I just read why 64 Bernie NV delegates had their credentials stripped--and I shed a tear or two [View all]

[CoffeeCat]

(May 16: Update. I've linked to an update about this situation, at the bottom of my post)

I've never talked about this on DU, but I guess now is a good time.

I'm a Bernie delegate from Iowa. I participated in our County Convention and I was gearing up to participate as a Bernie delegate in our District Convention, which was held two weeks ago. Three days before the District Convention, I get a phone call from a Bernie Sanders staff member.

They were wondering why I was registered as a Republican in the state of Iowa.

I was flabbergasted. Our Iowa Caucuses were Feb 1, and to participate you must be a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT. I participated, gave a speech for Bernie and served as a Precinct Captain. Furthermore, I've voted Democrat my entire life, starting in the early 1980's.

You can imagine my shock. Why was I, a Bernie delegate, now a REGISTERED REPUBLICAN?

I was told that there were other Bernie delegates who were also coming up as REGISTERED REPUBLICANS too. One of them was a life-long Democrat who was also a Democratic County Precinct Chair.

I was informed, three days before our District Convention, that if I showed up at our Convention as a REGISTERED REPUBLICAN that the Hillary people could challenge my credentials, strip me of my credentials and that I would be disallowed from participating or voting.

I had to go downtown and switch my registration. The woman at the counter confirmed that I was indeed--a REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.

FACT: SOMETIME BETWEEN FEB 1 AND MAY 1--MY VOTER REGISTRATION SWITCHED FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

I have NO IDEA how. I never switched it.

I showed up at the District Convention in May---and sure enough, my name had a big line through it. The Hillary person at the check-in table questioned my Republican status. I had the appropriate paperwork to document that I had switched to Democrat, so I was let in.

I just learned that in Nevada that 64 of Bernie's delegates were stripped of their credentials. A Hillary supporter on DU posted the official reason: "because they weren't 'registered as Democratic voters by May 1, 2016'"

I bet they weren't REGISTERED DEMOCRATS. Maybe they became REGISTERED REPUBLICANS...just like I did. It's like some kind of political miracle, in which Bernie delegates get their registrations switched out of thin air.

Simply unbelievable.

I had a few tears coming down, when I read about why those 64 were stripped of their credentials. Bernie would have won that Nevada caucus room, if those 64 delegates would have been allowed to participate. I hope those delegates find out WHY their credentials were stripped and I hope they fight the ruling--if their voter registrations were switched without their knowledge.

Update to this post 5/20/16: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511974138