Barack Obama as a Community Organizer-in Chief

[steven johnson]

Barack Obama has said,“I am a New Democrat,” avoiding labels.

Michelle Obama said, "Barack is not a politician first and foremost. He's a community activist exploring the viability of politics to make change." Good community organizers bring in the opposition from the dark corners. They don't descend into anger or demonization but bring opponents to the table to find a solution. Community organizers don’t marginalize extreme points of view but find common ground.

Jerry Kellman, his boss in Chicago, said " he is at rock bottom is someone who brings people together."

Another person who knew him at that time said, “"The thing he was brilliant at was establishing a rapport with folks quickly. It was based on who they were, what their motivations were, what they wanted to accomplish." The experience in Chicago "taught me a lot about listening to people as opposed to coming in with a predetermined agenda," Obama recalled. Obama tended to reframe things in a practical way. Of the Washington-Vrdolyak bouts he said, "They're not enemies. They're both working for their constituents, and they have to do this," recalled Loretta Augustine Herron.. "Whoever can help you reach your goal, that's who you work with. . . . There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies."

Rev. Eugene F. Rivers, a politically active pastor of Azusa Community Church in Boston, who knows all of them but is not part of the president's prayer caucus. "Obama genuinely comes out of the social justice wing of the church. That's real. The community organizing stuff is real."


I know it's hard to believe that Obama, like Lincoln, could come out of the Illinois crucible as an honorable, principled man. He did.



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

http://open.salon.com/blog/stellaa/2008/12/19/obamawarren_andcommunity_organizing

http://www.blnz.com/news/2009/01/17/Obama_political_journey_warp_speed_5801.html

http://66.70.86.30/Forum_MSG.aspx?master=8&category=1307&topic=347755&page_no=1&FAV=N


http://www.gtweekly.com/20090114326792/good-times/covers/the-better-angels-of-our-nature

[sniffa]

1. I'm sick of seeing Eugene Rivers

Homophobic asshole as well as covering up a rape at his Ella Baker House.

Rest is great though. Thanks for posting. :thumbsup: