Maybe it's because my brother is a community organizer or maybe it's because I've met too many organizers in my short career who I admire immensely. But the GOP's new line of attack -- that CO's don't have "actual responsibilities" -- made me angrier than anything I've seen in politics this year. Before blowing a gasket, however, I thought I'd outsource some commentary on Rudy Guiliani and Sarah Palin's denigrating attacks.
Let's start with Archpundit's Deep Thought, which follows another thoughtful post on the topic:
The Civil Rights Movement was a large community organizing effort.
A great point. But what about the Christian Coalition, a group much closer to the GOP's heart? How can you describe what they did as anything other than organizing one's community?
David Plouffe issued a solid rejoinder to the madness after the speech, too, explaining that community organizing is "how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicans and their failed policies."
And be sure to watch the following take by video blogger Jay Smooth, who eviscerates this cheap and misinformed attack:
Finally, in light of last night's attacks on community organizers, it's rather remarkable that one of the themes of their convention was "service." Apparently, there are only two kinds of service that the Republicans value: political and military. The rest just don't count.
Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user Newshour.
Ellen Beth Gill (not verified) on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 16:03
Sarah Palin wouldn't have been at that podium last night if it were not for community organizers. She'd be without the vote in a political party that did not exist. Our nations history is full of community organizing and, in fact, would not exist without the community organizing of that little group in Philadelphia back in 1775.