Nevada Teacher's Union Attacks Barack Obama
The Democratic Primary is shaping up to be a tough fight, and that leaves unions across the country with a tough choice. Do they choose Barack, Hillary, or Edwards?
The Nevada teacher's union appears to have come down hard in favor of Clinton - going so far as to attempt to disenfranchise fellow workers that support Obama. The New York Times has a good overview of where various unions stand at the moment.
A few days ago, the Nevada teacher's union filed a lawsuit that would effect the Nevada Caucus this Saturday.
Apparently, the casino worker's union managed to bend the rules and allow casino workers to attend precincts in the casino. Otherwise, the workers would be unable to leave their jobs - and unable to vote.
The teacher's union (Nevada State Education Association) claims that this is unfair and violates the principal of one person, one vote. They claim that by changing the layout of the precincts, and creating special rules for casino workers, the casino precincts will have greater representation (compared to the population) than other precincts.
What's really going on? The Nevada State Education Association is backing Clinton's campaign - unofficially - and they're trying to disenfranchise the culinary workers at casinos.
Should the casino precincts be closed? No. Since Nevada uses the caucus system - which requires all voters to be in a certain place at a certain time - they should make any and every accomodation to make sure that every person can participate in the process.
If the casino precincts are gaining more votes than they deserve based on the registered population, re-apportion the delegates. Or, switch to a primary system where casino workers can vote after work or by mailing in.
Regardless, it's despicable for one segment of the working class to try and disenfranchise another. The primary process may be a time for in-fighting among democrats and leftists, but there will be a time for solidarity - and this type of action by the NSEA isn't going to earn them any respect.
The Clinton campaign is playing dirty enough - blaming Barack Obama for a faux-pas that Hillary Clinton made herself. We teachers don't need to sink to new lows and try to disenfranchise our fellow workers.
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