Earlier this week, Taylor Marsh highlighted the actions of an Obama precinct captain in Nevada encouraging Republicans to become Democrats for one day in order to defeat Hillary in Saturday's caucuses.
In a conference call, former Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party Adriana Martinez said, "Our caucus is for Democrats...not for Republicans trying to game the system and trying to become Democrats for a day." [Source: 1/14/2008 ABC News/Political Punch article "Calling All Independents and Republicans Who "Don't Want Hillary"]
I think many Democrats who have put their blood, sweat, tears, and money into building the Democratic Party in their states, counties, and cities were put off at the notion of a volunteer encouraging Republicans to become Democrats for a day just so their candidate could win.
The Obama campaign immediately denounced the flyer with spokesman Bill Burton saying, "We've learned that one individual who volunteers for the campaign was making the flyer and we've instructed him to stop creating and distributing it."
Unfortunately, recent actions by the Obama camp have shown these comments by Bill Burton as being nothing but lip-service to ease the concerns of die-hard, yellow dog Democrats.
Barack Obama's campaign is currently running radio ads in Nevada encouraging independents and Republicans who want "real change" to switch registration this Saturday and vote for Obama. Here's the ad; pay close attention to the 0:09 mark:
Now I know there are some who believe that by reaching out and encouraging Republicans to vote in the Democratic primaries and/or caucuses, Barack Obama is attempting to grow the Democratic Party.
I vehemently disagree with that assertion.
First, Barack Obama is not trying to grow the support of the Democratic Party. He is trying to grow support for himself.
And lastly, the Democratic primaries and the Democratic caucuses are for Democrats.
If Republicans are voting in the Democratic primary and Democrats are voting in the Republican primary, then what exactly is the point of having a primary season. We might as well just place everyone on the ballot, Democrat and Republican, let the people vote, and then have the top two vote-getters move on to the run-off.
Wait a minute...
... We do do that. It's called the General Election.
However, primaries and caucuses are not the General Election. They are elections within each respective political party to determine which candidate will represent their party on the General Election ballot.
Our caucus is for Democrats...not for Republicans trying to game the system and trying to become Democrats for a day.