So Senator Barack Obama won the Nebraska, Washington state, and Maine caucuses. The caucus score is now at ten for Obama and one for Hillary. No surprise there. As I noted after Iowa, the caucus system is reminiscent of 19th century voting, or a system designed long ago for and by an elite male class.
Elites males represent a significant portion of Senator Obama's base.
The caucus system is undemocratic. It disenfranchises working class voters who simply do not have the flexible schedules held by the elite class. Unlike the primary, the caucus system does not make voting available all day long to accommodate people with all types of schedules. To make matters worse, most state caucuses do not permit absentee ballot provisions.
The disenfranchised include the elderly, the disabled, people with multiple jobs, caregivers, medical personnel, police, firemen/women, members of the military, blue and pink collar workers and women.
Christopher Hitchens notes the undemocratic nature of the caucus:
It's only when you read an honest reporter like Dan Balz that you appreciate the depth and extent of the fraud that is being practiced on us all. "In a primary," as he put it, "voters quietly fill out their ballots and leave. In the caucuses, they are required to come and stay for several hours, and there are no secret ballots. In the presence of friends, neighbors and occasionally strangers,
Make no mistake, this system of public voting advantages the louder and more aggressive half of the species far more than it advantages women. Never mind the more obvious intimidation factor, I think we all know that there are some women who will vote for Hillary only if their husbands are not looking over their shoulders. Just as there are some working class voters who are loathe to express their preference with their bosses in the same room.
In short, the undemocratic caucus system disadvantages and disenfranchises Hillary's base. That would be working class voters, the elderly, and women.
Will the media discuss this? Or will they merely chalk up 10 out of 11 caucus wins to Obama fever?
Update - Marc Ambinder: "100,000 of Hillary Clinton's enthusiastic donors have contributed more than $10M since Feb 5. Now these numbers are looked at with suspicion by Obama allies. They can't possibly see how Clinton could generate some of the same enthusiasm that Obama does -- they can't stand comparisons of his donors to hers."
Update #2: Melissa at Shakesville weighs in on Women and Caucuses.
Gender Class Disenfranchise Caucus Hillary Clinton Barack Obama News Washington Nebraska Politics Elite Male Bias
