Even at the 11th hour and after this mornings ruling that the at-large Strip caucus sites are OK theres still some confusion, at least within the Clinton camp, about who can participate in those caucuses.
New York Sen. Hillary Clintons campaign told the Sun this evening that only employees who work for companies with more than 4,000 workers can caucus at the nine at-large sites on the Strip.
Thats not true.
The issue came up after the Sun asked if any unions supporting Clinton would have members caucusing at those locations.
If a construction company doesnt have more than 4,000 people, they are out of luck, said Hilarie Grey, Clintons Nevada spokeswoman. Clinton is endorsed by eight labor unions, some of whose members work for contractors on the Strip.
She said she learned of the 4,000 threshhold from the campaigns political and labor directors.
State Democratic Party caucus rules, however, say the at-large sites will be created working with employers at locations where more than 4,000 employees will be working during Saturdays caucus.
Any shift worker working within a 2.5-mile radius of an at-large location can caucus there.
We took that information back to Grey, who said she would double-check her facts with the campaigns political director.
Thank you for working with us on that, she said. I am not that literate on the rules.
"I am not that literate..." That's obvious from her last campaign too!
Hillary Clinton is the best candidate. Please caucus for her - especially if you are a worker in need of health care, a good economy and believe, like Hillary, that the Iraq war must end now. I understand that an article like this might be confusing, but please identify where you are able to caucus and join in the exciting moment of sending Hillary Clinton to the White House.
Nah, can't do it Virginia, there is no Santa Claus and she will ruin the party with her corruption.
I have just resigned in protest as a precinct chairperson for the caucus based on the outrageous and unconscionable decision by the Nevada Democratic Party to have different rules for different groups.
This is a violation of our most fundamental principles of equality and democracy. Shame on the Nevada Democratic Party and shame on those who have turned this into a racial issue.
While all other participants in the caucus will have to be physically present at their precinct where they live, the hotel workers will be able to participate at work. They are the only group who has this special privilege. What about all the other people who have to work or for other reasons can not participate at their precinct... they will not have the same opportunity. In addition, the manner in which the number of delegates will be selected at these strip locations will be different from all other precincts and likely give them a disproportion number of delegates. This is fundamentally un-American and unconscionable. It is the kind of voting methods we expect from a dictatorship and not from a democracy.
I will not be part of facilitating what amounts to a form of "jim crow" law that makes it easier for one group to participate in an election compared to other groups. The more I hear people promising "change" the more it seems nothing has changed. zb