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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.
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Nice Try. Apparently you're a big fan of class warfare and race warfare if you believe this garbage
She wasn't putting down community organizers.
Your entire party wanted to disregard the experience of being Mayor and Governor, so she explained it to those who were championing the man-child community organizer who's experience is still unknown.
She has experience beyond Barack's wildest dreams.
Anyone suggesting otherwise needs to wake up.
Palin has more experience than Barack, Palin has more experience than Barack. Her experience is like a community organizer with actual responsibilities.
By the way, Barack's old boss who hired him admitted he didn't accomplish anything in that regard. Nothing.
Where are your sources?
It was a nice try but not only that...it was a successful one. Palin has outraged Catholics for mocking Obama's work because he did it for a Catholic organization.
Palin was most certainly mocking and belittling community organizers, she said "they don't have any responsibility" which could not be further from the truth. Community organizers have a tremendous responsibility to their community and the cause they work for. Responsibility is at the core of community organizing.
Palin has more experience alright...
Palin was also nearly recalled as mayor for the same charge she faces as governor today, abuse of office. So yeah, Sarah Palin has a lot of experience
"Your entire party wanted to disregard the experience of being Mayor and Governor, so she explained it to those who were championing the man-child community organizer who's experience is still unknown."
No, we weren't putting down her experience of being a mayor and governor..
He is Jealous because he could not do the smae thing that Barack obama did....so he was just projecting his own failures..
barack Obama is a Civil right's attorney. Wrote for the Harvard Law Reiew for 12 years.....
State Senat e for 8 years US senate for 4.... There's more.
Why would you trust someone who plays hockey all day long and encourages teenagers to pursue sex...as an Alaskan Pastime...
If one were to accept your premises, then one must conclude that Palin has less experience than Obama. The Democrats disregard the limited experience as mayor and governor ALONG with the necessary intellectual rigor it takes to be POTUS and VPOTUS.
Beyond anyone's "wildest dreams," Palin is not suited for either job because: 1) Being mayor of a small Klondike grotto of 9,000 and governor of a 600,000 state is insufficient because Wasilla are Alaska are not microcosms of either the world or of America. These town locations are culturally, linguistically, economically, socially isolated from the rest of us. The basis of her "experience" is extreme provincialism. She has no experience in dealing with say, homelessness, poverty, with global issues like Iraq and terrorism, the Israeli/Palestinian question, federalism, constitutional issues, international law, etc. . . .
The second reason among others is that she lacks a traditional intellectual rigor that must be cultivated by years of reading, studying, debating, and being exposed to challenging ideas. With all due respect to broadcast journalism majors and 6 community college flip flops, I strongly doubt Palin has read: Lincoln, Emerson, Jefferson, Paine, Hamilton, Federalist Papers, Marx, DuBois, Hegel, Locke, Mill, and on and on.
These are the ideas of men and women that have cultivated and shaped our national ethos, our American creed.
She is however, schooled in theocratic fundamentalism. A similar totalitarian world view that the religious extremists claim on a global scale.
Thank you for drawing this analogy.
I fear for this country should P.alin get anywhere near a seat of power. No, we're (demos) are not running against her, but her presence on the ticket is validating an extremist segment of the population that is not representative of what this country is best at--helping others in need and insuring the rights that are guaranteed us under the constitution.
You might very well have a point that the job of community organizer shouldn't be ridiculed.
The title of you essay, however, is left almost completely unsupported.
Ever think that the reason the GOP isn't fond of the community organizers that Obama has worked with because they committ voter fraud for Democrats in elections?
Take a look at ACORN's history of community organizing, stolen IDS, registering dead or imaginary people, hiring criminals etc.
http://www
I recall another community organizer from a little town of Bethlehem. The mayor of that same town escapes me.
He wasn't a "community organizer" - He was a religious leader! He wasn't running for Emperor or seeking the Emperors removal; or stealing taxpayers money for criminals. ("Render unto Caesar....
Actually, he wasn't a religious leader - he never told people to worship him. He just gave discourses on ethics, somehting the Repubs would do well to look into, but of course they believe in supply side Jesus, not the real Jesus.
As for Obama - he was not runnin for prez when he was a community organizer. And did I read you type that you are in favour of paying taxes, ie rendering unto caesars? Good for you, you might make a decent human being instead of a Repub. As for stealing taxpayers money for criminals - I think you have Obama confused with W and Haliburton.
sorry, but popular opinion sees JC as a community organizer whether you agree or not. Go jot down some new talking points.
One has to wonder what the greatest community organizer of all times is thinking about Sarah Palin's put down - that great organizer is known as Jesus Christ.
Let's face it, pal - Sarah Palin has more executive experience in government than Jesus - or his self-annointed son, B. Hussein!
McCain has no executive experience either
The attack was not centered around community organizers rather a direct attack against Obama and only Obama.
Obama came out and directly disparaged small town mayors so I assume by your article you have the same anger towards Obama's attack against small and large town mayors across the USA?
Obama said McCain picked a small town mayor for his VP pick (Look at the first statement from his campaign) completely ignoring the fact that she was the Governor of Alaska.
He also went on CNN with Anderson Cooper and compared his Campaign to her record as Mayor again completely ignoring her as Governor of Alaska and running an 11 Billion dollar budget.
What Palin said was a rebuttal to his attacks.
So please get some information before writing your little article
If her attack wasn't directed at community organizers then why did Sarah Palin say: "They don't have any responsibilities"? If saying that community organizers don't have any responsibility isn't an insult that goes to the core of community organizing I don't know what is.
Somebody else wrote that speech for her but she had the choice of whether to make that comment or not. She chose to. And she should be required to take responsbilility for it.
Palin may be running a state with an 11B budget but she's not running the affairs of her state with professionalism or she wouldn't be under investigation for abusing her office.
http://har
Rove thought the mayor of a bigger town didn't have enough experience for the big time
What's the matter with you? - O'bama has not disparaged or attacked P'alin or any other mayor or Governor. He has been complimentary and spoken civilly regarding both M'cain and P'alin. What he has disparaged is where they stand with Bush/Cheney and the rest of the Repugs. He runs his campaign with class - something that the M'cain/P'alin duet has been very lacking in so far. P'alin prides herself in being a pit bull - well that may have worked okay for her so far - but her sneering attitude might not serve her so well were she suddenly face to face with a hostile foreign leader - representing the people of America instead of just one state.
Obama/Biden for America
So why then did she not say, "Obama," instead of "community organizer"?
Evoxx... the republicans have had eight years in office, please list the solutions that they have provided for our major issues. While you are at it I'd like to know in what ways we are better off than when the GOP took over? I'm sick of John McCain trying to act like he's not a republican. Look at the GOP convention platform that he endorsed, it is basically identical to the one that W Bush endorced for his 2000 and 2004 conventions. With a 90% pro-Bush voting grade he fully endorsed the Bush agenda until now when it is politically inconvenient. This is why they are going after the uneducated rural vote because they are the ones who keep buying this crap!
I'm sick and tired of Democrats acting like the rural vote is uneducated. Look at High School ACT scores in most of the midwest, they are the highest in the country.
I live in rural Nebraska, and to be honest, most people don't like either Obama or McCain. McCain wants to ruin Agriculture with his policies, Obama wants to ruin the country and the economy with his re run of Jimmy Carter's policies. The sad part is that no matter who I vote for in November, the country will go backwards, not forward.
let's see.a bird has wings and flies.
A bat has wings and flies.
therefore ,a bat is a bird.
sorry.I took intro philosophy for an east grade when sociology was ove booked.
Look,I laughed at the comunity organizer line,because I don't know wtf they do.It's a meaningless title,maybe a little more real than 'consultant".
And your stretch sarah palin would hate Rosa Parks shows the tangential leapnig of thought Otter had in Animal House,where he was comparing the Delts being suspended to a criticism of America."W
But Ac was a comedy,and you're being serious.I think
Your comment made absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Community organizers help citizens organize around important issues and develop programs to solve problems and enrich lives. Like civil rights, cleaning up the environment, helping low income citizens find work, educating people on public health issues such as HIV/AIDS and getting them medicine and care. Those who become community organizers are people who care about their community and feel a great responsibility to make the lives of their fellow citizens better.
To denigrate and belittle community organizing is anti-American. Our founding fathers were community organizers. They organized and led the people living in the colonies to a revolution that formed this nation. That's not a stretch, that's a fact.
you're reaching
Rosa Parks wasn't a "community organizer - she was an extremely courageous woman who sparked a needed redress of a wrong. I think it would have Sarah Palin who would have invited her to sit up front with her - or would have moved to the back to share her compnay.
She absolutely was a community organizer; she was secretary and the youth leader of her local NAACP. She was in leadership training at an institution dedicated to fighting for workers' rights and equality.
You are ignorant and you are wrong. I wonder if you even know what a community organizer is?
Excuse me but Rosa Parks was a community organizer.
I've done my research, and I stick with my statement.
From what we've seen, John McCain is far more oriented towards the needs of disadvantaged communities than Sarah Palin, and neither of them really has done anything compared to Barack Obama.
Your wishful fantasies if they are representative of some fraction of white America, coupled with the selling-the-cereal, Rovian management of Sarah Palin, may just lead to a Bush part 3 presidency.
Wasn't a community organizer?!? Um, ok. Why don't you go to an encyclopedia and look up something on Rosa Parks before you come on a public blog and bloviate.
Palin was responding in context to the mockery of her background.
This attempt to say it was disrespectful to Rosa Parks is the definition of a reach. It's actually pretty pathetic. Surely you can come up with something more relevant than this?
Palin has stepped up throughout her life to make a difference.
Why not move on to relevant issues like why Obama doesn't have any suggested solutions to problems that don't involved new or expanded entitlements?
The facts are as follows:
Palin is a republican, who used others to move up the ladder of success.
Her speech was an audition, she has burned so many bridges, she need a new place to go. Right now McCain staff is trying to put out the fires in Alaska the way republicans know best cover up, delay, and cover up more.
All the old newspaper articles well dated years before McCain decided to use her for VP. documents who Palin and life style and character this nation is being shown a person the Alaskan would not know. We are being shown the makeover version.
Please recheck black history on Rosa Parks, she was a community organizer. it was disrespectful.
American cannot handle the truth, only bald face lies deceit, cut throat, slander, divisive and cheap shots, they will instantly.
I am not aware of the truth to the allegation that Sarah Palin made. When did Obama belttle her as a mayor of a small town? I am sure if he had, this would have been in the media on on one of these blogs. I have not seen it and I read most of them. What did he say?
Which part of getting out of Iraq didn't you understand?
And dont forget about the most famous and well known community organizer of the all.... none other than JESUS CHRIST!!!!! He only organized the down trooten , disease ritten people to stand up and have faith! I got your back! But the pharisees had him put to death because he threaten their so-called power over the people.... does this sound familiar? But, who am I kidding... surely Ms Palin must have known that before she dismissed the work of a community organizer right?
"When classmates in college asked me just what it was that a community organizer did, I couldn"t answer them directly," --Obama, Dreams of My Father.
Maybe it's because all he was doing was padding his resume so he could eventually run for office. Sorry folks, she knocked it out of the park. Peace.
And we are supposed to trust you because you've supposedly pulled a quote from his book. Typically when this has happened it has been out of context of just a plain line. We've witnessed everything from Obama's a muslim or he's uppity.
Sorry she disocunted the achievements of Rosa Parks, Dr. King and many others.
I checked the quote - it's dead on!!
In college? He wasn't a community organizer until after he graduated.
Were you able to define your job duties prior to graduating from college? Could you describe them to another student?
I knew I wanted to be a counselor because I saw a need for them in my community, but I couldn't have fully articulated their responsibilities while I was still in college.
Suppose you tell us exactly what a community organizer does.
I think you are referring to the Bush speech writer. She did not write the speech, she read what someone wrote. Let give credit where it is due.
Did you read the whole book or just that line to praise a cheap shot gotcha moment Not understanding the context of his story. Senator is not stupid.
Everyone want to get him on how his father and mother met, maybe his mother did tell him that years ago. She did change her story.
i have older relatives when I was younger as most children do asked question, they told me family history, year later the story changed because I was mature enough to handle the truth. Parents of adapoted children do it all the time, it is called age appropriate level stories.
Gotcha moment on thing so minor, yet we as Americans don't question why a communist country have our middle class jobs handling most of our processed foods, dishes.toy
Maybe someone needs to remind Sarah Palin that Jesus Christ was a community organizer, and Pontius Pilate was a governor.
Sarah Palin was referring to Obama as a community organizer ... not all community organizers. Unless the Dems who are belittling Sarah as a small town mayor are making fun of all small town mayors. You can't have it both ways.
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