I knew I should have stayed in bed this morning, because I woke up and remembered Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin and the whole crowd of well to do's making fun and laughing at community organizers.
Barack's campaign let me know that "community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies."
And from Jason Linkins:
"Community organizers mobilize volunteers that are young and old. They work from churches and community centers. They go to work in small towns and big cities. They assist people of all ages, and all walks of life. They tutor children, care for the infirm, spend time with the elderly, get food to the hungry, clothes to the needy. They expand opportunities and improve lives.
"Why, if I'm not mistaken, they even make sure that voters can get to the polls on those odd Tuesdays in November."
Palin said community organizers don't have real responsibilities. Governor Palin needs to read this Guide to Organizing to learn what they do, but maybe after the election.
And Northwest Progressives offers this as to why Palin hates community organizers.
1. Community organizers work to bring people together for the common good. The only interest Governor Palin and Senator McCain care about is their own interest (and likely the rate their bank gives them).
2. Community organizers frequently assist the poor to improve their circumstances. Senator McCain, Governor Palin and their fellow Republicans only care about improving the circumstances of corporate America and the richest 1%.
3. Community organizers work for change. Barack Obama will bring us change we can believe in. Senator McCain and Governor Palin love the status quo and will bring us four more years of the same old thing.
4. Community organizers develop leaders among regular folk, like you, me and our neighbors. Senator McCain and Governor Palin fear regular people coming into power because it will put a halt to the gravy train that they and their rich friends are on, and send them off into the political wilderness.
Community organizers play a big role in public health. I have personally seen this in Birmingham, Bessemer and Jamaica.
Oh, and Governor Palin, contrary to what you said, the world is a community, and by all counts the community of nations could use a little organizing. You and McCain sure aren't going to do it.
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
4 comments:
It's clear now who the "elitists" are. I sure wouldn't vote for McCain and Palin.
Yeah, way to ridicule a profession. One that actually HELPS non-dependence on government, a supposedly republican ideal.
It wasn't just a smear against a profession - it was a smear against every volunteer organization that helps to bring people together to make things better for the community. Where I live, community needs that sort of thing - community is helpless otherwise, and maybe that's why the Republicans are frightened.
There was much to be angered about Guilliani and Palin's speeches - the lies and insinutations, the sophomoric insults that the rest of us hoped we'd not have to hear after we exited high school.
But of all that, it was the sneering at community that set my blood to boil.
Shia's right, but Wayne you are too. My column for the newspaper will be devoted to community volunteers here who do just the sort of work our nation desparately needs.
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