Caucus - Tradition or Oppportunity for Change?
I arrived at the DFL precinct caucus for downtown St. Paul (west of Wabasha and extending along West 7th street to Irvine Park. Presidential vote: Obama 83 Clinton 41 uncommitted 3 and Edwards 1 = 128 total. 55 people stayed for the caucus votes and discussion. Our community includes renters, condo owners, and folks whose permanent address is the Dorothy Day Center – a homeless shelter and community meal site. The mix seemed to be mostly young men (20s) and elderly women and the DFL volunteers said it was the largest turnout they could recall. We elected 22 delegates with no discussion, as only 22 people were interested in being delegates. Three people were interested in being alternates, all were accepted. Surprisingly, all of the people interested in being involved as delegates were the younger people in the room! Yahoo!
(continued.....)
The leader? I think there were three of them in the room. One was Vicky, the woman who was at the podium when we arrived, never left that position in the room. I guess she was leading by “possession” of the podium! She nominated herself as caucus chair and had no opposition. She read several DFL documents, including a letter from Betty McCollom welcoming people to the caucus and thanking them for their interest in the process. The letter was read with no enthusiasm at all – disappointing. Vicky was what I would call an “expert” and not a leader. She knew the process, how to move things along, but had no passion. (McCollom's letter urged the Democrats to take back Wellstone’s seat and take back the White House. That doesn’t sound like leading change – it sounds like moving backward.)
Leader #2 was a representative from the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, a young man in a suit and tie named Jessie. He was engaging, smart, well spoken, sat among the elderly ladies and engaged them in neighborly conversation. His work experiences and his style of asking for clarification was helpful and inclusive. I was glad that he lived in my precinct and was willing to be involved in the process and discussion.
Leader #3 surfaced during the proposals of various resolutions. A middle-aged pony-tailed guy in jeans – Rich. As soon as he stood up and started talking, he had my attention. First, he asked the group how many were attending their first caucus. After a show of hands, he thanked all of us for participating and told about going to his first caucus at age 14 (Humphrey was running). He recommended a book by David Lebedoff (former UM Regent and UMF Trustee and a local political thinker whom I already admired) about the precinct caucus experiences of the 60s. Then, Rich presented his resolutions that were not really mainstream, but passed. Rich has made lobbying the legislature regarding privacy rights and freedom of information lawsuits. He gave good examples of situations that supported his viewpoint, listened respectfully to questions and provided clear responses. Well thought out, non-threatening, and well received because of his style more than anything else.
I didn't see anything I would consider compelling or inspiring, until I got home and watched the coverage on the networks. -- Nan
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My neighborhood caucus place was pictured in the Pioneer Press portraying a glorious image of the pandemonium exhibited by an outpouring of support for change. Most of us waited in line around Ramsey Jr. High school in St. Paul for a good 10 minutes, and then it took another ten minutes to press through the hallways and find one's precinct room. I had many discussions along the way about candidate preferences. Overwhelming support for Obama was evident. It was in line that I first heard about Jack Nelson-Pallymeyer by an enthusiastic convert from hearing that day's debate. People were eager to voice their opinions and engage in discussion as witnessed everywhere one looked. Two times the crowd was extremely jammed up, yet everyone was jovial and the urgency related to the concern of loosing a chance to vote before the 8pm deadline. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of humanity and curious if I would see more diversity in my own precinct.
Once I arrived at my destination, I was given an instruction to vote on a torn paper ballot with my presidential candidate written on one side and my signature on the other. Another woman next to me was quite dubious about the whole affair and commented" if this was Florida, I wouldn't trust this process!" I was glad to see that the diversity of people of color in the room did reflect my neighborhood. The mood in the room was energized and referendums were being passed. I asked if it was too late to turn another one in, and was able to get mine passed unanimously after having to clarify the wording that was questioned. "Be it resolved that the funding increase for federally funded service corps programs like Americorps and Vista...those programs that are helping communities in need of volunteers who give time to service like New Orleans..." Someone gave me a sheet of paper to scribble this statement and with the alterations added to achieve acceptance, was collected with the others as the serious discussions of how to elect delegates ensued. It took twenty minutes to decide how to proceed.
There was a casual urgency demanded by the convener who livened up the process with much humor and authority of power. The evening was delightfully messy and enjoyably moving as a participant in the democratic process of electing 37 delegates and alternates. There was so much interest and so many people, that we had to move to the four corners of the room, rather than just raising hands, giving everyone an opportunity to align with their Senate preference. The Cirisi camp lobbied hard for the second opportunity for undecided people to realign delegate percentages which were based on total number of people in each corner. Al Franken had the most delegates. I became an alternate in gender balancing our "undecided" corner and am excited to go on to the next gathering and see how the “game” unfolds. Our final presidential count was Obama 267, Hillary 38, Edwards 4, and two spoiled votes. What a privilege to exercise my obligation to citizenship in this momentous time of renewal of the democratic process.
Posted by: Diana Knobel | February 6, 2008 04:49 PM