2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHow do caucuses work? Do people actually confront you there?
Throughout this election cycle, I've read stories about people being confronted in caucuses because of who they're supporting.
That goes against the concept of a secret ballot. I honestly might lose it if someone tried to confront me in a caucus because of who I'm supporting.
I'm a pretty big guy who works out often so the likelihood of me being confronted by someone in a threatening manner is pretty small. But what about other folks who look like easy targets?
Apparently some female Hilllary supporters were threatened today.
How are they supposed to handle it?
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JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)By the way, is there any evidence for these claims of targeted bullying?
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Some of the others cited seemed to know that person so I would consider the sources.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1582300
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)It is rather, well, distracting, given recent DU history.
If there is no evidence then there really is nothing further to discuss about the OP, so no need to muddle things with accusations (however correct) of antisemitism.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)it's only fair to consider the source of the accusations and why their motives are suspicious.
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I suspect it will only get worse as we near the convention.
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)Where did that come from? 
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)srobert
(81 posts)I went to the caucus where some of my employees were. I was afraid some of them might vote the wrong way. But they all voted on my side. I didn't do anything to intimidate them. It just turned out that, by coincidence, they happened to support my candidate. I'm glad because I think that will help create a better relationship in our workplace in the years to come. And I think they know it too.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Accusations flew. Calls for prison... More MLK. It just is exciting and weird and too many hyped up people.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)I think the caucus system is pretty antiquated.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)Don't worry about tracking me around.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And you said on the other thread that it was fun. So what is it? FUN OR CURRENT TALKING POINT?
We are not idiots you know.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)than not. Let's not pretend otherwise just to demonize other posters here.
I thought everyone agreed they suck because they limit participation of the poor and working poor? Has that changed?
jillan
(39,451 posts)fun n serious
(4,451 posts)
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)jillan
(39,451 posts)
MFM008
(19,803 posts)because I went in with HRC buttons on, it was the undecideds that were set upon. There were 5 and were lobbied fiercely, especially by Sanders people. I didn't see any confrontations but one Sanders guy got very hostile when he demanded the super delegates be done away with, he was met with STIFF reaction from an older woman of color. The leader had to break up argument but things settled down. The undecideds kept changing their minds. Then we elected delegates for the state meeting, 8 volunteered, everyone seemed pretty hyped up to beat the gop.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)This whole caucus thing just seems so odd to me.
jillan
(39,451 posts)
Eric J in MN
(35,619 posts)At the MN Democratic caucus, people vote on secret paper ballots.
If they want to say something positive about their candidates to other people, they can, but 99% of people just vote.
The main consequence of MN having caucuses instead of primaries is traffic jams and long lines caused by everyone arriving around the same time.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)
Trenzalore
(2,331 posts)There should be a concerted effort by the party to end the practice.
It disenfranchises the elderly, people with disabilities, people with children, and people who have to work. It is completely the antithesis on who we should be.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Caucuses are essentially undemocratic--a throwback to early, small townhall meetings with rule by browbeating, haranguing and undue influence.
You may be able to shout down your opposite number, but nobody can truly vote according to their conscience under the pressure of public regard.
There's a reason we have individual voting booths. Your vote is private and should be nobody else's business.
The mere physical act of "caucusing", i.e. "separating the sheep from the lambs", renders one's choice public.
In several caucuses I've witnessed, people are literally herded into separate corners of the venue, according to their preferred candidate.
THIS IS NOT A SECRET VOTE!
Trenzalore
(2,331 posts)The only one I would expect to remain would be Iowa because they would give up their first in the country status if they switched to a primary.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Caucases seem to reward the candidate with the most aggressive supporters.
Sid
libtodeath
(2,888 posts)fun n serious
(4,451 posts)but it did and does happen. It happens here on DU too. People getting bullied and attacked for slight criticism of Sanders.
DURHAM D
(32,603 posts)the younger Sanders supporters. At my caucus several women with children had to leave to protect their kids because they were being trash talked and personally attacked.
One 7 year old girl who was wearing a Hillary sticker was called a whore and an ugly bitch. When she started crying they bullied even more, we could not stop them and her mother had to take her home. The auditorium was crowded so there was no way to move away from the bullies. The mother, the daughter and many of the workers were crying. The mother did not get to vote.
I also saw two AA girls(11-12 yrs old) bullied with sexist and racist taunts. They also left with their grandmother. She did not get to vote.
There is no security to stop this type of behavior. The caucuses where they walk through and vote is one thing but when they gather in an auditorium for several hours it is happy time for bullies. Social media has taken the governor off of political behavior and eventually someone will die from mob violence in a caucus.
Which reminds me, several BS supporters (not the young ones but the men over 40) had weapons strapped to their waists. Once the auditorium started filling up people who had stood in line for an hour or two to get in just got walked out and when they saw how crowded it was and how much heckling was taking place. It was just too heated. Also, there is no ballot in many states. You must sit in the section designated for your candidate, thus upping the opportunity for bullies to bully.
There is absolutely nothing democratic about a caucus. It is the perfect setup for bullies to be uber bullies while pretending it is about a difference of opinion on political choices. It is not.
Just imagine if you had to spend a couple hours in an auditorium with 200 of the most angry DU posters when they are armed. You would do what the bullies want and/or leave and not accomplish what you came there to do...just cast a vote.
Response to DURHAM D (Reply #17)
smiley This message was self-deleted by its author.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,311 posts)Children crying. Mothers snatching their kids and running home.
Sounds like a scene from mad Max Fury Road.
Kittycat
(10,493 posts)Serious danger level.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Obvious poster is obvious.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)That kind of intimidation needs documentation to end caucuses so you have evidence backing up these anecdotes right?
Posting them would greatly help us to evaluate what happened.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)END OF STORY.
Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)
kerry-is-my-prez
(8,133 posts)have many personality traits similar to each other. When I worked on a campaign back in 2004, at our state convention, they had a bunch of burly Dean supporters who were total a-holes - pushing us around, ripping down our signs, shoving us around. I'm not saying that ALL of the Dean supporters were like that but they had a big group of young burly guys pushing us Clark, Kucinich, and Kerry people around. Us Clark and Kucinich people sort of banded together. They do not allow guns at these events in our state so no guns.
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)Certainly SOMEBODY took their phone out and got video of that, right? I mean it wasn't one quick incident; it was like a whole thing that seem to go on for a while.
But, hey, somebody will buy this.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Accosting small children and minorities, threatening people with guns, tell us where this happened so we can ask for a thorough investigation.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Actually, I made that up.... just like you did.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Or were you required to leave the cell phones outside while those with weapons got to keep them?
Why am I not convinced that any of this happened?
Response to Cali_Democrat (Original post)
DURHAM D This message was self-deleted by its author.
MineralMan
(146,248 posts)Unlike Iowa, where people have to group together physically and be counted, we use paper ballots. No confrontations at all.
RedCappedBandit
(5,514 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Sid
kerry-is-my-prez
(8,133 posts)
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Which is not good... imo.
PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)I would ask you your reasons for supporting Hillary, see if I could counter those points but that's it.
benpollard
(199 posts)Like a lot of people, I didn't know how caucuses worked, and thus, didn't participate in them until this election. I never felt strongly about a candidate before. Bernie is the first candidate who truly supports the people, so I decided to caucus for him. The entire process took some three hours. There was a bit of anger. I went away thinking it was an archaic process for this day-and-age.
While debate is good, we need a simple voting system here in Colorado where people can get in and vote and be out in a few minutes. Perhaps there should be organized debates beforehand, but caucuses need to go.
JMO. 
kerry-is-my-prez
(8,133 posts)voted by absentee ballot.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)More like a city council meeting.
People cast their ballot (which they could do by mail, if they wished)
My caucus was 40 votes, of whom roughly 28 were present. They were then asked if they wished to speak for no more than three minutes on behalf of their candidate. Each speaker (5 for Sanders and 1 for Clinton) gave their reasons for supporting their preferred candidate, which were followed by polite applause. Those present were then asked if they'd like to change their vote - none did.
The final tally was 25:13 (two votes, both for Sanders - one of which was cast by the PCO - were deemed invalid because they were cast too late for the initial count)
The supporters then went to opposite ends of the table and elected delegates and alternates. I took two of my kids and we all found it to be a fun experience.
I don't go to church, yet I still have the basic human need for rituals. Washington has gone to all absentee ballots, there are no polling places any more, and I miss that. I think that exercising citizenship should, at a minimum, require changing out of one's sweatpants and into street clothes.
Mike Nelson
(9,942 posts)...if the caucuses continue, they should end with a secret ballot.
Bjornsdotter
(6,123 posts)Your vote should be private and your choice alone.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)And sometimes they are different in each election cycle, depending on various things. Some states allow absentee ballots at them, and some do the final polling by secret ballot. There is not a one size fits all.
In a year like this, as in 2008, you often get a lot of caucus goers who've never participated before and if there are not experienced people running the caucuses, it can be quite a cluster fuck.
That said, I'm a bit suspicious of some statements that have been made about bullying at caucuses, especially as no photos or video has surfaced.
rurallib
(62,373 posts)cajoled or lobbied would probably be better words.
For us in Iowa - which seems to be the state that most look at as the model - the caucus is really more of a party building meeting that is highly attended in presidential years. We do have them in off year election years also, but hardly anyone attends.
There may be ugliness some places but I have been going for 20+ years and haven't seen any yet. The worst I saw was in 2008 when the Hillary people refused to share their cake with other candidate supporters.