Wellstone Action defends community organizers...

[Wetzelbill]

Responsibilities of a community organizer
by Elana Wolowitz, Wellstone Action

Last week in Denver, Democrats highlighted the biography of their party's presidential nominee, Barack Obama, and the fact that he got his start as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago.

One interesting twist this election year has been the nation's exposure to community organizing as a job, and as something that might help prepare an individual to lead. It's not surprising that much of the country hadn't heard of community organizing before now. A good organizer is always in the back of the room, or better yet, outside collecting sign-in sheets.

However, last night here in our great hometown of St. Paul, Republicans gathered for their turn to make their case to voters. And Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, along with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, openly mocked and derided the job of community organizing.

Comparing her experience to that of Obama's, Palin said "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer - except that you have actual responsibilities".


http://wellstone.org/blog/responsibilities-a-community-organizer