Republican Senators. Image from http://www.blackstate.com/business.html
Republicans have simply gone pledge crazy. It’s the newest fad among Republicans. Rather than keeping their oath to protect the American people, Republicans would rather sign pledges to do what their corporate masters want them to do.
When President Obama withdrew Elizabeth Warren as his nominee to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, most people were outraged. Republicans, of course, were overjoyed. But Warren didn’t go quietly into the night. She picked former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to direct the bureau instead. But Republicans are not happy about this choice either. Cordray has a history of standing up for consumers against Wall Street and the big banks and when he challenges them, he wins. Cordray aggressively stood up to banks engaging in deceptive practices and rampant foreclosures, and ultimately saved residents of Ohio more than $2 billion.
In response to this nomination, 44 Republicans have signed a pledge not to support ANY director of the CFPB unless it is substantially weakened to their satisfaction. It would be a huge victory for Wall Street and big banks that want to engage in unfair business practices in their effort to fleece the American people of every dollar they have.
As long as Republicans are allowed to sign pledges of allegiance to corporate interests and unelected conservative activists, their pledge to the American people will be ignored. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a safeguard put in place by the 111th Congress to keep Wall Street and the financial sector from engaging in unfair and dangerous business practices, the same practices that helped cause the current recession. Weakening it would be a major setback in preventing future economic downturns.
At the very least this impresses me as a violation of their sworn oath to serve and protect the constitution and the citizens of this nation. It is wrong, yet seems to be the latest fad. Grover Norquist’s pledge, Alec, and now this. I have written the DOJ and the leaders of both parties, as well as my Congress people….I truly believe this is a violation of their oath of office and should be grounds for removal. If only something could be done…..
Occupy the voting booth 2012!
BASTARDS!
The Pledges taken by Tea Party members in the US Houses of Congress, State Assemblies, Governors and Presidential Candidates are Unethical and Hypocritical.
A political candidate or office holder cannot serve two Masters so how/which they choose the document he/she will serve the US Constitution or the Pledge. Do these Pledge takers represent the American people or do they Pledge their allegiants to Grover Norquist the holder of these Pledges. Before start of Business in US Congress or State Assemblies, the Members start with the Pledge of allegiants to the Flag of America not to any other ideological Pledge.
There are a holy host of practical and historical reasons for opposing the pledges being signed by many Far Right Republicans (Tea Party), the anti-tax pledge promoted by Americans for Tax Reform and its founder, Grover Norquist; the “Marriage Vow” of the Family Leader organization opposing same-sex marriage and “Sharia Islam”; and the “Pro-Life Leadership Pledge” calling for pro-life appointees to government offices.
A more important practical objection is that these vows tie the hands of politicians, making them unable to consider changing circumstances. No matter what your view on the budget today, do you really want politicians who have pledged never, under any circumstances, to support any increase, however small, in any tax?
Republicans like to present themselves as the party of God, Jesus and the Bible, but their recent orgy of oath taking is, in my view, both unchristian and unbiblical.
Matthew 5:33-37 You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.” -Matthew 6:24
By signing this pledge they are committing TREASON against the people of the United States and should FORFEIT THERE OFFICE!!
Republicans pledge to not give a crap about consumers? No huge surprise there. For my part, I’ve long since taken a blood oath to never vote for any Republican for any office.
I am with you on that one as long as I live I will never vote for a republican. I used to be an independent willing to vote for whosoever was the least of two evils but now no way in christian’s hell would I vote for anyone of them. A lot of them should be charged with treason for signed pledges from their lords and masters.
can’t wait till the 2012 elections so we THE AMERICAN PEOPLE can vote these back stabing low life scum bags OUT ON THERE ASSES
This is getting out of control. WTF is going on here? Grover Norquist, NOM, I’m sure the Koch bros. have some secret pledge we don’t know about, now this. Is there one I’m missing?
Instead of all of these pledges, why don’t they just do their jobs?