Sirota Responds
Sorry you folks decided not to read the press release or the post, instead saying we “attacked” Obama. Wrong. We urged him to reject the invitation, which he did, and we are now issuing a follow-up release congratulating him. This is known as movement politics, rather than partisan politics. The goal was never to attack Obama – and we didn’t attack him. The goal was to expose ALEC – which we did. Mission accomplished.
No, David. I did read it and it was a cheap ploy made by a lazy political operative who couldn't hold himself back for a few minutes to call the campaign.
If it was movement politics you could have chosen to help a movement by calling the campaign, finding out ALEC was being dishonest by having Obama on their front page and then attacked with the Obama campaign.
Instead you took the cheap shot. As usual. It doesn't benefit any movement to be an ass and put a campaign on the spot for something they had nothing to do with. Outside of your press release page the story has no play because you fucked it up. Congrats!
June 25th, 2007 at
You’ve proven my point exactly. You see things only through the lens of candidates and the 2008 election. This is about ALEC and making that organization radioactive to state legislators and the political Establishment generally. It had very little to do with Barack Obama – and our mission was accomplished. ALEC has been forced to take down the Obama photo, and our release went to our entire network of legislators.
It’s really a sad commentary that “pundits” like you see liken yourselves as movement leaders at the same time you look at politics through only the idiotically simplistic lens of candidates and presidential elections – all while the Right has been using organizations like ALEC to govern the nation from the statehouses. But please – don’t project your simpleton viewpoint on the rest of us – we have real work on the ground to do.
June 25th, 2007 at
“Mission accomplished.”
Cute choice of words.
Asshole.
June 25th, 2007 at
If it had little to do with Obama, then why did the headline not simply read “Candidates pressed to reject…?”
“we have real work on the ground to do”
Oh, Christ. That’s f’ing rich. I know when I have a lot of real work on the ground to do, the first step I take is to constantly google search myself so I can spread my brand of sarcastic knowitallism to every blogger that dare disagree with the pearls of wisdom that drippeth from my keyboard.
June 25th, 2007 at
===This is about ALEC and making that organization radioactive to state legislators and the political Establishment generally.
Which you failed to do. You had a great opportunity to get in touch with the Obama people and see what the deal was with him on the front page. Instead you sent out a press release.
What happened? Some people who already believe the same thing heard about it, but ALEC avoided any serious public embarrassment and Obama’s people didn’t get a chance to embarrass them either because they had to react with no warning.
It is a missed opportunity because instead of working with people you decided to grandstand.
Press releases aren’t grass roots. You won’t get a story in one paper now, you could have if you would have worked with Obama’s people to attack them for their dishonesty–that also would have lead to stories about the overview of how odious ALEC is.
June 25th, 2007 at
Again, you really just don’t get it. You see the world through a media-centric view. We don’t care if it never gets written into a story. What we care about is being in contact with state legislators. That you can’t fathom this simple, grassroots concept is actually quite telling.
June 25th, 2007 at
So that’s why it’s under the journalists tab on the web site?
The more you explain the strategery, the more I’m confused.
Now, even taking your supposed strategery that you aren’t even following, how would an announcement from the Obama campaign not have more of an effect reaching state legislators? Would you not reach those legislators better by partnering with the campaign? I thought so.
June 25th, 2007 at
You assume that Obama would have done that. Your assumptions are not based in any fact, or even shred of fact. They are just that – mindless assumptions.
June 25th, 2007 at
You assume that Obama would have done that. Your assumptions are not based in any fact, or even shred of fact. They are just that – mindless assumptions.
You couldn’t spend a few minutes on a phone call? I guess you didn’t want to go against your mindless assumption that you understood things better than Obama did. Typical.
June 25th, 2007 at
===You assume that Obama would have done that. Your assumptions are not based in any fact, or even shred of fact. They are just that – mindless assumptions.
No, I think that if you asked there was a possibility he might have done that. Since you didn’t ask, there is no chance he would. And given the confrontational tone you took with the campaign over something they had nothing to do with, they likely won’t do it if you were smart enough to ask the next time.
June 25th, 2007 at
Perhaps Larry is assuming too much, but Sirota you’re a total goof as far as I can tell. This is what you wrote over at HuffPost…
====My guess is that Obama has not accepted ALEC’s invitation====
What you did was a cheap hit piece. Period.
I see these “press release” (which is how it’s labeled on your site) just about every day, and they’re usually designed to bring attention to the attackers, not the issue or the person or persons being attacked. It’s an ego thing, or an organizing thing, or a money-raising thing. The actual issue means nothing.
====We don’t care if it never gets written into a story.===
Then why issue a press release? Why wasn’t it listed as an “action” post, or something?
===What we care about is being in contact with state legislators.===
I interact with state legislators almost constantly five days a week (or more) and, frankly, nobody I’ve ever talked to has even once mentioned your group. Not doing too well on that end.
And, by the way, only the greenest (meaning inexperienced) legislators don’t know that ALEC is a conservative organization. I’m not sure you have to inform anyone of that. They clearly advertise themselves as such on their website.
Also, what actual grassroots work do you do in Illinois? Is setting up convenient bogeymen like ALEC which you can then use to attack anyone who associates with it your idea of organizing?
Have you ever heard of Saul Alinsky, the grandfather of all American grassroots organizers? Alinsky never sent his organizers into any situation unless they were first invited. And he had real, honest to goodness, highly trained people on the ground who knew what they were doing. Your staff list doesn’t even list any organizers. WTF?
You appear to be one of those hollow shell groups that works on “coalition building” with groups that do the real hard work in the trenches but does no actual organizing itself. That would mean your fingernails might get dirty. We wouldn’t want that.
June 25th, 2007 at
How do you know we didn’t give Obama a heads up first?
…I hear the crickets chirping…
Maybe you should think first – before opening your trap…
June 25th, 2007 at
Because I talked to the campaign and they responded very quickly that they weren’t going and that no one had bothered to contact them. And we both know you know that.
June 25th, 2007 at
Heh. That’s all I have to say.
June 25th, 2007 at
Oh, also – can I sell you some real estate? I have a nice property to show you that’s built over an old toxic waste dump…it’s a very good deal…
June 25th, 2007 at
Who did you give that heads up to, an intern?
Whomever you called, a heads up before sending out such a breathless release doesn’t count. Getting an answer one way or another is what counts.
Your comment at HuffPost makes it clear that you didn’t know for sure what was going on before you opened your mouth, and then later discovered to your dismay that a foot had somehow become lodged in that very same orifice.
An undefined “heads up” is not the same as “doing some real legwork.” Wrong body part.
June 25th, 2007 at
I have no idea how that happened, but that last post was from me. Weird.
June 25th, 2007 at
Notice, the little guy didn’t answer any of my questions. Just breezed right on by.
Perhaps he will have to respond whenever he does some “actual” work in Illinois. But I ain’t holding my breath – for his response or his “work.”
June 25th, 2007 at
David, you completely and totally jettisoned any claim to nonpartisan movement politics the day you officially announced your support for Edwards. You’re just another partisan hack, now. Congrats.
June 25th, 2007 at
Let me add that at least whathisname at the Beachwood Reporter doesn’t hide the fact he dislikes Obama. Sirota tries to have it both ways. One, he’s a political hack supporting Edwards. Two, he’s an above all that movement politics organizer who just wants to make the party better.
Can’t have it both ways, Sirota. You’re a hack, pure and simple. You’re Robert Gibbs with a better public image.
June 26th, 2007 at
“Heh. That’s all I have to say.”
What?
June 28th, 2007 at
So is your fanboy that did the Tammy Duckworth Duckwalk in the middle of this too?
Figures that scum like that would be deep in with a hack like Sirota. No wonder I don’t read that know-nothing’s piece of crap work. With friends like that, who needs conservatives?
June 28th, 2007 at
How do you know we didn’t give Obama a heads up first?
I think this statement says it all that you didn’t. After all thoise responses, now you come back with that? Am I in 6th grade?
All together now… HACK!