Giuliani last night: "On the other hand, you have a resume from a
gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community
organizer. What? He worked — I said — I said, OK, OK, maybe this is
the first problem on the resume."
Palin last night: I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a
"community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.
From the Dallas Morning News:
I don't think it's right to attack someone for working in a faith-based
charity out of college. I think we all have some embarrassing
first-jobs in our past. I would not make fun of Palin for being a
beauty queen and sports reporter out of college during these same
years. Although, I do think Obama's experience shaped his political
future a bit better …
According to Palin's odd world view, dedicating your life to helping
others for little or no money is somehow not worthy of accolades.
Rather, it's something to make fun of. Maybe this kind of stuff gives a
chuckle the old white folks in the convention hall (and from what I saw
on TV, it did) but I have to think it won't pass muster when the glow
of GOP self-congratulation evaporates and people start picking the
speech apart. There are literally millions of community organizers
around the country who do amazing work every day without a shred of
selfishness or recognition. Not only does Barack Obama connect with
these people, he was one of these people. This line of attack on the
part of Palin and the GOP is especially confusing when "service" is
supposedly one of the major themes of the Republican convention. So
"service" is a good thing when it provides McCain with a Gustav
photo-op or POW back-story but something to be demeaned and mocked when
it is part of your opponent's resume? Talk about cynical hypocrisy.
