I attended the Texas GOP convention in Houston last month. An alternate delegate handed me this accordion-like pocket pamphlet that contained the above pledge for candidates in the 2024 election. Other than the pamphlet and the website that supports the pamphlet, there is no other information. I do not know who stands behind the group though I suspect efforts to distribute this message will ramp up following the 2022 election. If anyone knows anything about this effort, please share by leaving a comment or email me at frederickhink@protonmail.com. I would like to write about it in more detail.
I find myself agreeing with the planks of the pledge but they are obtuse and can be interpreted loosely. Providing politicians wigggleroom is anathema to total disregard once elected. In order to get the attention of candidates, pledges need to be very specific and backed by such voter support so as to strike fear into their political hearts. There are a couple of examples of recent successful pledges (if you’re old enough to remember them) that came from Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform (1985) and Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America (1994). I’m at a loss of memory for other examples.
There is one word from the pledge that stands out: Integrity. A candidate must have the integrity to sign and follow this pledge. We should be demanding integrity from our politicians at all times anyway, but we tend to dismiss bad behavior because they are on “our side”. That must come to an end.