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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It took me from Wednesday night till now to figure out what bothered me so much about Palin.
She gave one of the most vicious speeches at the convention (and there were plenty). The fact that she did it with her children only a few feet away bothers me.
As a mom of four, I would never want my kids to hear me speak in that tone about anyone. What kind of message is that as to how you treat people?
Do the faith based people in their party really enjoy what they heard?
Throwing red meat to sharks. That's all. As for the Palin family, why do I detect a current of tension when I look at them? Then I think how hard it would be to have such a righteous and agressive mother/wife. That must come at a cost.
A community organizer respponds, clearly having felt the pain from Palin
http://www
I am sooooooo sick of hearing the race card. Whenever a black person does not hear what they want to, it means that the other person hates black people. Palin's comment was in direct responce to the Obama group's comments that she has no experiance. Saying that Obama has what it takes to be president because he was a community organizer is like saying I should be a bank president because I have a checking account. Wake up people! The man is not capable of running this country.
I guess this means I'm a racist. Or does it mean that you are?
I have read all of the comments up to yours and it appears that the race card was only played from your hand. No one called her a racist. Another poster said "The entire Obma campaign is just waiting to figure out a way to make this gal a racist." The entire Obama camp is not Black people. The same poster went on to give Sarah Palin speech a raqving review. You played the race card.
Here is a article I came across about Palin being racist. It does have one named source in it, plus several unnamed sources. Apparently referred to Barack as "Sambo".
http://www
St. Paul was a community Organizer
JOHN McCAIN BETTER BE CARFULL THE GOP WILL BE WANTING JOHN TO DROP OUT SO THEY CAN HAVE THEIR SARAH PALIN
Mr. Plouffe of the Obama campaign said it best in a released statement the day after the Palin speech. (Paraphrased) Community organizing is what Americans do when they are frustrated by aloof, ineffectual politicians who ignore their every day concerns.
Here is some text from McCain's speech, the following night:
"My friends, if you find faults with our country, make it a better one.
If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks
and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher.
Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate
adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed.
Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier, because
nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater
than yourself."
So, isn't he advocating Community Organizing here? Such disconnect! Their speechwriters really should check in with each other more often!
and where did Barack organize? In his hometown of Chicago , Cook County Illinois ... run by Democrats forever and illustrates the ineptness of liberalism
You guys have no problem putting down conservatives and calling them names. You have no problem throwing around insults at Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin and her family. But Palin fights back and you libs want to whine like little girls. If you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen. Oh yeah. Community organizer does NOT qualify you to be president unlike being mayor or governor. Get over it.
Disengaged, discouraged, disinterested citizenry are essential to republican victory. Trying to deflate those who would energize people is a rational tactic for them.
Don't forget Matatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King both community organizer's.
When I saw Rudy Giulani and Sarah Palin insult all the community organizers, activists, volunteers, etc. Wednesday night I was left speechless. They both even waited to make sure everyone was laughing - disgusting. The level of arrogance and smugness on display was the low point of the election season IMO.
How many people in this country have had their lives or their friends'/relatives' lives affected in a positive way by the dedicated, hard-working volunteers and community organizers out there? Goodbye to those votes, McCain/Palin.
Kudos to Obama for staying above the fray and doing his best to keep it clean. I think he actually gets it - that whoever is elected President will be the leader of the ENTIRE nation, not just half of it.
This is ignorant tripe. Most community organizers work to help people with out the need for adulation. Obama did it as a resume filler. He doesn't encourage people to stand and succeed on their own without government interference, that's what Republicans do. The leftist form of organization gets the people to rely on government more so there easier to control and they achieve more power.
At the end of the day, liberals will always leave the people weaker, not stronger.
If it were not for the community organizers for the past 8 years, we'd be worse off than we are.
I support Obama & Biden!!!!!!!
I actually agreed with Ms. Palin.
A community organizer does NOT have the "responsibilities" that a mayor would - because their work is largely volunteer-based. They have CHOSEN to work with people who need their help - often for little or NO money. It is NOT their job. A mayor gets a check and is elected to office. Yes, they DO have responsibilites, as does anyone who is working for a paycheck.
But someone who GIVES their time and efforts to better people or provide a voice for those who can not speak for themselves when it NOT required of them and CHOOSES to TAKE ON responsibilities that are NOT required of them - well, how could you EVER belittle that?!?!
Palin wasn't just denigrating community organizing. She was revving up the base using code words to scare them. What she REALLY said was that Obama was organizing black people. There were 36 black delegates at the RNC. 36. This woman does NOT represent America in any way. The difference in look and tone betweeen the DNC and the RNC was HUGE and shows why the Repugs are a dying party.
the small town Palin was mayor of had a little more than 1/2 of 1% black population
that was probably a typo
I think the number would be closer to 00.001% but that's irrelevent. She's completely unqualified for more reasons than I have time to list. This is a joke.
She is not here to represent America. She is here to represent conservatives. No one is stopping blacks from holding conservative values. Nothing is stopping black from moving to Alaska. If you don't like what you see and hear then too bad.
That 36 translates to 1.5% of the total delegates down from 6.7% in 2004. Clearly blacks are supporting BO because he's black. I'm sure a lot of non-blacks are also. It's a tough election.
I'm sure very few are really interested in what 'change' means. Do one dares to define 'change'.
If you vote for BO you're sexist.
If you vote for SP you're racist.
No one will one in this election but the loser.
One thing for sure, if it was Michelle Obama running for president, she wouldn't have the pull BO has. We're a nation of sexists before we're a nation of racists.
You are absolutely right! Am I the only one that noticed during the entire RNC everytime there was a 'panned shot' of the audience there were no Blacks ? I counted 4 over the entire 3 day TV coverage. It was literally a sea of all white, blue haired people. McCain had elderly veterans lined up, and Obama had Generals against the war lined up. I despise every single thing Palin represents. Exploitation of the environment, taking her small child to kill a docile Moose, supports fur, oil drilling, and forcing her e religion onto women. Am I the only one that wonders when her daughter 'conceived'? Was she 16 or 17? It was 5 months ago, and if she was a minor, it that why they waited to announce her pregnancy? Palin's disrepectful remarks about grass roots activists not 'counting'? That was incredibly stupid. What does she think the Civil Rights movement was about? "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." Margaret Mead Nothing describes the Palin better than this quote from MLK : "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and consciencious stupidity.
Oh please...m
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