Nevada, Idaho delegations welcome The Rock to GOP convention

Scott Sonner

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Talk about inclusive.

World Wrestling Federation champion The Rock joined House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a former high school wrestling coach, in launching Wednesday night's National Republican Convention session.

The Parents Television Council complained to GOP leaders that The Rock stars in the "most violent and vulgar program on prime time network television."

But most Republican delegates from Nevada and Idaho said the organization should lighten up.

"That's ridiculous," said Shirley Taylor, a homemaker from Nampa, Idaho, coordinating her state's delegation. "They don't even hurt each other. It's acting."

State Assemblyman Greg Brower of Reno said if The Rock "feels strongly enough he wants to come to Philadelphia and help the Republican Party, we should welcome it.

"He is a celebrity with a following and to the extent you can translate that into votes, it's a good thing," he said.

The Rock, who won't say which presidential candidate he's supporting, is promoting a voter registration drive the WWF is sponsoring with MTV's Choose or Lose, Youth Voter 2000 and Project Vote Smart.

"The Rock says, 'What's the matter with you people?" he said to loud applause at the convention hall.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to reach out ... to the 14 million eligible voters who watch the WWF every week," he said.

Not a bad idea, said Idaho Attorney General Al Lance.

"I've got a hunch some of those are Republicans," Lance said. "We're a big party, a big-tent party."

"If he is in the spotlight and kids recognize him as a legend and he speaks to getting involved in the process, what's wrong with it?" added state Sen. Maurice Washington of Sparks.

Idaho state Sen. Bart Davis, a father of four, agreed, "Why would any group be opposed to encouraging young people to vote?"

But not everybody thought a speech to the convention was a good idea.

"I don't let my children watch," said Sheila Lambert of Las Vegas, coordinator of the Nevada delegation

"I would have preferred not to have someone so controversial. I think they've done a good job as far as equality and diversity at the convention. But this is a step backward."

Idaho GOP Chairman Trent Clark said he doesn't let his small children watch the WWF either.

"But Republicans believe in freedom. The Rock shouldn't be disenfranchised as a citizen just because of he's a wrestler."

Bob Seale, chairman of the Nevada GOP, said, "We're always going to have complaints about something.

"It's entertainment. To a large extent, it's relatively harmless. As a kid I used to watch the roller derby," he said.

U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons of Nevada said he "didn't know a thing" about The Rock. But he said he wouldn't ban someone from the podium just because of his work.

"I wouldn't rule out a rock star. I wouldn't rule out The Rock," said Gibbons, who got a degree in geology before becoming a pilot and serving in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars.

"I'm a geologist. I studied rocks. When they put a geologist up there, that will be the day."