Seven Republicans have qualified so far to participate in the first debate of the 2024 presidential election campaign. Each has met the Republican National Committee’s criteria based on their ranking in the polls and the number of outstanding donations. they received.
In addition, the RNC says everyone must sign a pledge to support whoever becomes the GOP presidential nominee.
Some are not happy about that, for good reason — no one should support a candidate they feel is unfit for office.
We already know that the Republican leading the polls is unfit for the presidency (or any other public office). Regardless of his alleged crimes, Donald Trump has disgraced himself and the presidency and grossly violated his oath of office with his blatant efforts to subvert a valid national election, even call for an armed crowd to march on the Capitol to prevent the transfer of power.
If Trump becomes the nominee of the Republican Party, we will have good reason to question the patriotism of anyone who supports him.
When RNC candidates sign an oath of allegiance, it must uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Every Republican candidate for the presidency except Trump must promise not to pardon the former president if he is convicted of crimes related to the 2020 election and the insurrection. They must promise to support impeachment and removal from office if he wins the election and pardons himself.
We will not allow Donald Trump to establish the precedent that a president or former president can escape responsibility for trying to subvert the will of the American people in a free and fair election.
In the unlikely event that the RNC does not require the candidates to make these promises, then here is the first question Fox News moderators should ask participants in the August 23 debate:
“Can you record tonight this pledge: Do you promise to honor the decisions of the US justice system regarding Donald Trump?”
William S. Becker, executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Projecta co-editor of and a contributor to “Democracy Without Chains: How to Rebuild Government for the People.
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