Occupy Mason City’s Robin McClelland (pictured) urged supporters of the movement to get out and vote.
She said she didn’t think there would be any disruptions at any of the caucus locations in Mason City, but took issue with the prospect of any one who “disagreed” being thrown out and not being allowed to vote.
The Iowa Republican Party did put out he following directive to its members on how to deal with disruptive individuals at the caucuses:
In the event of an outside disruption concerning any aspect of the operation of the caucus, your first call should be to local enforcement.If a disruption requiring action occurs, your primary role is to facilitate the response by law enforcement. Law enforcement officials have a duty to protect First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly, but they also have a duty to enforce lawful restrictions on the time, place, and manner of exercising those rights. It is the responsibility of law enforcement to take necessary action to remove or otherwise physically confront non-compliant individuals.Caucus leaders must give clear verbal instructions at the caucus directing individuals to comply with caucus rules and procedures (i.e., direct disrupters to “STOP TALKING” or to “LEAVE THE BUILDING”).
Caucus leaders should not, however, physically contact or otherwise forcefully confront non-compliant individuals.
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The biggest thing to come from the Occupy movement is to drive a wedge between them and the average worker that works every day,probably for less than they should,and try to get by. I don’t see many clean intelligent people on the news at these rallys. Mostly people that look like they wouldn’t fit in with the normal working class person if they were given a job and took it. Would have to clean up a little and present themselves in a better light.
I have mixed feelings about Occupy. I agree with their message we need to make things better. However, when they start blaming business, banks, and wall-street they are sadly misinformed as the cause of their concerns.
Democrats and Republicans have become so liberal that Socialism has been allowed to destroy the American Dream. That is the root of all our problems.
High taxes, to much government, and to many regulations make hard work and success a penalty for the sake of the entitlements.
If Occupy wants to go vote for the candidate of their choice and present platform issues then the Caucus is the correct place to do that. Go for it.
On the other hand if they go to start problems then they do themselves harm by destroying their own credibility.
Changing our Government should be all our priorities.
Camping out in the park don’t do a thing. Their violence won’t change anything either.
Why don’t they just go to their own caucuses and be delegates for Obama?
fff
I think it’s reasonable to expect caucus attendees to behave in a non-disruptive manner. You can get your point across without disrupting the process or preventing other attendees from exercising their freewill choice to side with a particular candidate or pledge “uncommitted”. Now if the moderator of the caucus identifies caucus goers as part of the Occupy movement or are contrary to their personal tastes and attempt to throw those participants out unfairly, then I would hope other caucus members will stand up for the rights of every caucus goers right to peacefully assert their position. I believe you have to be a registered Republican to attend. Make your points without being disruptive is the gist of what I have to say.