But it pays $400,000/year so it must be important.

Great answer, another is a job where you get to steal money because you can't get a real job:p

Len drives the golden spike!

I guess it's really code for "black". And all this time I thought it was just an excuse for never having had a real job.

McCain Campaign Fumes Over Paterson's Racism Claim
N.Y. Governor Says Palin's Repeated Use Of 'Community Organizer' Is Another Way Of Saying 'Black'

Don Dahler
ALBANY (CBS) ― On Monday, Gov. David Paterson angered some state lawmakers by comparing them to vampires, calling them a bunch of "blood suckers." On Tuesday, he raised eyebrows again, and tempers, by accusing the John McCain campaign of veiled racism.

At the Crain's Business Forum this morning, Paterson drew attention to a phrase used numerous times by speakers at the Republican National Convention to describe Barack Obama's leadership experience: community organizer.

"I think the Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black' in a sense that it would be a negative. But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican Convention – a 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing," he said.

Paterson referred to McCain's running mate Sarah Palin who compared her work experience to Obama's.

"So I suppose a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except with real responsibilities," she said at the convention.

Paterson sees the repeated use of the words "community organizer" as Republican code for "black".

"I think where there are overtones is when there are uses of language that are designed to inhibit other people's progress with a subtle reference to their race," he said.

But the McCain/Palin campaign quickly fired back in a statement, saying: "It is disappointing that Governor Paterson would launch accusations of racism. … Governor Palin's remarks about Barack Obama's work as a community organizer was in response to the Obama campaign's belittling of her executive experience."

The statement goes on to point out Sarah Palin's own experience of civic involvement and says Paterson's comments are "a sure sign of a flailing campaign that is bordering on desperation".

Paterson raises the question of whether the Presidential race has become desperate or devious.

"At this point, Americans wouldn't tolerate a racial appeal. What I'm saying is that there are sneaky ways to try to hurt someone," he said.

Paterson does say he's not certain that's happening.

But what disturbed him was what seemed like derisive laughter on the part of the Republicans at Obama's choice of helping his community rather than getting rich on Wall Street.

Paterson is New York state's first black governor.

How would he know for sure? SmileWavy

Are there white community organizers in poor white neighborhoods? At 400k I'm ready!

there are community organizers of all races, ethnicities and religions. doesn't mean black at all

I invited some neighbors over the other day to grill and drink beer.

BAM!

Community - organized.

you are thnking of a remora

I heard a funny quote, "A community organizer is like a small town mayor except without any responsibilities" Some commentator poking Mr Obama, but it was amusing to me

Community organizers that come to mind include Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. and ... Jesus Christ.

Sherwood

So that BHO is in some special company. Did he have similar results? Were Jesus & Ghandi making $400K?

"So that BHO is in some special company."

If they're all community organizers, I guess so.

"Did he have similar results?"

No. Each had variable success rates. O is just a relative beginner so far.

"Were Jesus & Ghandi making $400K?"

No. so what? Does making threshold income level or poverty level qualify?

Obama's opposing candidate is worth $2M a week and isn't a community organizer. However, he is associated with Washington insiders. Charles Keating, Jack Abramoff, and Kenneth Lay, to name a few, are/were DC insiders, and they profited immensely from taxpayer money. Many on McCain's campaign staff (including his most recent campaign chairman) are registered lobbyists. Nice company too, huh? but much, much further from $400K ...... on the upper end. Too much similarity to our current POTUS for me.

Does the later group represent your interests or your vision for the US? If so, I understand your support for your guy.

Sherwood

I agree. I wonder why Patterson thinks it's code for black. I think it's code for not having a real job, but needing something on the resume to run for office.

I can't wait until someone asks Obama to "walk us through exactly what you did , did you consult these families or procure funds for projects or what?".

After that it will start to come out that he was channeling gov money to Rezco and crew to "rehab" low income housing.

I'd have a lot more respect for his comm. org. work IF it could be proven that he actually made a difference. Did he clean up south side Chicago? Did he talk businesses into locating there to hire locals? Did he find jobs for anyone? What the hell success did he have and why is it not nationally known?

How about generating sufficient community activism to prevent another 4 years of the last 8? I'd say he's pretty successful so far. Of course, there are those who prefer not to to mess with "success" or instead conjure a boogeyman who will bankrupt the country, erode constitutional rights and insert our armies into countries for "national interest" in the name of freedom and democracy. Is America great or what?

Sherwood

I think you posted in the wrong thread. We were discussing what a community organizer does, not how the left characterizes George Bush and the last eight years. Can you also not articulate what Obama did as a community organizer? Welcome to the club.

He organized his community to vote for him.

But he seems to be having a hard time organizing the entire country to vote for him.

Regardless of what a Community Organizer is, Obama accomplished NOTHING in is all important role. He din't even get the asbestos out of the buildings he swore he would/could.

LOL....pretty much what I was thinking. :D