“The lady told all of us: Nobody can go to the caucus unless you’re voting for Obama,”

[MethuenProgressive]

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

On top of that, Angers and DeFalco said, the reps handed Antuna an Obama pledge card, telling her she had to sign it to participate in the caucus and that today was the deadline.

“The lady told all of us: Nobody can go to the caucus unless you’re voting for Obama,” Angers said. “They have no right to do what they did. This is America. You should be able to vote for who you feel like. It doesn’t matter who the union is endorsing. They can try to persuade us but it doesn’t mean people have to vote for them.”

Obama's camp quickly trotted out a Union Head supporter of theirs who blamed the intimidation on "broken English". I'm sure certian DU members will call the excuse given by the Obama surrogate as "debunking" what Angers reported. Blaming an intimidated Union member's language skills isn't "debunking," it's disgusting.

[ursi]

1. plz try to get the facts straight, the story was updated on the main page of this paper last night

Incident at Paris Las Vegas (UPDATED)

By Michael Mishak · January 16, 2008 · 8:30 PM

snip...

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.

Thank you.

[goldcanyonaz]

4. just because one "Suspects" doesn't in itself make it a fact.

[gaiilonfong]

5. They don't want the facts straight

they just want to win at any cost, and the Richardson supporters are still thinking he will be Hillary's VP....LMAO...yeah right!

[Pirate Smile]

6. He knows. He's been corrected many times. They don't care.

[MethuenProgressive]

13. I have the Obama Surrogate's "not guilty" claim in the OP.

"The Culinary Union has investigated The Culinary Union and we're Fired Up!"
:rofl:

[Pirate Smile]

34. Do you have to change your registration to Democrat to be able to caucus?

[JackORoses]

41. good ol' MethusinProgressive, you've got to love his 'dedication to Richardson'

[Cameron27]

9. Weiss?

He's not biased as the head of the culinary union or anything. Let's find an independent source to back that up.

[CoffeeCat]

28. You're so bent on this being true...

You're just salivating for this story to be true and grow legs.

All you want is an Obama-bashing story out there.

What does that say about you?

What does that say about your candidate?

[MethuenProgressive]

11. The Obama Endorsing Culinary Union has investigated and says "We're Fired Up!"

Get your facts straight.

[mod mom]

12. "suspects the whole incident was drummed up by the enthusiastic Clinton supporters"

[MethuenProgressive]

15. - so says the Obama Endorsing Union Head who then blames "broken English"

[DaLittle Kitty]

23. Vote FOR Edwards! These Two Are Not to Be Trusted .....

EDWARDS ALONE IS THE OPTION... :think:

[leftynyc]

30. I'm beginning to believe that

The supporters of Obama and Clinton are going waaaaay over the line in the attacks. Both are making me sick.

[Renew Deal]

16. MP isn't concerned with "facts"

[MethuenProgressive]

20. fact: After being caught, Obama Endorsing Union Head blamed "broken English"

The Union investigated the Union and found the Union not guilty. That's a fact?

[Renew Deal]

21. "Drummed up by enthusiastic Clinton supporters"

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.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4093018&mesg_id=4093018

The "victim" said “It’s possible it was a miscommunication,” Antuna said.
It's right in the article.

Don't let the truth get in your way.

[MethuenProgressive]

42. ^ so claims the Head of the Union that endorsed Obama....

So don't believe the intimidated union member, believe the Union Boss?

[Renew Deal]

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

How about listening to the person actually involved.

[CoffeeCat]

29. This reminds me of a lesson I learned in high school...

We had to play croquet as a final exam.

We were all showed how to play and told that we could get ahead by knocking someone
else backward or get ahead by moving ourselves forward.

Eye-opening lesson for a 17-year old to learn.

Some of you rabid Hillary supporters are all about knocking others backward. You spend
so much time on this site (and probably lots of others) finding a crack and slinking inside
it and staying for days.

Why are so many of you such rabid attack dogs, who seem hell bent on perpetuating negativity
and knocking others back, as a strategy to move your candidate forward?

Aren't you guys sick of this?

Haven't we had enough of this bullshit from George Bush?

Don't we want to move the country forward, instead of spending so much time pummeling others to score points for ourselves?

[elixir]

43. What's that I hear? Obama and Reagan - yeah those were great years of trickle down econ!!!

[gaiilonfong]

2. Keep hope alive that Lady Hillary will pick Bill Richardson for VP

That is all you have left, that and more Taylor marsh propaganda, this story has already been debunked as false. NO SALE

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. nothing to see here... move along now....it was all just a misunderstanding

Riigghtt.

[gaiilonfong]

7. you mean like the Clintons cozy relationship with the Bushies

Like Bill Clinton covering up Poppy Bush Iran contra crimes, like the Marc Rich pardon and Mrs Rich contributing over 100, 000 to Hillary...you are right... DON'Tmove along PLENTY TO SEE HERE

[goldcanyonaz]

8. And, Obama professes his love for Reagan, yep, plenty to see here.

[Adelante]

10. When did Obama profess his love for Reagan?

In this interview?

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/VIDEO/80115026&oaso=news.rgj.com/breakingnews

[gaiilonfong]

14. That's the new Taylor Marsh DLC propaganda

They are getting desperate. They have nothing else.

[MethuenProgressive]

17. Yes, Obama never said what he said ever. Never ever comment on anything Obama ever said anywhere.

And you too can be an ObamaBot.

[gaiilonfong]

19. OK whatever.....n/t

[sunonmars]

18. Dont bother Methuen......

No point trying to convince Obamabots, they'll never believe their Leaders subjects would do such things, its all the Big bad Clintons fault.

[ShortnFiery]

24. You want to party like it's 1996 (in 2008?) by electing a 3rd DLC Executive Branch term?!?

Too bad that after all this sick-minded mud slinging, IMO, orchestrated by Mark Penn and Bill Clinton's entrenched DLC, you're going to have ONE HELL OF A TIME UNITING THIS COUNTRY behind your *ice queen* heroine. :thumbsdown:

She's no Maggie Thatcher. The Iron Lady was a wretched policy maker, but she did enjoy a thoughtful husband who stayed out of her business.

[leftynyc]

31. Obamabots - Hillshills

You all sound like fucking children.

[ShortnFiery]

22. The world can see though your DLC manufactured mask. Give it a rest MP.

Come up for air because this is just f**king sad ... dirty tricks and slime-politicking. :thumbsdown:

[denidem]

25. Read the comments in this article, folks...

The union members are saying that this is not an isolated incident and they are mad.

[Barack_America]

32. Sorry, but the only guy who claims to be a Culinary Worker

...and thus might actually have first-hand experience, also states that he is a Hillary supporter. So, not exactly an un-biased source. I don't doubt that the union is pushing hard. That's what unions do. The unions that support Hillary will do the same thing. But I don't think there is any sort of widespread disenfranchisement going on.

[CoffeeCat]

26. Obama does not use "pledge cards"....Hillary does....

I was an Obama precinct captain, and I spent a bit of time in the local offices.

The Obama campaign does not use the "pledge card" device. Hillary openly uses it and
has people sign pledge cards for her.

I never once saw or heard about Obama doing this. EVER.

Is it possible that one of the Unions was doing this? This is certainly not coming from the
Obama campaign.

Guys, I saw the Obama campaign up close and personal.

I initially had my foot in the Edwards camp, when I first met some Obama people. When
the Obama people began contacting me, I was really torn--because I loved both candidates. I met
many Obama supporters and volunteers and they had nothing but glowing things to say about Edwards.
When Obama called me and I told him I was leaning Edwards, he praised Edwards. I spent time with
them and got to know them. Everyone was trained to be courteous and positive--and not to pressure
people or tear other candidates down. We were told that if someone disagrees with us and supports
someone else---to always be positive and respectful. All of this was coming from the top-down.

This is not what the Obama campaign is about. What happened isn't in line with how this campaign
has been run, so far.

One of the reasons I went with Obama, was because of his campaign's above-board and dignified tone.
It is a movement, because Obama inspires people to be their best. In addition to his stance on
restoring the Constitutional (Obama is a Constitutional Scholar who taught Con Law for nearly
a decade) and bringing back Habeas and our privacy rights----what brought me over was his campaign's
inspirational, honest and diplomatic tone.

I'm a 43 year old stay-at-home mom, who put a lot of thought into my decision. I've been in Iowa
and I've seen many politicians come through our state. After enduring 8 years of Bush--who has brought
out the worst in our country, our people and our politicians---Obama's top-down positive leadership
is very appealing.

I don't believe for a minute--that Obama, or anyone in his campaign, had anything to do with this.

[MethuenProgressive]

45. The news storys says the Union recieved her pledge card, and will allow her to caucus.

So... no cards?

[Barack_America]

27. "The union reps spoke broken English."-you are INCORRECT

This is direct quote from the article, which you apparently failed to read. It specifically says that it was the union reps who spoke broken english, not this so-called disenfranchised voter.

An what does the "disenfranchised voter" think:

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

In fact, Antuna said the Culinary called her later to inform her the union had received her voter registration form, spoken with her supervisor and that she was clear to caucus during her shift on Saturday."
----
Please stop manufacturing stories.

[MethuenProgressive]

49. Um.... OK..

You can deceive yourself if you wish.

[CK_John]

33. Will INS agents be hanging around the caucus sites or are can they even go into the casinos? n/t

[robbedvoter]

35. Yet another dirty trick - which is justified, because it's aginst "Hitlery"

Just like Raygun is a great man who did more for this country than Bill Clinton...Attacking Bush is absurd, because he isn't running...
Jumping the shark....losing all sense of reality..

[Barack_America]

37. So, reason has completely gone out the window for you?

Did you come up with that vile expression to describe your candidate, because I've never seen anyone else use it here.

[Barack_America]

36. I love all of this outrage, when Hillary's camp is trying to prevent them all from voting.

You have one woman being "disenfranchised", a claim that even the woman in question denies.

Yet the lawsuit filed by Hillary's cronies would take away her (and all of her coworkers) caucus sites.

The hypocrisy is delicious.

[Inuca]

38. Damn good point! n/t

[TokenWasp]

39. This is why caucuses should be outlawed

Talk about a procedure just ready-made for rampant corruption...

[MethuenProgressive]

50. I have to agree.

Secret ballots. It should be no one's business but your own who you vote for.

[Beacool]

40. Too precious!!!

The Culinary union is bullying some of its members, but Obama supporters are satisfied with their answer that it was a misunderstanding. Yeah, right!!!

Oh, the hypocrisy........


:rofl:

[Barack_America]

44. No. I'm satisfied with HER explanation...

You know, the woman in question. She felt that it was a "misunderstanding".

But you're right, the Clinton supporters who were there and jumped on this would be a much better judge...

[Renew Deal]

47. The woman that was "bullied" said it was a misunderstanding.

And another person said it was Hillary's campaign creating drama.

[cloudythescribbler]

48. Good heavens! Are we to up our cookies every time some fact-disputed incident like this occurs?

Is there ANY indication that this one instance was reflective of a broader 'de facto policy' on the part of the CWU or is it an isolated incident, at least as far as we know? People need to get real in examining politics, and separate out the fundamental from the incidental.

[MethuenProgressive]

51. "Hillary Clinton does not respect our people," the ad says in Spanish

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/UniteHERE_ad_Hillary_Clinton_does_not_respect_our_people.html

It gets worse...