GOP Group Wants SC Candidates to Sign ‘Purity Pledge’ Against Porn & Extramarital Affairs
- Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:38am by
Billy Hallowell
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LAURENS, S.C. (The Blaze/AP) — A county Republican group in South Carolina wants its candidates to promise to not cheat on their spouses and not watch pornography. But the state GOP is distancing itself from the measure and saying it would be illegal to keep candidates off the ballot only because they refuse to sign the pledge.
GreenvilleOnline.com has more regarding the state Republican party’s response to the measure:
The pledge was adopted by the Laurens party’s executive committee last week, but state GOP executive director Matt Moore said Monday the resolution would be illegal if otherwise qualified candidates would be left off the ballot for not signing a pledge.
“The state GOP does not condone the Laurens County resolution,” Moore told GreenvilleOnline.com.
“County parties are autonomous and can support Republican candidates in any way they choose,” Moore said.
“However, they can’t prevent a candidate from filing as a Republican if the candidate meets the state’s qualifications. We don’t support any resolutions by counties that violate state law.”
Watch MSNBC’s Ed Schultz discuss this “ultimate litmus test” on “The Ed Show”:
Bobby Smith, the chairman of the Laurens County Republicans, says the “purity pledge” endorsed by the group is meant to encourage good values in the party’s candidates. He says it won’t prevent anyone from getting on the ballot.
“The intent of the Executive Committee was to pass a resolution that would seek to protect the party’s reputation by holding candidates accountable to the platform and its principles,” Smith explained. “The county party reserves the right to vet its candidates and will encourage all candidates to uphold the principles of the party’s platform, as well as petition candidates to sign a pledge to do so.”
The pledge would require candidates to promise they have not had premarital sex and will protect gun rights and oppose abortion, among other things. Many of these elements are rooted in a social conservative ideology — or in a faith-based mentality. This, of course, creates questions regarding how strictly candidates should be forced to embrace such specific values.





















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Comments (104)
COFemale
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:11amSorry, you can’t legislate morality. You either have it or you don’t. This is totally ridiculous request. As a Christian one would hope this is just common sense. If you don’t hold morals on your own, then you never had them in the first place.
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:27amI agree.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:28amRight on point, this is a distraction that all the “smart people” can snicker about and use against us later. Notice how these are not issues for the left and they never castigate their own for this type of behavior, but jump down the throats of conservatives because “this demonstrates conservative hypocrisy”.
Report Post »veruca salt
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:35amApparently, the irony of Newt Gingrich winning their county overwhelmingly is lost on them
Report Post »moonbat666
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:31pmWell said.
Report Post »Nevermind
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:01amJust more “small government ” conservatives trying to pry into others bedrooms. The GOP sure know how to lose an election. They have alienated women with this birth control crap, alienated blacks since the racism is out of control ( posts on the blaze are a great example of that) , Latino’s wont vote GOP as well so that pretty much leaves white folks and they wont get 100% of them. The party is becoming the party of the south and thats about it. Funny and sad all at the same time
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:15amJust remember everything you read from this site does not mean it comes from a conservative. It is easy to know who the fake posters are aka Trolls. And since you seem to be supporting those bogus post, I will take a gander you are the very person I am talking about.
As a Christian and a Conservative, I also believe this is over the top. I understand their sentiment, but it is misplaced.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:21amAh, MMM I am not alienated by the birth control mandate. I am appalled with the Obama administration for trying to pass this off as woman’s rights. This is nothing more than imposing a mandate on religious institutions to break their covenant with God. If you can’t see this, then you are blind. I don’t care if you want to go pork every boy in college, but I will be damned if I will pay for your contraception or for you to get an abortion when you do get pregnant. If you want to partake in the practice, find a way to pay for it yourself. Besides, the pill does not cost $1000 a year. You can buy it without insurance at Walmart Pharmacies for about 9 to 15.00 a month. Planned Parenthood also has reduced rates. What probably does cost about $1,000 is an abortion and if someone spent $3,000 to get three of them, perhaps closing your legs next time is the best free birth control you can get.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:52amThey already swear to uphold the Constitution and DON’T!
Report Post »What makes them think a candidate would uphold a silly pledge to be MORALLY upright?
Billis820
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:48amI get the point of the pledge, but this is a bit extreme. No sex before marriage? No watching porn? Seriously? This group still wishes it was the 1950′s. Why should it matter if somebody looks at porn or had sex in college? Good luck finding a candidate that can claim that, and is willing to actually uphold that.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:03amSeriously, the GOP is doing a great job of distancing themselves from reality.
Look at this election.
Romney was hoping he could just coast through, not say anything too explosive and face Obama in November with both independent voters and Republicans.
Now with Santorum gaining steam, Romney has had to keep running further and further to the right just to secure the nomination that he has abandoned all of his independent ties.
The Republican party is killing their chances by going off the deep end with stuff like this.
Report Post »saranda
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:08amThere is no point to the pledge. It is a misguided attempt to vet, and only narrows the field of supporters instead of the candidates.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:40amNot big on the Pledge thing here, but the left perpetually blames conservatives for pushing social issues, it is in actuality always them pushing a social agenda.
The left’s ridiculous attempt to blame Conservatives for the current BS over contraceptives, this was a small example of the way they always try to blame us for what they do. It is the left that thrusts aberrant social changes on America, and social Conservatives are merely fighting for a return to morality since the so-called sexual revolution of the ‘60’s. Social Conservatism is a good fight IMO, but some can go over-the-top when it needs to be a measured message.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:32amInstead, how’s about focusing all that energy on simply getting your own house in order. Raise your kids right. Learn about the Constitution. Learn to be independent. Live healthy. Don’t covet what they neighbor has.
Everything these days is about show, and absolutely nothing under the hood.
Report Post »cromag11b
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:30amSo everyone is ok with candidates and other politicians signing papers that they pledge to hold higher than their official duties?
That’s just awesome.
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:27amIf this is the GOP, I want nothing to do with it. Individuals are free to make choices in life and will suffer the consequences for their sin. They need to turn to friends and the Church for help. Goverment, stay out of our lives!!! The Church, our familes and friends should be holding us accountable, not the GOP!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:40am@ AMERBUR
Report Post »Don’t give up on the GOP not all of us are crazy
just a few an you can ignore most of them.
flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:44amI use (ITSJUSTTIM) as an example
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:52amflipper1073,
Report Post »How so? I don’t care what you do as long as you keep your rotten hands off my own children. Because when you fall down, it makes me more elite.
Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:58amflipper1073,
Report Post »If people didn’t fall down, then there would be no waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. And I want to extend my appreciation to you for allowing yourself to fall down so I can rise from the ashes from the food that you provide for my thoughts.
flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:04amSorry Tim
Report Post »But your Jesus This an Jesus That
Stuff turns people off I skip over Those.
I go the Church for My religion.
I come to the Blaze for Politics an to
Irritate Liberal’s.
Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:04amflipper1073,
Report Post »Because while I won’t dig the gutters that you fall into, I sure as hell will not jump into the gutter to raise you up, lest I raise a dirt-bag up to the kingdom of Heaven, and Heaven becomes bogged down in your mud.
Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:08amflipper1073,
Report Post »You have your reward, just keep going to the church neither getting a refreshing drink, or a meat that quenches your hunger. Because a pearl to a pig is just a stone.
COFemale
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:27amThe problem is when both sides of the aisle both get on their self-righteousness, holier than thou mantra. Both sides are guilty, both sides do it. One day they will learn you can’t legislate morality, common sense or anything else. You either have it or you don’t. Some things can be learned, some not.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:24amWe have a dictator in the White House, worthless money, dysfunctional markets, Communists in the government, OWS, and on and on. WHO CARES if a politician watches http://www.bobesrus? Pull your heads out of your fundamentalist arse!
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:29am“We have a dictator in the White House”
Report Post »Really? Just, really? *groan*
dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:31amExactly, Much, Much bigger fish to fry. This stuff makes us the stereotype that the left wants to believe.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:15amJesus this, Jesus that, Jesus with a wiffle ball bat!!! I hate using quotes or saying “sinner” at all! But, here it goes “he without sin cast the first stone”. Is, this what Christianity has become?? You can’t be a Christain unless you are perfect??? We are riddled with “original sin” and it is NOT easy to travel our own personal roads to redemption!! So tell me, WHY IN THE HELL do the religous fanatics insist that man be perfect??? News Flash folks: HUBRIS is a sin too!!!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:29amEven Jesus didn’t cast stones. What does that tell you? If people think that Jesus Christ thought himself perfect, then you are truly not a Christian.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:32amMen think that they can be perfect because they are riddled with wickedness. That which views itself as perfect will surely fall. That’s why the Lucifer fell.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:49amHere’s why religious fanatics insist that men be perfect. Because the Lord said: Let there be light (and humans said in their heart – I exist, and there is an earth and behold I can reason). And God divided the light from the darkness (those who can reason from those who can not reason). And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters (spirit of people), and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Report Post »ivedonebeensassedbyawhore
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:22amHahaha…. So true, Ceme…..
Report Post »Hellz, I grew up in Alabama, and live in N.W. Florida (you remember, the “*******” area)… And even WE don’t have anybody that crazy….. Also, the red snapper and grouper are running this time of year…. Destin FL = Awesome… :)
dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:33amGood post, Where is the belief in forgiveness and tolerance?
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:34amivedonebeensassedbyawhore
Report Post »Like your handle, are you Vince from Slap Chop?
ivedonebeensassedbyawhore
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:12am@ Dmer:… Hahahahahaha… no, but I love his new commercial for the “schticky” where he cleans himself off before taking a mug shot…. hahahahahaha…..
Report Post »Balthazor
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:10amWait, so porn is bad now? When did that happen?
Report Post »Lumbar Spine
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:15amIt’s in the Bible, man…Jesus specifically said “No porn allowed!”
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:36amLUMBAR
Report Post »As much as I disagree with you, THIS is our Maxine Waters equivalent.
Lumbar Spine
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:54amDMERWIN…FYI, we aren’t too crazy about Maxine Waters, either. ;>)
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:04amAgree with GONZO….why are people so “unwise”. As a Christian, I cringe at these kind of things. This just gives more fodder for the libs to use like Ed – it just “proves” how crazy, extreme the Christian right is…blah blah….probably promotes doubts for voting for good people like Santorum.
Report Post »Signing a “pledge” like that is just assinine and will not ensure they will do it….duh!!!!!!!!! Do they not know about human nature? Oh well………I continue to pray – not only for all the unbelievers, etc . – but “Christians” as well.
Stuck_in_CA
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:27amStuff like this looks to be concocted by some socialists/commie moles, within the GOP. They’re trying to rot it from the inside!
Report Post »Please take 7 minutes of your time to watch this video with Ruch, Hannity, Art Laffer, Michael Reagan and JC Watts:
Newt Gingrich – The Truth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=v6vIAXdrMPI#!
ModerationIsBest
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:09amLook at the GOP and how this nomination has hurt their view among people.
Some Republicans are afraid that if Romney loses, the GOP will move even further right because they would have nominated both McCain and Romney and both would have lost to Obama.
The Republican is going off the deep end and I think it’s sad. They are in heavy danger of losing a lot of people to the Democratic party. They NEED to pull back the reigns on the religious zealots in their party like Santorum, Bachmann, Palin and others who forced this competition so far to the right, that Romney was forced to abandon independents just to get the nomination.
Report Post »Choctaw25
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:01amMy fellow South Carolinaians (???), I hold my head in shame because of you. Is this all you have to do in your meetings, is discuss and come up with this kind of nonesense???????
Report Post »How many of you in that so-called group of lily white, pure as the driven snow could actually sign that pledge yourselves??????????
That’s what wrong with our party, Conservatives think they are so pure and above the rest of the WORLD. I HAVE SINNED, I HAVE ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS and Barry has got to GO in November.
I have first hand knowledge of relatives in the Upstate who don’t (as I know) cheat on their spouse, but the man treats his wife, as if she were his slave. He berates and belittles her in front of other Christian people and no one says a word against him. He would be one of the first standing in line to sign the pledge.
It because of actions such as this from so-called Christian Conservatives, that I say Barry will be re-elected in a landslide in November.
flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:11amTo Quote Bill Clinton
Report Post »” It’s the Economy Stupid ”
Get off these Stupid Social Issues
momrules
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:00amI’m a little sick of these pledges. People, humans, are not perfect and will never be perfect and I don’t trust anyone who will claim to be perfect.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:07amYep. Which is why no one should ever run a socially conservative platform. As soon as they do, they get caught with a tranny prostitute.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:08am…and what good is a pledge? Didn‘t Obama pledge to ’preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.’? Just properly vet the candidates and dump them if they don’t live up to our expectations!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:58amSometimes I get a wave of sensations which make me feel as if we are going back to the days of burning witches. It’s already happening over in some Eastern regions of earth. Surely there must be some other way to solve an immoral people who relish in TV shows such as the Fear Factor and the sick things some people like a couple twins do.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:03amI think that nothing will work if people do not first take their families back away from the government’s meddling.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:07amThis is true, a lot of ancient families whose ties were connected to members and leaders who burned witches, those families were destroyed by guilt, and the want to hide from history destroying the connection from the present to the past. You don’t want to go that path again.
Report Post »Lumbar Spine
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:56amIs masturbation allowed? How about misrepresenting your Democratic opponent’s words and record?
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:00amand will the government pay for tissue…………its part of birth control
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:05amYou are Talking about youself Right ?
Report Post »That seem to be your MO
Don‘t know about the 1st part an don’t want to.
Lumbar Spine
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:14amFLIPPER…I’m not running for office in South Carolina but I certainly would not consider voting for anyone willing to sign such a pledge to appease religious fanatics. In my opinion, what speaks volumes about a candidate’s character, or lack thereof, is his willingness to misrepresent an opponent’s words and record…a tactic that the GOP, with the help FOX News, Rush Limbaugh and others, has made into an art form.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:20amIt seems to me that anything done between you and yourself shouldn‘t matter to others unless it’s something that somehow affects the life of another person. Because surely you already have the fruit you were given that which you previously earned in your soul, and you can either add to it or take away from it. Your immortality is completely in your hands, and you already have your reward.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:20amWe don’t need to misrepresent anything…your records speak for themselves.
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:27amLumbar
Report Post »I don‘t disagree it’s a stupid pledge
This should be about the Economy
kinda highlights the stupidity of
some in the Republican Party.
SOME not ALL.
Lumbar Spine
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:28amGONZO…if you believe that then you should just keep drinking the FOX/Limbaugh/Hannity/ Beck/Gongrich, et als. Kool Aid. Two things turn moderate voters away from the GOP…religion and sleazy campaign tactics.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:40amIf sleazy campaign tactics turn voters off, Obama is in for a rough ride.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:16am@LUMBAR SPINE
I agree, I’m so confused on what to do here.
I’m a very fiscally conservative person, but I have some social views that lean more liberal. I see this GOP going so far to the right, that I’m thinking, “well I can’t vote for that religious zealot, but I don‘t like Obama’s policies either.”
Ron Paul is my favorite candidate, but I know he has problems so in the Arizona primary I just ended up going with Romney because I didn’t want Santorum to win(wasn’t much chance of that anyways but still).
Santorum is so heavily religious and has had so many explosive things(seriously I can see the Obama attack ads now), that I wouldn’t have been able to vote for him if he secured the nomination.
The Republican party needs to PULL back a little, and you can see the establishment GOP feels the same way by wanting Romney to win.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:38amHow about misrepresenting your Democratic opponent’s words and record? Allowed and condoned in fact embraced by both sides.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:42amModerationIsBest
Report Post »Social conservatism will not bankrupt our country devaluation of our currency by printing more money or borrowing 40 cents of every dollar the government spends will. As you can see from the post VERY few people think the pledge is a good idea, it will die because conservatives will kill it not liberals, they eat this up. Right Lumbar?
ModerationIsBest
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:55am@DMERWIN
Yes I know that social values won’t bankrupt our society. My main concern though is that people will look at politicians like Palin, Bachmann, Santorum and think they’re so loony that they will go to the democratic party. Which is already happening. 40% of people asked said by NBC/Wall Street that this GOP nomination race has hurt the perception of the GOP.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:37pmModerationIsBest
Report Post »You are right about this turning libertarians and undecideds though I think less than you would think. MANY in the middle and on the left simply do not do their homework and will not see this story. Having said that there is a balancing act between standing for some values or caving completely. I see this as another preventable self-inflicted wound and distraction. We should just assume that most people will do the right thing UNTIL proven otherwise.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:56am.
GOP Group Wants SC Candidates to Sign ‘Purity Pledge’ Against Porn & Extramarital Affairs
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Politicans & a ‘Purity Pledge’ Ya‘ll are kill’in me…..
You probably stand a better chance of finding a Good Muslim. A Pure Politican, Stop It! When does ya‘ll’s comedy tour start?…..
Report Post »The American
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:05amGot me rollin on that one, Spank away!
Report Post »kaygee
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:51amthen why sc voted for newt
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:57amThat an easy one
Report Post »To stop Mitt from being Coronated
saranda
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:51amWhy do repubs shoot themselves in the foot by wrapping all these social issues up with a nice bow and scare away the independants and Reagan dems? Focus on fiscal issues and win in November. Drag along the social baggage and we get slaughtered.
Report Post »Lumbar Spine
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:57amBecause Jesus tells them to…
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:44amNot the foot, straight to the temple.
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:51amagreed, those are things to avoid, but why do we need to give the left fodder? lets stay focused on the deficit, economy, jobs. this kind of stuff is a distraction
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:21amExactly!!
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:44amGood idea, Barack would love to talk about this for about 8 months.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:51amA person of character should not have to do the pledge they would just be living them to the fullest. I know sometimes there is physical abuse in a family that no one should stay in a marriage especially with children involved (not on list but I felt was important).
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:50amCan we get this pledge for Democrats ?
Report Post »That would Eliminate 90 + % right off the Bat.
cemerius
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:50amonly 90%? I think you give them too much credit!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:48ampro-America just plain wants clean decent candidates, and politicians.
Report Post »conservativejon
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:47amim not running but SIGNED!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:46amYou have already taken a pledge not to have affairs when you’re married. If you’re willing to break that one, a Republican pledge wouldn’t stop you.
Report Post »