Community Organizer in Chief

Since Sarah Palin compared Barack Obama's early career with her vast experience of public service, I guess you could say being a community organizer is sort of like being a beauty pageant contestant or a sportscaster, which is what Palin was doing around the time Obama was dedicating his skills to helping residents of the south side of Chicago. So, except for the fact that community organizing involves more than smiling and looking good in a swimsuit or reading hockey scores off of a teleprompter, maybe Gov. Palin was on to something.

In pointing out that small town mayors have actual responsibilities, Palin also could have noted that good community organizers produce results and bring about real change not by executive order but by bringing people together to work collaboratively toward a common cause. A community organizer, therefore, has to listen to the people to help them identify the issues and concerns that are most important to them; an effective community organizer helps people of diverse backgrounds move past their differences to establish a shared vision; and a successful community organizer recognizes that his or her primary responsibility is to work toward the fulfillment of the vision and goals of the community, not his or her own personal aspirations.

Given the challenges our nation faces, our next President will need to help Americans unite around the principles and values that unite us rather than pursuing an agenda that pits us against each other. Thank you, Governor Palin, for drawing attention to the fact that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has exhibited those characteristics of leadership from the very beginning of his career.