TheAgitator.com
Virginia GOP Demands Loyaty Oath
Thursday, November 29th, 2007Apparently worried that independents and Democrats will cross over to vote for a certain Texas congressman in the state’s open primary, the Virginia GOP is requiring voters to sign a pledge of loyalty before they’ll be allowed to vote. The pledge says that in exchange to be being permitted to vote in the primary, the voter promises to support whomever the GOP ends up nominating for president.
The pledge isn’t legally enforceable, of course. It’s also insulting. Only the most slavish party loyalist would commit a year in advance to voting for any one of the GOP’s seven candidates, no matter what happens between now and then, solely because of the (R) in front of his name.
Given the Virginia GOP’s legislative record over the last several years, it also isn’t exactly clear to what principles voters would be pledging their loyalty, other than contempt for gay people.
They should probably be more concerned about requiring elected Virgina Republicans pledge an oath to a rudimentary belief in limited government.
Let me get this straight – a properly registered Virginia voter will be barred from casting a ballot in the primary unless they commit their vote to an unknown candidate in a future election? I guess I was unaware that your ability to vote in an election could be predicated on anything other than proper registration. Why not demand loyalty for the next five election cycles? And demand loyalty for every down ballot race as well – not just presidential. “I hereby pledge to vote straight Republican in every election for the rest of my life.”
So what are they supposed to do if, like me, they live in one of these brutally gerrymandered districts where the primary is the only way to make your vote count?
I find this very curious….
If a party operative at my polling place places a pledge before me and requires my signature upon said document, my refusal to ink it can result my being denied the ability to participate in the primary?
This baffles my mind.
Thankfully, as I understand it so far, this is essentially still just a flag being flown to see if anyone salutes it. Every fiber of my being hopes that it garners zero salutes.
I think restricting primary voting to registered members of a particular party is appropriate, even though I have problems in general with the two party system.
-bear
Mike:
Sign it, then vote Democrat in the general. It’s a non-binding document.
What everyone is missing in that the primary election isn’t a true election – it is the political PARTY’s process for determining who to nominate for the position (who is then on the general election ballot for that party). Sure – it feels like a real election, since the field of candidates is narrowed down to one, but it is not. It is the party’s nominating process. Nothing more. Therefore, the party can set up any rules they want. Yes it’s the sleazier side of politics, but aren’t all of its sides sleazy?
As a registered republican living in Virginia, this is the first time I’ve heard this. i guess they don’t want to get “Perot’ed” (or “Nader’ed for you Dems).
Susan, I would agree with you if the primary elections were closed, as they are in most states. I have no problem with members of individual parties deciding their own nominees for various offices. However, if primaries are open – as they appear to be in Virginia, and anyone can participate in either primary, regardless of party affiliation, then it seems outrageous to deny voter participation because they refuse to promise their vote to an as yet unknown candidate in a future election.
What a bunch of pansies the GOP in Virginia are… “I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican Party for President.”
I would have put in MUCH stronger language, like “Upon penalty of death of myself and my family, I WILL VOTE for the nominee of the Republican Party for President.” None of this mamby pamby “intend” crap.
They should also put in a clause stating that if the undersigned doesn’t vote for who the “leadership” of the GOP wants them to in the primary, the’ll send over some jack-booted thugs to shoot their dogs. We can’t have people expressing their opinion at the polls. That just wouldn’t do.
Don’t you try to fool us you non party line voters… we know who you are.
Democrats have had such language on their primary ballot here in Alabama for years — and Republicans have criticized it. The two major parties are pretty hypocritical. Each does what is convenient in a given circumstance — and criticizes the same behavior from the other party when it’s convenient. It’s a miracle that the cognitive dissonance doesn’t explode their heads.
I think if political parties use tax money for their primaries then any eligible voter should be able to vote in the primary. If they want to put restrictions because it’s ‘their party’ then they can use their own money to pay for the primaries.
The ‘intent’ clause is a total back-out clause. “I am confident Ron Paul will win the nomination for the Republican Party, and I certainly intend to vote for him!” Later, in the unlikely but possible event he doesn’t get the nomination, you can always say, “Well, I INTENDED to vote that way but now I can’t….”
How exactly does a primary work? Is it held at the local library or something similar? Who pays for people handling all the paperwork and what not?
It would seem to me that if “we the people” are paying for it, you should be able to vote in any primary you want.
Alaska has a closed Republican primary, undeclared and independent can vote either however. So last primary, all of the independant, undeclared and generally pissed off Reps or Dems willing to take the time to become independent or underclared voted to TOTALLY oust Frank Murkowski. He’s now on the list of encumbent Govs that officially lost their ash after one term. You may remember his name, Don Young and Ted Stevens for making overly stupid remarks to the nation. I don’t recommend they attempt to come back home for a state office. They should just quietly go away next election, they are getting voted out regardless. I understand the closed primary, but there are ways around it to ensure someone doesn’t make the general elections. Oh yeh, our new first woman Gov Sarah Palin is everything we hoped for and cute to boot. Enough real women get into politics and they might stand a chance.
What a bunch of pansies the GOP in Virginia are
I stopped reading at that point and gave you a thumbs up.
I live in Virginia. The pledge states: “You [voter] can vote in this presidential primary ONLY if you sign and print your name to the voter pledge below. You will NOT be permitted to vote if you refuse to do so. Pledge: I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican Party for President.”
Now, there are a few things to say. First, the pledge says “INTEND” to support. Second, there’s no way to enforce it. Third, one can simply put a SIGNING STATEMENT on the bottom, like Bush often does, to justify disregarding what he is legally bound to do. (I like that tactic, but the Constables won’t.) Fourth, this is STUPID and some are getting angry about it, but if the Party intimidates even one voter with this crap, I guess it’s worth their time.
So what? Do you think anyone will change it,hell no!
I can`t believe the people that have been elected to run this country.Americans need to get their brains in the right gear…or else!
There’s no way they can enforce this, because we have a secret ballot. Nobody can find out how you vote in the general election — or can they?
This action comes off as petty and desperate.
Unfortunately, I can see where it could grant a small increase in votes, as some people will feel honor-bound by it (even if their preferred candidates lose the primary) and others might mistake it for a legitimate law.
Here’s to hoping it doesn’t become a trend.
Come on People. Washington warned us about political parties. Who gave these political hacksters the ability to refuse “We the People’s” selection.
I’m voting American! It’s time to bring this communist two party system down.