Virginia GOP requires "Loyalty Oaths"

[acroyear]

News from CNS:

When voters cast their ballots in Virginia's Feb. 12 Republican presidential primary, they'll be required to sign a document stating they intend to support the party's nominee for president. One conservative leader called it a "bullying tactic," but a nonpartisan election official dismissed the pledge as just "a piece of paper." On Monday, the State Board of Elections approved text to be included with the ballot that states: "You 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." The pledge says: "I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican Party for president."

This to me is such confirmation that the republicans are scared, nee terrified, that the religious right of the south and midwest will just "stay home" in November if any of the current frontrunners (McCain, Romney, Guiliani) get the nod.

Comments

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw this shit day before yesterday. It makes me laugh. "Please don't desert us because all our candidates are nuts!"

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

well the concern is that they won't vote for any of the big 3 nutso candidates if they get the nod 'cause they really would prefer a candidate who's even more nuts...

[cyberkender.livejournal.com]

It seems to be a spreading mode of thought. They've required a similarly paranoid plan of NASA employees: http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/11/jpl-scientists.html

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've heard a rumor that this is an attempt to keep Democrats from swarming the Republican primary to vote a weak candidate in. Presumably this is yet another instance of projection...

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

not at all. that "threat" has been around since VA first started its primary in 1988 with no party affiliation requirement. The statistics have long shown that any such threat is overplayed.

Besides, from that particular gene pool, what is a "weak candidate" anyways? Looking at anything else besides money, and any one of those 6 could still take the nod by the time this is over.

The SCARE, the absolute TERROR in the Republicans minds really is that the religious right will NOT support Romney or any of the more secular candidates like McCain and Guiliani. They really do fear that the core religious groups in the south and in the Valley will simply stay silent and stay home and give the state to the Democrats in November. It really is. They'll vote for their nutcase, he won't get the party nod, and then they'll just not support anybody at all.

For that matter, the Democratic pool is just as divided and Democratic supporters NEED to get out there and keep someone strong up front. Only if someone is absolutely the big winner of Super Tuesday (which is the week before VA's primary) and thus has the nomination in a lock will that circumstance change. This year, I doubt that's going to happen. The press still needs to crucify the winner of Iowa, as they've done every election since Carter won.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

They really do fear that the core religious groups in the south and in the Valley will simply stay silent and stay home

And it is something to fear, since that group has been patting itself on the back and claiming to be the reason every Republican has been elected.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

like "proof of the efficacy of prayer", i do note they never accept the blame when a Democrat wins the election.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've noticed that too. However, since so many of Bush's policies can be laid right at the radical right's door, I'm thinking this last time it - and Diebold - may have some blame.

[eiredrake.livejournal.com]

Fuck 'em.

If no Republican candidate makes it into office for the next hundred years it will serve them right.

Now the thing is, we gotta make sure the damned Democrats don't start doing Republicanesque stuff and when they do We The People need to make sure they don't get away with it.

Like that William Jefferson guy with his 90k in bribe money in his freezer. Why the hell isn't he in court?

Not offense intended to Republican voters but..

[eiredrake.livejournal.com]

Are you suggesting that Republican politicos are somehow immoral? Blasphemy!