Clinton lawsuit could muddy Texas caucuses

[MagickMuffin]

I noticed this in GDP, and since a lot of Texas DUers don't venture over there very often I thought I would cross post.

The Texas Democratic Party is warning that its March 4 caucuses could be delayed or disrupted after aides to White House hopeful Hillary Clinton raised the specter of an "imminent" lawsuit over its complicated delegate selection process, officials said Thursday night.

In a letter sent out late Thursday to both the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns, Texas Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn warned that a lawsuit could ruin the Democrats' effort to re-energize voters just as they are turning out in record numbers.
Spokesmen from both campaigns maintained there were no plans to sue before the March 4 election.

"It has been brought to my attention that one or both of your campaigns may already be planning or intending to pursue litigation against the Texas Democratic Party," Dunn said in the letter, obtained by the Star-Telegram. "Such action could prove to be a tragedy for a reinvigorated Democratic process."


Democrats have described the enthusiasm in Texas, as evidenced by the record turnout among early voters in the most populous counties, as a sign that the party is undergoing a revival after years of decline under virtually unchallenged Republican rule.
Dunn, the Democratic Party lawyer, said it could all be for naught if the Texas nomination battle winds up in a courtroom.

"If it is true that litigation is imminent between one or both of your campaigns and the (Democratic Party), such action could prove to be a tragedy for a reinvigorated democratic process that is involving a record number of participants here in Texas and across the nation," he wrote.

http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/510802.html

:banghead:

Why would either campaign sue the TDP denying us our RIGHT to vote for our candidate, through the delegate process?.?.?

How can either one sue our TDP, when they don't know who will win the most delegates?.?.?

How does this help the Democratic Party as a whole?.?.?

Most importantly what can WE the Texas Democrats do about it, to nip this in the bud?.?.?


I have never seen the primaries that got so many people involved in the process. For once in a very long long time Texas voters are ready to participate in that process.

If either candidate sues the TDP, why would we EVER get involved in the process ever again.

I'd have to say someone is ready to bite their nose off to spite their face:shrug:

Can some of my loyal Texas DUers help me understand?.?.?

[MagickMuffin]

1. Alright several people have viewed this thread, yet no replies

Did I not ask the right questions?

Do you not know the answers?

Or have any thoughts on the subject?

:shrug:

[crispini]

2. Answers:

1. Somebody is being a childish pissypants
2. Somebody is getting their ducks in a row to sue Texas in case things work out badly for them at the convention.
3. It doesn't.
4. Nothing, I suspect. If one campaign wants to make an ass of itself, it will.

I'm not terribly worried. If the majority of the caucuses are conducted well and transparently, neither will have any grounds to sue. If they then sue, it'll just make them look worse. Furthermore, just by attending these conventions, and seeing that they are conducted well and transparently, this will get the general public to "buy in" to the process and any suit is just going to generate sympathy for the TDP and reflect poorly on the campaign that does it.

Edited to add: But if they sue right now, that would REALLY fuck things up. :eyes:

[theredstate]

3. It seems like the threat of suit is orginating from HRC's camp

State's Democratic Party braces for lawsuit
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/502662.html

Democratic sources said representatives from each campaign had made it clear they are keeping all their options open but that the Clinton campaign in particular had warned of an impending lawsuit.

"Both campaigns have made it clear that they would go there if they had to, but I think the imminent threat is coming from one campaign," said one top Democratic official, referring to the Clinton campaign. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another Democratic source who was privy to the often intense discussions confirmed that representatives of the New York senator's campaign had issued veiled threats in a telephone call this week.

"Officials from Senator Clinton's campaign at several times throughout the call raised the specter of 'challenging the process,' the official said. "The call consisted of representatives from both campaigns and the Democratic Party."

If that is the case, has HRC conceded Texas already (privately at least)?

[sonias]

4. This is why I am hoping that the winner is decisive

We can't have this kind of thing divide us any longer. I'm hoping the winner wins both the popular vote and the caucuses to leave no room for this kind of challenge.

I'm hoping it won't be close at all.


Sonia

[sonias]

5. My favorite comment on the BOR thread

A Pox on the House of the Campaign
...that sues TDP over the same primary and caucus process that have been in place for years, under which each campaign's supporters have operated on for years, and under which each campaign's supporters have at times helped craft.

And a pox on the house of the campaign that sues TDP over the implementation of the process, which TDP staff and officers have never ever put as much effort and expense into ensuring as smooth of an implementation as humanly possible.

The possibility that either campaign would have suddenly woken up after Super Tuesday stunned that Texas was coming up on the schedule, and clueless as to what to do about that, is testimony to the arrogance of that campaign, whichever campaign it is. If anybody now blames TDP's process for their own inability or unwillingness to work within a system that has been known, public, and vetted since before either of these candidates ever filed for office, it simply proves that they never even wanted to come to Texas in the first place, and Texas voters should respond in kind with their "don't let the screen door hit you in the arse" votes.
(snip)

Step one: try to win.
Step two: if you can't win, sue somebody.

:applause::applause::applause:

Sonia

[sonias]

6. It hit DailyKos

Daily Kos diary 2/29/08
Why the Clinton campaign is threatening lawsuits in Texas

If you hadn't heard, the Clinton campaign is threatening to legally challenge the Texas caucus system. While they're probably shaky on the law, Glenn Smith -- one of the most plugged-in politicos in Texas (ran Ann Richards' successful gubernatorial campaign back in the day) -- tells us that (no surprise) the threats are driven by political calculations.

Sonia

[sonias]

7. David Van Os - DK diary is even better

Come join in the fun and give us a recommend if you have a DK account please!

David Van Os DK diary 2/29/08
A Texan on the Texas Primary/Caucus Flap
(snip)
The idea that we should keep our Democratic Party a private club and exclude newcomers from joining it is precisely one of the things that has caused our decline for the last 30 years. In case one can't count, you should be aware that the private-club attitude has not and does not build political majorities. Here on the ground in Texas, most of us long-time grassroots Democrats are excited as all getout to see so many people voting in the Democratic Primary and getting their voter registration certificate stamped "Democratic" by the election clerks. For too, too many dreary years the majority of Texas voters have been voting Republican by default as a social habit, not even necessarily because of ideology or philosophy. We love seeing so many voters breaking that social habit. We welcome the voters who are doing it. It can't do anything but help us build to take this state back.

:applause:

Sonia

[crispini]

8. Wowsers! that's excellent nt

[MagickMuffin]

9. David isn't holding back any punches

If the 2008 Democratic Nominee writes off Texas again, this will all go down the drain and once again, the Republican Nominee will start the race already over 10% of the way to the 270 electoral votes goal. If the 2008 Democratic Nominee campaigns seriously for Texas and puts resources in here LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE 1976, we will carry this state and nationally the Republican ticket will be buried. And if Hillary Clinton takes the incredibly stupid and deplorable action of throwing cold water on the Texas primary and conventions, she will snuff all this out and go down in history as the sorriest, most low-down Democrat in history.

I know our Texas Democratic Party general counsel, Chad Dunn. He is a straight shooter. He would definitely not have written the letter he just wrote to the two campaigns if one of them had not made the threat that prompted his letter. All signs point to the Clinton campaign. Hillary should be ashamed of herself and she better put a stop to this bullshit right now if she cares about the future fate of our country.

This is exactly what I was thinking. After reading the article, it seemed apparent that the Precinct Convention was going to used against the Texas Democratic Party. David is absolutely correct, if a lawsuit is filed against the TDP it will return to the "private club attitude" that has left the TDP in shambles.

Why would anyone want to be involved in deliberately causing harm to the process and party?

This will be my first time attending my Precinct Convention. I have found fault with the TDP for not trying as hard as they should have to build the grassroots. They should have been explaining the benefits of the Precinct Convention. You know, like informing people this is the first step in TDP platforms that get carried to the State Convention.

David really does an excellent job in explaining this in his diary, as well as you. Thanks for helping to point out the process for those who aren't familiar with the Texas Two Step.:applause: to the two of you.