List of prominent Republicans refuse to attend RNC

Jim Gardner Image
Monday, July 18, 2016
VIDEO: RNC no-shows
At this year's Republican National Convention, part of the story is all about who won't be there.

Typically at a national political convention, it's fun to talk about and spy all the luminaries who are there.

But at this year's Republican National Convention, part of the story is all about who won't be there.

We've never seen anything like this before.

Former President George H. W. Bush won't be in attendance. Nor will his son, Bush 43.

The last two republican nominees, Mitt Romney and John McCain, aren't coming.

The governor of the host state of Ohio, and former rival, John Kasich, will pass.

One of the no-shows is Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) who's in a tough re-election fight against Democrat Katie McGinty.

And the list goes on.

Pennsylvania Congressmen from our area, including Ryan Costello, Mike Fitzpatrick and Joseph Pitts, are not coming.

Then there are representatives Charlie Dent of the Lehigh Valley and Pat Meehan in Delaware County - neither are going.

So is it all about Trump?

"I'm not going to go out there for a coronation. I feel very strongly the incendiary comments that have been made over these many months, combined with a lack of policy specificity, have caused concern for me.

"I'm never going to be supporting Hillary Clinton under any circumstances, but at the same time, I just haven't been able to cross the Rubicon in terms of supporting the presumptive nominee," said Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.).

"Well I'm not currently ready to do that," said Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.) when asked if he endorsed Donald Trump for President of the United States.

"I am hoping to be able to hear more. I'm not going to be supporting Hillary Clinton. My guess is he's got the skill set. Whether he takes that and turns it into a temperament I want to see. I'm concerned with some of the rhetoric now. I'm not particularly pleased with it to this point," added Meehan.

The convention has other problems because of no-shows, corporate no-shows.

Motorola, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Apple are part of the contingent that donated big bucks to the GOP convention four years ago.

This year, they and many others have scaled back or are keeping their cash in their pockets.

And right now, reports say the RNC is $6 million short.