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Published Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 | 5:45 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 2:14 p.m.
Andres Ramirez, hired to do Hispanic outreach for the Nevada Democratic Party, found himself putting out fires during today's caucus. Manning the
party hotline for all problems caucus, it was soon apparent his duties would go beyond queries like, "What do we do if voters for the non-viable candidate don't want to switch to another candidate?"
While handling such a call, he looked up to see a local TV news reporter speaking of chaos erupting at Rancho High School. As he pressed on in the
call, staffers kept passing him notes reading, "Rancho."
He hung up and jumped in his car and raced to precinct 4452, where he found that a Sen. Hillary Clinton supporter was also wearing the hat of caucus
chairwoman -- and wasn't letting Obama supporters enter the caucus. People were shouting.
"I had to jump on a table and tell everyone, 'I'm a state Democratic Party representative and we have to bring this to order,'" Ramirez said.
Then, back at the office, he got a breathless call from precinct 6505. A caucus participant had found the party hotline on a piece of paper.
His problem: the caucus chairman had been struck with a heart attack.
There were no party staffers at that precinct. "What do we do now?" the voter asked.
Ramirez walked him through the whole caucus, votes and all.
No word on the chairman yet.
This is democracy, warts and all.
What about Bill showing up at the Mirage?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/19...
No, this is NOT democracy in any way, shape, or form!~!
Sorry texex, three of the things the Constitution gives all of us are the right to free speech, the right to free association, and the right to travel.
If Bill Clinton "walked the precinct" in the back of the house at a casino TODAY, it was because he was smart enough to do it. Both Obama and Edwards have had access to those same lunch rooms when they wanted to, earlier this season.
I heard on the news this morning that Barak Obama and John Edwards had already left the state before the caucuses began. That may turn out to have been a huge error on Obama's part.
Many years ago my momma taught me that as a candidate you don't stop seeking out voters and shaking their hands until the polls close.
By the way, at my precinct at Steele Elementary, I was accosted by a professional organizer for Obama as I walked in the door. She was allowed to stay in the caucus room, hovered at the front of the Obama side of the room AND no one objected.
So Bill Clinton did not get any special treatment by his access to employee lunch rooms before the caucus began.
Yes it is democracy in its finest form. All politics are ultimately local. Feet on the ground and hands offered in polite greeting to voters.