Florida councilman won't swear support for US

[Rink]

Florida councilman won't swear support for US
Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:55am ET
By Jane Sutton

MIAMI (Reuters) - A newly elected councilman in a tiny Florida village has refused to take an oath of office pledging support for the U.S. government because he adamantly opposes the war in Iraq.

Councilman-elect Basil Dalack, 76, a Korean War veteran, won an uncontested election to fill a vacancy on the five-person council of the southeast Florida town of Tequesta.

But he is refusing to take the oath of office -- due to be administered on Thursday -- because the oath requires him to "support, protect and defend" the government. His decision comes at a time when polls show ebbing support for the war.

Dalack said he believes the U.S. war in Iraq is unjust and "an abomination." He said he could not sleep at night if he took a pledge implying blanket support for the U.S. government.

"Those dead kids in Iraq, American kids and Iraqi kids, would haunt me," Dalack said.

More on this Story (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2006-04-14T125542Z_01_N4D277957_RTRUKOC_0_US-VILLAGE.xml&rpc=22)

[Rhino]

Moonbat alert!!!

[BuckeyeMike]

If he refuses....then he cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, perform ANY councilman type duties as he is not legally a councilman until said oath is taken! F him!

[Eagle1]

what a worthless pile of crap.
sned the bastard to cuba

[dPrasse]

And just what does a Councilman from Tequesta control in the war in Iraq that would "haunt him" ??? He sure has a very LARGE self important head .... typical liberal ...

[Timberwolf]

I'll lend my size 10 foot to the other council members, should they need a neutral party to plant a foot in this fruitcakes hind end....

[Lazarus]

When this guy fails to take the oath, they should simply declare his election null and void due to dereliction of duty - and they should have an alternative candidate to assume the seat until the next election... Certainly the Governor has the power to appoint a temporary councilman until such time a new election can be held...

[Dowple]

Any jackass willing to take such a stand deserves to have his picture put up:
http://worldnetdaily.com/images2/dalack.jpg

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

From the article:
"Councilman-elect Basil Dalack, 76, a Korean War veteran, won an uncontested election to fill a vacancy on the five-person council of the southeast Florida town of Tequesta."

But he is refusing to take the oath of office -- due to be administered on Thursday -- because the oath requires him to "support, protect and defend" the government."



First, clarification . . . he's been elected as a councilman for town council, right? Okay then,
Question: Does anyone know the words to the oath he is to swear? Is he supposed to swear to "support, protect, and defend" the FEDERAL government, STATE government, or his TOWN'S government?

As far as I'm concerned, NO QUESTION: He should be immediately recalled prior to his swearing in, and banned from all further involvement in US politics, period.

Sheesh . . . I just want ONE PERSON to explain why y'all northerner's keep transporting your unwanteds down here to my state! http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biggrin.gif If you don't want 'em, ship 'em out of the country, we can all do without 'em. :smirky:

[Beowulf]

If he refuses....then he cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, perform ANY councilman type duties as he is not legally a councilman until said oath is taken! F him!

Very true, Mike. If he cannot swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic then he does NOT belong in public service.

[Rhino]

Question: Does anyone know the words to the oath he is to swear? Is he supposed to swear to "support, protect, and defend" the FEDERAL government, STATE government, or his TOWN'S government?This is it:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution and government of the United States and of the state of Florida.''

[Incident_command]

Just a cheap publicity grab. Nothing more.

[Wolfcounsel]

Send the annoying pest to North Korea so he can ask Kim for a double ply picture of the benevolent leader, so he can wipe his ass with it.

[omegatrump]

Well oath or no oath, he'll be in good company in government. We have thousands of Government personnel who HAVE taken the oath to defend the Constitution, and then defile the treasured document with every breath that they take.

Which is worse a man that won't swear to defend it or the man who does and then his very existence is a disgrace to it?

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

This is it:

Thanks Rhino!

Although clairifed (and not at all what I thought), I stand by my first response -- he shouldn't be allowed to participate in US politics if he isn't even willing to swear allegiance to this country and it's government -- doesn't mean he has to AGREE with everything, just uphold the law.

[Riverboat]

But he is refusing to take the oath of office -- due to be administered on Thursday -- because the oath requires him to "support, protect and defend" the government. His decision comes at a time when polls show ebbing support for the war.Like Incident Command says, this is a publicity stunt, but to no purpose. He already has the seat. Besides, taking the oath doesn't imply that he has to support everything the government does. If I took such an oath, would that indicate I support rapacious, confiscatory taxes to support welfare bums?

I guess grampa just likes the attention.

[Rhino]

He already has the seat.Not from what I read. They said he wouldn't be allowed to take office if he wouldn't take the oath. Apparently someone there still has principles.

[Rink]

Personally if the cretin cant uphold the oath of office, then they should have another election and elect someone else to take his place as it should be self-evident this guy should not be allowed to hold office due to his refusal to swear the oath of office as per all elected officials are supposed to do by law.

Since he's not willing to do so, he should be disqualified as a viable candidate for that office and another elections should be held.

[Rhino]

From what I read, the council has the option to simply appoint someone to the vacant post, or leave it vacant until the next election. Reportedly they are leaning toward the latter.

[Riverboat]

Not from what I read. They said he wouldn't be allowed to take office if he wouldn't take the oath. Lack of clarity on my part. I meant he already "won" the seat, so he didn't have to do any grandstanding to get voters' attention.