Nebraskans are about to make history. On Saturday February 9, Nebraska’s Democratic Party will hold it’s first ever Presidential Caucus. In the past almost forty years Nebraska’s May primary has had no say in which the Democratic nominee for President would be. In 2008, However Nebraska is taking a role in that process by holding an early caucus, A caucus is a local meeting of a political party that gathers in homes, schools and other locations in Nebraska to elect delegates in their county convention to be the nominee for the Democratic Party President.

     The caucus is open to any registered Democrat who would be 18 years or older before Election Day on November 4. This does not eliminate the May Primary Election. You will still have to go to their polling place to vote for local races. The nominee for the Presidential race will already be chosen.

Since the Nebraska Democratic Party has chosen to be a part of the Presidential Caucus and it appears there will be no cut and dry nomination after Super Tuesday, even with all the delegates in place after Super Tuesday, which is just short of 1,700 delegates the candidates still would need 2,025 to secure the nomination. Nebraska has 31 delegates in play, which could make a big difference in the nomination process. This also make states with a larger number of delegates more powerful and the candidates will be focusing on states like California with 370 delegates and New York with 232 delegates which award delegates proportionally with the delegates awarded by popular vote in congressional districts and the rest based on statewide voting.

     Nebraska hasn’t voted for a Democratic President since 1964 when Lyndon Johnson ran for office after the assassination of John Kennedy. Today, as in 1964, Nebraska’s young people are getting more involved in politics, they are leading the way for voter turnout, and they are getting the word out on the caucus. Nebraska’s youth know that their future is at stake and are becoming more involved in the caucus and setting up meetings and actually looking forward to the caucus and becoming part of this historical event. Clinton has said that she will campaign here, knowing the role that Nebraska will be playing in the Democratic process. Edwards has also shown interest if he is still in the race after February 5.

TOP 10 REASONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUSES ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008

1.  The Caucus Counts – Unlike the Iowa Caucus, the Nebraska Caucus counts.  THE RESULT ON FEB 9 IS BINDING.  The outcome on Feb 9 is the final result.  Whatever is decided on Feb 9 will determine which candidate receives Nebraska’s presidential delegates at the Democratic National Convention.  Many states have moved the date of their caucus or primary to before Nebraska’s.  Even if a candidate emerges from these other state contests as the likely nominee for president, it’s still crucial for union members to participate in the Nebraska caucus.  THE NEBRASKA CAUCUS COUNTS!

2.  Presidential Delegates - The process of electing presidential delegates to the Democratic National Convention begins at the caucuses. These Presidential Delegates will then move onto the County Convention and vote for Presidential Delegates to the State Convention.

3.  Major Political Event – This is the first caucus to be held in the state of Nebraska and is a major political event. 

4.  Educate – This is an opportunity for voters to become more educated about the political process.  It’s also a chance to highlight labor issues and educate those outside of labor about issues that are important to us.

5.  Grassroots Organizing – Caucuses are all about grassroots organizing.  Caucuses connect and engage people on a one-to-one basis.

6.  Solidarity – Meet other democrats that live in your neighborhood.

7.  Build Coalitions – Get to know other people and network with them to advance the cause of working people.

8.  Be Engaged – The Nebraska Democrats are holding caucuses this year and so they become the political game in town.  Once the caucuses are over, precinct organizing will begin. 

9.  Strength – A strong showing of voting democrats to participate in the caucuses on Feb 9 will demonstrate democrats are a force in the community and in politics

10. Fun – Participating in a caucus is fun and a great way to see and participate in a democratic process.

NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS LOCATIONS

DOUGLAS COUNTY at 10am

District 5 - Metro – South Campus – 27^th & “Q”

District 6 -  Western Hills Magnet School – 6523 Western Avenue

District 7 - Metro – South Campus – 27^th & “Q”

District 8 -   Monroe Middle School – 5105 Bedford Ave.

District 9 -  Norris Middle School. – 2235 S. 46 St

District 10 - Dodge Elementary – 3520 Maplewood Blvd

District 12 - Ralston Middle School – 8202 Lakeview St. (Ralston).

District 13 - Metro Fort Omaha – Building 7 – 30^th & Fort Streets

District 18 -  Buffett Magnet – 14105 Larimore Ave

District 20 -  Westside High School – 87^th & Pacific

District 23 -  Douglas County West High School – 401 Pine Street (Valley)

District 31 -  Steamfitters Local 464, 13505 “B”

District 39 - Metro Elkhorn Campus – 204^th & W. Dodge

SARPY COUNTY at noon

All Districts  - Papillion-LaVista South High School

                  10799 Highway 370, Papillion, NE 68046 

Caucus locations for all 93 counties in Nebraska will be posted on the website of the Nebraska Democratic Party.   http://www.nebraskademocrats.org/

     Outsourcing has spun out of control. How many times have you called your cell phone company or cable company and someone with the name of Sajid or Habid answers the line? When was the last time you got a real person on the line and not a robotic machine telling you to press one for English and two for Spanish? Where are these people talking to you from? Are they in India, or somewhere in Asia? If you are fortunate enough, they are Canadian and you can at least understand what they are saying.

     First, these are jobs that are being lost to Americans who need jobs but can’t find them because “big business” in America can outsource to foreign countries at a price that saves their company money and benefits and taxes that we as Americans have to pay. American companies that outsource receive tax breaks, but they are not helping their own people. Instead, they are sending the jobs to India, Asia, Canada and other foreign nations and putting money in the pockets of foreigners when our people are struggling to find work. Do you think this is this fair? Surely, we should keep the money here to be spent on American goods and services. Instead, American companies are building campuses on foreign soil, to house their customer service representatives, yet we as Americans can’t even understand what Sajid or Hussein is saying.

     Outsourcing started in the 1980’s and since has grown immensely to the point that it has been criticized by many politicians. During his 2004 campaign, former U. S. Senator John Kerry has said U.S. firms that outsource jobs abroad or that incorporate overseas have created tax havens to avoid paying their fair share of U.S. taxes, calling such firms "Benedict Arnold corporations".

     The Philippines, one of the leading countries that provides outsourcing services has employed hundreds of thousands of people for jobs that could be done right here in the United States, which would bring our unemployment rate down immensely. Keeping jobs in America would impact families that are on welfare and government assistance and save U.S. citizens millions of dollars that we pay in taxes. It could also give single parents part-time jobs to help with everyday expenses that are unaffordable to them.

     Do these companies who outsource really care about their own people, or is all about the dollar? It is time we as Americans take a stand. The next time you call and get Habid on the line, hang up! Tell them that you can’t understand them and you want to speak to someone who speaks English without the accent. Call their headquarters and complain. If that does not work, stop doing business with these companies. This is hurting America and even more it is hurting you as a tax-paying citizen. If they want to build campuses for these foreign speaking customer service representatives, why not do it here in America for the homeless and give them a place to live and work? The government wants to give big business a tax break, so be it, but make them do it for fellow Americans. Are Chinese or Filipino businesses outsourcing any of their jobs to the U.S.? I seriously doubt it. Remember, we are giving our credit card numbers to foreigners and who knows with all the terrorist talk around the world, they could be buying weapons of mass destruction with our money. 

     Therefore, the next time you call,  remember that someone in India or China or half way around the world is making money that could be paid to you or a family member who needs a job. They are spending that dollar or yen in their country and it is probably not filtering back to the U.S. and it is probably not buying a product that is made in the U.S.A.  As Americans, we need to wake up to this problem and make the businesses that are outsourcing answer to those who buy their products and use their services, and if they can’t give us an answer, then HANG UP AMERICA!!!