Every four years, Democrats and Republicans hold their national conventions, giving each party four days in the national spotlight to introduce their chosen candidate to the American people, and to lay out their vision for the country in the coming years. It’s political pageantry at its finest. So when the Republican National Convention opens this July in Cleveland, the Grand Old Party elites will be filling the arena with pride and joy, right? Meh. Not so much:
With the presidential campaign hitting a fever pitch and Donald Trump warning about riots if he's denied the nomination, some House and Senate Republicans tell CNN that it makes more sense to spend time with voters back home rather than be associated with the drama engulfing their party.
Well, sure. Because voters—and the media—won’t be at all aware of the freak show happening in Cleveland and those House and Senate Republicans won’t be asked about it at all.
But come on, really? Avoiding your own party’s big moment? The Republican leadership must be furious! Or not:
Quietly, some officials in the highest rungs of Republican leadership are advising their rank-and-file members to stay away from Cleveland …
A senior House Republican leadership aide told CNN they are also hearing that several members are coming to their own conclusions that it's better for their own election prospects to avoid the convention.
… the House Republican leadership aide told CNN, explaining those members plan to "stay home and do the same thing they've been doing for last year and a half -- not being a part of whatever chaos comes out of Cleveland."
Pathetic.