Oaths were taken well before the Declaration of Independence and Constitution within the colonies. So help me God has never been mandatory.
“So help me God has never been mandatory.”
But it has always been customary. I think here the Democrats intend to banish it as a relic of our nation’s Judeo-Christian history that they so deeply despise.
In a way the Democrats are right (but for the wrong reason). Might as well take the phrase out when it is treated as meaningless by the politicians that “solemnly” swear. They obviously have no fear of God, so it is pointless for them to invoke Him.