Why We Caucus

Well, since Dave and Ed have both put posts up today questioning why we caucus, I suppose that someone needs to come to the defense of the process. Now I can not speak for those that initiated the caucus system in Minnesota, so I will have to speak to why I am a huge fan of the caucus process.

I moved to Minnesota from a primary state. The rank and file voters were not welcome in the party machine - except to vote or to donate money. As a result, there was always a "Good Old Boys" network that ran the parties. Voters simply were not part of their process. Then I moved to Minnesota and wow what a difference. in 1994, I read a community notice in our local paper that invited everyone to come to caucus. Even though I had a barely 1 year old at home, I was curious enough that I hired a babysitter and I came to cacus. I still remember Richard (our precinct chair) - even though he and his wife moved away a couple of years ago. They welcomed me in and told me to ask questions if I didn't understand something. I asked a lot of questions that night but I came away hooked on the process.

I attended caucuses every two years after that, but it was not until 2000 that I actually "got involved" in the party. At the 2000 caucus I signed up to be a delegate to the Senate District and Congressional District conventions and attended both of them. In 2004, I was asked to be a part of our Senate District Executive Committee as Media Relations Chair (that was the start of the blogging monster!) and two years later I was elected Chairman of our BPOU.

Now that the history lesson is done, on to the remarks.

Ed made one comment over at Heading Right that I simply must refute.

Caucuses benefit party apparatchiks, not candidates and certainly not voters.

Based on my experiences here in Minnesota, he could not be further from the truth. Our caucuses have always bent over backwards to accomodate and include the voters - because we know that they are our base of support!

Ed also remarks on the confusion of Iowa and Nevada. I think Jim Moore of the Minnesota Independence Party hit the nail on the head.

Recently, the term "caucus" has become tainted with a perception of superiority, secrecy, and protection of "insiders" that some find intimidating and others find distasteful.

We definitely saw that on display in Nevada and Iowa when the Democrats caucused there. However, the Republicans had caucuses those nights as well and there were no problems. Nor are there problems like that here in Minnesota - for either party. Here in Minnesota we have secret balloting - no standing in a corner for all to see who you are supporting. Here in Minnesota we try not to let campaign operatives knowingly run a caucus as you saw in Nevada. In those cases, that is more of an indictment of the caucus organizers than it is the caucus process.

Dave remarks in his post.

The caucus system, whatever it's strengths may be, serves to intimidate first time voters. To say that it's rules and procedures are confusing to most people would be an understatement.

I can't argue with that - it can indeed be confusing for a first timer...especially if that first timer does not ask (or is not afforded the opportunity to ask) a lot of questions. The thing is, the MNGOP puts together a nifty little FAQ sheet that is available to all caucus goers - a "What to Expect Tonight" paper that caucus goers can read and use to help navigate the waters.

Dave also brings up another point that simply must be answered.

But the biggest flaw in the caucus system is the small window of time in which they are held. In a primary vote, most polls are open 12 hours, and there are state and federal laws requiring that employers give time off to vote. The caucus takes place over a 2-4 hour period, and you must be present and registered promptly at the starting time.

Starting with the last sentence first I have to say that in all my years of doing this I have yet to see any political meeting start promptly - it just does not happen. True you can not come in and register at 7:30, but I simply can not think of a single caucus that I have attended that started on time.

His other point has some validity. Caucuses are time consuming. It is not an event where you show up, fill in a couple of ovals and then go on with life. It is designed to be interactive - not a solo project. It is a place where the Joe and Jane Citizen can go and argue for the issues that are important to them. Whether it is on the battlefield or in a smoky back room with a bunch of cranky old people, the fight for democracy takes many forms.

Minnesota's caucus process is an opportunity for the average taxpaying citizen to have a say in how party politics is done! On it's purest level (which the Iowa and Nevada Democrat caucuses were not) it is where everyone truly gets to have their say. It is a chance for neighbors to get together and have a say in the direction of their city and state.