# Did the Loyalty Oath Hurt Bush in the Debate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 3, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296 "2004-10-03T06:23:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/21 "2004-10-04T13:48:32Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I saw that. I’m extremely disappointed that they caved and let them approve the questions first. Hell, **I’m** disappointed that the moderator has instructions to kill the mike if someone has the audacity to ask a question that hasn’t been vetted. Well, among (a lot of) other things. ---
**Author:** ![MMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/22 "2004-10-04T13:54:04Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I have no idea what this loyalty oath says. Still, it seems weird. One of the reasons to have pep rallies and such is to attract the Undecideds to your cause. Asking them to take some sort of oath would put them off. An Undecided could say “I just want to hear what he says before I decide”. Would this get him/her kicked out? IIRC correctly the “loyalty oath” is a signed statement that you intend to vote for BC04 and that your presence can be construed as an endorsement of BC04 and that your name may be used for that purpose as BC04 finds appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/23 "2004-10-04T17:11:26Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I have no idea what this loyalty oath says. Still, it seems weird. One of the reasons to have pep rallies and such is to attract the Undecideds to your cause. Asking them to take some sort of oath would put them off. An Undecided could say “I just want to hear what he says before I decide”. Would this get him/her kicked out? It said: > [@](#): > > I, (full name) … do herby (sic) endorse George W. Bush for reelection of the United States." It later adds that, "In signing the above endorsement you are consenting to use and release of your name by Bush-Cheney as an endorser of President Bush. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/24 "2004-10-04T17:34:02Z")
herby? The Love Bug? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/25 "2004-10-04T17:50:24Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > It said: Ah, you beat me to it! Here’s an editorial about it. Salon is Premium, but anyone can get a free day pass (every day, not just once) to read anything. You just have to watch a commercial. > [@](#): > > [“Isn’t this a democracy?”](http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2004/08/19/ask_bush/index_np.html) > > Before attending a rally to hear Vice President Dick Cheney, citizens in New Mexico were required to sign a political loyalty oath approved by the Republican National Committee. “I, (full name) . . . do herby (sic) endorse George W. Bush for reelection of the United States.” The form noted: “In signing the above endorsement you are consenting to use and release of your name by Bush-Cheney as an endorser of President Bush.” > > Around the country, Bush is campaigning at events billed as “Ask President Bush.” Only supporters are allowed entrance. Talking points are distributed to questioners. In Traverse City, Mich., a 55-year-old social studies teacher who wore a small Kerry sticker on her blouse had her ticket torn up at the door. “How can anyone in the United States deny someone entry?” she asked. “Isn’t this a democracy?” > … I saw an actual copy of the form, but I don’t remember where. Maybe The Daily Show. This was discussed, but I guess only in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/26 "2004-10-04T18:09:02Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > herby? > > The Love Bug? And note that “for reelection of the United States” – whatever that means. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/27 "2004-10-04T21:16:16Z")
Tell you this: by the way he is so isolated, Bush would be eaten alive in a British House of Commons session that Tony Blair has to attend each week. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/28 "2004-10-04T21:38:01Z")
One thing I’ll say about parliamentary democracies: the leaders of all parties have to put it out on the line, over and over and over, until you really get a feel for what they are made of and what they represent. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296/29 "2004-10-04T21:55:18Z")
I think people are giving Bush far too much credit. Kerry didn’t win because Bush performed poorly. Kerry won because he (Kerry) performed well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-loyalty-oath-hurt-bush-in-the-debate/267296.md?page=1)