RNC Chair Wants Any 2024 GOP Presidential Contenders To Sign Loyalty Pledge
[guest post by Dana]
Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said on Sunday that she wants any Republicans running for office in 2024 to sign a loyalty pledge. A signed pledge to be able to participate in the 2024 debates and to agree to support the 2024 nominee:
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Sunday that she expects 2024 GOP presidential contenders will have to sign a pledge to back the party’s ultimate nominee in order to participate in primary debates.
“We haven’t put the criteria out, but I expect a pledge will be part of it. It was part of 2016. I think it’s kind of a no-brainer, right? If you’re going to be on the Republican National Committee debate stage asking voters to support you, you should say, ‘I’m going to support the voters and who they choose as the nominee,’” McDaniel told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” in her first interview since winning a contentious race for a fourth term as RNC chairwoman.
McDaniel seemed to display a complete lack of knowledge and understanding about the candidate who put the nation through hell as he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election because he is the sorest loser ever:
McDaniel said she believed all the candidates, including Trump, would sign the pledge and it would be an important move toward healing divisions within the party and having a unified front.
“We’re saying you’re not going to get on the debate stage unless you make this pledge. And I think people in our party really want to see that. They want to see us come together. They don’t want the infighting,” McDaniel said.
Of course, one immediately laughs at this because does anyone believe that Donald Trump would sign the pledge in any good faith? Of course not. Consider his spokesperson’s response to the question:
A Trump campaign spokesperson told CNN later Sunday in response to McDaniel’s pledge expectation that “President Trump will support the Republican nominee because it will be him.”
And Trump himself told Hugh Hewitt earlier this month that his support would depend on the nominee:
“It would depend. I would give you the same answer I gave in 2016 during the debates. It would have to depend on who the nominee was.”
Clearly, there is no reason to trust him if he did sign the pledge. After the debates, he could easily come up with any number of excuses for not adhering to it.
But what about other Republicans who might throw their hat in the ring in 2024? Do you think every candidate would be willing to sign the pledge, especially as, at least at this point, Trump continues to maintain a significant lead over the announced and yet unannounced possible candidates?
Moreover, what if NeverTrump candidates run? If Liz Cheney, the most prominent NeverTrump politican, announced that she would be running for the presidency, do you think she would she be willing to sign the pledge? If she did, she would be rightfully lambasted as a hypocrite who was putting Party over principles and her reputation would be kaput. You just don’t risk your political career and subsequently lose it for an unwavering stand on Constitutional principles, only to do a 360 for the sake of a loyalty pledge. If you recall, Cheney blasted Trump as unfit for office at the last of the Jan. 6 public meeting, saying:
“In addition to being unlawful as described in our report, this was an utter moral failure and a clear dereliction of duty … No man who would behave that way, at that moment in time, can ever serve in any position of authority in our nation again. He is unfit for any office.”
So how could she possibly sign such a pledge.
On the other hand, Nikki Haley is a question mark will sign anything that keeps her in the running. She already flip-flopped when she said that she wouldn’t run if Trump ran, and yet, here she is. She also said in 2021 that Trump had no future in the GOP and yet here they both are.
And then there’s former Gov. Larry Hogan, whose name has been bandied about as a possible candidate for 2024 but has already made it clear that he would not support Donald Trump if he were the nominee:
“I’m a lifelong Republican who wants to support the nominee of the party, whoever that is. However, you know, I’ve said before, I didn’t support Trump, I wouldn’t support Trump,” Hogan said during an exclusive interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
Hogan also poo-pood the “loyalty pledge,” saying:
“I think it’s kind of silly because it’s not going to happen,” he said.
“I mean, if they say you’re not gonna be on the debate stage, if you won’t commit to support the nominee, then President Trump won’t be on the debate stage,” Hogan said. “And I don’t think anybody believes that that’s going to happen.”
To be clear, my position on Trump hasn't changed. Trump won't commit to supporting the Republican nominee, and I won't commit to supporting him. As I have repeatedly said, I fully expect to support the Republican nominee — who I don't believe will be Trump.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 2, 2023
McDaniel is putting some possible 2024 candidates in a no-win position. Republicans like Cheney or Kinzinger or Romney or Hogan, etc., would be loath to sacrifice their already-established positions on Trump by signing such a demand. But perhaps that’s part of the goal… However, other possible candidates for 2024 (DeSantis, Cruz, Rubio, Scott, Pompeo, Pence, and I would throw Haley into this group) who have carefully walked the tightrope in their criticism/comments about Trump or even defended his post-election lies, would no doubt fall in line and sign it.
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (1225fc) — 2/27/2023 @ 12:45 pmWell, if Liz is debating whether to run in the GOP primaries (as Trump’s Ghost of Elections Past) or to begin to form another party (as Perot did), this will make the decision for her. I doubt she would have any problem obtaining new party petition signatures, from a number of quarters.
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 12:53 pmClearly, there is no reason to trust him if he did sign the pledge. After the debates, he could easily come up with any number of excuses for not adhering to it.
As could others.
“I had my fingers crossed.” – L Cheney
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 12:54 pmNeither President Bush supported Trump in 2020 or 2016. Mitt Romney also declined in 2016 and 2020 and stated that he did not vote for Trump in 2020.
This rule looks like it is aimed at protecting Trump, even though Trump himself will ignore it.
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 1:00 pmTrump will show the picture of desatan with underage girls at drinking orgy when he was their high school teacher and say I can;t support a pedo! The picture was on ace and may be other places on the net.
asset (38bb8f) — 2/27/2023 @ 1:03 pmPhotoshops are common.
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 1:19 pmThere is also the independent option:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 2/27/2023 @ 1:21 pmMy point exactly.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 2/27/2023 @ 1:37 pmMcDaniel is trying to place certain arguments (X should never be president) off the table.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 2/27/2023 @ 1:52 pmA bit different, though, because they weren’t running for President in those years.
Demosthenes (5d5729) — 2/27/2023 @ 2:21 pmWhat a Catch 22. In effect, the only way to meaningfully challenge Trump is to promise to support him if he wins the nomination.
So, stay out of it, lie, or be willing to pull the lever for the con man.
That, my friends, is a sh!t sandwich.
norcal (7345e5) — 2/27/2023 @ 2:55 pmI think it was designed to keep Trump-aligned candidates in the mix and support him if the nominee and to keep any principled contenders out of the race knowing their historic positions on Trump and criticisms of him, as well as their principles would prevent them from supporting him if he were the nominee. Good strategy to keep in the race those who will cause the least amount of waves, and on the surface give the veneer of a “healed” party like McDaniels wants.
Dana (63f1ad) — 2/27/2023 @ 3:14 pmDana,
I’m not familiar enough with McDaniel to know, but could this pledge plan also be motivated by a desire to keep Trump from sabotaging the eventual nominee, if it isn’t Trump himself (whether by word, action, or inaction)?
Regardless, this is yet one more example of how Trump poisons things.
norcal (7345e5) — 2/27/2023 @ 3:21 pmI am more worried about Trump failing to support DeSantis’s Presidential candidacy. Trump is the one candidate who has a large bloc of supporters who might not support another Republican.
I want Trump to commit to supporting DeSantis.
David in Cal (bfce8a) — 2/27/2023 @ 3:54 pmThat, my friends, is a sh!t sandwich.
No. It’s standard party politics.
DCSCA (f4c5fa) — 2/27/2023 @ 4:01 pmA bit different, though, because they weren’t running for President in those years.
Indeed, but tell me the last time former presidential candidates dissed the candidate of their party, to the point of fairly openly voting for the other side. Trump should expect more of the same in 2024 and that is actually part of the message the party should consider: that a sizable portion of the potential GOP voters will NOT vote for Donald Trump. Again.
To insist that all aspirants agree to support a total assh0le like Trump is to preempt the field and the necessary discussion to be had.
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 4:10 pmWith any luck, Trump will not be able to run in 2024. The party should also consider a rule barring felons from being nominated.
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 4:12 pmthe veneer of a “healed” party like McDaniels wants
The word you seek is “whitewash.”
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 4:13 pmOh, absolutely. But then again, as his fanboys never cease to remind us, Donnie T. is a historic figure.
Demosthenes (cb0600) — 2/27/2023 @ 4:18 pmOn the other hand, Nikki Haley will sign anything that keeps her in the running
I don’t think that she will have a problem with this, as she is the normal type of politician who will support her party’s nominee no matter what. You may not agree with that principle, but it is one.
It would be interesting to see if they make this an actual contract, with a penalty clause. Something like “running as an independent or third-party candidate in breach of this agreement is subject to a $50 million liquidated damages payment, due on demand.”
Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/27/2023 @ 4:19 pmBack when the Cubs won the World Series, Reince Priebus then Chairman of the RNC explained the pledge as the quid pro quo for candidates getting the RNC’s fund-raising lists. Not for getting on the debate stage like Ronna said.
Like Ronna would keep Trump off the debate stage if he pantsed her on it. She is his chief remora and, like Trump, the Republicans will be strictly an academic question for me as long as she’s around.
J. B. Pritzker 2024!
nk (439e26) — 2/27/2023 @ 5:20 pmI just learned another word from nk: remora.
That is funny!
norcal (7345e5) — 2/27/2023 @ 6:17 pm“Pledge” makes me think of two things; first,the Pledge of allegiance and second, something you wipe off with a cloth.
felipe (77b190) — 2/27/2023 @ 6:41 pmI was hesitant to say oxpecker, norcal.
nk (439e26) — 2/27/2023 @ 6:42 pm@24. “Pledge” makes me think of two things; first,the Pledge of allegiance and second, something you wipe off with a cloth.
Makes me think of two things: ‘Pinto’ and ‘Flounder’… ‘”With Liberty and Fraternity For All’ :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNUO_xXdpSA&t=5s
DCSCA (f4e445) — 2/27/2023 @ 8:43 pmFbi and DOJ say wuhan lab with moderate/low confidence. CIA still waiting to see if biden runs so they can step in with china black mail of bidens to keep wuhan lab news quite. How many here think its all just a coinsidence that biden talks about running and dimes get dropped starting with classified documents.
asset (fd1f2b) — 2/27/2023 @ 8:54 pmGal luft an israeli business parter of hunter and 10% for the big guy has name names to DOJ on the china grift at behest of the CIA who up until now had been protecting the bidens really don’t want joe to run in 2024. (ace)
asset (fd1f2b) — 2/27/2023 @ 9:04 pm