I was listening to my Sirius satellite radio driving home, trolling about for election returns and I settled, for a moment, on CNN Headline News, which had Glenn Beck’s program. In speaking of the West Virgina Republican convention, he noted that the McCain delegates had cast their lot with Huckabee, so as to deny Romney the win. To this Beck exclaimed: “talk about rigging an election!”

Well, no.

The rules of the convention, as is typical for such processes, required an absolute majority of the vote to award the state’s RNC delegates. One the first ballot, Romney had a plurality, but not an absolute majority. So, the McCain group cast in with the Huckabee group (who was in second place), to dent Romney a win, a move that ultimately helps McCain. This is perfectly legitimate under such circumstances and in no way constitutes vote rigging. Indeed, what the WV situation represents was a mini-version of the much talked-about “brokered convention” scenario.

I am ultimately reminded by this brief encounter with Beck as to why I do not watch his program…

Update: Apparently, Beck isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand conventions.

Update 2: Even better, the Romney people don’t seem to understand either (or, really, are just feigning outrage).

Update 3: Well, thanfkully someone understands how these things work.

Update 4: Yet someone else who understands (as well he should).