Inside a Caucus: Iowa 2008

The Caucus is an unruly animal that requires firsthand experience fully to comprehend. This video provides a first hand look that places the viewer in the mix. The vignette illustrates the chaos inherent in the caucus system and illustrates how well-intentioned people can corrupt the democratic process. It also provides testimony to the axiom that politics is personal.

The video leaves out one unreported result of the enormous turnout in Iowa, which is that precinct officials were unprepared and unequipped to preserve order. As a Californian, I was allowed into the Iowa Caucus without question and could have voted during the Caucus proceedings without anyone raising an eyebrow. What's more, in the confusion anyone could have voted for multiple candidates. That said, people's investment in democracy seemed to curb participants from taking advantage of this chaos.