The Republican Party of Iowa has been getting quite a lot for press these days for its new platform, which includes some rather unusual declarations.

 

For example, the Iowa GOP wants to establish a “no-activities night” every Wednesday in the state. The provision does not explain why this is important, or what activities might be deemed unacceptable on Wednesdays. Nor do they explain why Wednesdays are the chosen night.

 

Another provision of the Republican platform calls for “the reintroduction and ratification of the original 13th Amendment, not the 13th amendment in today’s Constitution.” The current 13th Amendment bans slavery.

 

But the “original” 13th Amendment to which the platform alludes involves something called the “Titles of Nobility Amendment” (TONA), which was proposed in the early 1800s but was never ratified. TONA sought to strip any American of their citizenship and eligibility to hold office if they accepted any title of nobility or honor from any foreign leader without the consent of Congress.

 

Jerry Adler at Newsweek writes that the TONA idea may be intended to embarrass President Barack Obama in some way.

 -Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Iowa GOP Platform Calls for ‘No-Activities Night on Wednesdays’ (by Sahil Kapur, Raw Story)

Why Some Republicans Want to ‘Restore’ the 13th Amendment (by Jerry Adler, Newsweek)