Every Vote Should Count

After the 2000 debacle, where obfuscation and intimidation and disenfranchisement in Florida resulted in George W. Bush's elevation to the Presidency by the Supreme Court; you'd think that democrats would be unified in one common purpose: ensuring everyone has the opportunity to have their voice heard.

That may be the case in general, except when allowing easy access to caucus sites benefits your competitor.

In March of this year, the Nevada state democratic party approved of At-Large caucus sites located on the Las Vegas strip to facilitate voter turnout for the powerful Culinary Union member's who will be working on the day of the caucus. In August, the DNC's Rules and Bylaw's committee approved the plan. The process was completely transparent from the outset. Nary a word of protest was heard until the Culinary Union unexpectedly endorsed Barack Obama. Within two days a lawsuit was filed by a powerful Teacher's Union whose senior membership supports Hillary Clinton for President, declaring that the special rules are unconstitutional. This lawsuit, if not ended or resolved, threatens the viability of these sites and the ability of thousands of worker's to participate in the democratic process.

Disenfranchisement is the water that Karl Rove and his cronies swim in, but it is particularly troubling to be a tactic employed by the Clinton Machine, who are ostensibly representing the party still reeling from the Florida fiasco. President Bill Clinton, the de-facto running mate for Hillary Rodham Clinton, has expressed his support for the lawsuit. Apparently for no other reason than the hardships that would be created if the lawsuit succeeds benefit his wife.

It is time for this non-sense to stop. The time to question, debate, and challenge these rules has long since passed. The Nevada democratic party and DNC have spoken, now let the workers of the Culinary Union have their voice.

UPDATE: John Kerry wrote a brilliant piece for TPM about this issue.