If a candidate cannot bring himself to meet the qualifications for membership in our party, why should we allow him to participate in it?
In Article I, Section 1 of the Plan of Organization of the Republican Party of Virginia (the rules governing the Virginia GOP), it clearly states requirements for membership to include stating publicly when asked that the person intends to support the Republican Party’s nominees in the ensuing election.
Though this is derided as a “loyalty oath” by many who benefit from the participation of Democrats and non-Republicans in our nomination contests, it is merely a statement of present intent designed to provide some evidence of true affiliation with the GOP in the absence of voter registration by party. There is no oath or pledge, and no enforceable promise or contract.
Participants in just about every mass meeting, convention, or party canvass (aka “firehouse primary”) within the Virginia GOP will have signed such a statement. It should therefore be pretty non-controversial to ask those who seek to participate in our processes as candidates to do the same thing.
Non-controversial, of course, is a term seldom applied to Donald Trump.
As reported in Politico and a number of other outlets, the Republican Party of Virginia is currently considering applying this requirement to the vast field of potential candidates in its 2016 Presidential Preference Primary. This move arises out of a stated unwillingness of the current frontrunner, Donald Trump, to forgo a third party presidential bid, and to commit to support the eventual Republican nominee, even if that nominee is not The Donald.
Trump’s hesitation here is telling. It says he’s not in the race for our shared values, but is instead running for his own purposes and his own ideas. Critics of the current GOP will say that’s the point…that the current GOP doesn’t reflect the shared values of Trump and his supporters. But, unfortunately for all involved, that’s the point of participation in a political party. You find a party that, at least broadly speaking, believes the things you believe. You invest in that party, try to lead it in a direction that more closely aligns with your viewpoint so that it advances candidates of whom you approve. If your guy wins, the party supports him. If your guy doesn’t win, part of the bargain is that you stay on board and support the one who does, at least until the next primary season rolls around.
By failing to explicitly buy into this bargain, Trump is trying to chump the Republican Party. He wants to have his cake and eat it too by availing himself of the party, its brand (FWIW), its processes, its various state apparatuses, and, if he’s successful, its official imprimatur—all without giving anything in return. His leverage? A threat to mount a third-party bid if he isn’t shown sufficient respect by Party leadership.
I’ll grant him this: he drives a hard bargain. It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of his, but when one is being held hostage (facing the threat of a Hillary Clinton administration), what is one to do?
So far, Trump is like a menacing alien presence approaching planet earth in some sci-fi movie: the more you shoot at him, the bigger and stronger he gets. I have no doubt that Trump and his supporters would feed off of moves by the State Central Committee aimed at him, and that it would probably do good things for his poll numbers by further burnishing his already sterling outsider credentials.
My instinct is to not let him chump us…to enforce the same bargain every other candidate implicitly undertakes to play in our processes. I also think part of this is bluffing: if he runs third-party he knows he doesn’t win (but perhaps that’s not his aim anyway), and in any event the best policy is not to negotiate with hostage takers.
But I also don’t want to become a pretext for a third party run that could doom our nominee (if that’s not simply a bluff).
The stakes are pretty high and the audience is pretty well-informed. So, I’m asking around…what should RPV do?
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The second that he raised his hand at the first question in the debate, Trump declared himself ineligible to be on the Republican ballot, in my view. He shouldn’t be in the next debate if he doesn’t pledge. And if the RPV rules state that he has to give the pledge to be on the ballot, he better pledge. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t belong in the Republican process here.
Jeez, next thing is you’ll want nominees for President to be actual Natural Born Citizens — haven’t you gotten that memo? The Constitution is a living document, please change your intent about it.
What position is it of the RPV to determine who is a valid Republican presidential candidate? Is Cruz valid? How do you know? Then there is Barry and the birthers. Who decides who is a candidate?
Now they want to force Trump, a candidate for NATIONAL Office, to sign a local oath in addition to the stupid petitions and who knows what else? What if Cruz, Rubio, or Bush fail to sign. Will you dump them as well? The last time they played with this loyalty oath crap, they lost supporters in droves. You guys think Virginia is going to be a battle ground state with stunts like this? The Koch Klan is making a grave error if they think this is going to work. Nothing like a Trump/Clinton October surprise just for spite.
Yes, what the heck gives the Republican Party the right to select who is a Republican? and yeah, if you throw principles to the wind, you might lose those that have principles but then what are you going to do? Run watered down democrats as Republicans?
We just elected a group of “Republicans” to Congress who promised us they would oppose Executive Amnesty and try to repeal ObamaCare. Those people lied, but everyone of them will say they “intend to support the Republican Party’s nominees in the next election.”
So, for you, Trump’s only a proper candidate if he joins the liars club.
I’d suggest you’re not fully comprehending the source of his appeal, and the need to handle that more deftly.
I’m beginning to think you’re right…I’m just not getting it. I see conservatives lining up behind a man who is thoroughly unconservative and it doesn’t compute. Clearly I’m missing something (and I don’t say that in a snide way at all; I sincerely just don’t get it).
I watched Rudy Giuliani the other night claim The Donald helped him get elected as mayor of NYC. Is Rudy a conservative?
Well, Steve, I’d suggest the flaw in your reasoning is thinking that these “conservatives” are backing Trump on the basis of conservative principles; I think they’re backing Trump out of desperation.
You say you “don’t get it.” I wonder if a clue to that is contained in your ignoring what I wrote about our “Republican” Congress lying — repeatedly and intentionally — to a large group of voters who just helped give them control, for naught? Many of those voters see no hope in the party anymore; they are turning to desperate measures, partly because they see the system as broken, partly out of pure hatred generated by Republican betrayals and lies.
It seems to me you are thinking of this in a rational, far-sighted way and I’m with you on that. Our real problem is we can’t make a good case for the Republican Party leadership, as presently constituted, pulling America out of this nosedive we’re in.
Cheers,
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
Yes!!! The House holds the purse strings and despite having a Republican majority they haven’t defunded anything!
They will, right after they get a primary, right after this fundraising period, right after this vote… right after the right loses attention.
Ya see intent is much different than attempt or do. It is a floaty wispy wish. I intend to hit the lotto, I intend to not stare at that coed. I intend to clean out my inbox and I intend not to hit snooze. ZZZzzzz
I realize that a lot of conservatives and libertarians feel ignored by the Republican Party. However, I question whether Trump is really conservative or libertarian based on his actions and remarks (even in the recent past). There is a big chance that anyone who supports him is in for a lot of disappointment.
But a more practical question: By what date must Trump make a decision to run third party (assuming he chooses to do so) to get on the ballot in all 57 states?
People don’t care, They see Trump as a candidate who is finally telling it like it is. He speaks what the people think.
Right on Jeanine!
In some cases he is not just speaking what some feel and think but the truth.
Truth to Power. It’s how we run a RELOVEALUTION
Right, and because they have chosen to ignore the lessons of history, they can see that is a good and fun thing.
Are pigs flying? The Bull Elephant and Bearing Drift agree on something .. in wanting Trump to take a loyalty oath..
Here are some questions: If this loyalty oath is such a great idea, why isn’t the requirement already in the State Party Plan?? Is it fair to bring this matter up now AFTER the presidential nomination process has already started? Petitions have already begun circulating and now SCC wants to change the pre-filing requirements AFTER the fact. So do you SCC guys want to tell everyone in Virginia who’s already signed for Trump (to be on the Republican ballot), “To hell with you!”??! What right do you have to disregard and DISENFRANCHISE their signatures?!
If the RPV wants a loyalty oath then do it right – follow the process – amend the SPP. And it will take effect for future nomination processes. But DON’T do it punitive and retroactive like this.
It seems to me the RPV is being asked by the Establishment to do their dirty work. The RNC could not keep Trump from the debate so now want the states to marginalize him. The RPV should not be the RNC’s hit-man.
Isn’t it ironic? The Establishment won the vote for a primary and they wanted that because they thought it’d more help their chosen Establishment guy win over a Conservative. Now Trump comes along and upsets their apple cart and so now they want to restrict the voting again. LOL What ever happened to their desire for openness and inclusion?
Connie, you make some really good points. Let me say in response that the reason this comes up after the ballot access signature period is started is because Trump is saying he’s not committed to being a Republican. I understand all of your arguments, and am not sure where I’m ultimately coming down on this one, but can’t you see that he’s trying to make chumps out of the party he won’t even commit to? That bothers me, and a whole lot of other people who work hard for the party. And if you know me, this doesn’t come from being an “Establishment” guy. (BTW, Trump’s not conservative…but I get what you’re saying).
Your point about amending the Plan is well taken.
McDonnell, Howell, Norment, Bush are not Conservatives either. Didn’t seem to be a problem when they were running for office.
Wasn’t a problem for whom, exactly?
They all won their elections, and some were re-elected. Not to many people were concerned with what I consider their liberal, big government, finananced by big spending philosophy.
Why is whether Trump is a Conservative or not all of a sudden a problem?
People say Trump cannot not win the General Election. Like anyone named Bush could win?
Trump is saying all the right things everyday to build on his following. The more politically incorrect he is, the more his followers like him. One is either on the Trump train, or, on the tracks. No in between.
Some of us have had enough, long ago. We are seeing now how difficult it is going to be to break the elitist corporate stranglehold that engulfs both party’s.
Right now, I will remain an observer. But, I will NOT vote for the establishment.
Yes, an eloquent reformer is needed, a charismatic man of action, not philosophy or deliberation, not discussion, debate nor rational policy. We need someone with a pen and a sword. Perhaps we could make him consul, or czar or Chancellor, expand his powers. THEN things could be fixed so we could go back to our personal dramas and let El Jefe do it.
Maybe they could amend the plan with a secret ballot?
Not everyone at The Bull Elephant agrees. Read Chris Beer’s post.
Can we talk off line? DenaEsp@gmail.com
it was an intent for openness and inclusion — Live by the primary, die by the primary. (HT to Brat, Berg, and Thoburn)
The Republican party has done more to stifle conservative/libertarian ideas than the leftist media. The American people know this. That is a big part of Trump’s success. While he’s leading the field, why should he make any “bargain” with these feckless, limp-wristed half-wits? The party IS THE PROBLEM.
Can I get an AMEN?
What party?
If Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination is it OK for Jeb Bush to mount an independent campaign? How about Rand Paul? Why not all 17 candidates file as independents?
If this is the case why have a Republican Party at all?
Any candidate who files his petitions to run as a Republican cannot be placed on the General Election ballot as anything but a Republican. The state Declaration of Candidacy form here http://elections.virginia.gov/Files/Forms/Candidates/PresidentialPrimary-SBE-545B-Consent-Declaration.pdf states that “I understand and agree that my name will appear on the presidential general election ballot only if I am nominated by the political party in whose presidential primary I am participating. Given under my hand this _________ day of _________________________, 2015.”
oh screw that — he’ll just skip Virginia altogether — Sorry Howie!
Good Point. Wait, isn’t that what we have now?
They should NOT take Trump off the ballot. It would be seen as the ‘establishment’ Republicans controlling who the people can vote for. Are write-ins allowed in primary? If Trump kicked off the ballot in Virginia, I can imagine him putting together a large write-in effort and still leaving Virginia with delegates, regardless of the party’s efforts to thwart him.
If only State Central had voted for a convention……….
Wow, Jeanine is backing Trump more and more by the day.
Haha, reading comprehension is your friend.
That’s correct. A convention could have been the tool to stop a viable 3rd partier. However, that train has left the station.
There are not enough venues to accommodate each and every warm body permutation our ‘open’ system has designated. Conventions are hard work. They don’t pick the GOPERINO desired nominee. It’s difficult for College students to miss events in order to attend on a Saturday.
What is this organization? Republican? What does that even mean?