GOP Uses Faulty Logic To Reverse Loyalty Pledge
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The Republican Party of Virginia was going to require voters in the Republican Presidential primary in February to sign a pledge stating that they would support whomever the eventual Republican nominee was in November. After facing a significant amount of criticism over the decision, however, the decision was just reversed at a party retreat.
Of course the party isn't using the public criticism of requiring a loyalty pledge as the reason for the reversal, but the fact that the Democrats are also going to be holding their Presidential primary on the same day. According to the AP article, GOP leaders argue that this means there is less likely to be Democrats or Independents trying to influence the outcome of the Republican primary.
This logic, however, doesn't make very much sense because it has been known for quite some time that February 12 was the likely date for the Virginia Democrats to hold their primary for at least 8 months now. Therefore, the Republican leaders shouldn't be having this sudden realization that Democrats have their own primary that day. In other words, this is just another example of how some members of the Republican leadership in Virginia simply don't know how to be straight forward and honest with the public.
Of course the party isn't using the public criticism of requiring a loyalty pledge as the reason for the reversal, but the fact that the Democrats are also going to be holding their Presidential primary on the same day. According to the AP article, GOP leaders argue that this means there is less likely to be Democrats or Independents trying to influence the outcome of the Republican primary.
This logic, however, doesn't make very much sense because it has been known for quite some time that February 12 was the likely date for the Virginia Democrats to hold their primary for at least 8 months now. Therefore, the Republican leaders shouldn't be having this sudden realization that Democrats have their own primary that day. In other words, this is just another example of how some members of the Republican leadership in Virginia simply don't know how to be straight forward and honest with the public.
One thing people need to keep in mind is that political parties are private organizations. Yes, they're open to the public, but they can set whatever rules for membership they want (so long as they do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, yaddayaddayadda).
Another thing we need to keep in mind is that the Republican Party (like we Democrats) are in the process of selecting the person who best represents their point of view and putting him forth as their nomination for president. For Democrats to interfere in that is the height of dishonesty. We cherish the right to free expression and association, yet to attempt to influence who the Republicans nominate by actually voting in their primary is an attempt to prevent the Republicans from expressing themselves through the selection of a candidate most representative of their ideology.
In the end, I can't blame them for having the pledge. It's not like the pledge is binding. Frankly, I am bemused that someone who is voting in a party primary they have no business voting in would be reluctant to further tarnish their honor by violating such a pledge.
Kim