“Requiring Virginia election workers to enforce a Republican loyalty oath in a primary paid for by the general taxpayer is a markedly questionable use of tax money.”
By Guest Blogger Richard Falknor @ Blue Ridge Forum
VA Primary Mess: RPV Muscles Loyalty Oath in GOP Primary
“The average voter thinks we look petty – small – with control issues. Just dumb.” – a seasoned Virginia GOP organizer.
Andrew Cain (Richmond Times-Dispatch) reported yesterday –
“The state Republican Party will require voters to sign a loyalty oath in order to participate in the March 6 presidential primary. Anyone who wants to vote must sign a form at the polling place pledging to support the eventual Republican nominee for president. Anyone who refuses to sign will be barred from voting in the primary. During a brief meeting Wednesday at the state Capitol, the State Board of Elections voted 3-0 to approve three forms developed by the election board’s staff to implement the loyalty pledge requested by the state GOP.”
Cain also noted – -
“Paul Goldman, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, and Patrick McSweeney, a former chairman of the state Republican Party, held a news conference at the state Capitol on Wednesday to urge legislators to pass emergency legislation establishing a standard — through criteria such as polling data — that would get additional Republican candidates on the ballot March 6.”
See our related post on the Virginia GOP presidential primary here.
Bob Marshall Strikes Back
Virginia conservative leader Bob Marshall went to the root of the matter in his criticism of the “loyalty oath” yesterday –
“Requiring Virginia election workers to enforce a Republican loyalty oath in a primary paid for by the general taxpayer is a markedly questionable use of tax money.”
The long-time Republican delegate spelled out more objections –
“Loyalty oaths are detested by many good Republicans who solidly back our party’s principles and who have never voted for a Democrat in their lives,” Marshall said. “And there are other concerns.
“In November, Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell and Virginia Attorney General Cuccinelli, both Republicans, supported an Independent for Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney over the Republican nominee. Does this make them suspect Republicans?
“How many conservative Democrats voted for Ronald Reagan in ‘Republican’ primaries in 1980? Would they have voted in a Republican primary that required a loyalty oath when Reagan was probably the only Republican they would vote for? I doubt it.”
The moral of the story? When a political machine sails into very heavy weather, one can generally expect a cascade of tone-deaf responses from those at the top.”
Dell’s Bottom Line: One doesn’t need any ‘lifelines’ to tell that Richard is non plussed with the most recent developments in his home State of Virginia. I don’t blame him.
And I would further suspect that recent court action by Texas Governor Rick Perry and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich might add another log or two on the fire.
I love the State of Virginia. Lived and worked in Fredericksburg for a little over three years. But, this foolishness simply can’t be tolerated at any level, in any state. - DRH
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