Sarah Palin Would Hate Rosa Parks

Sarah Palin and the GOP had great fun this week belittling Barack Obama's background as a community organizer. But in doing so, they were not just putting down one person.

They were attacking the (small "d") democratic traditions of the United States, itself.

Let us not forget: the first of America's freedoms is the freedom to speak out for change. That is the rock upon which all of our other freedoms are built. And across the country, in roles paid and unpaid, America's community organizers are the people who help us exercise that freedom every day. They are the invisible champions of America's grassroots democracy.

For little or no pay, they work with neighbors -- or with people in need -- to address tough problems. They are often people who could make a great deal of money in other professions. But many have chosen to dedicate themselves to causes greater than themselves -- and to communities poorer than their own.

Their work epitomizes what it means to put community -- and, yes, country -- first.

Their dedication and sacrifice is nothing new; the idea of bottom-up, democratic action is as old as the republic itself. In fact, constant engagement and debate at the neighborhood, community and grassroots level is what keeps the nation's democracy vital and alive.

My question is this: how can any candidate or party that hopes to lead America take such joy in putting down American institutions -- like grassroots democracy and its hard-working stewards?

Rosa Parks was a community organizer. The PTA moms (with whom Sarah Palin loves to associate herself) are community organizers. Today, organizers are powering our democracy -- registering millions of young people, disadvantaged people and senior citizens to vote for the first time. They do the invaluable and thankless labor of making democracy work.

When factories are shut down and families find they have nowhere else to turn, community organizers step in and step up. They help frightened and frustrated people find shared solutions to wrenching problems.

They help our national leaders correct major policy mistakes. Not only were community organizers the first people in this country to stand up against the war in Iraq. They were also the first to talk about how U.S. soldiers in harm's way were not given enough protective gear.

They come from red states and blue states. Community organizers, including groups led by evangelical Rick Warren, helped to lead the rebuilding of New Orleans following Katrina. Many of those religiously motivated organizers have stayed there after the media, the government big shots and practically everyone else has left.

But apparently, it is not enough that they work under incredibly difficult circumstances for little pay and no recognition. Now they have to listen to broadcast put-down's from the party of Bush, McCain and Palin.

That's a shame -- and a disgrace. Those who make democracy work every day should be respected, along with America's other homeland heroes. Anyone who aspires to lead this country should be saluting them -- not sneering at them.

Comments

[repubsruledemsdrool]

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said, "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a `community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

[gazissax]

Well put. I include people who run support groups such as AA, etc. as community organizers because they help people to empower themselves to fight the illness inside themselves and then to reach out to others like them.

[mnash]

I hope everyone gets to see the video on UTUBE that was put out on community organizers. I hope it goes on all the states. It is a powerful ad.

[bluesjones63]

So sad that many Americans DO NOT KNOW the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks DESERVES the title of "crusader". But Rosa Parks was indeed a TRAINED COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. ROSA PARKS was so successful in her COMMUNITY ORGANIZING that she and her husband had to FLEE Alabama, in the dark of night, for the "safety" of Detroit, Michigan!!

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, like Rosa Parks and countless others, HAVE WROUGHT EXCEPTIONAL WORK, and CONTINUE TO DO SO.

The current deification of ROSA PARKS, MLK, and JOHN LEWIS smacks of an attempted RE-WRITE of American history.

SORRY, Charlie, the Tuna. I KNOW of what I speak. As a 63 year old African-American female, NC native, I am PROUD that SENATOR OBAMA followed in the footsteps of COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS.

[TheFirst]

Van Jones: Thank you so much! The following link is a reminder of those Community Organizers that made a true and everlasting difference in the lives of so many people world-wide.

PEACE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpniuotfpR8

[politicky]

Mr. Jones,

As long as Democrats actually get out and continue registration drives, and then vote, Palin's attacks may serve as great motivators.

Dem voter registrations surge nation-wide
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Democrats_post_big_gains_in_voter_0906.html

Nationwide, there are about 42 million registered Democrats and about 31 million Republicans, according to statistics compiled by The Associated Press....
The Democrats have posted big gains in many competitive states, including Nevada, New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado and Florida...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iyCjg56QEYy3r8Gz2X09TnpaWOMwD9317JU00

[buster05]

wonder why palin gave shouts out to clinton and ferraro for the 18 million cracks in the glass. she never mentioned shirley chisolm.

[triplbee]

Van, you should no by now that the Republican Party is opposed to grassroots democracy and democracy in general. They are the party of pre-emptive war and always advocate killing and spying upon progressive people and institutions.

[iblis]

Sarah Palin is not against community organisers. She was just retaliating for demonocrats put-downs of small towns and their mayors. And the title of this article is a real stretch. If one were to use the same logic, one could headline the special one as hating small town folks and their mayors.

[castrochavez08]

Rosa Parks was a citizen activist who didn't sit around waiting for some political party to solve her problems. She just went her own way and did the right thing which at the time was viewed as radical.

I think Cindy Sheehan, Cynthia McKinney and Dennis Kucinich are a lot like Rosa Parks.
They are morally on very solid ground and they are being cast as villains by right wing America.
The difference is that in the 1960's the Democrats were still a party of the people and they supported Rosa Parks. Now they just let the modern day versions of Rosa twist in the wind, or join in the attacks. Tragic.

[qdog112]

Well put.

[Majus]

castrochavez08, Van's post was about Republicans, I think. Democrats are _still_ the party of the people.

[Shellly]

Sarah needs some organizer in her own community. when, as a young man, Obama gave back to the community, i want to know what ms. palin was doing. was she busy tranferring to yet, another school, was trying to cover up her own unwed pregnancy and trying to get married?

[maschwab]

Community organizing is about helping poor people get a better life - A Democatic value.

The contrasting Replican value is to work hard to improve your own life, and to look down at others who need help.

And people don't change this view very much, so no matter how well or bad your party is doing, you don't change your party affiliation.

In comparing 1929 to 2008, I think Bush has slowed down the inception of a depression by bailing out Bear Starns and soon Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. If he had not done those, we would be looking at 1932 democratic swing.

[gazissax]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve your own life. The basis of many support groups is to do that, but they take it a step farther -- they say that you then have to reach out to others like you and help them. So the alcoholic reaches out to the alcoholic, the bipolar to the bipolar, all the while helping them struggle and succeed.

John McCain's statement on mental help to NAMI says that he wants to put the emphasis on individual responsibility. This sounds good except when you look at it harder, you find that he thinks mental illness is a "behavioral" issue rather than an organic one. As a sufferer of bipolar disorder, I know how hard the weight of the illness can be and I know that while individual responsibility is part of the equation, so is support against stigma and helping hands in working through the system and making changes to the system that better help one cope with the disease. In the Republican system, individual responsibility becomes a weight that prevents growth where in the world view of the Democrats, means are given so that it can become a reality.

So three cheers for individual responsibility and those who take down the obstacles that make it impossible. That's why I support Obama.

[GRACE727]

Guys, I'm so confused. I'm just so appalled with the idea that there is a vice presidential contender who we absolutely know nothing about. I don't care about her family issues. This is what I care about. What does she know about middle America? or Elite America? Has she ever visited an inner city school or the inner city in general? What does she know about the markets? How about foreign Policy? Can she explain her views on the economy, healthcare and the struggles of the average American? People.. right now this woman is being briefed about everything she doesn't know. The longer she shys away from the media gives her study time to catch up with the real issues. The problems facing America is not something you need to study or an essay you are preparing for..IT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW IF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR 2ND COMMAND OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! "I just had to take a deep breath "Listen.. We've had 19 to 20 months to vet Obama. We know him as well as we should because we are voters. Biden is a creature of washington and I love that, he's been around the world and knows America. Obama and Biden are lawyers, graduates of prestigious schools, senators and smart professionals with a proven record is not enough to consider them executives? They are not qualified enough? For god's sake this woman has never left the country.

[triviolin2]

Agree completely - let's focus on the issues - somebody ask this woman some questions!

[kadene]

If only she's make herself available. My guess is that she knows her linitations.

[Eres]

We now all we need to know about Palin to make an educated, logical decision on her qualifications:
Palin is a right-wing fundamentalist fanatic Christian, which is no different that being a fundamentalist Muslim extremist.

Palin is a just another dimwit puppet for the Rovian empire to usher into the White House along with their boy McCain whom, if elected, would perpetuate 4 more years of the same destructive policies we've suffered for the last 8.

[gazissax]

And someone press the press to do so!

[OHlawdGYEEZUS]

Wasn't Martin Luther King a community organizer?

How about the Dalai Lama? Yes/no?

How about those that founded this nation? Getting away from British rule..? Community organizers at some level...yes?

How about Jesus? Community organizer?

Hell, at some point, aren't religious leaders little more than community organizers (of course, not the MEGAs, but the neighborhoods)?

Would Repubs laugh at MLK, the Dalai Lama, the nation's forefathers, Jesus and religious leaders?

I...guess...so.

[realityalert]

Martin Luther King WAS a Republican...and he wasn't trying to use that experience as a credential for the presidency.

[clevelandchick]

MLK was no more a Republican than Sarah Palin is against earmarks.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/09/palins_earmarks_spark_question.html?hpid=topnews

[qdog112]

Of course Martin Luther King WAS a community organizer. In keeping wit h their policy views, they would denounce MLK. After all, McCain voted against his recognition.

[Salz08]

BRAVO! Wonderfully stated. Thank-you.