Idaho GOP accepts platform with loyalty oath, call for repeal of 17th Amendment

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.idahoreporter.com/2010/idaho-gop-accepts-platform-with-loyalty-oath-call-for-repeal-of-17th-amendment/

By Dustin Hurst
June 27th, 2010

The Idaho Republican Party approved its new platform Saturday, but it almost didn’t happen. Several delegates opposed much of the content of the newly-written platform and tried to kill all changes. The move was unsuccessful and the new platform, which calls for the repeal of the 17th Amendment and instills what amounts to a loyalty oath for Republican candidates, was adopted after several hours of discussion.

Delegates began work on the platform Friday in an open committee meeting. Changes made by committee members were presented to the body as a whole Saturday afternoon. Initially, convention-goers were given the choice to accept all the changes or none of them, which didn’t sit well with some who were uncomfortable with some of the alterations. One delegate suggested that they scuttle the 2010 platform and re-adopt the 2008 to use in upcoming years. That move drew the ire of the majority of delegates, including state Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, who said he wanted the call for the repeal of the 17th Amendment to be in the party’s ideals going forward. “This is too valuable to forget about,” said Nielsen, who argued that repealing the amendment would give state’s greater oversight of the federal government.

The amendment gave the general electorate the right to select U.S. senators, a power previously held by the state legislatures. Proponents of repeal, including many gathered at the GOP convention, believe that making senators accountable to state legislatures would end runaway federal spending and give states a say in the affairs of the federal government. Opponents of repeal say that it would put a layer of government and bureaucracy in between the people and their senators. Delegates approved adding the call for repeal to the platform despite opposition.

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Perhaps we should require all our Democratic candidates to sign one of them loyalty oaths? What do you think?

[davidinalameda]

1. I have yet to figure out why removing the direct election of US senators

is a good thing

you'd think that these people would want more democracy not less

[NNN0LHI]

3. I think it might have something to do with removing minority voters from the equation?

Not sure, but that is my suspicion.

Don

[Ter]

6. I think it's a local thing

My guess is some people want to localize it, so you vote for your House member, who in turn votes for your Senator. You hold hi/her responsible.

[TheDebbieDee]

9. I suspect that you are right!

Even though I seriously doubt that Idaho has much of a minority demographic........maybe they're prepping for the future?

[Ozymanithrax]

2. So when to they plan to strip away the thirteenth and fourteenth amendment? n/t

[FBI_Un_Sub]

4. 17th Amendment ?

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

What is this Radical Right infatuation with repealing the XVIIth Amendment ? IMHO it would make the Senators "teller votes" for arch-conservative rural state party bosses and disenfranchise urban voters.. I have visited Harrisburg, Albany, Lansing, Columbus, and Sacramento -- sorry. I am not convinced.

[jaxx]

5. All I can picture are the sheeple running over the cliff.....

what a bunch of wacko's.

[CTyankee]

8. These people cannot be serious.

Repeal of an amendment to the Constitution must be in the form of another amendment. Therefore, 2/3 of Congress must vote in favor,then it goes to the states for a 3/4 in favor in order to repeal.

I can't imagine, in my wildest dreams, what average voter would give away his/her vote they have already had and their parents and grandparents have had.

These people are out and out looney if they think the American people are about to do that.

They need to take a time out before another insane notion pops into their fevered brains...

[Bitwit1234]

7. I'll tell you why. Right now they have more republican governors

and republican state legislatures. They think that if they can take more of the governorships and legislatures they can pack the senate and house with republicans. I will bet that if the majority was reversed and the Democrats held an overwhelming lead in governors they would shut up once and for all.

[iris27]

10. That platform also contains language that would prevent transpeople from marrying ANYONE.

They want to define marriage as between a "natural-born" man and woman.