They had the term “troublemaker” as a label before they even arrived at the RNC in Cleveland. “Troublemaker” pins were made – now a collectors item – and then there was being placed at the far back of the convention center just in case things got out of control.
A few delegates leading the charge for “Never Trump” and asking for a “conscience clause” in the Rules Committee found out that while the RNC understood their right to protest – they were not going to have it disrupt the entire convention. A desperate media looking for anything controversial seized on one protestor in particular making her a prime story before the con
vention began.
And how did it all turn out? Like a whimper. The Rules Committee prevailed. The ringleader got her 15 minutes of fame, some walking out of the convention garnered a short tweet, but in the end – the majority of Colorado delegates came around to support the Trump/Pence ticket.
The reason? The man they pledged allegiance to himself – Ted Cruz. Cruz’s speech started with thank-you’s and then a touching story, but as the speech went on Colorado delegates and guests got the clear sense Cruz was not going to endorse Trump – and things got as ugly.
Posted from Jeff Crank, popular radio host in Colorado Springs, CO:
“As a former candidate who lost elections and faced the choice of endorsing my opponent after a hard-fought battle, it is gut-check time for Ted Cruz. He will either write his own ticket or write his political obituary. Time to stand up and do the right thing.”
As Cruz was booed off the stage it was clear the Colorado delegates had a choice to make. Some continued to defend Cruz, but by the end of the convention photos popped up of delegates with Trump hats or declarations that they would support the presidential nominee.