One thing became clear to Selma Bonham as she approached Heatherwood Middle School on Saturday morning: That day’s Democratic party presidential caucus was going to be a crowded affair.
Just trying to find a parking space was enough of a chore, as an estimated 460 people turned out at the school to participate in the process of choosing the Democratic party’s presidential nominee, according to 44th District precinct officer Michael Hughes.
“It was great that all these people turned out,” Bonham said, “but it was hard to talk because there were so many people there.”
Bonham, 78, has been active politically and socially for years. She worked on health care issues when she lived in the Washington, D.C. area, and is currently a member of Friends of the Mill Creek Library, to list just a couple of examples. She described herself as “faithful” in terms of participating in past presidential primaries.
But this year, with the state having canceled the presidential primaries, the party caucuses were the only way for Washington Democrats to come together to help pick a nominee to challenge President Bush in November.
Therefore, Bonham had one option to voice her opinion: Take part in the party caucus.
Bonham did her part to prepare for the event by researching candidate positions. She supported Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich because of his stance on the Iraq war and on health care.
“I thought about (North Carolina Sen. John) Edwards, but he supports the death penalty and I oppose it, but he is addressing the growing gap between rich and poor,” Bonham said.
In the brief debates about candidates, Bonham stated her case of Kucinich and why she was backing him. Shortly afterward, the precinct voted. Bonham went with Kucinich, along with another participant. Retired General Wesley Clark got a few votes, but most votes went to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, with a few going to former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
Right away the precinct went into another vote. This time, however, the tables turned, Bonham said, as a majority opted to back Kerry, the front-runner for the Democratic nod. Bonham was among those going for Kerry.
“I finally went for electability, and Kerry has momentum,” she said. “I admire Kerry and his experiences in (the Vietnam War).”
Once nominees and delegates to the state Democratic convention were chosen, the precinct debated issues that should be on the party platform. Bonham proposed adopting a resolution for single-payer health care system, something Kucinich has pushed.
“The two big issues for me are peace and war – not war and peace – and health care,” Bonham said.
She said the idea would insure all Americans, while cutting out much of the paperwork that exists in the current system. “It would cover everybody for everything,” she said. But Bonham said her proposal received a lukewarm response and was amended to supporting “universal health care.” Bonham said she wanted to debate the issue more. “Here is a system that would allow universal health care,” she said Monday.
“I had to try. I feel strongly about it,” she said.
Bonham seemingly had mixed feelings about her first caucus experience. She admitted the caucus was “kind of fun,” and was encouraged by the large turnout. But she also said the event didn’t allow enough time for debate on the candidates and issues, as the caucus was over within 90 minutes.
“They spent a lot of time at the beginning reading the (caucus) rules and we were just standing around,” Bonham said.
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