Getting Even
“We don’t mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back.” …Barack Obama from a Rhode Island speech as reported by the Associated Press, Oct 25, 2010
Obama has always had a knack for communicating with his inner constituency in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways. It wasn’t necessary for him to add, in the back – of the bus – for a certain faction of his followers to smile and say, Right on brother! Right on! Stirring up grievances, old and new is a community organizers job.
“When those prominent in the status quo turn and label you an “agitator” they are completely correct, for that is, in one word, your function – to agitate to the point of conflict.”… Rules for Radicals, In the Beginning, The Process of Power * by Saul Alinsky
Barack Obama has not come to bring peace; he has come to bring change, total change, to transform America. He is sincere. He harbors resentment. He is determined. He is smart. He knows Americans love their country and the complete transformation he envisions cannot be achieved without some pain. The people need to be aroused, to denounce the status quo and to bring change by force because most of the population will not knowingly accept Obama’s transformation voluntarily.
“The organizer dedicated to changing the life of the people of a community must first rub raw the resentments of the community; fan the latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expression (sic). He must search out controversy and issues, rather than avoid them, for unless there is controversy people are not concerned enough to act.” and “An organizer must stir up dissatisfaction and discontent”…Rules for Radicals, In the Beginning, The Process of Power * by Saul Alinsky.
Obama’s current frustration is because the Tea Party stole the first act. And the only community organizing required was Rick Santelli and his 30 second rant. After that it was grass roots from the heart all the way. Barack Obama is down but not out. Stay alert.
*Alinsky did not number the chapters of his book; so we had to identify the location of quotations by chapter name and sub-heading.
RANDOM THOTS 