Loyalty Oath? WTF????

[davidmash]

"I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican Party for president."

Those crazy Virginians


So how exactly does one go about enforcing this oath? They know they can't. Hell, if I lived in Virginia I'd go to vote just to piss them off. This would make me want to go out and violate their stupid oath.

[MS Fowler]

How politically tone deaf can politicians be?!
If the repub CANDIDATES can't/won't promise to support the party candidate, why should they expect mere voters to make suck a pledge?
Close the primary election if they want to keep out non party people.

Open primaries are a bad idea.

[elchivito]

Based on the glaring discrepancy between what republican candidates Say vs. what they actually DO and have done, it' appears to me that their partisans will have no problem signing this thing. Commitments are sort of like guidelines, not promises, right?

[davidmash]

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

How politically tone deaf can politicians be?!
If the repub CANDIDATES can't/won't promise to support the party candidate, why should they expect mere voters to make suck a pledge?
Close the primary election if they want to keep out non party people.

Open primaries are a bad idea.

Can I not switch my registration at will? No Dems running this year, I'll register Rep and screw with theirs. Next time I'll see what I want to do depending on who is running.

[spdrun]

Open primaries are a GOOD idea, since the two-party system is so f***ing entrenched in this country that it may as well be a part of government. Either that, or change the Federal election system entirely to get rid of the electoral college and move to an approval voting system for Presidential elections, thus encouraging more than two viable candidates.

As far as the oath -- stupid, illegal oaths are meant to be broken. No legal way to enforce it.

[jplinville]

It's a pledge of intent, not an oath.

[Honus]

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

...Close the primary election if they want to keep out non party people...

We don't register with a particular party in Virginia. This pledge came about sort of as a substitute for party registration. I don't have a huge problem with it.

[Jorn]

That oath thing sounds like you would do to the Nazi or communist party; anyone who pledges an oath to a political party is an imbecile.

[davidmash]

Originally Posted by jplinville

It's a pledge of intent, not an oath.

Pledge   [plej] Show IPA noun, verb, pledged, pledg·ing.
noun
1.
a solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something: a pledge of aid; a pledge not to wage war.
2.
something delivered as security for the payment of a debt or fulfillment of a promise, and subject to forfeiture on failure to pay or fulfill the promise.

oath   [ohth] Show IPA
noun, plural oaths  [ohthz, ohths] Show IPA.
1.
a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing, to witness one's determination to speak the truth, to keep a promise, etc.: to testify upon oath.
2.
a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.
3.
a formally affirmed statement or promise accepted as an equivalent of an appeal to a deity or to a revered person or thing; affirmation.


Seem pretty close if you ask me.

[jplinville]

No deity in a pledge...different things.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by Jorn

That oath thing sounds like you would do to the Nazi or communist party; anyone who pledges an oath to a political party is an imbecile.

Again...It's not an oath, it's a pledge. As stated above, a pledge is not an oath

[davidmash]

Originally Posted by jplinville

No deity in a pledge...different things.

No deity (god) is required in a pledge. Same thing.

[Chas H]

How could such a pledge/path be enforced or monitored?

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by davidmash

No deity (god) is required in a pledge. Same thing.

Therefore it isn't an oath, it's a pledge. Leading me to my point...You're a Troll.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by jplinville

Therefore it isn't an oath, it's a pledge. Leading me to my point...You're a Troll.

Even though Mr. Linville and myself don't always get along, I agree with his statement.