Pledge And Definition

'Marriage vow' is a troubling case of bias

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

-- Presidential oath of office, Article II, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution



That is the only oath any candidate for president of the United States should be expected to take. It is an oath to serve the interests of the entire nation, not just one group of people who refuse to support candidates who won't swear allegiance to the group's narrow interests.

As the campaign season heats up, candidates are being asked to sign pledges to oppose abortion, government spending or tax increases, among others. These pledges are a bad idea in principle. By refusing to sign, candidates open themselves to the charge that they oppose things they may very well support.

"The Marriage Vow" from Bob Vander Plaats' Family Leader is especially odious. The 14-point vow is a manifesto on the group's definition of marriage -- one man and one woman living in marital fidelity. And it commits candidates who sign it to govern in a way that supports American families who meet that definition to the exclusion of all others that do not meet that ideal.

The Family Leader pledge is effectively a religious document. It ironically calls for tolerance of those who support heterosexual unions while asking candidates sign a document that declares intolerance for anything else.

Especially troubling is a jarring statement in the preamble suggesting that black children were better off under slavery. That line was removed after it created an outrage among critics, but the staggering slander against African-American families cannot be erased.

Beyond marriage, the Family Leader pledge demands the rejection of judges who are not "faithful constitutionalists," all forms of pornography, "intimate commingling" of men and women in the armed forces and Sharia law, among other things.

The Family Leader pledge is styled as a marriage vow, where candidates vow, or "solemnly attest," to "honor and to cherish, to defend and to uphold, the Institution of Marriage as only between one man and one woman." That includes "vigorous opposition" to any redefinition of marriage and support for state and federal laws limiting marriage to a man and a woman, and "steadfast embrace" of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

NBC - OMITTED UNDER GOD, ONE NATION, and INDIVISIBLE from PLEDGE ...

Today, as the circle continues, there is still debate about the Pledge, which by the way, the pledging with a hand over the left chest area (heart) actually started with something called the "Bellamy Salute" which was an outstretched hand toward the flag with the palm of the hand palm down. That was changed to palm up because the palm down resembled the Nazi salute. Then later to the hand being placed across the heart during the Pledge Of Allegiance came into play. Because of who I am, I tend to believe that any "Pledge" should be made to ALL MANKIND and to our whole WORLD as "ONE". To pledge to one another to be forever loving and kind, to eliminate the threats of war and greed. To remove borders and boundaries, and to switch our thinking into the fact that ONE EARTH is HOME TO ALL MANKIND is a pledge I would gladly take serious.While I am on a roll, let me make one thing perfectly clear. I am in no way shape or form willing to sell my body and soul to any government. I certainly look at the structure of our governments as the epitome of "Our" woes.  "I pledge to each of you, that I will care for Mother Earth, as best I can everyday. I will send loving thoughts to all mankind each day of my life here on earth. I will never sway from caring for your well being. I pledge to share with those less fortunate than I. I pledge to break bread and give to all who are hungry when I am able. I pledge my heart and love to each of you and I make this pledge in front of your God and Mine. For our Gods are truly One God, by different names.