Va. GOP Drops Loyalty-Oath Plan

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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Virginia's Republican Party on Friday abandoned a loyalty oath that would have required primary voters sign a pledge to back the party's nominee in the general election.

The party had been widely criticized for asking the State Board of Elections to put the oath in place for the Feb. 12 primary, which was meant to protect the contest from interference from outside the party. Opponents of the requirement warned it would drive away undecided voters. Virginia residents can vote for members of either party during their primary elections.

"We want to attract people to the Republican Party," said Jim Hyland, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee. "The perception was that it was more of a closed-door policy, and we want an open-door policy." Hyland said he has never believed in the notion that many people cross over to influence a party vote.

A committee at the Republican Party's annual winter retreat voted overwhelmingly to pull the request for the oath. Democrats in Virginia require no such pledge.

The Republican activists are in Arlington this weekend to discuss campaign strategy, with their attention fixed on a potential inner-party feud that could hurt them in next year's marquee U.S. Senate race, according to political observers.

Jim Gilmore may face competitors recruited by Republicans who were unhappy with his term as governor. Gilmore's term was marred by infighting with moderate Republican lawmakers over his promise to eliminate the car tax, and he has angered conservatives over his support for limited abortion rights.

"I think that there is significant dissatisfaction with Gilmore among some Republicans," said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. "Gilmore was a very divisive figure during his years as governor."

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Link: http://www.examiner.com/a-1079681~Va__GOP_drops_loyalty_oath_plan.html

Wow... the rePukes backed down on a loyaty-oath??? What IS the world coming to???

:shrug:

CLUE what this country is supposed to be about.

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, almight God! I know not what others may choose, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

and my favorite,

"Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Cromwell, George III..."
(here cries of "treason! treason!")
"... may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it!"

The thought that a delegate alleging himself to be a Virginian had the gall to say in front of a portrait of Henry, "you can't enjoy civil liberties if your dead" makes me feel ill.

They've come back down to Earth

fascism hates the light of day.

Damn, I love Jim Webb