Can a democratic socialist candidate truthfully take the oath of office?

The Democratic Socialists of America have been cheering their recent electoral successes — and more may be coming. Their hope is that if they can win enough elections, they will have a chance to implement their radical agenda. The problem is that their recently adopted political platform is contrary to key provisions of the U.S. Constitution. This means that no committed democratic socialist can truthfully take the oath of office.

Those who win their elections will surely take the oath anyway — with their fingers crossed behind their backs. Can anyone stop them?

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution requires members of the House and Senate, executive and judicial officers to take an oath of office. But the Constitution doesn’t go into detail. It simply says members “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution.”

The first oath of office, adopted by the First Congress in 1789, was very succinct: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.”

Changes came with the Civil War, and an expanded oath was adopted — but later removed — requiring those taking it swear they had never taken up arms against the U.S.  The current oath has not changed since 1966. It says, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and........

© The Hill