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No Loyalty Oath Required

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 11:53:25 AM EST
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by TChris

Loyalty oaths were popular in the 1950’s, when conservatives were certain that anyone who disagreed with their political agenda was a communist. Today, conservatives are certain that those who disagree are terrorist-hugging traitors, but at least they’ve quit pressing the useless idea of loyalty oaths.

Except in Pennsylvania.

[Gerald] Massey, a Marine Corps veteran and retired philosophy professor, won a two-year seat on the Stoneboro council in November after a write-in campaign. He balked when borough officials told him to sign the Pennsylvania Loyalty Oath, signed into law in 1951 in an effort to keep communists out of government positions.

"I'm just a little write-in candidate in a small rural town. You might say, 'What does that (oath) matter?'" Massey said. "I think that's actually more important. Democracy starts with these grass-roots undertakings."

The 71-year-old Massey will be allowed to take office without signing an oath that affirms he isn’t “subversive.” A county solicitor confirmed that the outdated law (which likely violates the First Amendment) is no longer effective. Massey will instead take the standard oath to uphold the state and federal constitutions.

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    No Loyalty Oath Required | 15 comments (15 topical)
    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 12:24:13 PM EST
    ot but torture memos here. http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2005/12/damning_documen.html

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 12:38:51 PM EST
    Good for Massey. I'm surprised no one objected to this nonsense before. In fact, we could use some "subversives" in govt., anyone subversive to the status quo would be an improvement.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    kdog:
    In fact, we could use some "subversives" in govt., anyone subversive to the status quo would be an improvement.
    And if only the current crop of 'Conservatives' would actually conserve our existing rights, freedoms, and cease their radical program to introduce changes into the workings of institutions of government, there would be no need for the 'subversion' you advocate.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#4)
    by desertswine on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 01:34:25 PM EST
    When Vice President Dick Cheney spoke July 31 to a crowd of 2,000 in Rio Rancho, a city of 45,000 near Albuquerque, several people who showed up at the event complained about being asked to sign endorsement forms in order to receive a ticket to hear Cheney.
    ''Whose vice president is he?" said 72-year-old retiree John Wade of Albuquerque, who was asked to sign the form when he picked up his tickets. ''I just wanted to hear what my vice president had to say, and they make me sign a loyalty oath."
    Only Bush and Cheney require loyalty oaths.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 01:43:26 PM EST
    cymro.. and cease their radical program to introduce changes into the workings of institutions of government, Such as? All conservatives are trying to do is 'conserve' the things that are already there.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#6)
    by scarshapedstar on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 02:27:11 PM EST
    All conservatives are trying to do is 'conserve' the things that are already there.
    Yeah, just like the Geneva Conventions.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#7)
    by Lww on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 03:36:58 PM EST
    Is this topic supposed to be a joke? Loyalty oath being requested from the rightwing in this country? Who expects a "loyalty oath" more than the left? If you're an actor in Hollywood and you're conservative, you know where you usually find yourself? The unemployment line. If you're a conservative on most university campuses in this country you know where you end up? Outside lookin in. If you're a professional athlete with conservative views in this country,what becomes of you? Not making Campbell Soup commercials. What a goof to be a person believing in this myth....

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#8)
    by Sailor on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 04:32:15 PM EST
    If you're an actor in Hollywood and you're conservative, you know where you usually find yourself?
    Uhhh, governor? (see reagan and arnold) Sheesh, what a set of maroons;-)

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#9)
    by Lww on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 05:28:12 PM EST
    I could add a half dozen more to your short list. It's a short list isn't it? Who's the maroon?

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 06:19:33 PM EST
    LWW:
    Is this topic supposed to be a joke?
    No. But I can see that your post was, and that's OK. I had a good laugh at your wacky examples, which were a clever satire on the views of some of the more extreme right wingers.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 10:49:37 PM EST
    There are two recent confirmed cases and a few suspected cases where the Mexican government is working with U.S. far-left groups to promote that government's agenda. In fact, Mexico has been quite public about this, putting out a call for Fifth Columnists in the U.S. to help them. To the Left, working with a foreign government to undermine U.S. law is not an issue, but it is to the rest of us. So, maybe we could find a use for those "antiquated" loyalty oaths.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#12)
    by merlallen on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 05:36:18 AM EST
    no one except a conservatard would sign a loyalty oath. my fil defended them.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 09:15:54 AM EST
    Hey, the scuttlebutt here in California is that Bo Derek would get more work if it weren't for the fact that she's a Republican ;)

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 09:23:55 AM EST
    Loyalty oaths are meant to separate the sheep from the goats. They do nothing practical or protective, as any "Fifth Columnists" worthy of the title won't flinch at signing a piece of paper affirming something that is unfalsifiable or unprovable.

    Re: No Loyalty Oath Required (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 09:37:27 AM EST
    Did Bush sign a loyalty oath? I know he swore on a bible to guard and protect the Constitution ( a lot of good that did ). Do we have something in writing?

    No Loyalty Oath Required | 15 comments (15 topical)