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'Occupy' Targets Iowa Caucuses
The Occupy movement has a new goal — shut down the Iowa caucuses.
The plan to 'occupy' the Iowa caucuses was approved by the Occupy Iowa's general assembly. (AP Photo) The state’s protesters are inviting fellow Occupiers from across the country to “occupy” the campaign offices of the Republican presidential candidates and President Barack Obama in the first-in-the-nation presidential caucus state, The Des Moines Register reports.
“You go inside, or if they won’t let you in, you shut ’em down. You sit in front of their doors,” Frank Cordaro of Des Moines, the man credited for the idea of the “First in the Nation Caucus Occupation,” told the Register. “Who knows? It could be a very big deal.”
The plan, Cordaro told CNN, is “people coming to Iowa, occupying every presidential [candidate’s] office, shutting them down until they start talking real turkey about what’s going on in this country, where the 99 percent of the people who are not benefiting, at the expense of the 1 percent who are getting away with murder.”
The plan was voted on and approved by the Occupy Iowa’s general assembly Monday night, according to the Register.
Iowa Republican Chairman Matt Strawn announced earlier this month that the Iowa caucuses will be held on Jan. 3. He told the Register Monday that the plan to occupy presidential campaign headquarters is “ironic” and a “mere publicity stunt.”
“It’s ironic that this group would choose to disrupt the most grass-roots-oriented process in national politics — the Iowa caucuses,” he said, explaining that that those who volunteer in campaign officers are trying to make a difference in the country’s direction and demonstrating “true grass roots.”
Ed Fallon, the organizer of Occupy Iowa, told the Register details of the sit-ins are still being ironed out but that “the idea is to basically take over until we get response to our satisfaction or we are forcibly removed.”
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Show AllThis action will be interpreted as political, not social, but it is not. The vision is not to support a party or interfere with a particular candidate, but instead, to raise the awareness that the 99% are in charge, not the corrupt existing system. It is a defensive effort to slow down the old corrupt system while we build a new 21st Century system.
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“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
Richard Buckminster Fuller
Will they demand a challenger to the Obomber in the Dsellout party?
that's disturbing the already terrible democracy
O'Bummer was elected by lying and the Democrats need to get it together and nominate a different person this time around. O'Bummer won't cut it and I WILL VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE this 2012 election. They get to chose who, but it don't be O'Bummer.
Here is the statement the Des Moines General Assembly passed:
In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Des Moines issues a call to action to people around the planet.
We are excited to announce the First in the Nation Caucus Occupation. This winter, presidential campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa and political events throughout the state will be occupied. Join us.
For too long, greedy corporations and corrupted politicians have dictated public policy and political interests on a global scale. Although these corporations and moneyed interests have vast capital resources, now every dollar belonging to the 1% shall be countered by a voice. An individual. One of the 99%.
We demand our grievances no longer be ignored.
What: The First in the Nation Caucus Occupation
When: Tuesday, December 27th – Tuesday, Jan 3rd
Where: The presidential campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa and political events throughout the state