RNC is ready rock to roll in Cleveland
Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus
Amid national racial division that has been reignited by fatal officer involved shooting against minorities, the heinous assassination nation of five Dallas police officers by Black veteran, the Republican National Convention (RNC) will nominate its presidential candidate in Cleveland July 18-21.
When Cleveland won the bid to host the RNC, it was going to be without question the biggest event in the history of the city, but then the Cavaliers miraculously captured their first NBA title and the first world championship in 52 years.
Organizers of the RNC had their work cut out for them to begin with, but the Cavs extending the NBA Finals to the limit, workers were limited to less than six weeks to transform Quaken Loans Arena from the home of LeBron to the world stage for presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.
The Republican Platform is a statement of who the party is and what the party believes, but the unconventional Trump, the billionaire businessman who shocked the GOP establishment with his victory in the primaries may have changed all of that.
The RNC’s platform of Restoring the American Dream, Rebuilding the Economy and Creating Jobs, A Restoration of Constitutional Government and issues such as Energy, Agriculture and the Environment, Reforming Government, Ensuring Quality Healthcare, and Strengthening The Safety Net, American Exceptionalism, Foreign Policy, and National Security and Renewing American Values to Build Healthy will all be on the platform.
The tumultuous primaries led to speculation that the event could be the first contested convention in decades. Even though Trump’s evolution as the presumptive party nominee -- after securing a majority of pledged delegates -- has put a damper on that, Trump has promised a spectacle.
Trump previously said that “we’re going to come up with some things that will make it interesting and informative,” though his campaign has been relatively tight-lipped about the schedule of events.
GOP nominee Donald Trump
One thing is for sure though, Trump ally and Indefatigable Advocate for Peace and Women’s Rights Don King (Publisher of the Call & Post) will be among the speakers to take the stage during the event.
Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus has defended Trump, saying that campaign traditions don't apply to the presumptive GOP nominee.
"I believe that the American people look at someone like Donald Trump and say, OK, here's a guy on the outside. Here's a guy that's never run for office," said Priebus "And I just have to tell you, after a year of dealing with this primary, one on one — and you know it's been a lot — I don't think the traditional playbook applies. We've been down this road for a year. And it doesn't apply. He's rewritten the playbook."
2016 will mark the fourth time the Republican Party will convene its convention in Ohio. The Buckeye State also played host to the 1876, 1924 and 1936 Republican National Conventions in Cincinnati (’76) and Cleveland (’24 and ’36).
Centered between Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field is Freedom Plaza, an open air gathering space unique to the 2016 Republican National Convention. Freedom Plaza will be home to a “Salute to America”; the cuisine and music of the South, East, West, and Midwest will be featured each day of the Convention. All Convention attendees will drink, indulge in local fare, listen to some great music, and mix and mingle in the hours before and after each Convention session.
“Cleveland has become home for our Convention staff for nearly two years, and we are excited to share the experiences we’ve enjoyed with the guests coming for the 2016 Republican National Convention,” Convention CEO Jeff Larson said. “The Convention is a time of celebration for the Republican party and the Freedom Plaza will help bring lasting memories to the 2016 Convention.”
