Federal Judge Upholds Casino Caucus Sites
U.S. District Judge James Mahan ruled against the Nevada State Education Association and other plaintiffs seeking to eliminate nine-casino based at-large precincts for Saturday’s presidential preference caucuses.
Mahan told a packed courtroom on that “I don’t think it’s up to me to second guess” the legally established right of state and national parties to establish rules for presidential caucuses. “That’s why we have political parties,” Mahan said. “It’s a vital part of who we are as Americans. These are vital issues.”
Mahan invited the Nevada Democratic Party and the state education association to reach an out-of-court compromise on participation for custodians and other support personnel to participate in caucuses held at schools they must open and supervise.
Jill Derby, chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party, told reporters after Mahan’s ruling there would be no compromise. “There will be no change in the process,” Derby said. “We believe this is a fair allocation and we’re very committed to it.”
Derby said Democrats would unite in the aftermath of the ruling, even though the lawsuit exposed rifts in the party and was widely seen as a proxy war between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns.
The lawsuit was filed two days after the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 endorsed Barack Obama. The plaintiffs did not formally endorse Clinton’s campaign, but senior members of the Nevada State Education Association back Hillary and the law firm that handled the suit has as one of its prominent attorneys former Democratic congressman Jim Bilbray, a Clinton supporter.
‘”I don’t think it’s been helpful,” Derby said of the antagonism the suit generated between the Clinton and Obama camps. “But we’ll pull together.”
Lynn Warne, president of the teachers union, said she was “disappointed” in the ruling because she said it created an unfair opportunity for casino shift workers represented by Culinary to participate in the Saturday caucuses at the special at-large sites while other workers — specifically her janitors — would have to return to their neighborhood-based precincts to participate, something they cannot do while they supervise caucus activities at the schools where they serve as janitors.
Derby said the party established the casino-based caucus sites to assist tens of thousands of workers participate.
The caucus rules were first established by the state Democratic party in March and formally approved by the Democratic National Committee in October. During the court hearing today, the DNC said if the nine at-large caucus sites were abolished Nevada might lose all of its presidential nominating delegates.
Mark Ferrario, the attorney who represented the teachers union and other plaintiffs, told reporters he was not sure if an appeal will be filed.
Tags: casinos, Clinton, Culinary Workers, DNC, Nevada State Education Association, Obama
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Take that Bill and Shrillary! We can only hope this is one of many set backs against these tag-team weasels!
The Clintons will try anything to slither back into the White House.
Wouldn’t it be great if there were hundreds of female (and the occasional TV) caucus goers wearing stained blue dresses?
The decision today to go ahead with the Nevada caucus as planned is great news. The lawsuit filed against it was a groundless waste of time, of taxpayers money, and of union members’ dues: A sad, last-minute attempt to change the rules so that the Clintons could have a better shot at winning. I hope they pay dearly for their arrogance and their insistent meddling. Go, Obama!
If the Teachers Union is so concerned about the janitors being able to participate in their local caucus, then the teachers or caucus attendees can clean up after themselves. Oh, please - weak argument.
Oh, and do Bill and Hill need a tissue?
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[...] and Barack Obama in Nevada today. First, it was the state teachers’ union — which, as Major Garrett reports, lost a lawsuit that would have overturned a law allowing casino workers to caucus at designated [...]
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All this back and forthing needs to be eliminated and we NEED to go to one person one vote, at established and permanent locations, in all things having to do with ALL elections. oh wait. We have that. they’re called precincts.
To have any one vote exerting greater weight than another, or being more convenient to cast for one citizen than for another, is patently unconstitutional. Is that not obvious?
This is rather like a reversal of “move to the back of the bus”. Moreover, it gives one huge group of voters a probability of solidarity that carries weight, weight which might be someway influenced to be cast in alignment with the wishes of a powerful group, the casino corporations themselves, all of whom have a vested interest in ANY election that may impact their business.
I know, I know, you are gasping at the audacity of such a suggestion. Sad to say, my fellow Americans, this undue influence sometimes actually DOES occur in this Great Society….hard to believe, I know….
I have generally voted democratic, but I’m feeling a little antsy about some DemParty decisions in a few areas of late, including in my own state of NC. Like this one, some of those decisions are a little odorous, having the appearance of being something the Republicans have become well known for…tampering with the vote….
Shame on the DNC. Just because the Repubs manipulated themselves into office once or twice is NO REASON to adopt their un-American tactics. Two wrongs don’t make a right. And besides, the people are (thank you Jesus!) going to elect a Democrat this time to undo some of the damage of the last 8 years of agony, so relax.
As for Obama, well, have you noticed how shaky his voice is sometimes? Like, he’s gotten in over his head and inside is thinking, “Oh, sh*t, NOW what do I say?”
Let’s all just admit what is the truth: Obama is out on a “trial run” this election, a “test drive” if you will. He will not and should not win because–simply put–he is not informed enough nor experienced enough as a one term senator.
He’s a Newbie. BUT, this is great exposure for the NEXT time around…
He sounds good, he has a great rhetoric, he has studied Dr. King well, and he is photogenic. But he is not Presidential material….yet.
This decission is terible. how many people that are voting in the casino where they work with they’re boss’s and union reps. are going to go against the hand that feeds them. it would be different if it was annonymous but this is a caucus and peer and employer presure makes me wonder how honest they could be. they might as well have it at the union hall so if they vote for hillary they can pick up theyre pink slips right there.
Brad
I am thrilled with this decision; and believe the timing of the lawsuit was no coincidence, given Barack Obama’s endorsement just days prior.
I don’t care how many times Bill Clinton says they had nothing to do with it….I have a hard time believing it, given past events during his term. It comes to mind certain comments he made during the Monica Lewinsky scandal that ended up not being true…remember how much of the county’s time and money was spent on THAT?!?
I am a Democrat, but if Hillary is the nominee — she will not get my vote. I do not want another Clinton as President…
Some people make the common mistake of linking Culinary 226 with Nevada casinos. As a 40 year resident of LV, I can tell you emphatically that the union has absolutely nothing to do with any part of casino operations, employees or executives. The sign out front says Hotel/Casino and each part of the operation is under it’s own umbrella, i.e. insurance, management hiring procedures, etc. The culinary union represents such personnel as house-keepers, porters, bartenders and bell staff. It does not represent front desk, parking attendants, casino dealers, slot personnel or casino executives. Such people should refrain from making comments that refer the Culinary union as a part of casino employees. Thomas, Las Vegas Ret.
Right. US election looks like a gambling.