Houston, we have a problem.

[Viktoriya]

I mentioned that many people who made calls to Texas today run onto 2 problems:
1. Spanish
2. Caucus
Campaign doesn’t have transcript in Spanish.
Many people don’t know that they have to go back to caucus.
How to solve? Any thoughts?

o I've been making calls for Hillary all afternoon in Texas and have run across many who cannot speak English. I went to Google Translator and wrote up my own script, first apologizing if my Spanish is not correct. Most of the Latino's didn't know about the caucus and I can't convince them to go.

I'm also running into situations that many of the elderly, although they voted early for Hillary, cannot return to the caucus because of their age (many over 85) and they can't get a ride. Some are insisting that the caucus is not necessary for their votes to count. Has anyone else run into this and does the Hillary campaign have a way to work with these senior citizens to get their votes to count?

[CGP]

I mentioned that many people who made calls to Texas today run onto 2 problems:
1. Spanish
2. Caucus
Campaign doesn’t have transcript in Spanish.
Many people don’t know that they have to go back to caucus.
How to solve? Any thoughts?

o I've been making calls for Hillary all afternoon in Texas and have run across many who cannot speak English. I went to Google Translator and wrote up my own script, first apologizing if my Spanish is not correct. Most of the Latino's didn't know about the caucus and I can't convince them to go.

I'm also running into situations that many of the elderly, although they voted early for Hillary, cannot return to the caucus because of their age (many over 85) and they can't get a ride. Some are insisting that the caucus is not necessary for their votes to count. Has anyone else run into this and does the Hillary campaign have a way to work with these senior citizens to get their votes to count?

I know of some spanish-speaking people who have been doing calls so maybe they have developed a script themselves. You could try contacting Valencia who is a member of this forum who speaks Spanish. See below for how to contact her:

http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/discussion/member.php?u=113

The caucus system SUX!! The best we can do is educate as many voters as possible in the time left. It's definitely not a system favorable to Hillary. Obama has much of the youth vote and they are of course more mobile and more able to bring in their friends (who may not even have any idea what is really going on!) to stack the caucuses against Hillary.

I am sure there will be efforts made by local campaign staff and volunteers to provide transport to those voters who have transport difficulties.

I think Hillary will do well in the Texas primary but the Texas caucus might be another story given the obstacles currently in place.

[BloodDAnna]

If there are Texans on here maybe they can contact their local Senior Center to see if there are anyone needing rides to caucus and maybe some Soccer mom's could use their mini-vans to carpool them there.

[Viktoriya]

I agree Caucuses are not fair game. It discriminates elderly and shy people. We have to fight. I think to provide ride to people is a good idea.

[CGP]

I have asked someone to get hold of a spanish-language calling script. I will forward when I recieve it.

[Viktoriya]

I have asked someone to get hold of a spanish-language calling script. I will forward when I recieve it.

Thanks!
Another note. Hillary has new slogan in Ohio" Progress vs. Change". I think it is good.

[BloodDAnna]

I agree Caucuses are not fair game. It discriminates elderly and shy people. We have to fight. I think to provide ride to people is a good idea.

I totally agree. A girl I know who is a firm Hillary supporter would not go to the caucus because she didn't want everyone in our small town to see who she supported as she had already beentaking alot of flack for it. All of my in-laws kept saying "I already voted for her" with their primary ballots and just did not get that they had to caucus to make it count.

In Texas, 2/3 of the delegates are allocated with the PB, the other 1/3 is through the caucus process.

If their caucus goes anything like ours did there will be shady business. When people sign in they must NOT let there sheet out of their site or their candidate will be changed by someone, they hand out ballpoint pens but I'd suggest a black sharpie lol. MAKE SURE YOU INDICATE YOUR CANDIDATE DO NOT LEAVE IT BLANK. There are alot of people crammed into a small space and be prepared to have people ask you who you are voting for and why, they will try to sway you before it even gets rolling.

If its like Washington states then each candidate gets to have someone stand up and speak for their candidate to try to sway the undecideds. Someone else here said that there were a bunch of sudden epiphanies to jump ship....do not be a sheep and stand your ground they are only there to mess with you.

After the person speaks then you have an oportunity to change your mind or not. Then 2 people, one for each candidate, will get to count the "ballots" this is how the delegates are decided. Here each vote counts as 1/2. Then you break into the 2 groups to decide your precinct delegates, those are the people who will represent your precinct and candidate at the pending county conventions all the way to the Democratic Convention this August. If you want to really make a difference then step up to be one. Depending upon how many delegates your candidate and precinct are worth determines how many human delegates there are.

Damn I wish I were in Texas on Tuesday!

[Viktoriya]

I totally agree. A girl I know who is a firm Hillary supporter would not go to the caucus because she didn't want everyone in our small town to see who she supported as she had already beentaking alot of flack for it. All of my in-laws kept saying "I already voted for her" with their primary ballots and just did not get that they had to caucus to make it count.

In Texas, 2/3 of the delegates are allocated with the PB, the other 1/3 is through the caucus process.

If their caucus goes anything like ours did there will be shady business. When people sign in they must NOT let there sheet out of their site or their candidate will be changed by someone, they hand out ballpoint pens but I'd suggest a black sharpie lol. MAKE SURE YOU INDICATE YOUR CANDIDATE DO NOT LEAVE IT BLANK. There are alot of people crammed into a small space and be prepared to have people ask you who you are voting for and why, they will try to sway you before it even gets rolling.

If its like Washington states then each candidate gets to have someone stand up and speak for their candidate to try to sway the undecideds. Someone else here said that there were a bunch of sudden epiphanies to jump ship....do not be a sheep and stand your ground they are only there to mess with you.

After the person speaks then you have an oportunity to change your mind or not. Then 2 people, one for each candidate, will get to count the "ballots" this is how the delegates are decided. Here each vote counts as 1/2. Then you break into the 2 groups to decide your precinct delegates, those are the people who will represent your precinct and candidate at the pending county conventions all the way to the Democratic Convention this August. If you want to really make a difference then step up to be one. Depending upon how many delegates your candidate and precinct are worth determines how many human delegates there are.

Damn I wish I were in Texas on Tuesday!

Yea, I wish we had more “tough” people on the ground.

[Valencia]

I will translate for u.

[CGP]

I will translate for u.

Brilliant, thank you.

Here is the English script:

http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/docs/texasgotvscript.pdf

[CGP]

The caucus system/process definitely is well set up for those who wish to engage in unethical conduct and pressure/influence others and engage in shady practices!

Say no more!

[SoCal4Hillary]

I'm ashamed to say this, having lived in Texas for a good number of years, but until VERY recently (like the last week or two), I had no idea about the 2-part primary process. I know I certainly never attended a caucus in all the years I lived there. :confused: And I like to think I'm pretty well informed politically...

[BloodDAnna]

I was on another site where a guy is telling other Obama Texans to get there first and hoard the sign in sheet thus making them the moderator for that precinct so they can set the tone. I sure hope Team Hillary are there in force keeping an eye on shady business.

[CGP]

I was on another site where a guy is telling other Obama Texans to get there first and hoard the sign in sheet thus making them the moderator for that precinct so they can set the tone. I sure hope Team Hillary are there in force keeping an eye on shady business.

How many times have we heard about this "shady business" taking place at caucuses by Obama supporters?? TOO MANY!! For a leader that claims to have "higher ethics" (NOT), many of his supporters seem remarkably unethical, especially based on their behavior at these caucus events!

[BloodDAnna]

I'm pretty convinced that they are programmed, who in their right mind would think that type of behavior is legal and acceptable? Has everyone in this country thrown their common sense out the window? Then again, I remember reading a survey awhile back given to kids and the majority thought cheating on school work was ok.

[Patsy]

We need new leadership at the helm of the DNC. You can not have caucuses and think they benefit any Democrat. Most Democrats actually work for a living or are older and can not go through the long process and the intimidation created in these environments. I think we will all have to get together when this campaign is finished and demand some very serious changes in a variety of areas surrounding our Nominating process. Quite frankly,it's discriminating.

[Viktoriya]

I also disturbed by requests from Dem super delegates to put pressure on Hillary to quit after these shady caucuses business. I mentioned on the Texas blog one of callers to Texas said that Obama is register students from other r states to caucuses. Obama volunteer mentioned that before somebody will figure it out it will be too late.
I copy complained and send it to Dem. Party. No reply so far.