The Supreme Court has sided with the Texas Democratic Party on keeping Kucinich off the ballot because he wouldn’t sign a “loyalty oath” requiring him to swear allegiance to whoever the Democratic nominee turns out to be.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Texas to print presidential primary ballots without Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich’s name.
The court refused to step into a dispute between Kucinich and the Texas Democratic Party over a loyalty oath all candidates must sign to make the ballot.
Kucinich and singer-supporter Willie Nelson objected to the party oath that a presidential candidate must “fully support” the party’s eventual nominee. Kucinich crossed out the oath when he filed for a spot on the primary ballot.
A federal judge in Austin ruled against Kucinich last week. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled the state party has the right to require the oath. Kucinich and Nelson argued it violated Kucinich’s First Amendment right to free speech.
Texas said its deadline is Saturday to print absentee ballots so that they can reach overseas voters in time for the March 4 primary.
The Kucinich campaign said Friday it would return to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans next week to argue its case that the candidate should be on the March 4 ballot.
The caucus is about the only time most of us have to actually vote for someone we’d like to see in office and this just sucks. A “loyalty” oath! Maybe we – the voters – should start making democratic office holders sign a “loyalty” oath before we’ll give ‘em a key to their office (locks subject to being changed at slightest whiff of disloyalty, of course!).
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Hey you know what? Fuck the democratic party. They haven’t done shit since getting their majority in the House and Senate. What happened to all those promises? The media is steering this election to those who have the money for ads on their networks. The Dems are in the pocket of corporations just as much as the republicans. Kucinich is the most qualified guy running. The whole thing just sucks.
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