◼ Missouri’s February primary, won by Rick Santorum, was a non-binding beauty contest. Delegates are to be awarded this year through the caucus process, and the St Charles County Caucus was to be held today, March 17. - Doug Edelman/St. Louis Conservative Examiner
The Caucus meeting was NEVER brought to order.
Standing rules established by the Central Committee included the prohibition of cameras, video or sound recording. This did not sit well with the caucus goers.
One particular individual protested the demand to put away his camera. Central Committee Chairman, Eugene Dokes refused to gavel the meeting to order until the camera was put away.
Caucusgoers sided, quite vocally, with the cameraman! And at that moment Stokes lost control of the caucus! Rather than address the question, perhaps calling the meeting to order and entertaining a motion and a vote on the subject, Dokes dug in his heels. Police were called. Threats of eviction and arrest were made. The caucusgoers became further disaffected, beligerant and resentful....
After amassing what appeared to be nearly the entire St Charles County police department on site, including a circling helicopter, it appeared that Dokes singlehandedly appointed a chairman of the caucus and other officers – without a vote. This again raised objection from the floor....
No business was conducted. No delegates were selected. Attendees were threatened with arrest for trespassing if they did not immediately vacate the premises. The entire affair was a comedy of mismanagement. Police involvement would not have been necessary if the initial moments of the caucus had been handled by Mr. Dokes with any measure of diplomacy, deference and tact.
Whatever the results of the Missouri caucuses statewide are, they will have been tainted and skewed by the lack of representation from the largest contingent of Republicans in the state.
If establishment Republicans wonder why the support from the grassroots is waning, the blatent disregard for those who vote them into office and to whom they should be answerable, as exhibited in this circus of a “caucus”, should be ample answer for them!
