Let's flip the track, bring the old school back

Gov. Palin's spiteful dig against Obama's days as a community organizer have -- deservedly -- drawn a lot of heat from a lot of different corners. Jay Smooth has a good video response, but the most badass judo-flip rebuttal comes from John Raskin, founder of the Community Organizers of America:

Community organizers work in neighborhoods that have been hit hardest by the failing economy. The last thing we need is for Republican officials to mock us on television when we’re trying to rebuild the neighborhoods they have destroyed. Maybe if everyone had more houses than they can count, we wouldn’t need community organizers. But I work with people who are getting evicted from their only home. If John McCain and the Republicans understood that, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to make fun of community organizers like me.

Attention Obama campaign: more like that, please.

[h/t dday]

Comments

[David Adler]

1.

Obama's campaign emails immediately fired back at the community organizing diss, the very same night - but yes, I agree, they should continue to hang it around the GOP's neck and in a more public way in the coming weeks.

[DJA]

2.

Hi David,

Yeah, I know, I got that email from the Obama campaign. It's weak sauce. It reads:

"Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America's promise by organizing for change from the bottom up. Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it's happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America."

True, of course. But defensive, long-winded, and boooo-ring (i.e., how the Dems usually respond).

Compare to:

"Maybe if everyone had more houses than they can count, we wouldn’t need community organizers."

Dude -- that's how you counterpunch. The Obama campaign should immediately hire John Raskin.