Virginia GOP drops voter loyalty oath - Democratic Underground

brooklynite

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Sat Dec-01-07 09:17 PM
Original message

Virginia GOP drops voter loyalty oath

Edited on Sat Dec-01-07 09:18 PM by brooklynite

Source: (Virginia Beach) Daily Press

Arlington — - Responding to criticism, Republican Party officials on Friday retracted their demand that voters in the February presidential primary sign a loyalty oath to support the eventual nominee.

The decision by the 85-member GOP State Central Committee headlined the first day of the party's annual winter retreat. Today, party activists planned to vote in a presidential straw poll, attend seminars and get a sense of the 2008 U.S. Senate race, which is expected to draw national attention.

In Virginia primaries, voters do not register by party. For several years, Republicans have worried that Democrats might parachute into their elections, skewing the results. Although it does not carry the force of law, party officials adopted the "statement of intent" in 2004 as a way to promote a legitimate GOP contest.

t's a statement between an individual and their conscience," said Shaun Kenney, a state GOP spokesman. "The party wanted to be able to protect the integrity of its nomination process."

Perhaps the solution would be to change the state election laws? Just a suggestion...

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bluestateguy

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Sat Dec-01-07 09:27 PM
Response to Original message

1. I didn't see a problem with it

What is the point of having a political party if there is not some standard of loyalty asked of those who claim membership in it? A party is like a team, and a primary is like tryouts or training camp when the party (team) is picking its first stringers and deciding who will sit on the bench. I don't want someone in the party who is not committed to the party's goal of winning the big game (the November election).

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Eric J in MN

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Sat Dec-01-07 09:33 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. For the Minnesota Democratic presidential primary, one has to say...

...that he's loyal to the ideals of the Democratic party to vote, but not pledge to vote for a Democrat in November.

The MN Democratic approach seems more reasonable to me than making people promise to vote for an unselected candidate months later.

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rooboy

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Sat Dec-01-07 09:38 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Imagine a situation...

where you have one candidate who's a virulent racist and the others aren't. I don't think it's appropriate to force voters to support a candidate who they would never vote for in normal circumstances. In fact, a lot of people voted just to make sure Joe Lieberman did NOT win the primary in the last election. To make them turn around and support him would only ruin the primary process in my opinion.

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Android3.14

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Sun Dec-02-07 07:37 AM
Response to Reply #1

5. My vote. Not yours.

Edited on Sun Dec-02-07 07:53 AM by Android3.14

I have a serious problem with this type of pressure.
A person's vote is the only consequential power an individual possesses in order to steer this country. To create this type of bar to the political process is vile. It forces people into a position of sacrificing their conscience, or sacrificing their honor on the altar of personality.

I wonder which Democratic candidate would like to see a voter's oath in our party?

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nebula

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Sun Dec-02-07 03:52 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. Then you're just as sad as the morons who came up with it.

nt.

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Gman

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Sun Dec-02-07 04:32 PM
Response to Reply #1

7. Prepare for the onslaught of people here at DU

that detest party loyalty. Man the asbestos suits!

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underpants

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Sun Dec-02-07 12:25 AM
Response to Original message

4. Oh sweet Jesus what a gaggle.... this guys are

:rofl:

This is just flat out funny. I can't wait to read the Richmond Times-Dispatch to see the misinformation and excuses on this.

Too funny.

Oh god they are so frightened of their own shadow that the tent is actually squeezing in on them.

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NutmegYankee

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Sun Dec-02-07 05:51 PM
Response to Original message

8. Daily Press is based in Newport News, Va.

Edited on Sun Dec-02-07 05:51 PM by NutmegYankee

The Virginian-Pilot services Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va.

Either way, good to see them back down.

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NastyRiffraff

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Sun Dec-02-07 07:02 PM
Response to Original message

9. The problem is the primary structure

An open primary is an invitation to people of both parties crashing the..er..party. Have people register with a party in order to vote in that party's primaries and you don't need this stupid stuff.

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