Posted on 09/08/2008 11:07:01 AM PDT by andrew roman
Just an interesting personal anecdote I thought I'd share ...
Early last week, only a couple of days after John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, I received one of those mass e-mails that often attacks unsuspecting “inboxes” from the depths of cyber-space. (I’d wager that many of you have seen this one already). It was a scathing attack on Governor Sarah Palin, written by someone who calls herself “Jackie S.” The authoress of this most passionate invective presented herself as a resident of Alaska – and a current college student (naturally) - and therefore qualified to articulate her scornful criticisms of Palin. She wrote the piece as an impassioned plea to save our nation from certain calamity. She beseeched her readers at the outset: “Please read this if you care about our country … “
It was all down hill from there.
The e-mail was sent to me (and about fifty others), coincidentally enough, from a relative here in Brooklyn that I have had no interaction with for at least three years. (She is from the wing of the family that often inspired stories from the old-timers I grew up with, but played - and still plays -no role in my life whatsoever. She is, to me, simply a face that surfaces when I happen to be leafing through crackling old photo album pages).
The e-mail was titled: “Sarah Palin????”
Predictably, it was filled with what has now become the everyday run-of-the-mill anti-Palin rhetoric, filled with the characteristic pejoratives - “redneck,” “white trash,” and so on. It was somewhat amusing, badly crafted, poorly argued and amateurishly punctuated. (College student, indeed!)
I decided to have a bit of fun and compose a detailed, cohesive response that I could send out to everyone on the same mailing list, understanding I was opening myself up to the inevitable barrage of contemptuous liberal harrasment. Without descending into silly name-calling and personal insults, the goal was to address each of the points “Jackie S” brought up with cogent rebuttals and well-supported opinions.
I did so … and then went on my merry way, bothering no one, living a clean life.
About twenty-four hours later, I received my first e-mail from someone on the mailing list. (Remember, I had no idea who ANY of these people on the mailing list were). It was concise and to the point:
"A) Andy, take me off your e-mail list. B) You're an idiot. IF the McCain/Palin ticket (sorry, I had to stop laughing for a minute) wins this election, then you get what you deserve. Do YOUR homework. I hate being pandered to, don't you? Most sincerely yours,"
The person who sent this little note, I was surprised to discover, was another relative of mine (a cousin) who I had not seen or heard from in nearly twenty years - someone who grew up with my mother in Brooklyn. To me, this particular relation - just like the first one - was really only a familiar photo album face, nothing more. I did, however, tell my mother about it, who found it quite amusing, if not predictable. I couldn't help but think that this was another long-lost relative I wouldn't be getting together with for coffee cake and sanka.
(And I didn’t pander. Honest).
But as they say, all good things come in threes. Another e-mail, as it so happens, came in from a member of the mailing list who, too, had opinions that needed sharing. She wrote:
"I feel obliged to respond, to say something about Sarah Palin. First off, because for the past five years, I have lived here in Alaska. Two, because I actually know Sarah and Todd Palin. We met at the State Fair,of all places, before she was Governor … Third, because those of you who know me, know that I am a die-hard socialist/anarchist and a Yellow Dog Democrat and that I come by it honestly, genetically if you will, the daughter of two community-organizing, labor union organizing Jewish Socialists."
Wow! Someone else from Alaska. And a “socialist/anarchist” to boot! How lucky could a right-wing Brooklyn boy get?
This was tremendously interesting, particularly because, as I came to find out after ingesting her tedious ramblings, this yellow dog lefty was yet another long-lost relative of mine who I hadn’t even been in the same state with in maybe twenty-five years. (I should probably keep my photo album close at hand now. I'm libel to discover missing siblings at this rate).
Which brings me, finally, to my point, as I try to throw a lasso onto my stream of consciousness here … Notice the words, “Community Organizing.”
Do those words at all sound familiar? Anyone?
Hello, Senator Obama?
Further, I would ask any one who may care to offer up an opinion on the matter, if they can observe any correlation at all between the history of “community organizing” in her, or anyone else's, "bloodline" (which admittedly, is my bloodline as well) and her self-described “socialist/anarchist” beliefs?
A fair question, no?
Are there conservative "community oraganizers?" As for me, just for the record, I organize nothing.
I received an e-mail from Nigeria saying they would pay me a lot of money to help with a bank transaction.
I believe them, who wouldn’t?
I have a huge smile on my face.
I haven’t even seen a reliable definition of community organizer yet but the very title screams out socialist meddling.
Its funny she should mention these two together. Just the other day I had a conversation w/ one of my cousins (not at all lost) who described his philosophjy exactly the same way.
His opinions were simply cant liberal talking points that I suspect originated w/ the imbecile Bill Maher(?). Most disturbing was his opinion that conservatives were in fact evil and therefore beyond debate, why he continues the debate is yet another example of the cognitive dissonance of the left.
I asked him how could an athiest believe in evil? Um well you know, all humans recognise good from bad you know. I dropped it there.
There does appear to be a common source for the surreal socialist/anarchist combo. My guess is the imbecile.
A socialist wants to make people better — if necessary, against their will. A conservative wants to leave people alone, so that they can make their own way.
Which is more likely to become a ‘community organizer’?
Thank you tremendously for your post. I sincerely believe you and appreciate you sharing your experiences.
Your sensibilities and common sense are truly an asset.
You got some uuuuuugly relatives, Man.
Generally speaking, they're called churches and church leaders.
From a family of Brooklyn Jewish Democrats .... It’ self-evident.
I received the same letter from some liberals in Florida. In my letter it used the term red neck. Not just once but a couple of times. Nobody uses the term red neck as two words instead of one. I pointed that out and said the letter could not be authentic.
I’ve never understood Jews being Democrats (today)
It just seems self defeating and even self destructive.
I confess...I once did some community organizing...I started a Boy Scout Troop at our church.
Congratulations for what you did. I don't think anybody sincerely hates community-organizers as such, it's just they don't like the Obama/socialist idea of co. Byron York at NRO today has an interesting column about Obama's organzing days in Chicago. York doesn't really knock Obama for what he did in Chicago, but he concludes (as many others have) that Obama doesn't understand why the communities became the hellholes they were (and still are) in the first place. In fact Obama was fervently opposed to the welfare reform of the nineties vowing to evntually overturn the reforms. In short, Obama learned nothing from his experience.
“Obama doesn’t understand why the communities became the hellholes they were (and still are) in the first place.”
That is another reason I detest Obama using community organizer as a qualifying resume experience. If Obama does not understand how his own community came into the problems they have....how in the world is he going to untangle the problems in the Middle East by adopting a foreign policy that “looks at the root causes of problems and dangers.”
Another shot in the foot if you ask me. Keep looking 0...
I totally know where you’re coming from. I was raised Irish-Catholic, Kennedy socialist and when I grew up and moved out and experienced reality I gradually became more and more conservative. I registered GOP in 1994 and more or less gave up being a part of the family.
IMHO, you’re better off without them.
I'll be organizing and training my neighbors in the use of firearms when Obama loses.
Funny you should mention this.
Not 24 hours after McCain’s introduction of Gov. Palin as his running mate, I got what I’m sure, is the same email you referenced in your post, from my useful idiot sister.
Like you, I carefully went through the email point by point, rebutting and debunking the inaccuracies, lies, and exaggerations.
As I’m the sole conservative in my family, my sis had sent it to me with no other addressees on the list. So, I simply replied to her alone.
About all she could muster in response, was a weak, “well, I’m voting for Obama anyway”, or something similarly brilliant.
I swear, if I didn’t truly love my sis, I wouldn’t bother. She’s about as well-informed as a 14 year old, and has about the same level of debating skills.
It’s clear to me that this email was concocted and sent out to Obama’s minions to spread far and wide, as fast as possible for damage control. And this was BEFORE the convention speech!
I can just see the cover letter now:
“ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
Dear Obama Supporter,
As you know, the Republicans will do ANYTHING to take our one chance for CHANGE away from us!
Now they want to run the most right wing Nazi in history on their ticket! Can we afford to have this ultra-right winger a heartbeat away from the Oval Office?????
Please, Please, Please!!!!!
Please cut out the email below and paste into a new email.
If by chance you know any Republicans (or anyone who knows one), please send it to them right this very moment!!!!
thank you,
Obama/Biden 2008 Campaign
“Yes We Can!”
I just know it went out that way. These people have their underground rat network pumping sewage constantly.
Community Organizer is the soft pedal version of Communist Activist.
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