Charity Protests Remark by Sarah Palin

September 05, 2008

Charity Protests Remark by Sarah Palin

A civil-rights group and others are protesting Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s jab at community organizers during her speech at the Republican National Convention, where she accepted the nomination for vice president.

Defending herself against those who say she has little experience in government, Ms. Palin described her work as mayor of a small town, saying, “Being a mayor of a town is like being a community organizer but with responsibilities.”

The line, which was a thinly veiled attack on Sen. Barack Obama’s previous job as an advocate for poor neighborhoods in Chicago, drew laughter from convention delegates, but anger from others.

Wade Henderson, chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, responded in a press statement: “We’re a nonpartisan coalition but we do take exception when anyone disparages the vast contributions of community organizers to American society.”

Mr. Henderson pointed out the work of several famous people who have helped coordinate volunteers and activists — Benjamin Franklin, Clara Barton, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Nothing is done in a vacuum. Someone has to organize it to get it done. That is the simple and great role of a community organizer,” he said.

Liberal blogs also attacked Ms. Palin for her comment.

“I always thought that community organizers — people who volunteer their time, money, and ability to help others — were like small time mayors but they actually accomplish something meaningful,” an anonymous writer says on the Daily Kos, a left-leaning political Web site.

What do you think? Do you object to Ms. Palin’s remarks? Or is it simply political rhetoric?

— Ian Wilhelm

Comments

I found the comment to be somewhat mean-spirited. It reminded me of classic bully behavior where the kids in the schoolyard make fun of the sensitive kid who doesn’t have a rough and tumble affinity for violent thinking. I’ve been demeaned as “too sensitive” to this approach, told that teasing is just part of life, and perhaps it is. It’s not what I want to see in one of the leaders of the free world. Free means just that. It makes me question her ability to approach diplomacy and the needed social changes that I see as crucial to our progress with any plausible compassion and effectiveness. I was disappointed. The real work that needs to be done requires a loving heart, not a gun toting mindset.

Together, we are stronger.
Vicki Flaugher

— Vicki Flaugher Sep 5, 11:12 AM #
It’s amazing to me how the bloggers, media & Obama fans can attack this woman about having ‘NO’ experience & her ‘family’ issues, but they can’t take it when she questions THE presidential candidate’s experience. A loving heart vs. a gun-toting mindset — come on! Because you have a gun doesn’t make you a non- loving, non-compassionate person. Matter of fact, Obama’s record of voting against ‘the least of these’ (unborn & especially the babies born alive after a failed abortion) shows just what a loving heart he really has!

— Cathy Combs Sep 5, 11:27 AM #
I guess I fail to see what compassionate act is ever done with a gun, but I respect your right to your opinion, Cathy. It’s her experience in behaving the way she is choosing that worries me, not that she has none. I don’t find sarcastic remarks about people who are proud of their community service to be compassionate either. You could say it was all done in fun, but that’s not my idea of fun. And, again, I honor your opinion about right to life, as well. I’ve spoken with enough pro-life individuals who have no problem with killing via the death penalty or war, that I admit I could feel biased against that mindset. I guess I just have a poor judgement as to who deserves to be killed and who doesn’t. I think no one does and that to me is pro-life. The greatest mind I know on this subject told us all to forgive and love, and specifically told us not to kill. That’s what I will go with.

Vicki

— Vicki Flaugher Sep 5, 12:23 PM #
I resent small minded, big mouthed political partisans on both sides who stubbornly insist on dragging worthy charitable causes and the people who make them work into their tiny little partisan screaming matches.

I raise money to hire lawyers for poor people. And while most Democrats (I being one of 27 Democrats in my zip code) scream about how Republicans hate poor people getting access to justice, the fact is that most of our donors and many, if not most of our volunteer attorneys are Republicans.

On this issue there is no disagreement. In 12 years of doing this I have yet to meet the person who believes poor people don’t have the right to an attorney.

So ALL OF YOU, kindly keep your bitter, nation killing, hate mongering attitudes out of the world of charitable enterprise. If you were to explain what community organizers actually do to Republicans, most would applaud that work. And if we were to analyze everything Democrats poke fun at in Republicans we would find some of the same mean spiritedness. Take 2 valium and call Sarah Palin in the morning.

— Sam Prince Sep 5, 02:17 PM #
Might be worth considering this article from The New Republic.

Creation Myth

What Barack Obama won’t tell you about his community organizing past.

John B. Judis, The New Republic

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=2e0a7836-b897-4155-864c-25e791ff0f50

— P Sep 5, 02:22 PM #
The comment was intended to provoke laughter. Let’s not take it too seriously.

— William Borden Sep 5, 02:22 PM #
I didn’t find the comment offensive if you heard it in the context of executive experience. I think we can all agree that charities do amazing work, and recent statistics report that conservatives make more donations to charities than progressive liberals, so you can argue all you want, but deeds mean more to me than words.

— Vaughn W Henry Sep 5, 02:25 PM #
I thought it was pretty mean-spirited too. It’s one thing for Governor Palin to question the experience of her opponent, but it’s quite another to generalize about all community organizers as having less responsibility compared to mayors. There are effective and noneffective people in all positions, and it just doesn’t come off as very intelligent to make sweeping generalizations to make yourself look better. What really shocked me though, was Rudy Guiliani getting on the community-organizer-bashing bandwagon. More so than many other cities, New York City has a wealth of important community organizations (and organizers) who contribute important arts, culture, and social programs.

I guess it just goes to show that some politicians will say anything that they think will get them elected.

— Katie Sep 5, 02:28 PM #
The nonprofit sector delivers valuable community services – sometimes in partnership with government, and sometimes in lieu of it. We all recognize that community organizers can rally people to accomplish much needed goals in a more efficient, more cost effective method than government can. Many community projects arise because government isn’t responding adequately to a need. So, someone like Gov. Palin, who as a former mayor and a current governor should know firsthand the value added by community organizers, and as a Republican wants to reduce the role of Big Government and lower taxes, should be the last to belittle the role of community organizers in American society.

— Steve Meador Sep 5, 02:43 PM #
The intent of the commentary was not to bash community organizers. Look a little deeper.

— Beth Sep 5, 02:46 PM #
In the spirit of accuracy and truth-telling, I should remind Vaughn Henry that the “nonprofits” most conservatives contribute to are their churches and their religious missions. The statistics bear this out, so please don’t manipulate the facts to suit your personal political agenda.

— Klee Davis Sep 5, 02:55 PM #
I frankly never questioned the “community organizer” title until it was mocked first by Rudy Guiliani, then Governor Palin. It made me wonder what in the world does a community organizer do? I work for a non-profit in downstate Illinois. We don’t use that term. This title seemed to be made up to bolster Obama’s credentials. If it means more than that, define it clearly. Vague job titles can make anyone look good. Governor Palin was simply responding to attacks about her experience, albeit with sarcasm. There’s quite a bit of that on both sides of the political fence.

— Kim Sep 5, 03:01 PM #
Kim, the title is not “made up.” There’s a long history and literature about community organizing. I would recommend a recent book by Michael Jacoby Brown, for instance. In a nutshell, a community organizer helps people come together to define their problems, realize their power when acting together, and use that power to create solutions. The nonprofit where I work just hired a community organizer to help residents of a public housing development press the Housing Authority to improve safety and services where they live.

— Dennis Fischman Sep 5, 03:07 PM #
Wow, what thin skins we have! I am also a “community organizer,” by my activities, (not title) and I knew who exactly she meant when she made that statement. It certainly wasn’t ME! We all need to “Let it go.” There are other, worthier things to get all worked up and energized about. She wasn’t attacking anyone but Obama’s title on his resume.

— Nancy Sep 5, 03:09 PM #
Dennis,
Thank you for the clarification.

— Kim Sep 5, 03:13 PM #
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have published a wonderful document called Faithful Citizenship www.usccb.org It would be worthwhile reading regardless of your political affiliation. All of us yearn for social justice, peace and life.

— olderandwiser Sep 5, 03:18 PM #
I completely agree with Vicki. Sneering and put-downs are prime Republican establishment tactics, and beneath the dignity of those running for the highest office in the land. Hopefully, we get past that by the time we are out of the schoolyard.

Obama respectfully deferred comment about all the personal Palin hoopla. He is a man of character, and that is why I hope to find him in the White House next January.

— Jan Sep 5, 03:19 PM #
Gov. Palin is out on the campaign trail repeating these comments today. The McCain Campaign has indeed intentionally set her up to deliver these remarks with purpose. They are not intended to be funny only. Diminish and demean Senator Obama’s personal narrative, background, accomplishments which will in turn serve to allow focus on McCain’s personal history and accomplishments. Thus keep the attention away from the issues- like today’s news that 85,000 jobs were lost and unemployment is now at 6.1%. Those are the real stories.

— KristinK Sep 5, 03:20 PM #
Folks, this is an Obamanian exercise is deflection. The goal is to obscure the glaring truth in her charge: Senator Obama’s resume is no thicker than Gov. Palin’s. In fact, it is thinner. Now the Obamites are seeking to distract the public’s attention from the fact that someone effectively pointed out that the emperor has no clothes.

— Mike from Jersey City Sep 5, 03:35 PM #
If you expect Palin or Obama or any successful politician to turn the other cheek you have much more faith in politicians than I do. I don’t see the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality going away any time soon. The media loves it!

Everybody who is outraged by this, should be outraged with the jabs on both sides of the fence. We should all be working to pull down this behavior all together. I’m extremely skeptical of partisan outrage as being anything more than convoluted dislike for “the other team” and hopes to bring them down, rather than a dislike for the behavior.

Either choose not to be offended or choose to criticize the behavior of all guilty politicians with the same vigor. If we can’t do it sincerely we should at least have the decency to swallow our hypocrisy and say nothing at all.

— John Sep 5, 03:36 PM #
Personally, I dislike politics. It’s like we’re in middle school again when they start at each other.

But if she wanted to make an attack on Obama she should have had the courage to just come out and say what she really wanted to say.

I do find it funny how she can say, “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities” and then McCain in his speech say, “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,” Mr. McCain said.

“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.”

But I guess serving a cause greater than yourself is not as worthy as being a small-town mayor. Or maybe it’s just another sleazy politician trick.

— erin Sep 5, 04:19 PM #
Since when is community organizing a despicable enterprise. I always thought it was an effort to empower people to help them help themselves.

Community organizing has a long and positive history in our country. Would we have achieved our independence if it hadn’t been for community organizers?

I’m not sure all those people who have been protesting Roe v. Wade since 1973 would welcome the denigration they are getting from their fellow conservatives.

— Fran Sep 5, 05:49 PM #
Conervatives tend to distrust community organizers like Dr. King because they are all about changing the status quo, a frightening concept to many conservatives.

— Dennis Sep 5, 06:22 PM #
It is difficult for me to separate Gov. Palin’s comment from the vast litany of intentionally divisive rhetoric that the Bush administration has employed over the past eight years to discredit honest disagreement.

I also cannot ignore the fact that, while by far the majority of Republicans are decent and loving people, nevertheless the Republican Party quietly (and not so quietly) depends upon being safe haven for the most vociferous haters in our society—the haters of blacks, the haters of Mexicans, the haters of foreigners, the haters of gay and lesbian people, the haters of city-dwellers and Starbucks-frequenters.

I am a Christian, a social moderate, and a fiscal conservative (though an environmental progressive), but I am unlikely ever to vote Republican at the national level—because to do so requires buying into the power of hate to fuel political aspiration.

— Tim Culvahouse Sep 5, 08:05 PM #
I don’t think there is any room for sarcasm and downright derogatory comments. I feel Sarah Palin has come out swinging without the knowledge she needs to back her up- her degree is in journalism- funny that she won’t speak to any journalists. It seems that without the pre written jabs at the opposing side, there isn’t much for her to say.

— cathy Sep 6, 03:32 AM #
I, too, was surprised that former mayor Guiliani and Governor Palin mocked community organizing – especially when Senator McCain and his wife enthusiastically advocated for it. At the time, I thought that perhaps their busy schedules hadn’t given them adequate time to get their message straight. Now, hearing Sara Palin continue making these same remarks, I wonder what the McCain/Palin campaign’s honest convictions are?

— Sharon Sep 6, 11:04 AM #
On the contrary, it was “mean spirited” of Sen. Obama to refer to GOVERNOR Palin’s experience as simply being a “mayor of a small town with a budget of $10 million and 25 people,” etc. How dare he refuse to acknowledge that Palin is, in fact, a GOVERNOR in charge of a budget of over $11 BILLION dollars and some 15,000 to 20,000 employees — vastly more than what Obama has ever managed in his entire life.

As I’ve stated in an earlier post, Palin’s remark was not mocking Obama’s community service, but challenging his statement that his experience as a “community organizer” gives him more experience than Gov. Palin’s experience as both a mayor and a governor.

Democrats can certainly dish it out, but they can’t take it!

I am a proud Republican and dedicated to philanthropy and the nonprofit field, as are many, many of my Republican friends. We donate hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars to charities each year, and volunteer thousands of hours each year to serve those in need. We believe that people are served BEST by other people, not by government handouts, which only continue to enslave people to the government and don’t foster self-respect, achievement, and personal responsibilty.

Why do Democrats insist on making “service” a partisan issue? They do not own the field of philanthropy, nor that of a caring heart.

— Kimberley Stewart Sep 6, 12:05 PM #
I love the discussion here. I definitely do not care for divisive techniques on either side. Either though I will be voting for Obama in November, I don’t like how Dems keep going on about McCain’s houses. It just seems to me that we can have a conversation without the name calling. People say the media loves it, but the media does what sells, i.e. what we’re buying. The change, as continually highlighted by the philanthropic people on all sides, is within us, is ours to do. When we decide that we won’t buy the papers or watch the news shows and instead treat our neighbors kindly always, the techniques will no longer work and they will not be used. It’s a challenge to keep our hearts that open, but I believe it’s the only way out.

Vicki Flaugher

— Vicki Flaugher Sep 6, 03:25 PM #
As a long time community organizer I have resisted becoming a politician because similar to the quote above: “I always thought that community organizers — people who volunteer their time, money, and ability to help others — were like small time mayors but they actually accomplish something meaningful.” Rather than endure the public bashing that takes place regularly in public meetings I’d rather work to effect policies that can improve our communities lives.

— Ann Lehman Sep 7, 03:26 PM #
The comment was yet another example of exercising poor judgment.

Poor judgment is a trademark of the Republicans: McCain’s choice, no proper vetting, ignorant comments and behavior – and what was all that cheering when they showed a video of 911?

Wearing “drill baby drill” and our VP is HOT buttons? Do they have a clue of sexism and global warming?

— M Stewart Sep 7, 10:30 PM #
The entire GOP convention was filled of hate speeches. You see, they knew what they were going to do. So they threatened and scared the news media before hand. Did you see any reporting of it? NO! When this kind of comments should be the type of comments that should be repudiated instead it was held as a great speech. I was not imppressed! I am sure millions of Americans where not impressed either and show it at ballot box

After such hatred John McCain and Sarah Palin told the American people they will bring change and I do not doubt them. It will be change that further left out the inner cities and poor rural towns throughout the United States. You see Sarah Palin will never know what community organizers do because she never had to fight for anything in her life. If it were not for women organizing to have access to ballot box she will not be where she is today. It shows her indifference to minority, poor people and woman issues. It is a really shame now she is the vice presidential nominee for the republican party. Both McCain and Palin are the worst kind of politicians who are trying to sell the American people the same old tired politcs of disivion. I hope this time the people don’t buy it.

— Jacobins Louverture Sep 7, 11:03 PM #
I think more than wondering if Sarah Palin’s comment was mean-spirited we really should focus on what results Barack Obama accomplished as a Community Organizer. She was not mocking the position of Community Organizer but rather simply pointing out that the results he achieved were vague and not well defined. I think we need more politicians who are results oriented and have a proven track record of accomplishing what they have set out to do.

— Barbara Haramis Sep 8, 01:48 PM #
“Community organizing” isn’t inherently bad but in the sense that Barack Obama has used it, it refers to Saul Alinsky-type leftist agitation. Those on the political left, those pious people who utter phrases such as ’social justice’ in hushed tones– are infuriated at the disrespect shown the socialist ideals dear to their hearts. Interestingly, even Obama questioned the value of community organizing. He decided he could better serve his community in other ways. That’s what he is now presumably trying to do. More thoughts: http://www.capitalresearch.org/blog/?p=273

— Matthew Vadum Sep 8, 03:04 PM #
wasn’t Jesus a community organizer…
and Pontius Pilot a governor???

— lentswe Sep 8, 03:17 PM #
Traditional political extremists like Matthew Vadum (whom I had never heard of until he posted to this discussion) traditionally love having poor people around when it comes to profiting from their labor but otherwise despise them when they petition the government for equal access to society’s benefits. Using code words like “Saul Alinsky type leftist agitation” they hope to persuade those in the middle that the targets of their hatred are anti-American.

The kinds of things many community organizers do involve educating individuals about their rights, teaching them how to properly use the system to improve their lives, and to work toward raising the level of society for all.

Why it is that political extremists despise such Americans when our entire country is based on people organizing themselves to solve their own problems is beyond my comprehension.

Mr. Vadum, if that is indeed your name, you really need more fiber in your diet.

Sam Prince

— Sam Prince Sep 8, 03:19 PM #
I found the comment very insulting.

Mobilizing a community to address fundamental needs and become involved in defining the future of their community seems to me to be exactly what a politician should do.

Unless you don’t want the general public to be involved in expressing their opinion. And it would seem that with voter turnout running between 30-40%, there seems to be some invested interest in keeping communities from being involved engaged in self-determination.

— Roger Furrer Sep 8, 03:39 PM #
I’m a Republican, I’m not monetarily rich and I organize every single day. I do it because it needs done, I do it without the lable of “community organizer”. As soon as I’m labled, folks will try to create a job description for me and voila an argument about whether I’m any good at it! “He’s Republican so he can’t care” ….lables abound!

It is not about organization it is about service. We all need to take a breath and go back to the work that needs done in the cracks and crevices of everyday life.

Do some of you honestly believe the claims you make here about Obama and McCain…without a shred of proof? The politics of personal opinion? Makes you wonder who aspires to be someone in power versus someone in service.

— Anonymous Sep 8, 03:47 PM #
(This is a repost from another thread.)
I hate to spoil your “republicans suck” mutual admiration society, but, it is obvious you missed the point of Palin’s comment. Community organizers like me and Obama accomplish our goals through influence rather than executive fiat like a mayor.

The organizer is more of a consultant with no legal authority to change anything within the community. That is the difference between the community work performed by an elected official like a mayor and the community work performed by a NGO. The mayor has actual legal responsibilities within the community (with direct accountability). The community organizer does not.

Palin was clarifying the primary difference between an elected community official and a volunteer NGO. While a mayor and a community organizer are valuable resources within our communities, they are anything but equivalent in responsibility or accountability.

Let drop the faux moral indignation please. 99% of the uproar over Palin’s comment is due to her “insolent” challenge to Obama’s street creds. Ouch! She must have hit a nerve.

— Robert Kornegay Sep 8, 03:51 PM #
It is obvious that many of you missed the point of Palin’s comment.

Community organizers like Sen. Obama and myself accomplish our goals through indirect influence rather than direct executive decision-making.

The community organizer is more of a consultant with no real authority to directly change anything within the community. That is the difference between the community work performed by an elected official and the community work performed by a NGO. The mayor has actual legal responsibilities within the community (with direct accountability). The community organizer does not.

While we all agree that an elected mayor and a volunteer community organizer are valuable resources within our communities, they are anything but equivalent in responsibility or accountability. That was Palin’s point.

— Robert Kornegay Sep 8, 04:05 PM #
Sam Prince corroborates my arguments. At Capital Research Center we published a paper called “Barack Obama: A Radical Leftist’s Journey from Community Organizing to Politics,” in the June edition of Foundation Watch. (I am editor and co-author.) It is available at
http://www.capitalresearch.org/pubs/pubs.html?id=640
We also discussed community organizing with David Freddoso, author of “The Case Against Barack Obama” at
http://www.capitalresearch.org/news/news.html?id=634. We also discussed the work of a friend (or should I say ‘comrade’?) of the community organizing community, William Ayers.

— Matthew Vadum Sep 8, 04:25 PM #
As a long time community organizer who listened to Sarah Palin’s speech and was also recently in Alaska and Wasilla, I was insulted by her comments about mayors vs community organizers. I think there are many wonderful mayors who do great work for their communities. Some have awesome responsibilities and others have mostly ceremonial duties. It varies greatly. In the same way, community organizers and their responsibilities vary greatly. The problem was that Sarah Palin was clearly stereotyping in her comment. Honestly, I would volunteer to be Mayor of Wasilla any day over community organizing in drug gang infested neighborhoods where the people you are helping to take back control of the streets are at risk of being shot with NRA sanctioned automatic weapons or fire bombed in their home.
A lot is being made of her being a Governor, but people need to remember that being Governor of Alaska is different than being Governor of every other state. With no State real estate, property, or sales taxes, the Governor can gain popularity by controlling government spending and handing out oil revnue rebate checks to every resident. Wouldn’t other governors love to do that? While it is reported that Alaska has a small population, it is rarely reported that 90% of the State is still in Federal ownership and that the vaste majority of decisions are made by Federal bureaucrats. The Governor really has very little power, compared to other states and she is currently being investigated for possibly having abused some of the power she does have.

Finally, when I was in Alaska last month and I mentioned that I was a retired community organizer, several residents immediately asked me to come back and help them organize their community where the political leadership is in the pocket of several prosperous companies that do whatever they like.

— Bill Miller Sep 8, 05:36 PM #
A Community Organizer is a specific kind of person and a particular kind of work. The kind led by Mr. Obama was invented by Saul Alinsky in Chicago. He used manipulative power grabs and group dynamics to wrest control of communities and accomplish his goals no matter what the people in the community wanted.

I wrote a doctorate on training and deploying lay volunteers into communities and taught my methods since 1975. I am fully committed to enhancing the health and welfare of all persons. However, I am not a Community Organizer in the sense that Mr. Obama was and how that term is used to define a specific group.

By the way, Mr. Obama quit being a CO because he found it was not working. Every project he worked on failed so he decided to go to law school and run for elected office where, As Ms Palin said, “You have real responsibilities.” In a way, he found that the Alinsky method was a failure.

Anyone involved in doing helpful work through volunteers will not be offended by such jokes and jabs. We need thicker skins that that to take on the real problems among the poor and dispossessed. I am sure that all of us here are involved in mobilizing volunteers to build better communities but few if any are truely COs ala Alinsky and Obama.

— Gary Sweeten Sep 8, 10:58 PM #
It seems to me that Sarah Palin did in fact speak in a tone and context that certainly came across as demeaning towards community organizers. Her speech in general inclined heavily to sarcasm. She portrayed a lack of finness and class. Maybe she ought to take a few lessons on diplomacy from community organizers such as Barack Obama.

— Carlos Sep 9, 09:46 AM #
Personally I believe it was an ill conceived political put down of a person’s efforts on behalf of others, who have fewer skills when it comes to working with the establishment or need help in getting their voices heard. Nothing more, nothing less

— Doug Crane Sep 9, 11:37 AM #
Right you are, Carlos. Palin should follow the example of Obama in San Fran. when he mocked the voters of Penn. for pathetically clinging to the guns and religion for comfort. Hmmm, I’m not sure you would really want Gov. Palin to be as “diplomatic” as Sen. Obama.

— Robert Kornegay Sep 9, 12:56 PM #
Repubs are like the hall monitor kids that wear those sashes with fake badges. “Stay in line, kids! No running!” They want it both ways: they LOVE community or organizers, like PTA or Habitat For Humanity, but HATE “rabble-rousers” who might want to stand up to injustice or fight the status quo. Those hall monitors would have reported the Boston Tea Party members to the principal. (bad mix of stories, but…you get my point?)
Without community organizers of the kind Repubs despise, there’d have been so little social progress in this country.

www.community-organizer.com

— ProudOldLefty Sep 11, 12:11 AM #

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