why diss community organizers?
Sarah Palin, in her acceptance speech at the GOP convention, criticized the leadership experience Barack Obama gained working as a community organizer for the Developing Communities Project, a Christian ministry that works for social justice by helping adults with job training and continuing education, and by teaching kids about anger management, conflict resolution, and saying no to drugs.
Palin claims that, by contrast, she has had "actual responsibilities" serving as an elected official.
The truly puzzling aspect of Governor Palin's criticism is that her Republican Party has long advocated non-governmental alternatives — particularly faith-based solutions — as the best remedy for social problems. Can someone help me understand?
Labels: politics, social justice
posted by BruceA @ 8:41 AM
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5 Comments:
Don't worry, in due time, the candidates will diss one another to shreds.
I, too, love community organizers and social justice. Honestly, these are the folks I look up to the most. However, I saw this comment from Palin as a poke at Obama that what he has might not be enough for the presidency. What else are politicians going to do in their party conventions than jab one another?
Well, yes, I realize that the conventions are not a time to reach across the aisle. Still, I'm very disappointed about this particular jab.
And it's not just Sarah Palin. Rudy Giuliani spoke as if community organizer is not even a real job.
I grew up Republican, and voted for George Bush in 1988, the first year I was eligible. In 1992, just out of college and full of idealism I felt compelled to switch parties when the Republicans started putting more emphasis on being cultural warriors than solving real problems.
I was hoping this might be the year they would back away from that. But this ridicule of community organizers leaves me thinking the Republicans don't want problems to be solved, even by private groups.
Politicians say what they think people might believe, not what is actually so.
Bruce,
It's just so close to your heart. Wouldn't it be bliss if the government really was for the people and run by the people? Only in heaven, my friend.
Steve -
My belief is that if we hold politicians to high standards, they may or may not live up to them; but if we hold our politicians to low standards, they will always live down to them. I still hold on to hope that it's possible to rise above the negativity and cynicism.
I could be wrong about this; every time I've had high hopes for a candidate, I've ultimately been disappointed.
truevyne -
Granted, we won't see perfection in this life. I still think it's reasonable to expect a lot more out of our leaders than we've been getting.
Still, maybe I'm being hopelessly naive about what's possible.
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