Palin Mocks Community Organizers
04 September 2008
Community organizers are, essentially, the boots on the ground. They don't simply talk about "Country First", but rather, put their actions where their mouths are. They help to secure jobs for people, work with folks of all races, advocate for the poor, and they have arguably more contact with working-class and poor people every single day than most politicians in power do.
Even forgetting all these lofty goals, for example, they even help arrange rides to job fairs and set up job training programs for people who lack the transportation or the skillset to improve their everyday lives.
This notion of "grassroots" which many pundits throw around often times start with community organizers around the nation. They are the ones who help create a level of community leadership and help hold elected officials accountable to regular people on a very face-to-face level.
Given these facts, I was very angry at seeing this sea of non-diverse faces whooping and hollering when Palin looked down her nose at community organizing and accused them of having no responsibilities.
From Palin's Wednesday speech: "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities."
Oh really, Palin? As a small town mayor, how many people did you go and personally fight for to keep them from losing their jobs? How many job programs did you personally set up? For how many people did you personally arrange shelter after they were kicked out with their children because they couldn't afford to pay the rent? And we could go on and on with a laundry list of questions.
CNN contributor Roland Martin, whose parents were community organizers, made the point last night after Palin's speech. Check out the video:
There were thousands and thousands of community organizers who pushed forward the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, for goodness sakes! It was through organizing the black community and those who were sympathetic to social justice which helped shape this country after decades of unequal rights.
A writer at the blog Brendan Calling makes the point of America's founding fathers being community organizers. And, well, yeah they were. Ben Franklin out of Philly and Thomas Paine (author of the famed "Common Sense" writings) along with the others were essentially all community organizers.
You think The Boston Tea Party (which helped spark the American Revolution) was carried out by a bunch of moose-hunting hockey-mom/mayors? Hell no. And don't dare send me emails saying I'm sexist because of this comment. This is one woman speaking about another.
Obama's campaign made specific reference to it last night via email in response to Palin's mocks. Here's an excerpt:
"Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies.
And it’s no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. "
A poster at Sensico writes:
"Palin just slapped the faces of so many people that have helped shaped this country. Until a few weeks ago she didn’t even know what the responsibilities of the Vice President were, apparently her lack of knowledge extends to the local level. I’m supposed to embrace her just because she’s the same gender as I am? No Thanks!" (Senisco )
A blogger at bigsole.blogspot.com writes:
If you don't understand what it means to be a community organizer, then please consider that the greatest movements in the world have begun with community organizing. You can not be a good community organizer without also being a good leader, a good strategist, and a warrior.
The Civil Rights Movement was essentially begun and sustained through community organizing. (Bigsole )
This was exactly my point earlier. Obama is much more aligned historically with the actions of those who have brought REAL change for the better in this country.
As I'm watching the media fawn over the speech I do have to wonder if it's because of the McCain campaign yelling "sexism" every time someone criticizes her. Would Obama be able to get away with yelling "racism" every time he was criticized? Hell no.
