Cleveland and Dallas provide horrible optics as 2016 GOP convention sites

In these days of the completely stage-managed national political convention, the choice of host cities may no longer do much to move the needle in November. But if the right call may do little good, the wrong selection can do real harm. And with the Republican National Committee’s announcement Wednesday that it will choose between Cleveland and Dallas for its 2016 convention, the GOP may have shot itself in the foot. After all, viewers will either be reminded that Texas is the home of modern Republican extremism or that Ohio is the cradle of the GOP’s perpetual vote suppression campaign.

Of course, you’d never know that from the statement released by the RNC. As Politico reported:

“Cleveland and Dallas demonstrated their ability to host a phenomenal convention in 2016, and the RNC is excited about the prospect of hosting our convention in either of these great cities,” selection committee chairwoman Enid Mickelsen said in a statement. “After visiting both cities, I can say to my fellow Republicans that we should be excited for the 2016 convention. These world class cities know how to roll out the welcome mat, and more importantly they have the ability to provide our next presidential nominee a launching pad that will put a Republican in the White House in 2016.”

Each city pulled out all the stops, with new Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel greeting the Republicans at the art museum while Dallas brought out elephants to welcome the GOP selection committee to the American Airlines Center. And so far, Dallas has committed to raising $45 million to defray the GOP’s costs while the Best Location in the Nation offered $25 million.

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