It Begins… War For Communities
2008 September 4
Not even 24 hours later, the community organizing line is gaining ground:
A group is already forming to contest the issue as well and a source inside the Obama campaign has already indicated to us that they are up in arms about the matter as well.
And this fight may be different from the others, because unlike past campaign attacks back and forth, if this becomes a fight, if “community organizing” make hay on the campaign trail, it’s going to be a battle at the level of the streets.
-Marc-
When I was in social work school in the seventies, we were required to take courses in community organizing AND to actually go out into the urban neighborhood around our college to assist with projects involving poverty, crime, poor access to health care. I am absolutely incensed at Ms. Palin and Rudy Guiliani’s dismissive gibes in an effort to whip up the GOP crowd.
I would encourage everyone here to look at the statements of these individuals in context and consider the intent of their message. There was no insult levied at your profession. It was directed at the fact that most people would agree that this is not experience that is adequate alone for the highest position in the land.
Further, it was in response to an affront made by the Obama campaign, who described a Governor as “the mayor of a small town”. As a city council person and mayor, Mrs. Palin worked for precisely the same goals as community organizers. Look at her accomplishments in this arena. Her town adores her and cites her efforts as a turning point in her city and the state of Alaska.
Compare that to Barack Obama’s community, where he lives in a multimillion dollar home while the community he served is in the same condition as when he started, if not worse.
Is it not the goal of community organizers to fight against government corruption? Look at Gov. Palin’s accomplishments in the area vs. Sen. Obama relationships with the felons responsible for neglected housing projects.
You are all welcome to your opinions on this matter by I urge you not to be used as pawn by EITHER campaign. The Obama campaign has directly made a concerted effort to enrage Community Organizers by using out of context statements in an effort to sway your opinion for their candidates political gain.
Please correct me if I am mistaken, but isn’t this precisely the sort of political and government maneuvering that your occupation is tasked to fight against?
Ms. Palin did not ask “what did Obama do as a community organizer?” She asked, what does a community organizer do? That she states that being a mayor made her a ‘community organizer with responsibilities,’ shows that she even dismisses the labor of her paid staff, without whom, she would have accomplished next to nothing. That she doesn’t have a clue about the huge responsibilities and goals of thousands of community organizers, many who work for free (Habitat For Humanity comes to mind) just shows she is not in touch with the American people. She’d better hope that there are still enough community organizers left to get out the vote for her ticket after her dismissive comments.