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The Fight Over Community Organizing
September 04, 2008 7:15 PM
Last night, both former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin mocked Sen. Barack Obama's three years, in his 20s, spent as a community organizer.
"He worked as a community organizer," Giuliani said, laughing, as the crowd mocked the very notion. "What? He worked -- I said -- I said, OK, OK, maybe this is the first problem on the resume."
"I guess a small-town mayor is sorta like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities," Palin said to much applause.
Obama this evening in Lancaster, Pa., told voters, "the Republicans really had fun with the work I did after college. I don’t know if they understand what it means to, at the age of 22 or 23, to pass up more lucrative options and work with people who are having a tough time, and seeing when people work together, we can do amazing things –- rebuilding communities, and setting up job training centers and starting up after-school programs for kids."
Obama added, "Maybe that’s not really interesting work for Rudy Giuliani, but for the people on the ground who are seeing a difference in their lives -– that’s important stuff."
For nine years I've listened to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., movingly call on younger Americans to serve a cause greater than their self-interest.
Wasn't Obama merely heeding that very call?
- jpt
September 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (152)
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george
how many years
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:31:46 PM
Rodney,
True if you are talking about the whole Chicago. But Obama was only doing community service for a small district of Chicago. So...
Posted by: george | Sep 4, 2008 9:30:52 PM
george
a lot more people in chicago than the who;e state of alaska
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:28:36 PM
My aunt, in the early 80s, taught refusniks from Russia english - and would help them get accustomed to life in America. On her own. No help. No money from the government. The classes were held in our kitchen.
Yeah, that's right, she was one of those worthless community organizers.
So I donated $25 in her name to the Obama campaign. Not alot, but it's what I can spare now.
I voted for McCain in the primaries of 2000. We were part of the New England Sweep that shocked the Bush and Gore campaigns. We made him an honorary Yankee.
I guess now John McCain is only interested in people who have power, and has no time for those who seek to empower others.
Thanks, John. Thanks a lot.
Posted by: Disgusted | Sep 4, 2008 9:28:17 PM
Rodney,
If being a small town mayor is laughable experience, it is fair enough to laugh about Obama's community organizer experience.
Posted by: george | Sep 4, 2008 9:26:51 PM
if there are any big oil payoffs to palin i just hope she gets caught-----there is something that stinks here
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:26:33 PM
george
where do you think that all the money came from---
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:24:10 PM
mayor of such a small town is laughable at best-----a couple of my neighbors were mayor here same size town----but president or vice pres-----now that is a stretch i would not want to see
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:22:54 PM
jj,
Do you know how much a small town mayor gets paid? Very little. I believe Obama was not doing the community organizing thing completely for free (low pay but not for free).
Posted by: george | Sep 4, 2008 9:21:42 PM
"She was also paid to be mayor."
Not only that. The town had to hire an administrator to do the actually work.
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 4, 2008 9:19:37 PM
WHEN YOU ARE OWNED BY BIG OIL ALL ALTERNATES ARE LOW PRIORITY.
BIO DIESEL CAN HELP IMMEDIATEKLY WITH NO DOWNSIDE---A GOOD START
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:19:17 PM
corn-ethanol is not a mistake, it's less effective.
It should be used as a first step in switching to renewables, as a step toward cellulosic ethanol. I.o.w. not just use the corn, use the entire plant. And use a plant that yields the highest production of ethanol in that environment.
McCain has opposed that, as he has opposed EVERY proposal that would have benefitted renewable energy
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 4, 2008 9:17:00 PM
Nancy,
We are not arguing about the abortion issue here. But anyway, since you mention that, I will tell you my opinion. I am all for limited abortion, such as for the rape situation you just mentioned. However, women should do that in the early stage of pregnancy, not until 8 or 9 months' into it. When the pregnancy gets into that late stage, we should forbid the abortion. I consider this as an infanticide. BTW, Obama fully support the legislation of Infanticide Act when he was a State Senator in Chicago. i consider that too extreme or too liberal.
Posted by: george | Sep 4, 2008 9:16:49 PM
I TALK TALK TO WOMEN ON A DAILY BASIS--AND MOST FEEL THE SAME WAY MONICA
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:14:37 PM
Rodney,
that's why women will never vote for McCain.
Posted by: monica | Sep 4, 2008 9:12:23 PM
I THINK WHEN A WOMAN NEEDS AN OLD GESER TO DICTATE TO HER WHAT SHE CAN DO WITH HER BODY=----THAT MAKES A VERY WEAK LAME WOMAN
Posted by: rodney | Sep 4, 2008 9:10:53 PM
George-
She was also paid to be mayor. Obama did his community organizing for free.
Says alot about the man.
Posted by: jj | Sep 4, 2008 9:09:58 PM
George-
what do you make of the following?
"I am pro-life with the exception of a doctor's determination that the mother's life would end if the pregnancy continued. I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending and innocent's life." - Sarah Palin. Anchorage Daily News.
Last, I heard, rape is not a mistake, but a crime against women. Who is she to force women to be held accountable for crimes against them?
Posted by: nancy | Sep 4, 2008 9:08:30 PM
She did not say community organizing is not good. She just said being a small town mayor is more (and better)experience than being a community organizer. If you Obama supporters try to discredit her experience as a small town mayor, you should discredit Obama's experience as a community organizer even more.
Posted by: george | Sep 4, 2008 9:06:31 PM
Leslie-
Totally agree with you. Did you hear Obama defend himself today...lot's of class.
Also-
Can't believe she calls rape society's mistake.
Posted by: trishao | Sep 4, 2008 9:05:02 PM
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