Reply #98: Kudos to the DNC for trying to bring minority members into the process

[dragonlady]

This year the DNC worked out a plan to get minority voters into the mix in choosing the presidential nominee in early states. South Carolina will add African Americans and Nevada will add Hispanics to the mostly white populations in Iowa and New Hampshire. That's a good thing for our party and our country. Now we learn that they set up a procedure to let the casino workers participate even though they have to be at work at the time of the caucus. Is this showing favoritism? I think it's a valid way to further the goal of getting minorities into the process without risking their jobs.

Caucuses by their nature favor whoever has no other commitments during the limited time when they are held. Maybe it's time to modify the caucus procedure to let some people "vote absentee" or come in earlier in the day or some such thing. I recall going to a caucus in Michigan (1984) that was not operated like the Iowa caucus--we just came in, announced our preference, and then could leave. That system would broaden the range of participants who choose the nominee and lead more people to get involved and hopefully stay involved in the party.