Observant Jews Effectively Barred From Nevada Caucus

Faith In Public Life:

We've been drawing attention this week to the fact that the media-sponsored exit polls in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary only asked Republicans if they are evangelicals - effectively rendering Democratic evangelical primary voters invisible. But at least they got to cast their votes.

Religious Jews in Nevada will have to choose between voting and practicing their faith on January 19, the day of the Republican and Democratic Nevada caucuses. January 19 is a Saturday and the caucuses will be held at 9 and 11:30 am - during morning religious services for observant Jews.

Read the whole story: Faith In Public Life

Comments

[Ramirez]

Now THIS is good! The Teachers' Union (Hillary) is suing to make it more difficult for the Culinary Union (Obama) to get its members to the caucus.

Democrats and politics. You just can't make this stuff up.
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"LAS VEGAS — Nevada’s state teachers union and six Las Vegas area residents filed a lawsuit late Friday that could make it harder for many members of the state’s huge hotel workers union to vote in the hotly contested Jan. 19 Democratic caucus in Nevada.

The 13-page lawsuit in federal district court here comes two days after the 60,000-member Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Nevada endorsed Senator Barack Obama, a blow to Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Obama addressed the Culinary Union at their hall earlier Friday.

The lawsuit argues that the Nevada Democratic Party’s decision, decided late last year, to create at-large precincts inside nine Las Vegas resorts on caucus day violates the state’s election laws and creates a system in which voters at the at-large precincts can elect more delegates than voters at other precincts."
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Read the whole sordid story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/politics/12nevada.html?ex=1357794000&en=6ffd820b3d80d11a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[avergejoe]

i guess owning the candidates is not good enough.

[m4rk0]

If by chance HRC were to win this thing and serve 2 terms that would mean that a Bush or Clinton would be in the executive branch for 36 consecutive years (1980 - 2016). Out of the hundreds of millions of people living in the U.S. that's the best that we can do? People running our country from 2 families? That does not sit well with me. It seems un-American. We can do better and deserve better. Please spread Barack's message of hope and change!

oligarchy:
1. a. Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.b. Those making up such a government.
2. A state governed by a few persons.

[samtaylor1]

I am not sure what the problem here is. That is why there is absentee ballots (which can be filled at any time). This by itself is a non issue.

The clintons were just trying to score points with jewish voters (I am Jew)- though personally I think it is just dumb.

However, I do believe it speaks towards a bigger issue. That is, just 1 day to vote makes no sense. What is the rush? Voting should be open for a week.

Also I believe we should "triangulate" and take over the voter ID card thing. That is, if we could put a voter ID card law on the table and tie it to increasing the length of voting time and making same day registration the stanard we would come out on top. When I mean we I mean progressives (maybe not democrats) NOTE- this would also open the door to more 3rd party candidates- see Minnessota as an example

It would take progressive non profits some time, but we could litterly go door to door and drive everyone who is needed to get their ID (helping them get all their information as well). Initially we might lose an election in the process until we got everyone an ID, but in the long run progressives would run this country.

[betz55]

Gee, what would have happened if a Muslim or Christian complained? How typical ! They expect EVERYONE to re-arrange their lives just for them, just like everyone has done in the Middle East for decades. Get ready Nevada, your becoming a Jewish state and all the bs that goes with it.

[Marlyn]

The entire nation should VOTE by MAIL, like they do in Oregon. Then all of these problems would disappear, and especially getting rid of those electronic voting machines for which there is NO WAY to verify the tally.

[ither]

There's a solution. Lieberman need simply issue a fatwah allowing participation.

[VivaZapata]

clinton, with the pork in her mouth, is a dog owned by the israeli lobbyists, so nu, what's the surprise?

[Purple Girl]

If Saturday was chose to allow the max of involvement- then they should have chosen Sunday- many people still work Saturdays' .
So who were they trying to appease?
As an Atheist I'm offender everytime I hear the term 'Christian Nation'. I would guess a good number of my other countrymen feel the same way. Keep it up Huck- you'll soon feel the backlash from the rest of the people A President is supposed to represent, protect & defend.
Considering the way the Christians have handled the world in the last 2 millenia- perhaps wer should give a Satanist the job- could be actually following the true Savior of Mankind. How can one who is to bring such destruction and judgement be considered anyones savior? And how can any one who wishes for the 'Judgementday' consider themselves anything but evil?
It's all relative. Being an Atheist- I beleive in no Resurrections, no favorism, no big 'cookie ' in the sky. My hope is that WE can help our fellow man to pull them out of situations which force them to make bad decisions. I hope WE can be our own Savior for Mankind and all we have been given (By Nature). I hope we can pass down a world free of the human strife, violence, greed, envy that has been proliferated throughout our history . Frnakly, I Jesus gave his Life to spare our souls- He sacrificed himself in vain.We haven't changed, and these 'religions ' have been a key ingredient to our continued inability to reach our true potential as the 'shepherd' Species of our world and each other.

[hugs4u]

The seventh day adventist are not complaining and they can not do anything including work from Fri evening to Sat evening.

[sparkandy]

possibly sat was chosen as a day when the most people could participate. this just sounds like an excuse for one of the myriad little exclusionary groups this country is infested with to whine. if the day chosen had been a thursday, some other little group would have found a reason to whine. suck it up, for god's sake and skip services or trust your fellow nevadans to take up your slack.

[letsgetsmart]

Actually I am surprised that this is on saturday. All of the major cities are weekend cities so if anyone has to work it is most likely saturday. It kinda makes me wonder who arranged this and why. All of the entertainment businesses are tough on their employees so I bet there will be a lot of pressure not to skip work. This doesn't smell right for some reason.

[Dap]

This is a tough one, I don't like to see any American voter disenfranchised, I'm thinking G-d would understand, but it all comes down to a matter of personal choice.

[BUSHsurvivor]

Hah! The Big A decides to put this story right next to a pic of Bush wearing a yamulke!

How low can you go Big A?

[smokeystover39]

The Clinton slime machine is at work once again pitting one group (falsely) against another. All the caucus rules I know of have provisions to accommodate those who because of factors beyond their control - such as a religious rule - prevent them from attending the caucus. If the Nevada caucus does not have such a rule - and I'd be very surised if it didn't - how about putting your money where your mouth is and going to court to get an injunction so the disenfranchised can be protected. C'mon Willy & Hilly step up or shut up!