions require a response” so that the census does not deteriorate into an invasion of privacy.
In the subsection Appointing Constitutionalist Judges for the Nation’s Courts, judicial activism is rightly called “a grave threat to the rule of law because unaccountable federal judges are usurping democracy, ignoring the Constitution and its separation of powers, and imposing their personal opinions upon the public. This must stop.” Fully understanding the importance of the upcoming vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court, our platform opposes “stealth nominations” and states, “Nominees to the Supreme Court must have a clear and distinguished record that leaves no doubt about their respect for the Constitution and their intellectual fortitude.”
Serving on the energy committee, Guaranteeing Energy Independence and a Cleaner Environment was a great honor. Our statements stand in stark contrast to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s shameful response to McCain supporters who were chanting: “Drill here! Drill now!” She retorted, “Can we drill your brains?”
In stark contrast, our platform cautions Republicans “against the doomsday climate change scenarios peddled by the aficionados of centralized command-and-control government,” and advocates policies “based on sound science and technology, [that] should not harm the economy.” Rather than using the phrase “global warming theory,” the document refers to “the risk of global climate change.” Private property rights are affirmed and policy makers are charged to consider the burden of rising food prices and energy costs. A clear statement is made concerning ANWAR: “We oppose any efforts that would permanently block access to the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.”
The section entitled, Advancing a Healthier and More Competitive America, states, “Republicans believe the key to real reform is to give control of the health care system to patients and their health care providers, not bureaucrats in government or business.” It calls for tax reform so that individuals who purchase their own health insurance will not be discriminated against, and it defends parental rights to consent for medical and mental health treatments for their children. It condemns the use of and federal funding of medicines and treatments that aim to destroy life. Concerning the pro-life issue of our day, embryonic stem cell research, our platform states, “We call for a ban on human cloning and for a ban on the creation of or experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.”
The Protecting Our Families, Preserving Our Values section states, “Education is a parental right, a state and local responsibility, and a national strategic interest.” It continues, “We will energetically assert the right of students to engage in voluntary prayer in schools and to have equal access to school facilities for religious purposes.” Strong support for home schooling is included. Texas’ other Platform Committee member Kelly Shackelford tried, but failed to insert, “The role of the federal Department of Education should be gradually phased out as we return control to parents, teachers and local communities and taxpayers.”
The subsection Preserving Our Values includes strong support for our Second Amendment, as well as protection of our flag, traditional marriage, religious liberties, and property rights. It states, “As a matter of principle, Republicans oppose any attempts to create race-based governments within the United States, as well as any domestic governments not bound by the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.” Clear opposition is made regarding the “reinstatement of the so-called Fairness Doctrine.”
The pro-life plank is STRONG: “Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. We oppose public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations, which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.”
In conclusion, I think we have is a GREAT platform to present to the full convention on Monday, September 1st. Do I wish there was more TIME to study and amend the document? I sure do, but reality is that with only TWO days to work on the document presented to the Republican National Platform Committee, I think we have a GREAT platform to hold up in stark contrast to the other party, and more importantly, a statement of principles for Republicans from the top of the ticket to the bottom of the ticket to run on and WIN.

-Eric Opiela
Executive Director, Republican Party of Texas
National At-Large Delegate, RNC 2008