LULAC, Clinton Campaign Thinking of Suing TDP Over Caucus

[babylonsister]

http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=DABCF3573F504028609C63C13422FE0C?diaryId=5301

LULAC=League of United Latin American Citizens


LULAC, Clinton Campaign Thinking of Suing TDP Over Caucus
by: Phillip Martin
Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 08:00 AM CST

Dear Clinton Campaign,

Don't be sore winners/losers. I read this from the Houston Chronicle:

Garry Mauro said the campaign will file complaints with the state Democratic Party's local credential committees, and request hearings. If the campaign isn't satisfied with the rulings meted out by the committees, legal action might follow. "We're not going to give up that option," he said.

Earlier today, the Clinton campaign said it had received hundreds of complaints about voting irregularities stemming from Tuesday night's caucuses. The complaints included Clinton supporters being turned away at the doors and Obama supporters not qualified to caucus being permitted to caucus.

We have reports of complaints of the Clinton camp, too. You all aren't all saints -- as much as you may think you are -- and trying to diminish the results of the caucus just because you lost there is cheap, petty, and underhanded. That's no way to win the Presidency -- not if you want anyone to follow you.

You had a good night. Don't ruin it with nonsense.

Sincerely,

Phillip Martin

---------------------------------------

Dear LULAC,

I read that you are considering suing the Texas Democratic Party because, as the article said, you are concerned that the voices of Latinos are not being heard. The article also noted that, while your group has not officially endorsed, a number of high ranking officials within your organization support Senator Hillary Clinton.

I'm Hispanic. So is my mother. We voted for Senator Barack Obama. We appreciate your concern, but our voices were heard.

So were the voices of 2.8 million Texans yesterday in the primary vote, and what looks like will be over 1 million Texans in the caucuses. It seems to be that plenty of Texans had their voices heard. The article noted one concern of yours:

"We had reports all night long and this morning of many, many people who couldn’t stay there anymore," says Vera. "It was 9:30, 10 o'clock and they haven’t even begun to vote."

I don't think a tremendous outpouring of democracy merits litigation. I also don't know how late caucuses exclusively hurt Latinos more than any other race, or any other type of Texas voter, for that matter.

As an Hispanic, I'd ask you to not drag me into this potential mess of a lawsuit. My family grew up in El Paso, and I was always taught to respect the rules and the process, when they are fairly created. I don't want to be considered chiple.

The rules for the Texas Democratic Primary were fairly created -- in fact, Gary Mauro (former Executive Director of the TDP) and Bob Slagle (former Chair of the TDP) both had a hands-on role in crafting and maintaining the TDP rules for the caucuses. Coincidently, they both played a prominent role in Senator Clinton's campaign in Texas.

I appreciate the role you play in Texas politics -- protecting the voice of Hispanic citizens. You've done tremendous work with congressional redistricting battles in the past, among other things. But 2.8 million voters in a primary, and over 1 million voters at caucuses, are lots of strong voices making themselves known

Let us stand up on our own. Let us be proud of what we did, and not pretend that we were somehow "tricked" or "mistreated." We weren't -- and continuing to suggest that we were doesn't help the trust -- or lack thereof -- the general public has in our community. There are times when we need legal protection -- and with all due respect, this isn't one of them.

Sincerely,

Phillip "Chato" Martin

[dkf]

1. In regards to voting irregularities, why don't people simply video

proceedings?

My phone has 4 gig of storage and I can do 1 hour videos on one file.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Privacy issues?

[thevoiceofreason]

4. No right to privacy at a caucus

State rules: Media is allowed at a caucus (and they don't need a press pass)

[dkf]

6. Yeah there was a ton of news cameras at our caucus.

[joshcryer]

10. Campaigning is allowed at caucuses. Caucus leaders can wear buttons, and such.

Try that at a polling place in a regular primary.

We get lawsuits every fucking year just because a polling person was wearing a goddamn button.

[babylonsister]

7. Finding people to sign up to video might be a problem.

In theory, I like it.

[mmonk]

3. It's a lot harder to cheat in a caucus.

[joshcryer]

9. Bullshit, it's a hell of a lot easier since the process makes no sense.

Everyone relies on the Captains to "do the right thing" and things like, oh, I dunno, doors being closed, people being kicked out, and such, are allowed because the Captains are supposedly infallible.

The nightmare stories from caucuses are everywhere.

[mmonk]

12. Whatever you say boss.

[Renew Deal]

5. Someone should send this to the lawyers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4893127

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. we should sue her ass

shes the one breaking the rules and causing dissention.

[blogslut]

11. You do that. Ms. Clinton

Take all that amazing turnout that the Democrats in my state gave to you and then stab us in the heart. We're a winner-take-all state with 34 electoral votes and our Democratic party has been re-energized and it is massive.

Go. Go ahead and sue Texas. If you can't recognize what you'd be losing come November, who needs you?