Sign on the Line: RPOF Issues 'Oath of Party Loyalty and Ethical Conduct'

Republican leaders in Florida don't just answer to their conscience and constituents -- the state party is holding them accountable as well.

A five-page "Oath of Party Loyalty and Ethical Conduct," to be signed by GOP party officers, states:

I, ___________________________, hereby swear or affirm that during my term of office:

a. In a partisan general election in which the Republican Party has a candidate, I will not actively, publicly, or financially support the election of any candidate other than the Republican Partys nominee;

b. In a nonpartisan election (other than a judicial election) in which a registered Republican is participating, I will not actively, publicly, or financially support the election of any candidate other than a registered Republican;

c. In a contested Republican primary election, I will not support the nomination of one Republican candidate over another in my capacity as a Republican Executive Committee member unless the Party has voted to endorse under RPOF Rule 8. This rule does not preclude me from supporting in any manner my personal Republican candidate of choice, provided I do not express such support with public reference to my title or office within the Republican Party of Florida; and

d. I will abide by the principles of ethical behavior contained in the Code of Ethics of the Republican Party of Florida as set forth in Appendix B to the RPOF Rules of Procedure.

The document sent shock waves through the tea party movement this week.

"This is about to hit us and everyone in Florida even remotely related to the RPOF. The heavy hand of the RPOF keeps moving transparency further and further out the window," one activist complained.

"We will all be forced to sign this stuff soon and they now have five pages of fine print in which to say that you are being booted out because ..."

Groused another: "I find it strange that there is a pledge of loyalty to everything but our state and our country."