Truly a Bridge to Nowhere

While there was much to react to last night in Minnesota, I have to comment on a particular line of attack employed by Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin. The utter contempt and disdain they showed for Senator Obama's history as a community organizer is something that we all must stand up against. I'm particularly angered by the lies and distortions because my foundation has proudly financed millions of dollars of incredible work by community organizers over the past fifteen years. I was also reminded that the ghosts of Willie Horton and Jesse Helms were on display in the Twin Cities. Make no mistake: inside that convention hall "community organizer" was shorthand for radical, black activist. It's certainly not all community organizers they trivialize and dismiss. What else is the pro-life, creationist, anti-tax, pro-gun movements but the work of Right-wing community organizers? Clearly, Palin is specifically condemning those organizers who work to improve the lives of poor and marginalized Americans.

In belittling community organizing work, the Republicans made the case for what they really stand for. Just to review the record, community organizers work in houses of worship, neighborhood centers, union halls and schools. They have taken the lead in fighting for living wage laws in cities across this country, defended tenants against illegal evictions and foreclosures, led the rebuilding of Los Angeles in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict and the rebuilding of New Orleans following Katrina. They have registered millions of young people, African Americans, Latinos and senior citizens to vote for the first time. It is they, not people like Rudy and Sarah, who respond when factories are shutdown and families find they have nowhere else to turn. Community organizers were the first people in this country to stand up against the war in Iraq. Their organizations are also the first to provide basic services such as health care and education in the wake of a generation of mean-spirited and hateful conservative policies. Community organizations, and their talented organizers, arethe social safety net for many in this country.

If America had any doubt that the McCain/Palin/Rove playbook is down to one option -- divide this country by class and race -- all that is put to rest now. How dare they look down their noses at Senator Obama and thousands of other great Americans who put community, and yes, country first by trying to make life a little bit better for other people. The community organizers that I know could have made their way in the fields of finance, medicine or, yes, politics. All of these choices would have been more lucrative and easier for many of them. Apparently, it's not enough that they work under incredibly difficult circumstances for little pay and no recognition. Now the party of Bush and Cheney wants to belittle their contributions to American families. We cannot, and will not, let this attack go unchallenged.

Comments

[RealityBaseCamp]

I'm sure the heads of Palin supporters would explode if the other side were saying the only experience she had was in the early 90's on the city council, right? But they have no hesitation about hammering on "He was a Community organizer!", as if that were ALL he'd ever done. (not to mention they're whispering that "he was organizing THOSE people" just below the shouting) So ask yourself, would you like to be judged by the first, or least, thing you'd ever done? The thing about Palin is not that she was a runner-up in a minor beauty pageant, but that the HIGHEST point on her resume is less than 2 years as Governor of the 3rd least-populous state. Well, actually, my main problem is that she had no problem reading all the lies that were in the first major speech she was handed. In fact, I'm reminded that my Republican County Executive, who was originally a TV news reporter, not a sports reader, has spent about as many years in public office as Palin, and has been at the head of a county with 50,000 MORE people than Alaska for almost 3 times as long as Palin's been Governor. I often disagree with her, but SHE'S more qualified for national office.

[luckyinnc]

There is nothing wrong with being a community organizer, but when that is top among the few credentials for being a presidential contender, that is worrisome.

[phae100]

you rethugs with your talking points that you spew again and again no matter how many times we correct the lie that is always within them. here we go again:

BHO was in the Illinois senate for 7 or more years, then a senator for two years. he is also a constitutional lawyer and professor who taught for 12 years.

I really think half our population needs serious therapy for pathological lying.

[Coattails]

look into Saul Alinsky, don't just look him up on Wikipedia either.

That is all.

[FTracy3]

The "community organizer" thing never would have come up if she hadn't been subjected to a week of insults about being the mayor of Hooterville (funny how most of those shots missed the fact that she is actually a governor). It was a tit for tat on earlier jobs. Let's face it, although the campaign didn't really do it, his supporters set him up for it. Now I can't wait until they start calling each other "former paper delivery boy" or "burger flipper" based on some high school jobs they both had.
Also the reality is most community organizers I know (and I know and work with several) are Democrats and working with Democratic coalitions against Republican candidates. Crying foul at a Republican swipes now is like them whining when progressives go after an overpaid CEO or McCains houses. And we really are whining. If we keep bitching about it is it like we're going to draw all those thousands of undecided community organizers to the Obama camp?

[castlerider]

Wrong.
The "community Organizer" was a perfect vehicle that she used to make herself out to be the Victim.

Get real. Get a clue.
Obama made it plain that attacks on family were off limits, and his campaign absolutely followed that rule, but oh, goodness, she remonstrated quite legibly how her family was attacked, when all it was was the press having a field day, mentioning so many possible comments that they themselves were coming up with. With this fact being the first and foremost, who cares what you know of what community organizers are? Thomas Paine was a heck of an organizer, and he bred what became our American revolution. Like I said, get a clue. These facts make everything you just said completely irrelevant.

[emcd]

Did she also disrespect Papa Bush? In 1989 he praised community volunteers as part of his "thousand points of light"

His actual goal at the time was to eviscerate the federal government to the extent that all the common people would have left to fall back on would be private sector organizations. That helps keep the little people out of the way of big business doing whatever they want.

I would expect that is still the Repub goal even though they have chosen this strange line of attack on privatization of government.

[lawrenceatl]

Is it possible to impeach a presidential candidate?..

can we just get McSame/Pain out of the way now and spare the American people any further embarassment from their campaign?

[RealityBaseCamp]

lawrenceatl asked"

"Is it possible to impeach a presidential candidate?.. "

SSHH! PUMAs listening!

[arthur2008]

The McCain campaign has shown itself to be willing to treat with disdain both the profound issues facing the country and our need for the civilized, inclusive and respectful discourse that is the only solution to them. Instead, John "Country First" McCain has yet to address the issues and can only offer ad hominem attacks. Coming from George Bush, such conduct would be business as usual; from the one-time "maverick," however, it represents a profound failure of character. At this point, he seems to have abandoned the principles that allowed him to say eight years ago that the people he now sleeps with "bring shame on our party and our country."

[poeticsinger]

Same ole hate-filled right wing talking points...it's just like Biden said "What do you talk about when you've got nothing...you bash the other guy"...PATHETIC.

Thank you Mr. McKay. Another $25 from me too going to the campaign.

[alvdh1]

Jesus, wasn't he a community organizer? I wouldn't encourage Obama to use this example because the right wing bloviator's would pounce on him because as their twisted logic works Obama would be comparing himself to Jesus.

[phae100]

I am so SICK and TIRED of dems warning each other not to praise Obama because the rethugs might not understand/might twist our words. Stop being slaves! Their words and opinions are worth no more than ours! If we don't say it to each other, it doesn't become real! Stop letting the rethugs control the conversation!

btw, Obama is the person with the most inner light I've seen in politics in a loooonnng time.

[Phenomenal1]

The Daily Show and Colbert Report completely annihilated the Republicans on their hatred for community organisers. You should all check it out.

[gleeindc]

What has happened to the Republican party that they are forgetting their own presidents's concepts of "1000 points of light" and the Faith-based and Community Initiatives office?

[madnana]

Having spent a lot of time working with community organizers as their attorney (attorneys help things happen rather than define what the community believes its needs are), I can tell you that they are maligned everywhere. State and local governments want the disenfranchised and poor to feel depressed and believe nothing can be done to improve their situation. They certainly don't want them to vote or to raise the decibel level of public discourse by wanting something better for their children. I saw no reason to become an attorney unless, as some wonderful editor whose name I cannot place said, I could afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. I'm quite sure the Republicans have nothing good to say about Obama's doing that work. On the other hand he indeed knows how the other half lives.

[seanseamour]

Its all about power, their churches dole out plenty also, and its commendable, but having lived some of it first hand in a past life its likened to tied aid, at home or abroad in places such as Africa, or again a form of selective proselytizing. On power hungry Palin which one could imagine rimes with Putin, suggest the following read from one of her Wasila neighbors http://webpages.charter.net/suasponte/

[kayatarms]

By the way, I find it so tragic that NO ONE spoke about this overnight pick's background that she has a lowly positiion as mayor by the Obama campaign, if so, where is the comment, point to where Obama or Biden said it! Not a democrat saying it, hell that's anyone, those two?? They are so full of it,,just like this fake outrage with the media and why she can't speak to the media, mad at all of them,,, fake sexism. Please, I saw the nasty snide remarks and it was meant as a slight. PERIOD! And by the way Obama has been drilled for 2 years and still, we don't know him,,uh huh. In 48 hours what a pick! 18 months PTA scandal and bam a heartbeat from Presidency ,only in America.

[kayatarms]

Very well said, my Hub was a community organizer and truly was great at providing after school programs to keep teens without parental guidance at risk teens from getting into trouble etc. a place to go, feel important, help themselves in the community towards seniors, babysit. In other words teach responsibility. I too was SO OFFENDED when it became a joke and also when PTAlin said Obama was not one of us?? Still with the other nasty remarks written for her by the Bushies , it was simply appalling.And gullabliani (he has nerve) was just as awful. I cannot imagine a VP or Bushies making a mockery that is so beyond the pale. There are websites popping up everywhere by community organizers who are angry! BTW I admire O for this, my hub too gave up a lucrative career to help in the community. Too bad people in this election cycle are being fooled by what the term "elitist" truly means. I hope with the RNC quips they know now!