Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney was greeted by a chorus of boos at Saturday’s state Republican convention, The Washington Post reports.
Romney spoke before about 2,000 Utah delegates in West Valley City on Saturday where many in the crowd jeered his appearance after he voted to convict former President Donald Trump in both of his impeachment trials.
“So what do you think about President Biden’s first 100 days?” Romney said, drawing more boos.
“Now you know me as a person who says what he thinks, and I don’t hide the fact that I wasn’t a fan of our last president’s character issues,” he continued, drawing even more jeers.
Romney briefly paused his speech before asking the crowd, “Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Censure vote fails:
The convention later voted on a resolution to censure Romney over his vote in Trump’s second impeachment trial.
Don Guymon, a Davis County delegate, introduced the resolution, arguing that Romney “consistently publicly criticized” Trump and that those comments “not only hurt President Trump’s reelection but hurt other Republicans on the ballot.”
The measure was narrowly defeated in a 798-711 vote, according to the party.
Guymon said the defeat was “disappointing” but said he thinks Romney “received a clear message yesterday that grass-roots Republicans represented by the state delegates are unhappy with his performance in the US Senate.”
Deep divide:
Local news outlets reported that members of the crowd called Romney a “traitor” and a “communist.”
The jeers prompted outgoing Utah GOP Chairman Derek Brown to plead for the crowd to “show respect.”
The crowd ultimately settled down during Romney’s speech and he was able to continue, espousing what he described as Republican values.
“I have a few folks who don’t like me terribly much, and I’m sorry about that,” he said. “But I express my mind as I believe is right, and I follow my conscience as I believe is right.”
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who also voted to convict Trump, said she was “appalled” by how Romney was treated.
“We Republicans need to remember that we are united by fundamental principles, such as a belief in personal responsibility, individual freedom, opportunity, free markets, a strong national defense,” she told CNN. “Those are the principles that unite us. We are not a party that is led by just one person.”
