I am a business Democrat for 30 years. I have been active in the Democratic party for 25 years as a Precinct Committee person (3 times), District Captain, numerous County delegations and State delegations. I am currently a county delegate again this year in my capacity as a Chairman of the County central committee for Rules, Regulations, Resolutions and Organization. I’ve done a lot to maintain and volunteer for my local Democratic party in Denver and here in Southern Colorado. I believe in local politics as the only true politics worth any of my energy. Last Saturday I was elected as a Hillary Delegate to the State convention to represent our county. We had 2 Hillary slots and 4 Bernie slots for a total of 6 delegates from the poorest county in Colorado.
At the precinct caucus, we had 23 people show and 13 Bernie people and 10 Hillary in our precinct. We split the delegates 3/3. 2 Bernie supporters were elected as Precinct committee people (PCP’s). Hallelujah! This is how the revolution really begins because all 13 Bernie supporters had never been to a caucus in their lives, it was their first. Maria, my neighbor and best friend, was outstanding, she was unanimously selected as a delegate to the county convention for her beautiful words: “When I first came to America, Hillary and Bill Clinton (add accent… it’s so cute) were in the White House and I knew they were trying to do a lot of things for the common people. Her experience in foreign policy makes her the most qualified candidate for President that I have seen since coming to America. I am happy to stand up and support Hillary Clinton.”
Some people vote with their heart in a simple and sweetly passionate way that only can be conveyed with sincerity and humility. Conversely, Maria’s husband had just dumped her off on the side of the dirt road when she informed him at the last moment that she was going to the caucus with Johnnie and I. He is a Montana-style nihilist and does not agree with voting or any institutional participation of any sort. He is as passionate at not voting as I am for voting.
She sat quietly in the back seat as we drove the 14 miles into town for the caucus. My heart swelled at her courage and resolution.
The County convention, two weeks later, was momentous for the Central committee and 59 elected delegates who attended at the community center. We debated 30 resolutions for recommendation to the State. The delegates were enthused about the Democratic process of a caucus. It is truly democracy at it’s finest when people come together and spend 5 hours in a caucus and 5 hours in a convention to debate the issues that face our county.
And now I’m off to the State convention in April to choose our National delegates from Colorado. Democracy is a process which takes many forms. Here in Colorado, we caucus like many states, and the process seems to benefit the new comers and the establishment insiders to move forward progressively and incrementally together toward a better Democratic Party.
We are staying in a hotel together and attending 2 conventions. We ‘re bringing our swim suits and cowboy hats with red, white and blue because we are gonna party like Hicks from the Sticks!
Go Hillary!