“A community organizer,” former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani sneered, referring to Barack Obama’s years on the streets of Chicago, from June 1985 to May 1988, as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland (Roseland, West Pullman, and Riverdale) on Chicago's far South Side. During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from 1 to 13 and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000, with accomplishments including helping set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization in Altgeld Gardens [Wikipedia]. And this was *before* earning his Juris Doctorate from Harvard and teaching constitutional law for twelve years. Giuliani, like most of the “red meat” republicans in attendance, wrote of Obama—a man they know very little about—as though the senator has been lounging on a sofa for twenty years waiting for the nomination. Whether this ignorance was deliberate see-no-evil monkey business or if these folks were just plain ignorant, either way I was insulted on behalf of the people this convention was meant to inspire: clueless right-wing Ballentine chuggers and house fraus.
Giuliani made it seem that such work was negligible and unimportant, and that it didn’t contribute to the overall fabric of the man who would be president. I’ll have to think hard, but I really can’t remember if we’ve ever *had* a U.S. president who had any real street-level experience solving the problems of average Americans. I would tend to suspect such experience should be a vital qualification for high office and, rather than sneer at Obama for his years of service, I’d tend to criticize Senator McCain’s résumé for *not* having any community service on it. The GOP spent four days telling us, often in grating detail, the suffering McCain went through in Vietnam which, I suppose, Obama would be doing if he’d had that experience as well. But McCain’s outstanding military service record neither prepares him nor qualifies him for the Oval Office. It was four days of emotional blackmail, three of them spent finding 7,000 ways to attack Obama without using the “N” word. The entire event was fairly difficult for me to watch. It was sad, all of those people in such denial, actually booing—yes *booing*—Obama’s service as a community organizer. Which was both shocking and revelatory of how disconnected from reality these folks are. I guess if you live in a big house in an upscale neighborhood, community service is some esoteric “other,” some “thing” done by some people over there, where the poor folk live. Well-off people don’t understand it beyond the most basic pass-out-sandwiches face of community service. Their booing Wednesday night said volumes about who these people are and how utterly un-plugged from reality they are.
"You have plenty of images of committed white people for McCain; you need pictures of committed black people," Krim Ballentine said as he surveyed the Xcel Energy Center. As one of just 36 black delegates, Ballentine stands out. The retired chief deputy U.S. marshal printed up business cards for the occasion calling himself a "Constitution Philosopher" and "The Last Negro." The latter title, the back of his card explains, is in honor of the "First Negro," Othello. "Disrespect is the main ingredient in every act of violence, with racism being the most discernable negative attribute of disrespect," the card reads. Ballentine is a committed McCain supporter, but he won't be voting for him in November. "I'm from the Virgin Islands," he explains; he can't vote in presidential elections. The black man standing nearby won't be voting for McCain, either. "That's my son," Ballentine said. "He's with Republicans for Obama." [National Journal]
Their heroine was, of course, Alaska Governor Sara Palin, whose big hair and shrill voice made her sound like every well-off stay-at-home soccer mom I’ve ever met. I’m not a big fan of soccer moms. That simply was not my experience. People who don’t work have a very different view of the world from people who do, from people who struggle. They tend to get fixated on minutiae like when are their neighbors going to mow their lawns and what time the mail arrives. Soccer moms with mini vans are not necessarily rich, but their worldview is so different, usually so much smaller than the planet actually is, that it makes being around them a real chore. Having one of these people take the oath of office of president of the United States ranks among my worst nightmares.
But Palin really isn’t a soccer mom (or hockey mom as she says). And, despite her claims to Christian values and her giant republican hair, her record and her stated values don’t always add up. She’s doing a lot of backpedaling now on the trooper scandal and some business about her pressuring a librarian to remove “questionable” books from the public library, the governor never apparently having heard of the First Amendment. But it is both her pregnant teen daughter—who, for all we know, is being forced into a marriage destined to fail—I mean, look at that poor boy’s face—and the fact Palin went back to work just two days after giving birth to a son who suffers from Down Syndrome. I’m trying to put this all together, this woman of faith, this paragon of virtue. If Barack Obama had a pregnant daughter and had tried to ban books and fire troopers and went back to work two days after his Down Syndrome son arrived—this convention would be talking about nothing else.
But Republican convictions are relative: that’s what I hate about fundamentalism and, frankly, fundamentalists. If you believe something, then believe it. The pregnant daughter forces me to question what values, if any, are being taught in the Palin home. If Palin’s values are her husband’s values, if they are her children’s values. Sure, kids make mistakes—black teens most especially. I am in no way judging the kid herself, but it’s reasonable to asses what someone claims to be by the evidence of their lives. Palin says she never tried to get this trooper who was allegedly abusing her sister fired, but then she admitted to more than a dozen contacts with the police chief she later fired, leaning on him about the trooper.
Look, I’ve got nothing against Governor Palin. I don’t even know her, which puts me and John McCain on an even playing field, I suppose. But, looking at the GOP love fest, all I saw was an ocean of white folks gathered to attack a black man. Now, mind you, had Hillary prevailed, they would have likely been even meaner. But the conservative rhetoric was so phony, so plastic, and so selective—these folks celebrating—*celebrating*—Palin's preggers daughter as some paragon of virtue, applauding he for an unquestionably selfish act (and a likely cry for help: the underage daughter of a sitting governor having unprotected sex) and dragging this equally stupid and selfish teenage boy into the glare of the national spotlight—then applauding them?!? The GOP apologizing to them, falling just short of giving them a *medal*?! This stuff was just shameless. These people are…Christians? This is Christian conduct?
There’s an awful lot of lying going on. Oh, I have no doubt there’s a bunch of lying going on across the aisle in the Obama camp, too. But the GOP thing is just so full of dog biscuits that it stinks up my room just watching it. The two-facedness of it. It seems obvious to anyone who can add that Palin was not properly or thoroughly vetted, and the McCain spin machine is in overdrive lying about it while huddled in dark corners worried about the next Palin eruption. I don’t know many people who interpreted Palin’s virtual seclusion over the past days as anything but a huddle to prep this otherwise clueless person on where Iran is on a map while the McCain spinsters tried desperately to find a way to dump her for Romney—whose appearance at the con *really* made Palin look small and McCain look doddering for choosing her over a guy who rocked the house the way Romney did.
And this love-fest over the pregnant daughter is utterly shameful, considering, were that Obama’s daughter, they’d have talked about virtually nothing else. I applaud Senator Obama’s restraint for not allowing his campaign to run wild with it, but I’m quite sure Obama knows, were the tables turned, the GOP would have exploited his daughter at every opportunity.
The theme of every speech: Obama Not Ready, Palin Not A Bimbo. Both statements are lies. You can hear it in their voices. This strenuous defense of Palin rings hollow, stresses these folk out. But the GOP faithful do what they always do: gobble up whatever horsepucky the leadership spins, adopting it talking point for talking point, without question. Lying, lying, lying. And, so much of it in the name of Jesus.
Even sadder: they’ll probably get away with it. Obama is just not fighting tough enough. He *is* too much of an egghead, a believer in lofty ideals and an elevation of the human spirit. This is a blood sport. These people fight nasty, fight dirty. They rig voting machines and invalidate ballots. And they win, every time, because Democrats can’t seem to find the fire in the belly to get into a street fight with these bullies.
I would like to see an end to this politics of destruction: winning by destroying the other guy. But, I suppose, that’s up to us. I mean, as long as the Karl Rove stuff continues to work, it’ll continue to be used. The kinder, gentleman’s campaign McCain promised us—before lying about Obama being the first to go negative—is a quaint idea, but not practical.
25 Comments
So...too much of Stéphane Dion and not enough of Jean Chrétien in the Senator's political campaign style, if I might translate for my fellow Canadians?
Should Obama hire Chrétien as a campaign advisor, if it is legal to do so?
scrawled by Dwight Williams | September 4, 2008 6:44 PM
Remains to be seen how the public reacts to this. A friendly audience gobbled her 20 minutes of sarcastic attacks on Obama up, but what the mainstream thinks of that remains to be seen.
I think what we're going to hear from the Obama camp over the next weeks is a lot like what you say in the beginning of your post -- Palin's mockery of community organizers fits right into the narrative that the Republicans are out of touch with normal Americans.
And I don't think the "I'm experienced but he's not" stuff is gonna fly; I'm frankly surprised they're attempting to have it both ways. I assumed when McCain picked Palin that it was going to kill the "experience" talking point, not that they were going to try a series of verbal contortions to make it seem like she's got enough experience but he doesn't.
scrawled by Thad | September 4, 2008 7:42 PM
Totally agree about their devaluing of Obama's service, but if Middle America doesn't know what a community organizer does, isn't it Obama's job to educate them? McCain's done an excellent job both in this campaign and 2000 of his promoting his life story. Obama, not so much.
And yeah, it's a total joke the way they're pretending this girl has anything resembling a choice about what to do with this pregnancy and her life. Saw a picture of her from 2006, where it was pretty obvious she was pregnant then as well. It's not uncommon for underage mothers to have children with birth defects. This is a girl in need of serious help, who will wind up drowning in her mother's single-minded pursuit of political ambitions.
scrawled by Matt Adler | September 4, 2008 7:57 PM
Whoa-- you got a URL of that photo? I really feel like Palin is a ticking bomb. If the baby isn't hers, that explains the rush back to work. Oh, and, yes on Obama: he's making the mistake of assuming everybody knows what a comm. organizer is. But I agree the GOP's mocking of important social work has provided grist for the propaganda war.
Palin pretending her daughter's baby is hers is so 1957. If it comes out--if it's proven true--that's a serious torpedo. Obama would be smart to just let Palin self-destruct, but there may not be time. I'm imagining lots of ads with clips of Palin being an airhead. There's a LOT of that stuff out there, "What does the vice president *do*?"
scrawled by priest | September 4, 2008 8:47 PM
The math on baby Trig Palin is iffy. If Bristol is five months pregnant as claimed, then she couldn't be Trig's mother, since Trig was born a little less than five months ago. But that figure itself seems highly suspicious, and if Bristol is really four months pregnant...well, who's to say the new baby can't come "late"? Or even end up a miscarriage, so that the timing can never be conclusively established?
Trig's maternity is, of course, a huge swirling mass of conspiracy theories, and the odds of them being true are low. But the fact that so many people find it plausible that the GOP would have faked or fudged Bristol's current pregnancy just to hide the previous one says nothing good about the GOP's reputation.
scrawled by David Van Domelen | September 4, 2008 8:57 PM
They have a reputation?
I agree with whmoever posted here: I'm fairly certain they stole the last two elections. And they're getting better at it. Hanging chad indeed. They just keep punking the Dems. At will.
I'm watching the balloon drop, sitting here thinking, "It's over for these people, and theyh don't even know it."
The only way they win is (1) the dems to continue being stoopit, (2) America being unwilling to elect a black man. I'm sure they're betting on (2).
scrawled by priest | September 4, 2008 9:09 PM
Here's the photo from 2006:
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/09/02/amd_sarahbristol.jpg
Not to be too graphic, but the proportions look like the early stages of pregnancy to me.
scrawled by Matt Adler | September 4, 2008 9:43 PM
Yup. And not early stages-- she looks at least four months along.
Had a sister get pregnant about that age, another teenage friend who tried hiding it until she ended up in labor. I've seen that tummy before, it hangs too low to be chub-chub.
Anybody see Letterman Tuesday? "What I'd want in a president is somebody who'd spent five minutes discussing birth control with their teenager."
He was pretty rough on the Palins. And funny. And right.
scrawled by priest | September 4, 2008 11:14 PM
I fear Obama is too much like Dukakis, too much of a nice guy.
Right now we need to get the country in the right track. I don't care if he has to kick McCain in the crotch to get in office - but unfortunately he does.
scrawled by Blaine | September 5, 2008 12:09 AM
Well, they ain't using the N-word...but Westmorland has called him uppity--that's close right?
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/westmoreland-calls-obama-uppity-2008-09-04.html
scrawled by Scavenger | September 5, 2008 1:01 AM
"What I'd want in a president is somebody who'd spent five minutes discussing birth control with their teenager."
Oh, but these right-wingers advocate "abstinence-only" education.
I almost laugh... and then I think about how this politically-driven Medieval Times display is wreaking havoc on young people's lives. And these people just don't give a damn.
scrawled by Matt Adler | September 5, 2008 1:41 AM
http://www.electric-escape.net/node/1680 has some relevance to this thread.
scrawled by David Van Domelen | September 5, 2008 6:21 AM
And, FTR, Dave: scared the crap out of me. Thught the spammers had gotten hold of your address...
scrawled by priest | September 5, 2008 6:35 AM
What, dropping an URL in at the start of a short reply triggered your spam alerts? :)
scrawled by Dave Van Domelen | September 5, 2008 7:13 AM
Triggered a friggin' panic attack. It wasn't the URL so much as the generic robot-like tone of your comment. Maybe next time, "Hey, Priest, it's actually me."
:-)
scrawled by priest | September 5, 2008 7:20 AM
What can I say, 6 AM brings out the robotic tone. :)
scrawled by Dave Van Domelen | September 5, 2008 7:43 AM
======================
Romney relating the Dems to 'big brother', like he forgot about the wiretapping and FISA court sidesteps
======================
Palin's 'personal discovery' comment on the Presidency was so very hard-headed and Bush-like it's obvious she is the offspring of nonsense of the last 8 years. Like more nuclear plants is a good idea when we barely take care of the high-risk targets we have at the moment.
Perhaps I havent met enough bimbos in my lifetime, so I can't comment on that. I continue to wonder how the lies continue to skate. I have had kids do a better job of bsing. It pains me to see such crapola bog down the Dems so easily. If they really were eggheads, they would be doing better. Instead, the Republicans are allowed to tie them up, set the agenda, and run to annoy another day...
scrawled by circ | September 5, 2008 9:12 AM
>>>Well, they ain't using the N-word...but Westmorland has called him uppity--that's close right
How is this considered racist? I don't get it.
Quite honestly, Obama is making six figures like every other politician (although, Dems will never talk about their salaries)and quite honestly, HAS come across a little "uppity" at times (what politician hasn't). How does this equate to being called the "N" word??
I think the best indication of Obama's haughtiness was mocking blue collar/small town America's values (2nd ammendment rights and Religious tolerances) as clinging to ideals out of bitterness. I don't think that is validating some people's beliefs in even the smallest manner, and DOES come across as elitist! When Obama made those comments, he really hurt himself with the small town America vote and revealed himself to be the aristocrat and narrow-minded politician that he is.
I really don't know what's worse, having someone comment on your personality or having your running mate call you " ...the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."
scrawled by Don K | September 5, 2008 12:44 PM
Don: "uppity" is a derogative term used mainly for blacks. It's like flying the confederate flag in your pickup: it's generic use is superseded by its racial voltage.
scrawled by priest | September 5, 2008 12:56 PM
You don't realize the sociological underpinnings of the word "uppity" when applied to a black man, but you (although rightfully so) decide to take a potshot at Biden for his comment?
At least be consistent.
It's no different than referring to Barack as a boy or a buck. I don't *get* this "elitism" cry anyway. There's a sort of anti-intellectualism in this country that I find less than appealing. Just because you speak well and claim lofty goals it doesn't make you elite. What does that say about the conservatives' view of themselves when the large majority went to Ivy League schools?
scrawled by Hysan | September 5, 2008 1:07 PM
You all need to be careful what you're saying. Palin is going to be the next President of the United States. McCain is going to be elected, by hook or by crook. A 74 year old man with the toughest job on Earth. Look how it aged Clinton, even W. The only reason Carter and Bush Sr. are still going strong is because they were one term wonders. McCain will drop dead of a heart attack before his first term is over, and we'll have 10 or more years of Palin power. An empty suit, a puppet for the oil companies and the banks to control. She's no hockey mom. She's a Bushette. Bush's only executive experience was going to supermarket openings and signing the Texas budget every two years. Palin was mayor of a village. But hey, Alaska is close to Russia, doesn't that make her an expert in international relations? When it comes to Sarah Palin, remember to PICK FLICK.
scrawled by robert moore | September 7, 2008 12:57 PM
wow, Priest.. excellent.. hopefully people should be looking at this 'Bristol-gate' situation as a teachable moment instead of trying to just sweep it under the rug-
http://hypestyleshomebase.blogspot.com/2008/09/northern-over-exposure-aang-thats-hello.html
scrawled by Christopher Currie | September 7, 2008 2:13 PM
"Don: "uppity" is a derogative term used mainly for blacks. It's like flying the confederate flag in your pickup: it's generic use is superseded by its racial voltage."
A way to try and belittle black men who speak in the sort of commanding tone required for giving speeches, the same way women are often similarly belittled with the word "shrill."
Oh wait.
scrawled by Kate | September 8, 2008 6:17 PM
Christopher:
I doubt Bristol "chose" to keep the baby-- or "chose" anything. The look on her face is a mix of (a) cluelessness and (b) disconnect from reality. she doesn't seem to be all there, kind of a seven-year old in a sixteen-year old's body. And I think she's digging the attention, attention being what she's really been after, which raises the question of how good and/or attentive a mom Palin is. And, based on her boyfriend's MS page (which he was forced to take down), I doubt Bristol's politics are her mother's either. From my chair, this is a seriously troubled kid who is being used, by her own mother, for political purposes. It's really quite tragic.
scrawled by priest | September 8, 2008 7:51 PM
This "Community Organizer" thing seems all too familiar to me. It seems like something I read before nay something I wrote in a comic I penned about 3yrs ago. Priest if you'd like to see the page you can. Its where a community activist is accused of a crime and a the jury forwoman says "a community activist isn't that lika a communist isnt that like a terrorist" to get a conviction. This is an evil play and yet the Dems are still playing soft. WE DON'T NEED SOFT. THey need to play hard ball. This thing needs to be so far Dem that if the Rep stole it again, that white folks would march to the ghetto and help black people burn down the neighborhoods. It should be so far Dem that any disenfranchisement should be met almost with violence. BUt we eat the sound bytes and believe the polls. Well everyone get ready to starve. hey that has a nice ring to it as a voting campaign Vote or Starve
scrawled by mdwaire | September 9, 2008 7:09 AM