By David Martin Davies, Texas Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-854764.mp3
Dallas, TX –
In March 2008 Texas was swept up in presidential primary fever and the Democratic Party was doing the Texas Two Step. When it was over then-Senator Hillary Clinton won the most votes, but it was Barack Obama who walked away with the most delegates. Luis Vera the lawyer for LULAC said this happened because votes of many Latinos were diluted and weakened by arbitrary rules in place the Democratic Party.
Luis Vera: The seven Latino majority senatorial districts were allotted less delegates to the democratic national committee than any of the other 24 senatorial districts.
Vera is set to argue in federal court that the Texas Two-Step is a violation of the Voting Rights Act. The Texas Democratic Party is claiming the Voting Rights Act does not apply to political parties. But Vera says the Democratic Party has a history of setting up obstacles to minority primary voters in Texas and across the south.
Vera: The irony of this whole court fight is they want to claim they are the champion of the voting rights act but as long as it applies to everyone else - and not themselves. And that's a pretty sad situation.
This is the second time LULAC brought this suit. It was originally dismissed but the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling.
David Martin Davies Texas Public Radio News