RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- If you're planning to vote in Virginia's February Republican presidential primary, be prepared to sign an oath swearing your Republican loyalty.
The State Board of Elections on Monday approved a state Republican Party request to require all who apply for a GOP primary ballot first vow in writing that they'll vote for the party's presidential nominee next fall.
There's no practical way to enforce the oath. Virginia doesn't require voters to register by party, and for years the state's Republicans have fretted that Democrats might meddle in their open primaries.
Virginia Democrats aren't seeking such an oath for their presidential primary, which is held the same day -- February 12th.
Pledge your life to the Party and the glorious Revolution!
Seriously, this is amazing to watch. Have the Democrats ever pulled this? And I mean ever, even back when they were the conservative side?
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If the oath isn't actually legally enforceable, then yes I can see it as being legal, just like any other kind of pledge (ie- abstinence or quitting drinking).
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Pulp Hero wrote:If the oath isn't actually legally enforceable, then yes I can see it as being legal, just like any other kind of pledge (ie- abstinence or quitting drinking).
Legality where official government documents are concerned tend to be a bit more serious and complicated than something like a retarded abstinence pledge. Whether or not it's enforceable isn't enough to determine whether or not it's illegal in this case.
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Pulp Hero wrote:If the oath isn't actually legally enforceable, then yes I can see it as being legal, just like any other kind of pledge (ie- abstinence or quitting drinking).
Legality where official government documents are concerned tend to be a bit more serious and complicated than something like a retarded abstinence pledge. Whether or not it's enforceable isn't enough to determine whether or not it's illegal in this case.
Except that it is a document used exclusively by the Republican party which is a Political Organization and not the government (notwithstanding the number of members in the government). So the Party has no means of enforcing the pledge and no legal recourse should it be violated. That said I think its a stupid tactic on so many levels it defies description.
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Easy way to solve this, hold the primaries for both major parties on the same day and only alow one vote per registered voter on that day. If a Dem wants to vote GOP then he/she has to sacrifice his chance to vote in his/her own primary.
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Darth Fanboy wrote:Easy way to solve this, hold the primaries for both major parties on the same day and only alow one vote per registered voter on that day. If a Dem wants to vote GOP then he/she has to sacrifice his chance to vote in his/her own primary.
I'm pretty sure they already do that.
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Darth Fanboy wrote:Easy way to solve this, hold the primaries for both major parties on the same day and only alow one vote per registered voter on that day. If a Dem wants to vote GOP then he/she has to sacrifice his chance to vote in his/her own primary.
I'm pretty sure they already do that.
Depends on the state IIRC. I remember there being issues in South Carolina 8 years ago with Democrats working hard there to help McCain win that state.
"If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little." -George Carlin (1937-2008)
"Have some of you Americans actually seen Football? Of course there are 0-0 draws but that doesn't make them any less exciting." -Dr Roberts, with quite possibly the dumbest thing ever said in 10 years of SDNet.
Darth Fanboy wrote:Easy way to solve this, hold the primaries for both major parties on the same day and only alow one vote per registered voter on that day. If a Dem wants to vote GOP then he/she has to sacrifice his chance to vote in his/her own primary.
I'm pretty sure they already do that.
Depends on the state IIRC. I remember there being issues in South Carolina 8 years ago with Democrats working hard there to help McCain win that state.
Yeah, but you can do that even in states where you have to register party affiliation. I know a guy in FL who has been registered as a Democrat for years just so he can fuck with their primary, but come every November the dumbass votes a straight Republican ticket.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
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-George Bernard Shaw
Is it bad that I am not surprised he is from Florida?
"If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little." -George Carlin (1937-2008)
"Have some of you Americans actually seen Football? Of course there are 0-0 draws but that doesn't make them any less exciting." -Dr Roberts, with quite possibly the dumbest thing ever said in 10 years of SDNet.
It's just fucking stupid. If they want to ensure that only Republican voters vote in the Republican primaries, they should just modify their rules so that only registered Republicans can vote in them (i.e. a closed primary). That alone will keep out a lot of the Democrats they are worried about.
As is, they'll probably just lose a good chunk of their turnout if this becomes too prominent of news.
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Darth Fanboy wrote:Easy way to solve this, hold the primaries for both major parties on the same day and only alow one vote per registered voter on that day. If a Dem wants to vote GOP then he/she has to sacrifice his chance to vote in his/her own primary.
It's always possible that a particular state is an exception, but that's exactly the way it's been in every state I've ever voted in, for over 25+ years.
The issue is that the "oath" is an attempt to lock your vote for the ACTUAL ELECTION rather than the party primary where the party candidate is picked.
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Well after a review on NH primary law I now admit that I biffed badly on my understanding of Open Primaries, my bad.
I was remembering incorrectly McCain's victory over Bush in the 2000 NH Primary, I falsely remember that one could vote in both rpimaries which is my mistake. Admittedly I grew up in a caucusing state (Iowa) and did not participate in Calfiornia's primary but it's not a good excuse.
"If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little." -George Carlin (1937-2008)
"Have some of you Americans actually seen Football? Of course there are 0-0 draws but that doesn't make them any less exciting." -Dr Roberts, with quite possibly the dumbest thing ever said in 10 years of SDNet.
CmdrWilkens wrote:
Except that it is a document used exclusively by the Republican party which is a Political Organization and not the government (notwithstanding the number of members in the government). So the Party has no means of enforcing the pledge and no legal recourse should it be violated. That said I think its a stupid tactic on so many levels it defies description.
There's no doubt that it's stupid. I suppose the only question is whether their state's supreme court will actually do anything about it.
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SirNitram wrote:
Seriously, this is amazing to watch. Have the Democrats ever pulled this? And I mean ever, even back when they were the conservative side?
Do Wilson's national loyalty oaths during WW1 count?
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SirNitram wrote:
Seriously, this is amazing to watch. Have the Democrats ever pulled this? And I mean ever, even back when they were the conservative side?
Do Wilson's national loyalty oaths during WW1 count?
Only because Fascism hadn't become a political position yet, so yes.
Dear god, we're comparing the GOP to Wilson. That's pathetic.
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Out Of Context theatre: Ron Paul has repeatedly said he's not a racist. - Destructinator XIII on why Ron Paul isn't racist.
SirNitram wrote:
Seriously, this is amazing to watch. Have the Democrats ever pulled this? And I mean ever, even back when they were the conservative side?
Do Wilson's national loyalty oaths during WW1 count?
Only because Fascism hadn't become a political position yet, so yes.
Dear god, we're comparing the GOP to Wilson. That's pathetic.
Especially since the GOP are less competent than Wilson and his gang of thugs were back in the day.
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