Kansas Republicans unveil "Unity Pledge"; demand eternal loyalty

In the last month, Johnson County Republicans lost two more Republicans to the Democratic Party. In the aftermath of Rick Guinn and Ron Winner's defections, it's becoming clear to the Kansas Republican Party that unless they do something, and do something quick, they're going to continue to bleed candidates, donors, and voters to the Democrats.

Their solution? Convert their party into a rigid cult of obedience:

GOP Unity Pledge

I, _______________, promise never to abandon my present Republican Party affiliation for the purpose of political gain. The Republican Party, both nationally and domestically, was founded on sound and principled ideals, that include but are not limited to, personal liberty, individual freedom, responsive and citizen-based Government, life-affirming values, economic growth, strong and cutting edge military, low taxes and a mutual respect for fellow Republicans. Because of that, I will, at no point in my political or personal future, find cause to transfer my Party loyalty to any other affiliated organization.

I will not, at any future moment, become a registered Democrat for the purpose of seeking any political office. Additionally, I will not change my Party affiliation to that of any peripheral political party, such as the Reform Party, the Green Party or the Libertarian Party. Such a move would be not only opportunistic, it would be an unjustified trampling of everything that I previously claimed to stand for.

I care far too deeply about the previously espoused Republican ideals as well as the thousands of hard-working Republican citizens all over the State of Kansas to ever consider changing my political Party affiliation. I look forward to a life of citizen-serving, Republican political involvement. I thank the Kansas Republican Party, including all of the registered Kansas Republicans, for their years of service, good will and friendship.

I solemnly pledge to always be a Republican, no matter what promises are made by external forces seeking only to undermine the Republican values I stand for. I can have reasonable disagreement with members of the Republican Party; however, at no point will ‘Party switching’ or quitting of the Party be tolerable.

Signed,

X __________________________________

This has always been the inevitable development of the Kobach-era. As previously noted, Kris Kobach's stated goal as chair is to purge free will from his party, "The time has come for Republicans to stop the internecine warfare. Too many of our candidates have lost close elections because of “friendly fire” on the battlefield.* Democrats receive too many public endorsements of their candidates by prominent Republicans. That must end. You must support the Republican ..."


I can't help but wonder how this will affect the decision making process for young upstarts with a desire to serve the public interest when they're looking for a Party banner to run under. I imagine they'll prefer the open Democratic Party which will afford them the liberty to evaluate what's best for their voters, their district, and themselves.

Even if it had any chance of success, it would still be too little, way too late. In the last year, Kansas Republicans have shed more than a dozen high profile and once-promising pachyderms, as well as countless voters.

The only pledge our elected officials should ever have to take is to put sound public policy before partisanship.