Incident at Paris Las Vegas - CWU Voter Intimidation

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/early-line/2008/jan/16/incident-paris-las-vegas/

I find this absolutely disgusting.

Thats out and out intimidation, making them fill out pledge cards and trying to block them caucusing if they dont vote for Obama.

Some of the comments in the blogs are clear this is going on.

"My name is Matt DeFalco. I was there when this all went down. Your all right. It is disgusting. I believe that the union representatives approached sylvia specifically because she appeared to be vulnerable because of her admittingly low level of knowledge on the way the caucus will work. She was sitting with us. Once I realized what was going on, I looked over at the women who represtented the union and said, Are You Out Of Your Mind??? My mother and I couldnt believe it! The union rep had told her that she had to sign a pledge card today that said she would vote for Obama or she couldnt caucus on Saturday. Sylvia said she didnt know if she was going to vote for Obama and the union rep said "Then you can't attend the caucus". And Sylvia believed her! She wasnt going to vote anymore. There is no doubt in my mind after witnessing this and being involved in it that this is not the only incident. Afterwards the union representative showed no remorse for it and never backed down from it until she was told we were going to report her. They have been in and out of the employee cafeteria harrassing people who are on their lunch breaks since the endorsement was announced. Its happening all over the city, no doubts about it. And Something definately ought to be done! My mother and I are are willing to share our story with media outlets if anyone can get us in touch with them..."

Also read

http://www.taylormarsh.com/

Jon Ralston talked about it this morning on MSNBC.

I just got off the phone with a unimpeachable source that there has been more than one confrontation between union reps and members.

This is not an indictment against unions, especially considering I joined my first union when I was in my teens, totaling four eventually. Unions are the backbone of the middle class. But in every good group there lies opportunistic cretins. Obama's supporters are obviously applying Chicago style politics in Sin City and they've got three days to get the job done.

Meanwhile, you've got big shots like John Kerry talking about "let the people vote" doing so within a stacked system titled towards the Culinary union, with many of their members who'd much rather vote for someone other than Obama being intimidated and forced to sign pledge cards. Some will fight back, but most will not. From what I'm hearing, this is getting ugly. It's the opposite side, with the story actually being "make the people vote for me."


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080117-9999-1n17nevada.html


Some analysts wonder if the caucus process will discourage some workers from voting their consciences. Unlike a secret-ballot election, caucus participants have to stand up and proclaim support for their candidate – even if it's in front of their co-workers or supervisors.

“We think in the end our members will act like a union,” said Pilar Weiss, the Culinary Workers political director. Damore speculated that union workers who attend caucuses in their neighborhood precincts would feel more comfortable voting for someone other than Obama than those who go to the at-large caucuses in the casinos.

“Those are going to be union-dominated sites, and if there is going to be intimidation to toe the union line, that's where it's going to be,” he said

It's talking about you!

Updated 8:30 p.m.:

The Culinary Union has investigated and says the source of the drama seemed to be about how one changes one’s party registration three days before the caucus.

Antuna was a registered independent, and the union reps were talking to her about how she had to be a Democrat to participate on Saturday, Weiss said.

Hardly scandalous and certainly not intimidation, she added.

Weiss said she suspects the whole incident was drummed up by the enthusiastic Clinton supporters, who got heated when the union reps started pitching Obama.

:hi:

:hi:

hillworshipper, not at all. I just have a visceral dislike for Taylor Marsh and her DLC lovin' ways. Now run back to worshipping your DLC Goddess.

What did you expect, a confession from Obama's henchman?

He could flat out murder all the Clinton caucus goers and they'd still think Obama walked on water. He's a saint don't you know

"Drummed up by enthusiastic Clinton supporters"

The "victim" said “It’s possible it was a miscommunication,” Antuna said.

Well, if the union rep denies it happened, I guess everybody else is lying.

I would be dim if I believed otherwise, eh?


:eyes:

Thugs.

but this situation looks like more of a miscommunication.

One key fact: The union reps spoke broken English.

“It’s possible it was a miscommunication,” Antuna said.




To hear Clinton’s campaign and her supporters tell it, the union intimidated a member into caucusing for Obama, demanding that she sign a pledge card — or face exile from the caucus.

To hear the alleged victim tell it, it was much more of a misunderstanding.

The Clinton campaign quickly tried to paint the incident as part of a broader pattern, though introduced no other evidence.

Without a secret ballot there's no guarantee any vote will be cast without fear of reprisal from the Union. Does anyone doubt the Strip caucuses will support anyone other than the candidate the Union chiefs have already endorsed?

The culinary union only accounts for a fraction of casino workers. Of course latest polls show clinton losing here anyway so I guess you will scream foul no matrer how she loses.

that the Las Vegas Sun found out what really happened. Give me a break.

And neither she, nor her coworkers, will be able to caucus.

Also, just so you know, the woman in question describes the incident as a "misunderstanding" and did not feel disenfranchised. And indeed she is not, she has been successfully registered. But whether or not she's allowed to caucus, well, that's being threatened by Hillary's cronies.