Nevada GOP's sundown caucus becomes raucous

Posts about the Fifth Commandment have been moved to Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. While I realize the topics are connected, let's try to keep this on focused on the Nevada caucus, and what is and isn't considered "work" on the Sabbath in the spin-off thread.

Quote: MrV

The questioned action did NOT cross the line; in essence it asked those who wanted to vote "after hours" to state affirmatively that they had a good reason not to vote earlier.

It did not in essence ask that. To caucus on Saturday evening one had to affirm they missed the morning caucus for religious reasons.

"Hundreds of people who crowded into the Adelson Educational Campus in Summerlin witnessed repeated clashes between local Republican party officials and would-be caucus-goers who resented being required to affirm their religious beliefs before being allowed to participate." -- LVRJ article.

That is pure and simple religious discrimination. I applaud those who attempted to caucus anyway for other reasons.

Quote: Face

Saturday, Wiz, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that they don't work, they don't drive a car, they don't #$%&@ ride in a car, they don't handle money, they don't turn on the oven, and they sure as #$^ *don't %#&^%$ vote*! ;)

C'mon, I'm not the only one who thought of this, right?

Haha, I had the same exact thought.

"Three thousand years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Sandy Koufax... YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT I'M LIVING IN THE FUCKING PAST!"

FWIW I hate caucuses since you can't absentee vote. Now, to be fair, I didn't have such a strong opinion until recently I realized that I'm going to miss my local GOP caucus this year because I will be, ironically, in Las Vegas. But after reading up on it, I can't believe so many of our states still use this antiquated system. I do kind of like how it favors those who are more motivated and organized. It doesn't bother me that those who put forth more effort get to be counted. But the absentee thing is killer, especially considering all of our military brethren serving abroad who have no chance to have their voice heard in this important process.

Quote: AcesAndEights

But the absentee thing is killer, especially considering all of our military brethren serving abroad who have no chance to have their voice heard in this important process.

In Nevada I believe there is an exception for the military serving overseas, and only them.

More from the LVRJ on the Saturday evening caucus: Lies, anti-Semitism intrude on special Saturday night caucus.

In regard to all of that voter fraud that restricting access to voting is supposed to prevent..

It seems to only catch Republicans.

Quote: AcesAndEights

FWIW I hate caucuses since you can't absentee vote. Now, to be fair, I didn't have such a strong opinion until recently I realized that I'm going to miss my local GOP caucus this year because I will be, ironically, in Las Vegas. But after reading up on it, I can't believe so many of our states still use this antiquated system. I do kind of like how it favors those who are more motivated and organized. It doesn't bother me that those who put forth more effort get to be counted. But the absentee thing is killer, especially considering all of our military brethren serving abroad who have no chance to have their voice heard in this important process.

I kind of think it is a quaint old thing, the caucus system and encourages actual debate. Dems go further in that direction with the "viability" rule but both systems make it more than some kind of run-off contest. OTOH, I understand the absentee thing and that if you have to work you are SOL for the most part. Perhaps Texas has the right idea, they do both a primary and a caucus and divide the delegates however.

The First Amendment does not apply to the Nevada GOP because they are not state actors. The U.S. Constitution only applies to government and public bodies. That said, it was bizarre for Adelson to mandate that. He certainly would piss people off by making them "swear to their religion." Then again, for the amount of money he spends, what he says goes in the G.O.P. and especially in Nevada. People don't understand how much influence he weilds. In Israel, he is often called the fourth branch of government just because he spends so much money and throws his weight around a lot there.

Religious Jewish students will often be allowed to take the SAT and other tests on a Sunday if their rabbi writes them a letter. It's hard to say that is discriminatory.

Quote: teddys

Religious Jewish students will often be allowed to take the SAT and other tests on a Sunday if their rabbi writes them a letter. It's hard to say that is discriminatory.

I've been thinking more about this. What bothered me before was that members of Sabbath-observing religions were given the opportunity to caucus at two different times, and everybody else once. That seemed like religious favoritism to me. However, I think an orthodox Jew would say he had only one opportunity because they take the Sabbath so seriously.

If I could be somehow convinced that somebody truly couldn't vote on a Saturday morning then I could take a special evening caucus a little better. However, I still resent being asked what religion I am. It seems so un-American.

A solution I think I would accept is that anybody wishing to participate in the evening caucus would have to supply documentation to show they could not have voted in the morning. A letter from an Orthodox Rabi would suffice. Another good reason might be work, in which case a letter from the employer must be submitted. The party should not have to scrutinize everybody's letter, but ensure nobody caucused twice. I think producing a letter says to me that going to the evening caucus was important to him/her, not just a matter of convenience.