Illinois delegate Christian Gramm, left, and other delegates react as some call for a roll-call vote on the adoption of the rules during first day of the Republican National Convention on Monday.
“I wouldn’t call it hostile. It was spirited and intense.” That was Republican strategist Dan Senor on Bloomberg television, describing the face-off between Trump supporters and the anti-Trump insurgents who were trying to force a roll-call vote on the party’s convention rules.
The insurgents lost, of course. But that still left open, after the delegates vacated the floor, the question of what, exactly, the pro-Trump forces had won. In one of those little ironies with which life is peppered, I watched Sen. Mike Lee of Utah giving an interview to CNN about why he supported the move for a vote, while on the stage, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin talked about how the convention was going to “bring us together as one party.” Meanwhile, a few feet from me, delegate Joel Mattila from Washington state was shouting at Mike Lee.
“Call them off, Senator! This is shameful!”
Lee gave him an incredulous look. “To ask for a roll-call vote?”
The Cleveland convention center on Monday as no party has been since 1976, or perhaps, 1968. Three months ago, Trump supporters were moaning about The Establishment and all their tricksy maneuvering against the Donald. On Monday, I heard anti-Trump delegates bitterly complaining that pro-Trump delegate alternates had contributed to the voice vote, that Trump whips were maneuvering to shut down the effort for roll-call voting, and that the authorities were otherwise steamrolling them. Members of the Colorado delegation walked out in protest.
This is not normal disappointment with an election that didn’t go your way. Itap not even a procedural battle about the rules, though a Louisiana delegate I walked next to certainly waxed lyrical about all the non-Trump reasons that the rules should be changed. Mostly, itap a battle over what kind of party the Republicans want to be. And in the convention center Monday evening, the two sides appeared no closer to agreement.
Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images
Protesters gather during demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump introduces his wife Melania on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Alex Wong, Getty Images
Delegates pose for an official convention photograph on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press
Kansas delegate Beverly Gossage cheers as Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., speaks during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Paul Sancya, The Associated Press
Former Republican presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich chat before the evening session on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Win McNamee, Getty Images
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump introduces his wife Melania on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
Matt Rourke, Associated Press
Jeff Barke from Orange County, Calif., walks around the convention floor during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Alex Wong, Getty Images
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Darryl Glenn delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke salutes the crowd prior to delivering a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
Timothy A. Clary, AFP/Getty Images
Florida delegate Dana Dougherty holds a Donald Trump doll on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.
John Moore, Getty Images
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Andrew Christie, right, takes a photo of a delegate and his father, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie while attending the first day of the Republican National Convention along with his son Andrew Christie, right, on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicks off on July 18.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Donald Trump supporters attend a rally in downtown Cleveland in the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in downtown Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The convention runs through July 21.
Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images
Journalists talk with a man openly carrying a gun in downtown on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
J. Scott Applewhite, The Associated Press
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
CODEPINK founder Medea Benjamin along with members of the activist group Code Pink demonstrate near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland. Protestors are staging demonstrations outside of the Republican National Convention which starts on Monday, July 18 and runs through July 21.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
A delegate becomes emotional while listening to the speech of Pat Smith, mother of Sean Smith, one of the four Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2012 terror attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Protesters march during a "Dump Trump" demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Protestors are staging demonstrations outside of the Republican National Convention which starts on Monday July 18 and runs through July 21.
J. Scott Applewhite, The Associated Press
Actor Scott Baio gives two thumbs up after addressing the delegates during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images
Anti-Donald Trump protesters climb over a barricade as they march through closed streets in Cleveland, near the Quicken Loans Arena site of the Republican National Convention July 18, 2016.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Police stand around a group of conservative protesters on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in downtown Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The convention runs through July 21.
Dominick Reuter, AFP/Getty Images
A Code Pink protester is surrounded by media, security and a Bikers for Trump member trying to block her view during the evening session of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland on July 18, 2016.
The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.
John Moore, Getty Images
Vice presidential running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence claps while listening to a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
John Minchillo, Associated Press
Members of the group Bikers for Trump watch during a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Settlers Landing Park on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. The Republican National Convention that starts on Monday.
John Locher, Associated Press
People cheer as delegates gather on the floor during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Reince Priebus, Chair of the Republican National Committee, speaks at the podium on opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
John Locher, Associated Press
Workers prepare the stage before the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press
Sharon Day, co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, speaks during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
John Moore, Getty Images
Tom Pauken, Republican Delegate of Texas, takes off his hat before the start of the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP/Getty Images
A woman gives a high-five to a police officer outside the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
Matt Rourke, Associated Press
West Virginia State Trooper Sgt. Dave Williams guards outside Quicken Loans Arena during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)
Karen Vaughn, whose son Aaron Vaughn, a Navy SEAL, was killed in a Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan, delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images
Marlana VanHoose performs the Star-Spangled Banner before the eveneing session of the opening day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
Television personality and CEO of Duck Commander, Willie Robertson speaks on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images
Protesters gather during demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images
1 of 35
Protesters gather during demonstration near the site of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 in Cleveland.
To be sure, I talked to a number of delegates who originally supported someone else, and were now supporting Trump as the only hope to beat Hillary Clinton. But not all of them looked happy about it.
When I asked one delegate from Washington, D.C., whether she had originally been a Trump supporter, she gave me a look that could have stunned an ox at 50 paces. Convention delegates are solid party stalwarts, the sort of people who can be depended on to rally behind anyone who can beat the opposing party come November. So the D.C. delegate’s instant, visceral reaction is a problem for the Republican Party.
After the election results have been announced and the bumper stickers and lawn signs have been taken down, that visceral reaction will remain. It marks a deep divide in the party: between the folks who thrilled at the idea of a Trump candidacy and the ones disgusted by it. Judging from the number of people who shouted for a roll-call vote Monday, that latter group is not small, even if it’s not a majority of the primary delegates.
Itap hard to see how those two groups reconcile any time soon. Right now, at least, they have one thin thread holding them together: the need to unify in order to defeat Hillary Clinton. If Trump loses in November, as still seems very likely, then that thread will snap. Trump supporters will blame the Establishment for a stab in the back; anti-Trump forces will blame his supporters for nominating a candidate so unelectable that he could lose to a lackluster candidate like Clinton. The rebellion that was put down Monday could easily turn into a civil war.
The fact is that — as I suspect Trump supporters are about to find out — the party’s populist and establishment wings need each other. The populists supply energy, yes, but they are blind to the tedious-yet-necessary business of raising money, running campaigns, building legislative coalitions, and keeping your candidate from alienating too many voters.
The establishment wing obviously can’t win an election without its populists, notwithstanding all the bitter remarks about purging the Trump element from the party. If they want to win elections, they’ll probably need to ask themselves a question I once heard offered to a newlywed in some sort of marital crisis: “Do you want to be married, or do you want to be right?”
As of yet, the answer seems to be they want to be “right.” Our nation’s first Republican president once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Neither can a party.
E-mail Bloomberg View columnist Megan McArdle at . Follow her on Twitter:
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
