Court Rules Against Nevada Teachers’ Lawsuit: Caucus Is Still On
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kirsten Searer
(702) 236-1498
Thursday, January 17, 2008
STATEMENT FROM NEVADA STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR JILL DERBY
“JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF A FAIR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS THAT INCLUDES WORKERS”
“Today, U.S. District Court Judge James Mahan, of the District of Nevada ruled in favor of the caucus process the Nevada Democratic Party established last year that maintains the right of workers and minorities to participate in the Nevada caucuses at their work sites,” State Democratic Party Chair Jill Derby said today. “We began this process to highlight the participation of westerners, minorities — including Hispanics — and labor in choosing the Democratic nominee for president and today that effort was affirmed by the courts.
“Despite the characterization of some, this process is fair to all Nevadans, union member or not, whether they work within a 2.5 mile radius of the Las Vegas Strip or will caucus at their home precincts. With 520 sites across the state, we look forward to having fair, inclusive and decisive caucuses at 11am on Saturday, January 19th with participation of a record breaking number of Democrats.”
Nevada Caucus Key Facts:
The Rules and By-Laws Committee of the Democratic National Committee approved the Nevada Democratic Party’s plan to include additional At-Large precincts.
Each of the presidential campaigns was fully informed about the rules on May 2, 2007, and throughout the process.
Allied organizations INCLUDING THE NSEA political director were informed on October 4, 2007.
The allocation ratios assigned to at-large precincts were derived from an objective formula set out in Nevada law and follow precedent in Nevada as best as possible. NRS 293.133 outlines the delegate allocation based on size of county in a sliding scale. The statutes themselves give more weight to attendees in smaller counties by granting lower ratios – the intent and purpose of which is to ensure under represented areas/communities, etc… still have a meaningful voice in the process.
When you apply the allocation formula to the At Large precincts, the potential weight of a caucus attendee relative to the number of delegates in a voting precinct is actually greater than those in at-large precincts because the voting precincts have a guaranteed number of delegates based on registration.
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I’m glad to see this. I was a Hillary Clinton supporter back in December 2007, but there is no way I would ever cast a vote for her now. This lawsuit is so unbelievably ridiculous it strains credulity.
Yes, caucuses have their problems, but these rules were agreed-upon back in March of 2007– so it’s only when Obama gets the unions’ endorsement that Hillary suddenly sees a problem with them? That’s crap! Bill Clinton endorsing the lawsuit, and losing his temper when a reporter asks him about it, just shows how much these two are unfit for the White House.
Then there’s also the issue of the race-baiting tactics used the Clinton campaign, then blaming Obama for using the race card when he’s stayed cool about them!
I don’t care if the Dems are dumb enough to nominate Hillary Clinton, nobody on my block– most of us Democrats– will ever vote for her. We just won’t. And if it means that John McCain or Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee becomes POTUS, fine. At least stop this aristocratic crap with two families with an entitlement complex in the White House. We need new leadership!