NEVADA TURNS UGLY: Clinton Campaign Alleges Voter Intimidation by “Obama Organizers”

[Karmadillo]

http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/01/18/nevada-turns-ugly-clinton-campaign-alleges-voter-intimidation-by-obama-organizers/

<edit>

The Clinton campaign put Rolling Stone in touch with two casino kitchen workers who claim to have either experienced or witnessed union intimidation to vote for Obama. While their stories make clear that the union — which endorsed Obama last week — has strongly encouraged its members to close ranks behind Obama, their experiences are far less black-and-white than the charges levied by Huerta. In neither case was any worker threatened with termination.

The first instance involves a food server at the Luxor who is also a shop steward for the Culinary Union and disagreed with the union’s Obama endorsement; she asked that her name not be used for fear of reprisal. The worker says she was told by the union that she would not be given time off to caucus if she did not pledge to vote for Obama. Ultimately, she complained to Luxor management and was assured she would be allowed to attend.

In the second case, Matthew DeFalco, a kitchen runner at Paris casino, told Rolling Stone he saw a union field representative tell a co-worker that she could not caucus if she didn’t commit to supporting Obama. After DeFalco and his mother, a cook, intervened and argued with the union rep, the worker was eventually assured she could caucus. The worker in question, a woman named Silvia Atuna, told the Las Vegas Sun she believed a language barrier between she and the union rep may have led to “a miscommunication.”

Calls to the Culinary Union to discuss Huerta’s accusations were not immediately returned.

Phil Singer, national spokesman for the Clinton campaign said the campaign stands by Huerta: “We’ve been getting a lot of calls your job is on the line unless you sign a supporter card for Senator Obama, or you can’t take off work unless you support Senator Obama.”

more...

[durrrty libby]

1. We will hear hundreds of these stories tomorrow.

This is a perfect recipe for lots of intimidation

What a way to run a democracy

I was a member of the AFL-CIO and our bosses were intimidating jackasses

Even the Christmas party was mandatory. I won't go into what sexist pigs and deviants

they were.

Good luck Nevada and Fear and Loathing in Vegas

[Proud2BAmurkin]

17. It sucks. Bad.

[EFerrari]

19. Way to run a smear campaign!

Go, Hil!

[durrrty libby]

31. Yep the reports are Obama is smearing in spanish too.

The Audacity of Hype

[EFerrari]

33. I don't think anyone is listening any more.

[mckeown1128]

34. You are the one smearing...

that on ad was NOT made by the Obama campaign.

[Karmadillo]

40. Has the Obama campaign denounced it?

nt

[jackson_dem]

41. Obama should have practiced what he preached 3 weeks ago and condemned that ad

[DaLittle Kitty]

47. Obama Is Candidate of The Status Quo.. JUST LIKE HILLARY! Vote Edwards For Real Change!

:nuke:

[EFerrari]

2. Here they go again. The Clinton campaign must be scared

to go to these lengths to depress turnout.

[Adelante]

7. That's the same story they've been pushing for days

And today they hold a press conference call on it. Damn, you're right, they must be terrified, poor babies. :scared:

[EFerrari]

9. The mom in me wants to put both campaigns on a time out!

Enough already.

[bellasgrams]

26. Sounds to me like " BO" is desperate

[Essene]

38. Yep. 'SOME KITCHEN GUY TOLD ANOTHER KITCHEN GUY TO VOTE OBAMA!!" Come on...

It's so pathetic.

[durrrty libby]

48. Only a simpleton would see it like that

[jefferson_dem]

3. You forgot this part -

...

Huerta — who repeatedly belittled Obama, referring to him with the epithet “¿Cómo-Se-Llama?” or “What’s-His-Name?,” saying he was unknown to Hispanics — provided few details to back up these explosive charges.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton called the intimidation charges “wild” and “sordid.”

We’re in the day before the caucus and we’re hearing sordid attacks that have no substantiation behind them. It’s a fairly typical political game to play in the last minute — to try to get people to believe something that isn’t true and hope that the election happens before it gets cleared up.

These sorts of wild charges have nothing to do with the substance of the campaign. And it also points up the fact that the Clinton campaign isn’t comfortable with its candidate or comfortable with the issues they’ve been advocating. They have to make up these charges.

Clinton spokesperson Fabiola Rodriguez, reached this evening for comment, clarified that Huerta did not intend to implicate organizers employed by the Obama campaign itself, rather Culinary Union supporters who organize on his behalf

...

[Bishop Rook]

12. Wish I'd seen that part (nt)

[babylonsister]

4. You are just ugly, and oops! from the article...

Huerta — who repeatedly belittled Obama, referring to him with the epithet “¿Cómo-Se-Llama?” or “What’s-His-Name?,” saying he was unknown to Hispanics — provided few details to back up these explosive charges.

People, read the goddamn article.

[AtomicKitten]

5. they don't need no stinkin' information

[EFerrari]

8. The Clinton campaign pulled cR2p! before.

I think in NH.

It's so disappointing on so many levels.

[babylonsister]

11. So MANY levels!

Yet there are diehard people here who think she walks on water. I just don't get it.

[EFerrari]

It begins to look like we're seeing how the Clintons held onto the

statehouse in Arkansas.

The corruption is disgusting.

They have to choose.

They can't stay up on that pedestal and pull this sh!t.

[zulchzulu]

15. ¿Por qué voto para la familia corrupta?

¿Por qué entra al revés en tiempo?

[EFerrari]

18. Por ser pendejos.

lol

Or because we'd like to think that it doesn't happen here.

[zulchzulu]

22. Si, tan muchos tontos trampearon por el payaso grande

Nos atornillan si ella gana! Atornillan!!!

[Mz Pip]

6. Jeez

This is starting to sound as bad as the crap that is going on in SC with the Repugs. Whoever is doing this stuff needs to stop. The last thing we need is our candidate's campaign being investigated come November.

If this keeps up we'll be looking at 4 years of John McCain starting more wars or Mitwit shrinking the size of the Federal Government to the size of a walnut at the expense of the poor.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Bishop Rook]

10. Anyone who tries to keep their workers from voting

Needs to be disciplined immediately and taken out of any work related to the caucuses or the election cycle. I hope the Obama campaign comes down on this hard. I also hope the Clinton campaign isn't just drumming this up... Guess we'll see.

[ursi]

13. LOL! This is a caucus! not an election! Tell the hillbots to stop intimidating me!

[gateley]

14. I'm so glad Barack and Hillary buried the hatchet. Heartwarming, isn't it? nt

[babylonsister]

23. gateley!

I found DU in September 04 as a meager, minor minion who got suddenly interested in politics. I missed this stuff in 04 thankfully, though I think some people came back (at least to DU/P) for the fight and arguments. I did wind up loving Kerry as a result.
It's fairly amazing to me also. Beats going to a stamp forum, because I don't care about that, :P no offense to stamp collectors. PC to the end!

[gateley]

29. As a relative newbie to politics and DU, I've been through a baptism of fire!

:hi:

[ArkySue]

16. Here's a local report on it (LVSun)

Incident at Paris Las Vegas

Culinary Union organizers have been working in earnest for the last week to get the word out about the union’s endorsed candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, and to lock down member support in the run-up to Saturday’s caucus.

But two Culinary members supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton say they watched today as two of those field organizers were overzealous in their efforts as they collected pledge cards for Obama in the break room of a Strip casino. The Clinton campaign quickly tried to paint the incident as part of a broader pattern, though introduced no other evidence. </snip>

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

[EFerrari]

20. "The Clinton campaign quickly tried to paint the incident "

Yeah, we've seen it before. With all that corporate dough, you'd think they'd come up with new material.

[Adelante]

24. And a followup story

“After the Sun worked the story for two hours, this much is clear: What exactly happened this afternoon at Paris Las Vegas depends on whom you talk to. To hear Clinton’s campaign and her supporters tell it, the union intimidated a member into caucusing for Obama, demanding that she sign a pledge card or face exile from the caucus.

“To hear the alleged victim tell it, it was much more of a misunderstanding.”

After speaking with several Culinary members — at the suggestion of the Clinton campaign — the Sun cannot substantiate widespread voter intimidation on the part union organizers. What is clear, however, is that Culinary organizers are pushing Obama hard in the run-up to Saturday’s Caucus.

It’s also clear that some members in some cases have felt intimidated by the pushy approach of some organizers. According to labor experts, a vigorous back-and-forth is the norm in these types of situations — and the tactics don’t cross the legal line unless workers are overtly threatened.

None of the Culinary members interviewed by the Sun claim to have been threatened.

Worst case scenario: Organizers are telling members they must caucus for Obama — or they can’t caucus. While experts say that’s unethical, it also is an outlier in the cases examined by the Sun.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/early-line/2008/jan/17/following-paris-las-vegas-incident/

[indimuse]

45. Workers Local 226, and you don't caucus for Senator Obama??? Not On My Shift

Workers Local 226, and you don't caucus for Senator Obama???
Not On My Shift
by izarradar, Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 10:00:25 PM EST

I'm a card carrying union gal, a proud member of the striking WGA ("We write. You wrong"). I learned about
respecting the power of the rank and file from my father who taught me never to cross a picket line, and from my own days of walking a line I learned to love the rank and file as brothers and sisters. So every time a union endorses a candidate I pay special attention because I value the voices of union members.

Senator Obama received an important endorsement the day after he lost the New Hamphire primary. The Culinary Workers Local 226 in Nevada announced that he was their candidate of choice. I was impressed by the endorsement, and respectful of the 60,000 hard-working men and women who voted for it. The rank and file had spoken, and Obama was their man, I thought.

Turns out I was wrong.



Unions use various ways to decide upon an endorsement. Sometimes it's a questionnaire, or maybe a ballot. Other times it evolves out of meetings. In most unions, the leadership will have the final say, but not before consulting with the rank and file. This isn't the process the Culinary Workers Local 226 used to make its endorsement of Senator Obama. The rank and file wasn't involved in the decision at all.

And now members are pissed.

Channel 8, Eyewitness Now reported from Las Vegas, NV (1/11/08):

http://www.lasvegasnow.com:80 /...

Eve Berkstresser is one of more than 60,000 culinary union members statewide. She and a handful of others picketing said they disagree with how the union leaders chose to endorse Senator Barack Obama for president.

"They shouldn't be endorsing anyone unless the members have a chance to speak. But they haven't done that. They did it on their own," said Berkstresser.

The statement from Culinary Staff Director Ted Pappageorge was this:

"Our members have always had their favorites -- we all do. But in the end our members understand about division and weakness and unity and strength," said Pappageorge.

I'm not sure exactly what that means, are you? More importantly, I'm not sure the rank and file understands what that means. But did Pappageorge include the membership in this decision by taking a vote?

While the union leadership says they believe their members are unified in the decision, they told us they did not poll their membership.

So excuse me, I don't want to jump to conclusions (unlike Pappageorge jumping to conclusions about his rank and file), but are they basing this endorsement on what? Some crystal ball? Tea leaves perhaps? Tossing a coin? Call me old-fashioned, but when you want to know what your membership is thinking on something as important as who should be President, shouldn't you simply print up ballots and let EVERYONE have a voice?

What's the big deal, you might ask? The union leadership can't force a member to honor the endorsement of Senator Obama. If a member wants to vote for John Edwards, or Senator Clinton, they're free to do so. This is a democracy, right? The secret ballot protects our identity and our choice.

Well, that's a problem.

This is an open caucus. Union members will be standing in the same room with other union members. Or maybe even their shop steward. Or their foreman. Or possibly even a union official. Everyone will know which candidate you're backing. And if you're a member of Culinary Workers Local 226, and you don't caucus for Senator Obama???

That could make for a long shift on Monday.

If it were my union, I'd be pissed. And I'd use my voice to let the union officials know it. You don't pay union dues for this kind of forced intimidation. I'd let my brothers and sisters of the rank and file know this: I won't tolerate political bullying.

Not on my shift.

[indimuse]

46. ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party. Obama MIA!

What union workers are saying>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<snip>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>




Now thats funny!

wonderful and true diary.

afscme, which all the obamtes whined about being run by the top down, polled their membership 3 times before endorsing.

This is a disgrace. Its really about the changes at Unites national office and Change to Win. I dont know if many know her name, but if the legendary Unite organizer and union leader Evy Dubois was still around, she passed way at 96 I believe, this would never have happened. She was a friend of both Mrs. Rooselvelt and Mrs. Clinton. Nobody could beat that woman {all 5 foot of her)and nobody would have kept her from backing Hillary. Nobody.


Offend the Media - ABO - Anybody But Obama!
by Seymour Glass on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 11:09:22 PM EST


Re: Not On My Shift (2.00 / 1)


Mixing unions and caucuses is not going to result in true democracy as we see it, is it?



by crackityjones on Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 01:57:16 AM EST


excellent diary (2.00 / 2)

the act of making these union members caucus at their work place is an intentional attempt to force them to knuckle under and caucus for the Union leadership's choice. The whole thing is sleazy.
I hope they stand up and vote for the other candidates if that is what they want to do. It is going to take a lot of guts to do that.


ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party.



by MollieBradford on Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 02:20:38 AM EST



Re: excellent diary (none / 0)

I agree that the most problematic aspect of this is having workers caucusing at their work place. There may be undue pressure (even if it is only perceived pressure) to vote in unison with the union position.
I think it would be better in the future to perhaps split the causus into 2 shifts - morning and evening? That way, people can caucus in their communities either shift, and after the second shift, the numbers will be combined? I have a job in my town hall, and I am very glad we do not caucus in my state. I think I would be very intimited to go against what is suggested by my boss or union.


by AnnC on Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 09:30:42 AM EST
< Parent >


Re: excellent diary (none / 0)


The good part of this is that people that would ordinarily not be able to caucus will now be able to do so. The bad part is that it is happening at their place of employment where their union leaders will be able to see who toed the line and who didn't. Since the decision to support Obama came from above rather than a ballot from the membership this whole process is suspect.

I fully support having as many Americans vote for our Presidential nominee as possible. But people should be able to do this within their communities like everyone else. The potential repercussions for not following the union leadership's decision is very real. Ideally people should be given time off to participate in the caucus process in their communities. That is the way our founders envisioned citizen participation in the electoral process and they have proven time and again how wise they really were.


Obama is openly requesting that Republicans determine the Democratic nominee for President.
by Undies Sided on Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 10:58:28 AM EST

[durrrty libby]

49. What does it say about people here, that coercion is fine with them?

The BO camp is pretty damn shameful with their Fuck Democracy cheer

[madrchsod]

21. ever been in a union?

sometimes it`s not for the faint hearted..much to do about the a fact of life.

[Barack_America]

28. Isn't it odd that so many Democrats around here are so naive about unions...

It wouldn't have been that way 30 years ago.

[sufrommich]

42. I've been in a union for 30 years,

my ex husband for just as many.Half my relatives here in Michigan are or were in the UAW. Unions have always promoted the candidate of their choice,however,I have never seen the threat of repercussions evident or so easily susceptible as it will be in Nevada. Whether for Clinton or Obama,frankly it pains me to see all unions taking the hit for any strongarm tactics that may be in play here.As a proud union member,I hope it doesn't happen,it will give all unions a black eye and provide endless fodder for the right wing spin machine.

[ShaneGR]

25. I'm an Edwards Guy, I'm unbiased on the issue, Have to say Casino voting is a bad idea

My problems with it are the following:

#1: If you've ever been to Nevada you know that most of the strip casinos are absolutely huge. A Union endorsement in those working environments is going to automatically cause intimidation problems in the workforce. All those people allowed to vote in the their workplace. If you've ever been to Vegas or any major casino, every establishment would employ thousands of people.

#2: If one person is allowed to vote at work, doesn't that DEVALUE the vote of a person who had to get in their car, drive to a polling station, vote, and then go back home.

[billbuckhead]

27. Intimidating Hispanic voters? Some uniter this Obama

More Reaganism from :tinfoilhat:bama

[Karmadillo]

37. Good points.

nt

[Essene]

39. So, if you work near the polling station your vote counts more? NO. Silly argument.

Obviously if can impact turn-out.

Since when is it a crime or inappropriate to establish polling stations were most of the people work?

I cannot believe democrats are making this argument. It's disgusting.

[durrrty libby]

50. Only a simpleton does not understand why this is a bad idea

[HughMoran]

30. Caucusing sucks - especially this one

Even if the accusations are exaggerated, you have to admit that the inevitability of such disputes is unavoidable. I hope they never do it this way again :(

[Tom Rinaldo]

44. Sometimes we forget why "the secret ballot" is such a bedrock Democratic principle n/t

[Thrill]

32. Hillary is sinking and shes scared. So we hear this BS

Already looking to make an excuse for not winning.

Why no quotes from the people who have been told this?

[Common Sense Party]

35. Golly! Unions using strongarm tactics?

Who'da thunk it?

[FlyingSquirrel]

36. Hmmm. Could be first time disenfranchisement works in reverse?

Not that I care. Take it all with a grain of salt...

[indimuse]

43. If you don’t sign, we’re going to send you back to Mexico.’ ”

Culinary Union Intimidating Members to Vote for Obama
Iowamomentum in Diaries
1/16/2008 at 9:21 PM EST

This needs to be pushed to CNN/MSNBC/Foxnews ASAP... Disgusting Chicago politics...

http://www.taylormarsh.com /

There's nothing dainty about Las Vegas but things are getting rough.

Intimidation. Pledges demanded. People to vote for Obama or stay away from the caucus.

Call this union vs. the casino workers.

I just did an interview with a Culinary union member who was intimidated while eating lunch in the cafeteria at work. She didn't want to give her name, but she wanted to tell her story. The connection is rough, but her story tells the tale. It's below in a podcast:

Culinary Union pressures members to vote for Obama.

Pamela over at Democratic Daily posted on a tip she received about the intimidation.

Jon Ralston talked about it this morning on MSNBC.

I just got off the phone with a unimpeachable source that there has been more than one confrontation between union reps and members.

This is not an indictment against unions, especially considering I joined my first union when I was in my teens, totally four eventually. Unions are the backbone of the middle class. But in every good group there lies opportunistic cretins. Obama's supporters are obviously applying Chicago style politics in Sin City and they've got three days to get the job done.

Meanwhile, you've got big shots like John Kerry talking about "let the people vote" doing so within a stacked system titled towards the Culinary union, with many of their members who'd much rather vote for someone other than Obama being intimidated and forced to sign pledge cards. Some will fight back, but most will not. From what I'm hearing, this is getting ugly. It's the opposite side, with the story actually being "make the people vote for me."



<SNIP>>>

If you don’t sign, we’re going to send you back to Mexico.’ ”
This is from a few years ago, about the Culinary Union and it’s tactics. This was written by the Nevada Journal and describes the union’s practices while trying to organize at the MGM Grand hotel. The union forced workers, particularly inon-English speaking workers, to sign cards in support of the union but used threats and outright lies to coerce them to do so.

“Where is Justice for the Working People?”

nj.npri.org/nj98/03/cover_story.htm

“”It was just very hostile,” Restori said. “If you did not agree with the other side, people no longer spoke. A wonderful place to work has turned into a frenzy—splitting up people, making enemies out of friends.”
Restori, originally from Pittsburgh, used to be a strong supporter of unions. Her husband was a member of the Steelworkers Union before they moved to Las Vegas. An employee of the MGM since its opening, Restori helped the Culinary Union Local 226 in its first effort to organize the hotel-resort until she realized it was taking advantage of people.
“Unions are good but not this one,” she said. “My feeling is that the Culinary Union has targeted—I will say—foreign people. They manipulated, tricked and fooled them and took advantage of their lack of knowledge of labor laws, their rights.
“They were saying, for instance, ‘Sign this card, you’ll get a free turkey. If you don’t sign, we’re going to send you back to Mexico.’ ”

This one is from 2004 from the Nevada Policy Research Institute. It describes the Culinary Unions merger with UNITE.

“Culinary’s Sinister New Partner”

Obama is no longer someone I can admire................