Another Republican Pledge of Other Allegiance

To be a Republican candidate for public office in Laurens County, South Carolina, you have to be the "right kind" of Republican.

To be considered for Republican nomination, a candidate must:

. . . promise they did not have premarital sex, will be faithful to their spouses and will not watch porn while also fighting to protect gun rights.

• Oppose abortion, in any circumstances

• Endorse the ideas of balanced state and federal budgets

• Hold a high regard for U.S. sovereignty and be committed to peace through "strength in foreign policy"

• Not favor any government action to allow civil unions by same-sex couples . . .

See, Laurens County GOP OKs 'purity' pledge.

Since the pledge came under scrutiny, even by the South Carolina Republican Party, Laurens County Republicans have backed-off a bit, insisting that no candidate is required to sign the pledge.

What is at issue here is not whether or not a candidate is required to sign a pledge (which seems to be treasonous, in my not so humble opinion), but the fact that the pledge and its promotion exist at all.

I thought the only pledge one must take to be a candidate for public office in the United States is the Pledge of Allegiance; and I am not even certain that is legally required. I do know that the Constitution does not place any requirement to sign a purity pledge, and it does prohibit a religious test.

The Constitution states:

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

See, Article VI, paragraph 3 of the United States Constitution


Now, this Republican purity pledge is not specifically "religious" in content; but is deeply rooted in new-fangled ideas the right-wing promulgates about religion. I think this does amount to a religious test, and should be specifically outlawed.

The rise in right-wing prerequisites of candidates signing pledges to a private political organization is frightening, and I think unconstitutional. Any group presenting such a pledge and any candidate that signs such a pledge should be tried for treason.

Laurens County Republican requiring candidates to sign pledge, pass interview

SC County GOP: If You've Had Pre-Marital Sex, You Can’t Be A Republican