Comments on: Power and Persuasion

By: Mike in GA

Mike in GA — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:33:50 +0000

I have a better understanding of a “community organizer” now than before the article. It makes me even more concerned about BHO’s possibiities in reaching the Presidency. For you see, his entire campaign has been a farce. It’s all about him and where he can go. Nothing to do with the position or the consequences of actions or policies.
I would guess that Stalin, Lenin, Chairman Mao, Hitler, etc. were all successful community organizers. Also, Al Sharpton and Reverend Jackson. The cause has never been the end game, just the carrot.

By: elle

elle — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:59:48 +0000

It’s the Chicago Machine at its finest! Organize the community, meet powerful people, get powerful, run for office, etc.

By: ArchPundit

ArchPundit — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:17:12 +0000

It’s not ruthlessness. It’s effectiveness. There’s an aversion to talking about power amongst many liberals because they view it as a dirty word. Using power in a democratic fashion is nothing to be ashamed of and it inhibits our discussion to avoid discussing it.

Rob–I’m not sure what you are talking about. Can you be more specific?

By: Rob Diego

Rob Diego — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:51:11 +0000

My question is what happens to the grant money? Who gets it and how effective is the organizer in delivering the results? Or is it used for more “agitating”?

By: john maki

john maki — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:22:46 +0000

Ann, you are right that community organizing was a not a path to power before Obama–nor will it, I suspect, be a path to power after him

My point in the piece, which I think Archpundit echoes, is that a lot of people assume that community organizing is some kind of pie in the sky, touchy feely sort of thing. In many ways, it’s the opposite. It’s very pragmatic. It’s about getting stuff done, and working with whomever you have to to make it happen. That’s why I said community organizing has more in common with Chicago politics than with working in a soup kitchen. Community organizing ain’t charity work. Community organizing is about power—how to get it and how to use it effectively to get what your base wants.

The community organizers wouldn’t call this cynical–they would say that is how the world works.

By: Ann DeKalb

Ann DeKalb — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:48:35 +0000

I am puzzled by one thing in these posts. If community organizers are so ruthless in their pursuit of power, why are choosing to work at these relatively low-paid and overworked positions. I have seen these sorts of people in communities where I have lived. Every one of them had a true dedication that kept them at it. And until Barack, it has not been a path that an ambitious future pol would have opted for. I am puzzled by the cynicism.

By: Tiger01

Tiger01 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:05:01 +0000

Very interesting. I thought community organizing had something to do with feeling people’s pain and ladling out free soup. This helps to explain some of the ruthless tactics his campaign has employed (most recently his preemptive racist charge against McCain). Winning is paramount and he could care less about changing anything. The “change” mantra is just fluff to appease his base. I actually kind of admire him now. By the way, I think Jerome Corsi’s new book “The Obama Nation,” which goes on sale tomorrow, details some of Obama’s community organizing activities.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:15:54 +0000

John sent me the article, too. I agree, it’s definitely one of the more thoughtful pieces on Obama as a community organizer. And you are dead right about organizing not being a huggy, touchy-feely endeavor. In fact, it can get downright ugly at times. Those who are afraid of facing that should instead become kindergarden teachers.

The best organizers know that it’s all about building powerful coalitions to shift the balance of power and equipping people with the tools they need to take control of their situations. What this article doesn’t touch on is the responsibility put upon the organized to take control of their situation, band together for power, and demand change. Ultimately, the best organizers can walk away from their organizing targets having been out-organized and not needed anymore.

It will be our responsibility to organize massive movements for policy changes to provide Barack with a mandate to act. As a former organizer, he will expect nothing less. Without it, he will be unable to enact the bold changes we so desperately need. Just like any other community that so desperately needs change, ultimately it is our responsibility to rise to the occasion.

As an organizer, I am curious about Barack’s successes as an organizer. Wouldn’t it be something if Barack took the time to write a book entirely about his experiences organizing? I’d snap it up in a second.