"This is very curious," Obama said.

[bigtree]

"So this is work I did 20 years ago. They haven't talked about the fact that I was a civil rights lawyer; they haven't talked about the fact that I taught constitutional law; they haven't talked about my work in the state legislature or in the United States Senate. They're talking about the three years of work that I did right out of college as if I'm making the leap from two or three years out of college into the presidency.

"So, look, I would argue that doing work in the community to try to create jobs, to bring people together, to rejuvenate communities that have fallen on hard times, to set up job training programs in areas that have been hard hit when the steel plants closed. That that's relevant only in understanding where I'm coming from, who I believe in, who I'm fighting for and why I'm in this race. And the question I have for them is that why would that kind of work be ridiculous? Who are they fighting for? What are they are advocating for? They think that the lives of those folks who are struggling each and every day, that working with them to try to improve their lives is somehow not relevant to the presidency?

"I think maybe that's the problem -- that's part of why they're out of touch and they don't get it 'cause they haven't spent much time working on behalf of those folks."

read: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014563.php

[quiet.american]

1. K&R nt

[Catch22Dem]

2. That's a beautiful response...

Turn it back on them as being out of touch.

[YvonneCa]

48. It's more than being out of touch...

...IMHO. It's how we define 'experience'.

We are just (finally) coming off the 8-year long Bush 'CEO' model presidency. It has been a TOTAL and COMPLETE failure. Not just my opinion.

EVERYTHING about that model was wrong...the people he chose, the way he delegated, the 'restructuring' of government agencies, not to mention that his vision was not supported by the people. The people didn't want an ownership society and privatization of everything from schools to medical care. The people didn't want to end Social Security, have a pre-emptive war, torture people, spy on people, dirty the environment, etc.

So now, in 2008, we are discussing Presidential (and VP) candidate resumes. All are touting their own type of experience for the job. But the discussion is still in terms of a 'CEO' type President. Obama cites his legal, teaching and community organizing work to show he can be an 'executive'. Palin cites her mayoral and gubernatorial 'executive' experience as being superior. McCain and Biden have senatorial records and foreign policy records, or even military records...but this VAST experience is ignored. It is not 'CEO' experience, so I guess it is not important.

I think that is wrong. I have a LOT of trouble with that. The experience that I want in my next president is not their management, or 'CEO' skills...it is their LEADERSHIP skills. I want my next president to be VERY INTELLIGENT. I want my next president to know things I have no idea about...but they DO because of the life they have lead. I want my next president to be able to motivate America to DO WHAT IS NEEDED to lead in the world and be the best America we can be.

The 'CEO' model did not work. The last eight years proved that. So I think it's time we re-focused our discussion about experience for our next President (and VP). Let's discuss their intelligence. Let's discuss their ability to motivate and bring people into the process and add energy to our democracy. Let's discuss government experience. But let's also discuss VISION and DIRECTION for our country.

No more 'CEO Presidencies' for me...not after eight years of GWB.

[Odin2005]

85. I couldn't agree more.

IMO a specialist class of careerist politicians is bad for democracy, it leads to politicians being out of touch with thier constituents, that's why I get annoyed at the "experience" BS.

[YvonneCa]

125. "...a specialist class of careerist politicians is bad for democracy"...

...Your words. I agree.

[treestar]

94. Great post! That is so true. The Presidency is not a "job" in the

traditional sense. It is a political leadership position, to which one is elected.

One does not need a particular resume. One needs to get elected and that means one needs to mount a campaign to get the nomination and win the election.

If these people going on about experience were serious and really meant what they said, then they would want Bill Richardson to be President - he has a resume that includes everything: executive, Washington and foreign policy.

[YvonneCa]

126. Thank you. I also think that the resume qualifications vary...

...depending on the times, and what is happening in the world. I believe Obama's resume in 2008 is the perfect match for this moment. McCain's is not even close. JMHO.

[bad_robbie]

97. Corporate CEO Presidency

I couldn't agree more with your sentiments.

I remember back in 2000, Bush was being touted as an "MBA President" as well as a "CEO President". I think this makes it quite clear that we're not just talking about literally being a chief executive officer -- which of course the president is, by definition -- but of running the country as if it were a business, a corporation.

And that's the problem. Corporations are run to "return value to the shareholders". In a corporation, the "shareholders" are the owners -- the stockholders -- who are rewarded in proportion to their investment, i.e. their wealth. Corporations have other "stakeholders" -- customers, employees, neighbors, etc. -- but these are only considered to the extent that neglecting them materially impacts the return to "shareholders". Efficiency is measured as the corporation's ability to produce return on investment.

They took this model and applied it to a country. Our country. So I guess we got exactly what they set out to do. The "shareholders" were rewarded in proportion to their investment. The rich got richer. But like the Corporation, we neglected everyone else who has a stake in our country.

A country is not a corporation. Its success is not measured solely by the extent by which the wealthy prosper. There's the health of its people, the quality of its environment, and the freedom of its citizens. And "freedom" is not just "freedom to get rich(er)". Americans have many dreams for their lives, only some of which are to become filthy-rich. Then there's the educated populace, not just trained to be maximally productive economically, but to be educated because we value knowledge and learning. Art and science for their own sakes, because we believe that these are useful whether or not they have a near term financial payoff.

The corporate model cannot do these things. It doesn't work in the business world. Even "good" corporations that try to consider stakeholders other than the owners have to compromise their other commitments when times get tough. If they neglect the owner, share prices drop and they have even less to work with. "Good" companies shrink, profitable ones grow.

Contrast the corporation to the model of our republic in the Great Depression. When the crap hit the fan, we increased our investment in feeding the hungry, boosting the arts and sciences, building public works (to name just a few). The REC program even brought electricity and communications to the rural parts to the country, so that today Red-State Rednecks could have their say in the political arena. A corporation would have instead cut back, laid off and outsourced to attempt to arrive "leaner and meaner". But in this case, the "fat" is secure retirement, good health, clean air and water, civil liberty, and a future for following generations.

No more MBAs. No more CEOs. No more corporate america.

[YvonneCa]

127. EXCELLENT post. I couldn't agree more. Especially with...

...this:

"And that's the problem. Corporations are run to "return value to the shareholders". In a corporation, the "shareholders" are the owners -- the stockholders -- who are rewarded in proportion to their investment, i.e. their wealth. Corporations have other "stakeholders" -- customers, employees, neighbors, etc. -- but these are only considered to the extent that neglecting them materially impacts the return to "shareholders". Efficiency is measured as the corporation's ability to produce return on investment.

They took this model and applied it to a country. Our country. So I guess we got exactly what they set out to do. The "shareholders" were rewarded in proportion to their investment. The rich got richer. But like the Corporation, we neglected everyone else who has a stake in our country.

A country is not a corporation."


I hope you will post this again...as a 'stand alone' post. It should be read by all. And welcome to DU. :7

[TornadoTN]

137. Agreed - beyond that, I hold an MBA

I hold an MBA and I can tell you that there's nothing MBA about the way this country has been run. The Bush CEO more about wealth redistribution and capitalization at the top than it is about maximizing efficiency and profitability across every facet of the business. Not only that, the Bush CEO model teaches that you maximize profitability for a select few for a short period of time at the expense of the long-term viability of the business, then when the time comes the people at the top run away leaving someone else holding the bag. Look at the Bush history - they leave a trail of destruction and failed businesses everywhere they go yet they and their closest allies emerge richer and stronger than ever.

It's not about the MBA or even the CEO - its about the persons individual morals and ethics that steer the direction of the business.

[emmadoggy]

147. Excellent post. Welcome to DU!

:)

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

158. "run the country like Enron"

Way back when he was still just a sorry ass governor from Texas, * commented at some event with his then great pal Key Lay--and I have to paraphase, as I don't remember if this was from the Enron movie or not--that he,"wanted to run the country like Enron.."

Sounds like that's exactly what he did :puke:

[AlbertCat]

107. Hell yeah!

it is their LEADERSHIP skills. I want my next president to be VERY INTELLIGENT.

You said it!

I don't care if Palin ran the North Pole for 200 years, she's still a "Flat-Earther". She thinks Global Warming is some god's "plan" and she doesn't believe in Evolution. How medieval do you have to be to not be qualified for the most important job in the 21st century? She is of course free to believe any fool thing she wants, but that disqualifies her from the big one. It doesn't matter if the population at large doesn't "believe" in science, but I want leaders who know what's what and are up to the minute smart. If the Repugs knew anything, they remember the Communists ignored genetics in the 1920's and thousands starved because of it!

This woman thinks Abstinence Only is OK and sex education should not be taught....and has a pregnant, unwed high schooler. HELLOOOOOOOO!

The Bible Thumpers can thump all they want, but ignoring facts is NOT gonna help anyone....and disqualifies you from the "leadership" category.

[YvonneCa]

128. There you go! This is the discussion we need to be...

...having:

What makes a person a good leader and qualified to be President?

(And, as a former teacher, I agree with your point on sex education.) ;)

[truedelphi]

152. I wish I could rec your post.

Every word of it is so true.

[YvonneCa]

175. Thank you! n/t

[Willo]

162. Good points and I agree as well. nt

[uppityperson]

3. Has anyone posted a topic on "first job"?

My first job was babysitting, but that was as a teenager. My first job as a non-minor was in a burger joint. Guess that tells you everything you need to know about me.

How about you?

[hootinholler]

25. Hmmm. All while in high school: Laborer for a contractor....

Then I pumped gas 0.35/gal full service, windows, headlights/taillights, oil, tire pressure. Then I got a night job 10 to 6, coating steel pipe with plastic and I thought I was rolling in dough.

-Hoot

[George II]

47. I worked at delivering newspapers while in Junior High...

....and then worked weekends as a cashier in a department store while in High School, and then as a clerk in a hospital early on in college.

I drove a NYC taxicab during my last year in college to help pay expenses before I started my REAL career as an engineer.

According to Palin, I suppose I was a loser. But then, I earned my degree while attending only ONE college, I didn't drift through five colleges trying to find one to award me a degree, as trailer-trash Palin did.

[Turner Ashby]

142. She went to five colleges?

So, that would indicate a lack of discipline? Right? Are we supposed to compare everything between candidates?

[lapislzi]

66. Hotel maid

Waitress.
Assistant in a hair salon.

Attendant to rich folk.

[Odin2005]

86. A small-town "ma-n-pa" diner.

I made the ice cream cones, malts, etc. as well as operated the cash register.

[treestar]

95. Babysitter, paper boy/girl, altar boy/girl

Or service sales behind a counter or waiting on tables.

And come to think of it, the privileged elite people like Dubya likely never did any of that stuff.

[InkAddict]

98. I was a retail sales clerk...a privately owned (by a dirty old man) toy store.

He was just on the edge of jail, if you know what I mean. His thinking was "kids know what kids want" but he knew what he wanted and just couldn't have cause his body wouldn't cooperate. I was 15/16 at the time and very lucky he had the self-control to keep his actions legal, though by today's "sexual harrassment" standards it could have been construed as a hostile work environment. He must have just enjoyed watching those hormones flow in the young and mourned the fact that they hadn't yet invented Viagra, taking on the role of the last older but wiser guardian of lust left on the planet.

I can spot a sad, dirty old man when I see one!

[lynnertic]

100. Navy

:patriot:

[LibDemAlways]

I worked part time while I was in college keeping

books for a guy who took x-rays of patients in nursing homes. That was before I went to work as a teacher.

[DS1]

111. Video Store clerk in New Jersey

[Starbucks Anarchist]

119. 37?!?!

[DS1]

121. In a row?

[uppityperson]

174. mainly because half the people I was with believed it until I explained the situation to them

[Straight Shooter]

135. First job, cake decorator.

How trivial, helping people enjoy their life celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries.

:sarcasm:

[TornadoTN]

136. I was a photographers assistant

I did the grunt work for the photographer who mainly did sports team photographs - set up the backgrounds and lights if needed, kept track of kids names vs. the roll #, and took money from parents who wanted their kids pictures made.

I was 16 and in high school, but according to the McCain/Palin wordlview, what I did then is the only thing that matters - it defines who I am and what I stand for. Too bad for them, I'm a successful business professional, in charge of one of the last real American manufacturers that still do their work here in the U.S. That's not mention all of the other accolades and achievements I've received - it just doesn't matter in their view.

[TommyO]

168. My first job was far less challenging than being a community organizer

I was a run of the mill mailroom clerk, sorting mail, delivering mail, preparing overnight mail (and it was huge back in 1984 in my business). Since then I've made quite a few career changes, all within the same company. But I guess according to Palin, I'll always be that mailroom clerk listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller way too many times (we only got a few radio stations, and Thriller was still in heavy rotation)!

[Suich]

4. Thank you, bigtree!

K&R!

[deutsey]

5. Nice response n/t

[deacon]

6. kick and highly recommend! n/t

[deacon]

7. kick and highly recommend! n/t

[kikiek]

8. And he could make us address him as Dr. But he isn't uppity.

[treestar]

9. good for you Obama!

Only a loser would put down his work!!

And that loser is named mcQualin!

[ColbertWatcher]

10. I love this response. n/t

[progressoid]

11. Damn, he's good. He needs to use that one in the debates.

[woodsprite]

12. Maybe some of these remarks will explain our love of Obama

to these people who just don't like him because they say he's entranced us. I'm sending this article out to my Mom's group. They've been openly discussing politics lately and I think I have many won over to see the error of Palin's ways. BTW, the group is 150 strong and covers about just as many US cities in different states - even 2 in Canada and London. Kinda Cool!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Obama put country first. McCain wanted to be Admiral and thought he was on the fast track.

[klook]

14. I love that combination of brilliance and common sense.

That's what's going to win it for us.

[yellerpup]

15. He always thinks first.

I know I'm not the only one who is hungry for a leader who thinks not only of others, but who thinks before he speaks (in full, coherent sentences). Yeah, I want that! Obama-Biden 2008!
:dem: :dem: :dem:

Edit for typo.

[Mnemosyne]

163. Amen to that. I cried listening to Big Dog last week. What an

eloquent man! I almost forgot. :loveya:

[yellerpup]

172. Big Dog, Hil, Joe & Obama!

So many more who stood up and spoke for US. The Democratic National Convention made me so proud to be a Democrat. :hug:

[cali]

16. sorry, it's not good enough

it's still playing defense. they need to attack.

[bettyellen]

31. no, . attacks are more of the same old crap. we have to challenge people to think

to listen.

[Pacifist Patriot]

84. Not necessarily, by attack I mean challenging the Republicans and asking...

why they don't have that kind of work on their resumes. I mean proudly saying, "darned right I did it and it gave me this skill, and this kind of experience, etc." Instead he seems to be dismissing it as it was work I did when I was young so why are they evening mentioning it? I know he's not, but I fear that's how it will be perceived.

[nini]

92. Isn't that pretty much he did? Ask WHY they haven't done that kind of work?

Why they demean it?

[disgruntled98]

64. No. No attacks and we are ahead and pulling further ahead every day

[Pacifist Patriot]

83. Agree 100%

As stated above, I don't think he should attack viciously, but I would have liked to have seen a response that showed stronger ownership of the experience he gained during those years right out of college and a demand for an apology from the Republicans for demeaning and ridiculing so many compassionate men and women in our country. I'd like to see a challenge to the Republicans wanting to know why they do NOT have this type of valuable experience on their resumes.

[kmkleff]

113. The Republicans will likely reply

After 8 years of the Bush Administration, such quaint experience such as "Constitutional Law" and "Civil Rights Lawyer" are as relevant to our condition today as the study of dead languages....just sayin'

[lonestarnot]

17. They haven't spent one second of time for even 1 of us!

[RedEarth]

18. Terrific Response...........KR!!!!!

[smoogatz]

19. He makes me proud to be an American.

And proud to be a Democrat. Go. Bama!

[Overseas]

20. K&R -- Yes they are way out of touch with their crude insults.

Those Republicans were rude and crude, not inspiring.
THat's the saddest thing. Instead of talking ideas, the Republican convention yesterday was all about insulting Democrats and reminding us JSM III is a POW.

Today, too, Chris Matthews talked about Republicans wanting everyone to make it on their own. Where Democrats wanted people to help each other. It takes a village. As though that were an odd thing. Whereas the Republican way was the noble cowboy going it alone. And ignoring the homeless in the streets. I guess those guys just didn't try hard enough, but they're still going it alone and just gotta keep going with the Lord's help.

Country CLUB First !

[CitizenLeft]

21. perfect - thank you!

Just the right tone! :applause:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

22. tell them this, Senator...

[classof56]

57. Good one!! n/t

[Andrushka]

63. brilliant

:applause: That should be used more widely.

[treestar]

96. Great! A sound bite type of response that will sink the fundies

[NavyDavy]

129. i love it i love it i love it

[Dukkha]

23. Doesn't he know helping the poor isn't "real responsibilities"?

They need to pull up their own bootstraps and stop being a burden on society! Noow do some good and go kill a moose!

[MasonJar]

24. Great response. Now send Biden out to attack asap.

[Catherine Vincent]

26. uh oh, Obama said "folks"

A DUer last night said if they heard "Folks" one more time they were goanna scream. LOL!

[Lavender Brown]

27. Awesome...now why isn't this getting a lot of attention

All the news shows are rerunning the Palin acceptance speech/attackfest incessantly. :puke: She's damn lucky the Democrats didn't even know who she was before their convention, she can dish it out but she can't take it.

[R. P. McMurphy]

30. Cause the RePorks would be forced to think ...

about the load of BS they have swallowed all of these years and it would make their heads spin & explode.

[Contrary1]

28. My $$$ are on the way!

I am proud to donate to the next president, Barack Hussein Obama's campaign.

It's the best way I can think of to respond to the pond scum that laugh at those who actually do the work that these people find so insignificant. Ironic, I think; since they are always puking out their belief that communities need to take care of their own. This "joke" is going to cost them big time.

And, guess what McBush? You can't rely on private donors any more. I find that to be the real "punchline" tonight.

Please. please, please...let Sarah, Rudy, and Fred perform their comedy act for the masses every chance you get.

[SammyWinstonJack]

82. Read this morning on Yahoo that McSame/Caribou Barbie walk away from the puke CONvention with

$200 mil and hope to raise another $80 to $100 mil more. :wow: Buying the presidency. Shades of dubya. x(

[NavyDavy]

130. but Obama raised 10 million dollars just after Palins speech

[George II]

154. Actually it was $10 Million IN REACTION to her speech! He should hire her as reverse-fundraiser!!

[fishwax]

29. great response

k/r

:kick:

[HughMoran]

32. Love it - Obama thinks like a normal person - this is exactly how to "connect" with people

Now, if he can only get this out in an ad that keeps people listening!!!

[HughMoran]

33. Please K&R this thead people - this is where it's at

Let's elevate this to the top - let's elevate the level of discussion here.

[rufus dog]

34. For perspective - at the same time Sarah

was competing in Beauty Pagents.

[tammywammy]

35. k&r

[Kablooie]

36. Curiouser and curiouser. Well not really. They've always just spouted slime.

[me b zola]

37. K&R

:kick:

[kid a]

38. beautiful response..K & R

[emmadoggy]

39. I would love for someone to make a timeline resume

with the years listed and what Obama was doing up against what she was doing during those same years.

[Sam Ervin jret]

117. They would just come back with "she's not on top of the ticket"

Let's keep our eye on the ball. It's still McBane. Compare her resume with Biden's resume and that would be relevant.

Compare how elitist McBane is vs Obama and that is relevant also. But we must not get caught comparing apples and oranges. They have taken away there best tool, the experience, but we must not over play it and misplay it.

[emmadoggy]

145. That is true. However,

they are the ones playing that game. She came out "guns blazing" at Obama. She never said a thing about Biden. So if she is going to hold herself up to Obama, then I think it's fair to throw it back at them.

And frankly, though she isn't at the top of the ticket now - I think it's fair to compare her to Obama due to the fact that McCain would be the oldest Pres ever and has a history of health problems, meaning she has a much higher than typical chance of actually taking the reigns.

BTW, compare her to Biden and we still win. :)

[BaracudaCrusher]

176. Obama - Palin Comparison time line -- Check this out!

I was a member here in the past, but I cannot remember my
login, etc., so I rejoined just so I could bring you this
link.  It's a resume comparison between Palin and Obama and
very interesting!  

[link:www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/2/1613/27485/447/581295|Year-by-year
break down of Palin & Obama resumes] 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/2/1613/27485/447/581295

Not sure how to make a hyperlink.  Sorry about that!  

[emmadoggy]

177. Thanks for the link!!

Welcome back!! :hi:

[MadMaddie]

40. Great Response!

And again it shows that they are pathetically lazy!

[and-justice-for-all]

41. McSame/Caribou barbie are sooooooooo going to get it..

in the debates.

[SeattleGirl]

42. Excellent response!

I love it.

[spanone]

43. fucking A president obama

[stark6935]

45. SHAME ON YOU BARACK OBAMA!

[Fran Kubelik]

141. huh?

[nam78_two]

44. K&R-if this country votes for a dimwit like Palin over the Senator Obama

maybe we deserve everything we get :shrug:?

The difference is so fecking obvious :shrug:?

[Bette Noir]

49. Yeah, but Gore and Kerry were obviously better than Bush, too.

This country doesn't automatically go for the best candidate.

I'm hoping that this year, we'll elect the smart, principled candidate, rather than the one who talks the toughest.

[YvonneCa]

52. Then we need a discussion about leadership...

...and the skills a president should have.What is most important...integrity, judgment, managerial skills (like a CEO), problem solving skills, building consensus?

[fortyfeetunder]

46. 100th recommend

Palin's diatribe was not curious, it was a bunch of bullshit. She was covering up her inadequacy by dissing Obama.

[Imagevision]

167. K&R!

[underseasurveyor]

50. That's one of the things I love about this man

Full of honor, love, dignity, respect, and humility, Obama takes the high road and simply states the truth.

[JI7]

51. "out of touch" "they don't get it "

yup

[Waiting For Everyman]

53. And Porky Palin's first job was... SPORTSCASTER!

Much more impressive than just mere 'community organizing'.

But then, it DID give her all that great experience reading lines from a teleprompter, which seems to be all the qualfications necessary to run our government.

Of course, she couldn't resist lying about it not working...

Politico:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/The_teleprompter_did_not_break.html

[Bobbie Jo]

54. I love this man! K&R

:kick:

[Vickers]

55. I love this guy more every day,

He responds like I would, if I was educated and measured and thoughtful and contemplative and not so likely to fly off the fucking handle.

[Life Long Dem]

56. He knows they will shit on us and him and anyone in their way.

And that's his motivation.

[Indi Guy]

58. K & R - Now that Palin (GOP's Cartoon Imitation of Obama) has Called Obama Out by Denigrating...

...his commitment to the American people, on the community level -- she's in a serious stew now.

Too bad she isn't experienced enough to buck her party's elite speech writers.

[radfringe]

59. Ban community organizers, community organizations

http://stone-waves.blogspot.com/

On Wednesday night at the Republican Convention, Gov. Mitt Romney, Mayor Rudy Guilliani and Gov. Sarah Palin all disparaged community organizations. After listening to them I'm convinced community organizers are bad and should be banned.

When a local church group knocks on my door and asks for donations - I will slam it in their face. When the Salvation Army rings their bell at the corner, I'll kick over their kettle. If the Elks, the Moose, the Rotary Club asks for help with a community project, I will spit in their faces.

If there are donation cans at the cashier counter in my local store which ask for help for someone in need of an operation, I'll pass it by. If my neighbor has a house fire, I'll tell them tough luck - you are on your own. When a hurricane hits, I won't send money. If there's another 9-11 - too bad, you are on your own. When the Red Cross has a blood drive - Sorry - the Red Cross is a COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION!!!

When the local Veterans Organization asks for items to be sent to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan - they will get nothing from me. Schools - don't call on me to help with a bake sale or a car wash. Hey Girl Scouts - don't bother trying to sell me cookies. Boy Scouts - forget the aluminum can drives. Those cans are mine and you can't have them.

By disparaging Barak Obama's years as a community organizer, the republicans have disparaged all community organizers, all community organizations and all those who volunteer their time and abilities to that community.

I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, rewarding. We will work on this in the White House, in the Cabinet agencies. I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light, and I will ask every member of my government to become involved. The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in. " --
President George HW Bush - Inaugural Address, January 20 1989
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/inaug/bush.htm

Last night, the republicans spat on thousands of points of light.

[MrSlayer]

60. Excellent response as always.

Obama owns these guys intellectually. But will the people see this?

[DeeDeeNY]

61. No they will not see it. A lot of voters need short sound bites.

[Disturbed]

62. It is not that they don't get it. They have disdain for the

Working Poor & the Poor. Sen. Obama is too kind, at times.

[GreenEyedLefty]

93. I know so, so many Republicans who are going to vote for Obama

One is my walking buddy. She was insulted by the derision of community organizers. She said it was a slap in the face to everyone who has ever volunteered. She also said unequivocally and proudly that she is voting for Obama this year.

That said, it is so very crucial to get feet on the ground and people on the phone during the next 8 weeks. GOTV!

[barbtries]

65. good questions

i'd like to hear the response. hmm, haw....

[democracy1st]

67. thanks bigtree one of the great posts of the day..K & R

[jcla]

68. The Rethuglicans think if you tell lies long enough and loud

enough people won't remember and vote for them. Community organizing was very important to Barack as it was where his work was needed. He learned a lot and has kept that knowledge and caring working for his ideals, it was his springboard to doing more for people that need. Civil rights lawyers do not get paid a bunch. They don't get money wealthy. Teaching constitutional law... that makes more money. But it is about teaching people about our history through law and how law affects us and we the law. The Rethugs can not talk about Barack's work in the state legislature or his stands in the Senate. Not without looking like the liars and dopes they are.
Whatever Barack has done they will criticize or ignore or twist. These are the folks that said Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, what a great job Brownie was doing, and that American people are whiners about the economy. Does anyone remember "Osama, Obama, you're mama?" These ****ers.

[bulloney]

69. Crash and Caribou Barbie mock community service because they cater to those who are served.

Today's middle-aged wealthy (at least most of the ones I know) come from second or third-generation wealthy families. They didn't have to put in the sweat equity to get to where they are. Daddy or Grandpa did it. They were born financially secure. Their livelihoods were laid out for them. Paying for college and making the initial investment in their livelihood didn't happen. They fell in their situation and made a comfortable living right away.

The people I refer to think throwing a $5 bill in the collection basket is sufficient support for their church. They do no volunteering. Their idea of supporting their school is buying a season ticket for the basketball season while bitching and opposing any new levy the school requests. Helping flood or tornado victims is beneath them.

[Twinguard]

103. Do you remember the floods in Iowa?

Obama went there days before Bush or ExxonMcCain.

Obama helped the people who needed the help by rolling up his sleeves and filling sandbags.
Bush and McCain cruised around on boats looking like elder statesmen surveying the situation.

McCain was right... actions do speak louder than words.

[Cali_Democrat]

70. The Republicans are trying to blow their racist dog whistle yet again

The rethugs are soooo PATHETIC. In their world:

community = ghetto

organizer = activist

[Major Hogwash]

71. Even Colin Powell was for the idea of volunteers working with community organizers

to help their community and their neighbors.
This isn't something they should make light of.

Didn't George W Bush claim that he even worked for a community house in Texas after he got drunk and tried to start a fight with his dad?
I'm sure that was in Bush's bio in the Washington Post because I printed it off of my harddrive with my printer.

It's fairly obvious that Republicans like McCain look down on us for doing volunteer work.
It doesn't pay anything, because you can't put a price on the rewards of volunteer work.

If you don't like people, you don't like helping them.
It's just that simple.

Instead, people like McCain just help themselves and work for themselves and enjoy their own company, all alone, all by their lonesome . . wondering why no one likes them.

[ccharles000]

72. kick

[Mister Ed]

73. One more subtly brilliant detail of Obama's response: he says "they" and not "she"

I think the GOP strategists who wrote Palin's speech want desperately to goad Obama into a fight with her. That would present Joe Sixpack with the image of the Angry Black Man attacking the Pretty White Woman.

Obama is waaay too smart to fall into their trap. He responds to the GOP strategists as a group, rather than responding to Palin personally.

We got ourselves an extraordinarily smart, wise, and compassionate candidate in Obama. And that's good, because it's going to take an extraordinarily smart, wise, and compassionate president to start the difficult and arduous task of undoing the damage done to our country and the world by the neocons.

[Caretha]

76. Let's take it one step further

Obama is not running against the GOP Vice-Presidential candidate, and they are trying to make it seem so. He's running against the "Old wrinklely white guy". They picked a lightning rod to take the heat off McCain, because McCain is the same as Bush. Since, they can't run on the failed 29 percenter's coattails, they decided to do two things,
1) distract
2) steal the Dem's "Change" message.

[baldguy]

74. Ineffectual & corrupt govt officials hate community organizers & activists.

Govt officials who are able & honest love them.

[nuxvomica]

75. Such eloquence can only come from the heart

Maybe that's why his speaking ability is so deprecated by his opponents. When they speak, they need to be careful not to show their true beliefs, which are unpalatable to most Americans, and their rhetoric becomes clumsy and awkward. But Obama talks like a man who says what he believes and that is so much easier to do and therefore so much more graceful.

[Dawgs]

77. That's been my biggest problem with her comments.

What the fuck was she doing right out of college, or what was she doing back in eighties while Obama was helping people in one of the worst communities in all of America?

[caseycoon]

78. Excellent! K&R n/t

[PADemD]

79. Community organizing - Isn't that what we are doing on the ground to get him elected?

[Pooka Fey]

80. K&R for Obama

[pleah]

81. K&R

[Odin2005]

87. Obama could of gotten a cushy corporate legal job, but instead chose to help people.

That's why the Pukes are so offended by him being a community organizer. In their twisted minds he should of gotten the cushy corporate legal job.

[Hubert Flottz]

88. K&R

McCain has a record he can't run away from and I think Obama is on the right track. A great counterpuncher! And so is Joe Biden. The next 2 months should be fun to watch.

[madrchsod]

89. our friend organized a fund drive for the troops in iraq---

why do the republicans hate our troops?

[Dorian Gray]

90. Always classy.

Perfect response.

[bdamomma]

91. Obama told them

[Rosa Luxemburg]

99. Other Democrats should remind Ms Palin and McBush that Obama has a large resume

for example for her to conveniently forget that he was a State Senator and is a US Senator shows what scum she really is.

Since when did Sarah Palin have major legislation passed - biparitsan I might add, for a non proliferation.

DUers should flood the Letters to the Editor pages, blogs with the correct information. The 'forgotten' parts like Obama was a state senator and is US senator should be highlighted and repeated by his fellow Democrats. In fact every conversation they have with the press/MSM

Voters only hear what they have been told.

[Enthusiast]

101. Aw, this is just nuanced thinking

Republicans don't like it!

[bunkerbuster1]

116. Brain hurt. Want to have beer with Daddy President.

[NorthCarolina]

102. Has anyone heard this rebuttal in the MSM or anywhere outside of DU?

It's a great response for sure, but this is the only place I've heard it. I am hoping that this is being given some air time.

[snappyturtle]

104. Perfect. K&R n/t

[Mad_Dem_X]

105. Perfect response!

That's my President! :patriot:

[silex]

106. Kicked

:kick:

[yardwork]

108. How come Sarah Palin isn't answering questions from the press?

Where is Sarah Palin? How come she's afraid to answer questions in public?

Obama and Biden are out all day, every day, answering questions.

[Plucketeer]

109. What?

There's some other party opposing you? Rediculous! :crazy:

[orbitalman]

110. His Head and Heart

are in the RIGHT place.

[EndElectoral]

112. Put this in an AD Obama. Begin with the snide swipes at RNC and go to this..Beautiful

Show in the background people being helped by various community organziers, and keep going back ot Ghouliania and Palin's comments on mocking comunity organizers.

It puts their "Values" on display.

[merci_me]

114. A community organizer? hmmm...

Graduated and then became a "community organizer"? I don't even know what a community organizer does. Is that anything like graduating and then becoming a small, one-sled-town high school sports score reader?

[kestrel91316]

115. I knew he was just waiting for the right moment to hit them with

a response that would make them look like the idiots they are. And instead of Palin's rabid, frothing at the mouth, arrogant, snark-fillled tirade, he comes across as cool as a cucumber and totally nonplussed.

GOBAMA!

[Cha]

131. Like somebody said on another thread in another forum..

who made me LOL!.."He's got ice water in his fuckin' veins!"

[misanthrope]

139. Problem is...

...I'm not hearing this response anywhere in the mainstream population or media.

[Dr.Phool]

118. Fuckin' A Barack!

Throw their silly horseshit right back in their face, and make them look stoopid!

[shagsak]

120. K&R

Why isn't this being broadcast as a rebutal to all who are criticizing him for being inexperienced?

[SeaLyons]

122. Beautiful response from Barack....

Thanks for posting, bigtree.

:hi:

[crickets]

123. Great response.

And as someone else pointed out, it was extremely smart on his part to respond to the party as a whole rather than directly to Palin. He didn't get dragged into a one on one with her but still smacked down the meme with ease. Good man.

[Martin Eden]

124. RIGHT ON !!!

RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON RIGHT-ON
:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Wickerman]

132. proud to have been the 250th recc

and a kick!

[valerief]

133. Kick high!

:kick:

[MooseGoose]

134. He consistently tells those who will listen

that standing tough in your beliefs doesn't have to mean being vindictive, hateful, or destructive towards others. We too often measure power by how much we can destroy. It is time to measure power by how much we can build.

[Warren Stupidity]

138. He should make this into an ad and run it in every battleground state.

[ItNerd4life]

140. I like that idea.

[babydollhead]

143. kick

[SteelPenguin]

144. Awesome response

[FourScore]

146. He is so eloquent!! n/t

[happydreams]

148. K&R. Now that's the way to come back at em'. I was wondering there

for awhile.

[bigtree]

149. HuffPo: "Who Are They Fighting For?" (VIDEO)

watch: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/05/obama-defends-community-o_n_124295.html

[Disturbed]

150. The US Corp Media have found a new "Sensation" in

Sarah Pit bull Palin. They want Sen. Obama to fight with her. That would boost their ratings & Ad $, the only thing they care about. Sen. Obama is smart not to do so. McClown & his team have decided that he cannot win on his own so they chose her to be the front person. The best thing Sen. Obama & the Dems can do is ignore her but let the surrogates expose her as the RWing Nut case that she is.

[wicket]

151. HUGE K & R

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[WCGreen]

153. Oh Snap.....

[BrklynLiberal]

155. Perfect response..

They do not want to mention all the RELEVANT experience he has had...since Barracuda has had none of that.

[Uncle Joe]

156. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bigtree.:thumbsup:

[mondayrocks]

157. Hell yes

Jesus was a community organizer, and Pilate was a Governor.

[mdohoney]

159. Palin for CEO

I like the question I heard the other day about what would happen to any major Cooperation's stock if they hired Sarah Palin as their CEO. A sure recipe for disaster. Yet the Republicans think she would be a wonder woman as CEO of the United States of America. If she applied for a job at the post office she would get a more thorough vetting than McCain gave her.

[postmanisu]

160. They Just don't get it..one his best quote..

[Willo]

161. Excellent response.

It's telling that they don't help people, mock the people who do help and mock the people in need of help.

Then tell bald-faced lies about how much help they have given in the past and will give in the future.

Think of McCain's record on minimum wage, jobs and oil. Then his comments on Obama's advice on properly inflated tires.

[EVDebs]

164. Obama will actually 'preserve, protect, and defend' the Constitution

Whereas the GOP fears that the tissue paper they've made of the Constitution will be fixed.

[Maestro]

165. Spectacular answer to the attacks!

He makes McInsane and Gov. Who? look like the idiots that they are.

[zeemike]

166. This had 308 Recs. when I saw it

But I don't care I gave another...
This is profound and real.

[DuaneBidoux]

169. It ISN'T relevant to Republicans since they don't want to create jobs or rebuild or help anybody.

[tigereye]

170. wonderful!

exactly what needed to be said.

[bagimin]

171. Now we're talkin!

Go get 'em.

[Beartracks]

173. K&R. Nice. n/t

[Anexio]

178. IT's pissing me off

I'm not a community organizer unless you count my time organizing the volunteers at the animal shelter.

How in the world can be a community organizer be a bad thing?

I don't get it????