First of all, my precinct was one of the precincts that WAS documented by the news of voter intimidation and misconduct. I gave the source from the washington post as well as someone else verified it from another site. Second of all, I wasn't intimidated. I stayed thruout the whole process. Thirdly, it was an Obama supporter that was passing out a sign in sheet BEFORE the doors opened telling people all they had to do was sign in and leave spreading MISINFORMATION. You want to see a copy of the memo that was sent out to the media March 4, 2008 MEMORANDUM TO: Interested Parties FROM: Lyn Utrecht Campaign Counsel RE: Caucus Irregularities The campaign legal hotline has been flooded with calls containing specific accusations of irregularities and voter intimidation against the Obama campaign. This activity is undemocratic, probably illegal, and reflects a wanton disregard for the caucus process. The three most egregious categories are: 1) Irregularities: Prematurely Taking Precinct Convention Packets by Obama Campaign Numerous calls have shown that Obama supporters prematurely removed convention packets from polling places. Packets may not legally given out until 7:15 PM or when the last voter has cast a ballot in the primary. The Texas State Party warned the Obama campaign in writing that they may not take these packets early or remove them from the polling locations. The Party directed that these irregularities be reported to law enforcement “since they amount to criminal violations.” The Party stated “removing convention packets . . . will not be tolerated.” A sampling of the precincts where this occurred are: 659 – Tarrant 709 – Houston 2316 – Tarrant 1205 – Dallas 3127 – Bexar 3082 – Fort Bend 18/224 – Harris 3221 – Dallas 87 – El Paso 851 – Houston 115 - Harris 470 – Galveston 388 – Harris 3000 – Dallas 1214 – Dallas 20 – Medina 205 – Walker 2) Voter Intimidation: Lock-out of Clinton caucus goers by Obama Campaign Numerous calls have been received that the Obama campaign has taken over caucus sites and locked the doors, excluding Clinton campaign supporters from participating in the caucus. The Clinton supporters have been unable to enter the premises to caucus. In at least one instance, law enforcement was called and forcibly opened the caucus site. A sampling of the precincts where this occurred are: 4401 – Dallas 2052 – Tarrant 4402 – Dallas 75 – Harris 18 – Hardin 259 – Harris 124 – Nueces 4050 – Tarrant 115 – Harris 6 – Roma County 78 – Jefferson 117 – Denton 3. There are numerous instances of Obama supporters filing out precinct convention sign-in sheets during the day and submitting them as completed vote totals at caucus. This is expressly against the rules. The sign-in sheets were copied by the Obama campaign from the Texas Democratic Party website and taken by supporters to various polling places to sign-up caucus goers prior to the start of the caucuses There you go. Knock yourself out!!!
Did we see any from Obama's lawyer? It was also reported by the Washington Post. I witnessed this with my own eyes in my precinct.
look, we can round and round if you want I don't care, but lets go through it again. this only happened in texas because it was not ready for the turnout, the dnc in texas knew this. this is not why obama won in other caucus states because those states are used to caucusing. these people who you claim got marching orders from obama are regular voters just like you. that's an absurd allegation
Any other conspiracy theories you believe in? Obama is secretly telling all his delegates to go out and not follow the rules. That's humorous that you would draw that conclusion.
Is it mere coincidence that Obama has dominated the caucuses yet struggled elsewhere? Has this type of intimidation been going on around the country, leading to Obama's false nomination/delegate lead? This just isn't how we do things in the United States of America. We have order and respect for procedures.
Ok then you are basically saying Obama supporters are just plain STUPID and Ignorant then. Which is worse?
No, I'm saying that the process was confusing, just as the OP himself claimed in the first post. It was unorganized and many people on both sides were confused and that the problem was with the organization of the caucus, and not the individuals involved.
This "system" has been in place in the Texas Democratic primary for 30 or 40 years. It sucks. It was overwhelmed by a turnout that simply wasn't prepared for (or imagined by most, based on previous history). I'm sorry, but the vast majority were able to muddle through their primary caucus experience. Heck, if anyone should be upset, it should be the senior citizens who simply couldn't stay up for hours dealing with the cockup and those with children (a lot of them women, obviously, many without spouses there) who simply couldn't stay through the cockup. One could say that favored younger and less encumbered Obama supporters. The Obama campaign's fault? No. The fault of a broken system decades old, intended to allow old style party regulars to have more influence over the primary. Want it fixed? Go to the state Democratic convention and raise hell about it. Impeach Bush.
Yesterday, I thought about calling you a Hillary stooge when you said you were undecided but still went to the caucus (and that whole NYC thing in your moniker - supporting your senator and all). You've done a fine job of expressing that to everyone without me have to resort to namecalling. Thanks.
He actually did win some big states, but none of that points to a far fetched conspiracy theory like you are peddling here.
I am not a Clintonite. I didn't even vote for Hillary when I was in NY. I voted for Rick Lazio in 2000. I just didn't think it was right for Hillary to be annointed senator in NY when she wasn't even FROM NY. So NO...try again! I didn't even vote for her husband in the 90s.
One thing for sure, the candidates will be paying a lot more attention to the ground level organization in 2012. Obama has proven you can win caucuses without getting the popular vote in the state.
