Government : Area Democrats discuss their favorite candidate as Caucus nears

Hundreds of local voters gathered inside the Vinton Skate Center last week to hear – and hopefully shake hands with – Hillary Clinton.

When Duska Phelps heard of Hillary’s visit, she arranged her schedule so she could be there, too.

But instead of lining up to get inside, Phelps stood outside, holding up a sign indicating she supports another candidate – Bernie Sanders.

“I am 33 and this is my first Caucus,” says Phelps, who has volunteered to be a Sanders precinct captain. Security officers during Clinton’s visit wouldn’t let her stand in the Skate Center parking lot, so she stood nearby, holding her Sanders sign.

“I never knew much about caucus and I was just getting involved in the voting process at that time. I am happy to be involved in caucus this year for I know how important it is for the candidate of my choice, Bernie Sanders, to win the democratic nomination. History is being made regardless,” Phelps says.

Sanders, says Phelps, would help offer equal education for all, act to stop climate change, promote racial justice and end the rigged economy, as well as expand Social Security and support women’s rights and equal pay.

“He is always consistent and is always for all of the American people,” says Phelps. “Actions speak louder than words and he has the proof to back him up.

"The only thing the debates show me is how everyone else flip-flops and how Bernie stays focused on real issues. Bernie has the most experience than any other candidate from either party. More importantly Bernie is the only one that does not have a Super Pac. His campaign is funded by everyday people, contributing on the average $30 per person. And over the course of his long political career he has never taken money from corporate interests.”

Most of the people, however, who lined up to go through Secret Service security at the Skate Center were there to show their support for the former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State, and to hear her appeal to them to vote for her on Monday.

“I'm a Democrat and I feel Hillary is the most qualified Democratic candidate that we have,” says Ed Sass of Shellsburg, a former county supervisor who, with his sons, was among many local residents to shake Clinton’s hand and take a selfie with her.

“I like a few of Bernie Sanders’ ideas but I like Hillary a lot better,” says Sass. “Also, I feel she's the most qualified candidate out of all the candidates running for President. Being the past First Lady, being a past Senator and being a past Secretary of State, she's been around all the foreign diplomats and has a good idea of what's going on over there more than what the other candidates really know. I also feel America is better off with a Democratic president in office than a Republican president; it seems like there is better growth –better everything – for rural America with a Democratic president.”

Sitting behind Hillary during her speech in Vinton was rural Vinton resident and Cedar Rapids teacher Sara Arnold. A member of “Educators for Hillary,” she has volunteered in recent weeks to help elect Clinton and encourage Iowa Democrats to vote for her in Monday’s Caucus.

“Hillary has the experience necessary to lead our country from day one as president. She has taken the time to sit down with educators from across the United States and listen. She understands that teachers must have a voice in educational decisions. My students matter to her,” said Arnold.

Another Hillary supporter from Benton County is Jennifer Rowray, who cites gender issues as one of her main reasons for her choice.

“I was a volunteer in the Bill Clinton campaign back when I was young,” recalls Roway. “I was disappointed in the way he disrespected his wife and in his support of DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman). I watched Hillary closely and, while I wanted to be angry with her for putting up with Bill's indiscretions, I grew to understand her need to keep her family together and to stand by the man whom she considered her best friend despite his actions. I also, as I grew older, began to see that understanding gay rights can take time. I had from the day I was born until the day I came out in my 20's to think about, deal with, digest all that there is to learn about being gay, wanting the same rights as everyone. Most straight people, Sec. Clinton included, don't really put much thought into being gay unless it starts to directly affect his or her family or life. Learning about that with which you have no daily connection takes time and it is an evolving process. Secretary Clinton, an intelligent and thoughtful person, followed the flow of social and political tides that surround the issue of gay rights. She took into consideration the opinions and lives of the people in her party and in her life. She did not close out her mind to changing times, science or reality. She is a true progressive in both thoughts and actions. Instead of new ideas being pushed away, she surrounded herself with smart, inquisitive people and learned the facts, the realities of GLB people. I am supporting Sec. Clinton because she represents the future, my future, a future where I stay legally married to my wife, where our kids, daughters especially, have access healthcare at a local and affordable level.”

Also, says Rowray, she agrees with Clinton’s view of what America should be.

“Her vision of American is success for all and not for the few. It is an America of secular values, constitutional rights and not religious morals based on the opinions and narrow knowledge of a select few people who have decided that they are best suited to tell the whole of the American population what belief system is best for them. And I believe she has the best knowledge of foreign politics, both as they affect the U.S. and how they play out in different cultures and countries. She can point to Iran and Iraq on a world map AND tell you the difference. She knows that division is fatal and unity is success for our country, both internally and internationally. She is a woman who can stand strong and negotiate in our best interests without faltering in her convictions. She has a heart with a mind for progress for all Americans.”

Another Sanders supporter is Kelby Robb of rural Vinton.

"I like him because his vote can't be bought," she says. "I respect his character and his values. I believe there has never been another candidate quite like Bernie. I believe he can provide real change. He understands the struggles of the middle class and stands up for what is right. He won't try to undo the progress Obama made with health care. He understands the importance of Planned Parenthood. He understands that the price of health care and education are outrageous and unacceptable."

Along with Clinton and Sanders, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is seeking the Democratic nomination for President. On a recent visit to La Reyna in downtown Vinton, he spoke to a crowd of about 20 people, including 10 local residents and 10 staff members, volunteers and media members.

A brief history

Since Jimmy Carter earned the most votes among all the candidates in the 1976 Iowa Caucus (although he came in second to “uncommitted,” the nation has focused on Iowa.

Democrats in Iowa have had vigorously contested caucus votes every year except 1996 and 2012, when incumbents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama ran uncontested. The 1992 Caucus was also a bit of an anomaly because “favorite son” Tom Harkin was running, and received more than 90 percent of the vote.

“I voted in every Democratic caucus except 2012,” said one Democrat, who says she is surprised to find herself still undecided this late in caucus process.

Clinton finished third in Iowa in 2008, behind her then-Senate colleagues Obama and John Edwards.

Caucus voting Monday

While many Iowans are becoming weary of the political ads and commercials and junk mail as the caucus is just a few days away, Phelps, who has already seen Sanders speak in Toledo and Independence, says she would be happy if the process continued.

“I'm going to Cedar Rapids on Saturday to see Bernie one more time,” she says. “I can't get enough of this energy. I almost don't want Feb. 1 to come. I enjoy going to his events so much,” she says.

For a list of Benton County Democratic caucus sites, click HERE. Most Vinton Democrats and those living in surrounding townships will meet at Tilford Elementary. The event begins at 7; participants should plan to arrive early.

Click HERE for an interesting recent review of the impact of the 1976 Caucus from Carter’s hometown newspaper, the Americus Times-Recorder.