It's not a particularly good idea to hold large, in-person gatherings such a conventions right now especially in states where the coronavirus is surging out of control, but the Republican party of Texas is moving ahead with plans to hold an in-person party convention.
That does not mean, however, that any actual members of the Republican party will be in attendance.
While constituents and underlings pack into the state party's convention, the state's elected leaders will dial in virtually.
From the Texas Tribune:
The Republican Party of Texas is moving forward with its controversial in-person convention during the coronavirus pandemic — but elected officials including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will be giving their scheduled speeches virtually.
“All the elected officials are switching from a live, in-person speech to videos,” Kyle Whatley, the party’s executive director, said during a town hall livestreamed Tuesday night. “They’re doing that for us in order to focus all the attention on the business of the meeting and to get everybody in and out of here as quickly and as safely as possible.”
This isn't funny but I would be lying if I told you I didn't laugh my goddamn ass off when I first read this.
The state's elected leaders are evidently taking a page from the Fox News playbook in which the network tells people the coronavirus is fake and they should go shopping all while broadcasting from the safety of their hermetically-sealed basements.
Elected Republicans who've repeatedly told people to go back to business and largely opposed strict safety measures should be the first assholes in line to attend their own convention, shouldn't they? There will be up to 6,000 people in attendance according to the party's directors, but it should be perfectly safe, right?
Attendees will supposedly be required to wear masks and that should at least limit the number of opportunities the virus will have to spread at the event, but I personally wouldn't bank on that. Some of the people in attendance probably think hand sanitizer is for liberals.