Stop treating the Republican loyalty pledge like a real thing

Come on, man.

The first Republican presidential debate is in less than two weeks. Twelve days to be exact!

And several well-known candidates are making a big deal this week out of signing the Republican National Committee’s loyalty pledge — essentially saying that they will support the party’s nominee in the general election.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his copy on Wednesday — and tweeted it out!

And former South Carolina Sen. Nikki Haley signed her pledge too — with a twist, crossing out Joe Biden’s name and putting in Vice President Kamala Harris’ instead.

See, Haley is unapologetically embracing the idea that Biden, who is 80 years old, will not survive the 2024 campaign — or certainly a 2nd term. Which, well, morbid! But I digress.

Anywho, all of this pledge-signing makes a fundamental mistake: It takes the pledge seriously. Which Donald Trump, the race’s overwhelming frontrunner, does not.

“I wouldn’t sign the pledge,” he said Wednesday in an interview with Newsmax. “Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have.” He added: “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem right there.”

This is nothing new for Trump.

Back in the 2016 race, the candidates were asked in an early debate if they would pledge to support the eventual nominee. Every one said they would — except Trump. “I would have to respect the person,” he explained.

Republicans panicked. Disunity! They couldn’t have it!

So, in September 2015, Trump and then RNC Chair Reince Priebus staged a signing ceremony — at Trump Tower, natch — in which the billionaire businessman agreed to support the eventual nominee.

“The best way for the Republicans to win is if I win the nomination and go directly against whoever they happen to put up,” Trump said at the time. “And for that reason, I have signed the pledge. So I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and for the conservative principles for which it stands.”

(You’ll notice there that Trump wasn’t pledging to support the eventual nominee. He was pledging to support himself.)

That pledge lasted a few months. By March 2016, Trump had publicly abandoned it. Asked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper whether he still planned to support the nominee, Trump responded: "No, I don't anymore. No, we'll see who it is.”

Trump paid exactly zero penalty for that lack of loyalty. He went on to win the Republican nomination. Most — thought not all — prominent Republicans supported him in the general election. And he went on to win the presidency.

You would think that the RNC — and the candidates opposing Trump — would have learned a lesson from that whole thing.

The pledge was meaningless. Trump signed it to get the RNC off his back. But he never had any intention of actually abiding by it. And when it was no longer convenient for him, he ditched it.

And yet, here we are again.

Why would DeSantis and Haley sign the pledge and, not just that, but act as though doing so is some sort of important symbol of their commitment to the party?

Well, the answer — as it is to most questions about the Republican party these days — is Trump.

See, by signing the pledge — that Trump won’t sign — they show they are more loyal Republicans than he is! This is a turning point in the race! Finally the fact that he is out for himself will be exposed!

Except that no one really cares. Trump already proved in 2016 that the loyalty pledge is a joke. What he did seven years ago means that future attempts to use the loyalty pledge to show or prove much of anything is fruitless.

Does anyone really believe that the RNC will somehow punish Trump for publicly refuting the pledge and saying he won’t sign it? Hell, do you even think that the RNC would keep Trump from appearing in the debate if he decides he wants to do it? No. Chance.

The best approach to the pledge is the one that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has taken. “I’m going to take the pledge just as seriously as Donald Trump took it in 2016,” he said recently.

Yes! That! Nailed it.

Just stop taking the pledge seriously. Sign it if it ensures you will make the debate stage — because everyone not named “Donald Trump” needs to debate to make an impression with voters.

But don’t think it means ANYTHING. It doesn’t.