For most Republican politicians nothing says Freedumb like conformity to the Party Line, and taking their orders from K Street. But this year Donald Trump is threatening to topple these twin pillars of Republicanism. Trump has even worried the top 0.01%'s Exalted Grand Inquisitor of Taxation Grover Norquist. Well they're not about to let Trump highjack their "Party", a political machine that runs on big money "donations" in exchange for legislative and administrative favors demanded by the wealthy and powerful.
GOP circulates loyalty pledge to box Trump in
By ALEX ISENSTADT
The Republican National Committee on Wednesday privately reached out to GOP presidential candidates to ask whether they’d be willing to sign a pledge stating they would not run as an independent candidate in the event they fail to win the Republican nomination in 2016.
“I [name] affirm that if I do not win the 2016 Republican nomination for president of the United States I will endorse the 2016 Republican presidential nominee regardless of who it is,” the pledge reads. “I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party.”
At least two campaigns reported Wednesday that they received a call from Katie Walsh, RNC chief of staff, asking if they would be willing to sign such a pledge.
Other elements of the Republican Party have reckoned with Trump’s candidacy through ballot access requirements also designed to force Trump to play by party rules. GOP leaders in Virginia and North Carolina discussed implementing a new requirement for candidates to qualify for their primary ballots: that they pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election.
Last week, the South Carolina Republican Party announced that candidates who want to qualify for the state’s primary ballot must sign a loyalty oath by Sept. 30. Candidates were asked to state that they “generally believe in and intend to support the nominees and platform of the Republican Party in the November 8, 2016 general election.”
Trump has said that he is still weighing whether to agree to the South Carolina pledge.
Judging by many of the comments I've read about this idea the Republican Base is reacting with disbelief and disgust in their party.