“When Giuliani sneered about community organizers on the “South side” of Chicago, it’s pretty clear what he was saying: Barack Obama spent his time rabble-rousing among black people.” – Ezra Klien
Both Giuliani and Palin made the profession of community organizer out to be the butt of a joke. Palin said “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer – except that you have actual responsibilities”.
Without community organizers, African American Women like me (and countless other religious, LGBTQ, racial, etc…various social segments I could name) would have a hard row to tow trying to “pull ourselves up by our boot straps”. Um…Palin would not be able to vote without the work of community organizers. Hello?
Abolitionists organized to bring an end to slavery
Women’s Sufferage organizers worked to give women the vote
Community organizers would not be a group I would come after, if I was on the Republican ticket, or any ticket for that matter. These people know how to mobilize people, real people, on a grassroots level. They know how to raise money. They know how to make change happen, even when hope is gone. They are real workers. That’s not a population that I would want mad at me if I was in the underdog position in the presidential race.