Alinski's Rules: Must Reading In Obama Era

IBD ^ | 2-02-09 | PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY

[Nachum]

Immediately after the Democratic National Convention in Colorado, the Boston Globe published a letter from David Alinsky. He boasted about how Barack Obama had made effective use of his training in the methods of David's late father, the famous Chicago radical, Saul Alinsky.

David Alinsky gloated: "I am proud to see that my father's model for organizing is being applied successfully beyond local community organizing to affect the Democratic campaign in 2008. It is a fine tribute to Saul Alinsky as we approach his 100th birthday."

[MeanWestTexan]

The rules, for those who wish to read them, are on my “about” page.

[Hatheos]

I need to read this book. I’ve been trying to find it in a used book stoe because I don’t want his estate or whatever to get any royalties. I can’t seem to find it yet. I would read them online, but I prefer hardcopy over softcopy.

[Hatheos]

*store

[hummingbird]

The rules, for those who wish to read them, are on my “about” page.

I've been wanting to buy the book but I don't want to give the money to anyone involved. Is there a cheatin' way to get it? BWawawawawawawawawawaw...

Is it on Gutenberg (sic?), for instance?

[hummingbird]

Great minds think alike!!!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Those rules cover the tactics — the “means” to an end. You might actually take some comfort in having a C.I.C. who knows how to employ those tactics — e.g. they might help in the geopolitical arena.

The really troubling thing about having an adherent of Alinsky in power, is Alinsky's ethics. He was a strong believer that "the means justifies the ends" (the socialist ends, that is).

You might want to add Alinsky's "rules for the ethics of power politics" to your about page. Here they are:

1. One's concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one's personal interest in the issue.
2. The judgment of the ethics of means is dependent upon the political position of those sitting in judgment.
3. In war the end justifies almost any means.
4. Judgment must be made in the context of the times in which the action occurred and not from any other chronological vantage point.
5. Concern with ethics increases with the number of means available and vice versa.
6. The less important the end to be desired, the more one can afford to engage in ethical evaluations of means.
7. Generally, success or failure is a mighty determinant of ethics.
8. The morality of means depends upon whether the means is being employed at a time of imminent defeat or imminent victory.
9. Any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition to be unethical.
10. You do what you can with what you have and clothe it in moral garments.
11. Goals must be phrased in general terms like &"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," "Of the Common Welfare," "Pursuit of Happiness," or "Bread and Peace."

Do these "rules of ethics" sound familiar?

[Little Ray]

Try www.abe.com. If it exists, they probably have it. Used books only.

[Nachum]

http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Radicals-Saul-Alinsky/dp/0679721134/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233678857&sr=8-1

[hummingbird]

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/08/figures-michelle-obama-quotes-lines.html

Figures. Michelle Obama Quotes Lines From "Rules For Radicals" In Her DNC Convention Speech (Updated)

[Unam Sanctam]

1. One's concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one's personal interest in the issue. 2. The judgment of the ethics of means is dependent upon the political position of those sitting in judgment. 3. In war the end justifies almost any means. 4. Judgment must be made in the context of the times in which the action occurred and not from any other chronological vantage point. 5. Concern with ethics increases with the number of means available and vice versa. 6. The less important the end to be desired, the more one can afford to engage in ethical evaluations of means. 7. Generally, success or failure is a mighty determinant of ethics. 8. The morality of means depends upon whether the means is being employed at a time of imminent defeat or imminent victory. 9. Any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition to be unethical. 10. You do what you can with what you have and clothe it in moral garments. 11. Goals must be phrased in general terms like &"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," "Of the Common Welfare," "Pursuit of Happiness," or "Bread and Peace."

Sounds like good justification for waterboarding and worse.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Great find! Chilling isn't it?

I have been familiar with Alinsky’s “Rules” for several decades & I've seen evidence of them being employed by leftists many times. (Most of the “useful idiots” probably never heard of Alinsky — but, their puppet masters certainly did & the rest picked it up by osmosis.)

For instance: (ethics) Rules 5 & 9 have been used by the anti-war crowd regarding Afghanistan, Iraq, and (most recently) Gaza.

When supporters of the U.S. invasion of Iraq invoke (in essence) Rules 3 & 4 — the leftists were ready for them. E.g. they don't want judgment of the Bush administration to be made “in the context of the times in which the action occurred” — because that would make the Bush administration look too good.

[444Flyer]

I was called a “Revolutionary yesterday by an Obamabot because I told them that the Constitution must be upheld and Socialism must be stopped in our nation. They said if I believe in Democracy I should support what Obama wants. These people have lost their collective mind. I'm sure part of the Alinsky method is to redefine terms to fit the goal.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Sounds like good justification for waterboarding and worse.”

Seem my post # 12.

Actually, if you apply Alinsky’s Rules, you'd say: “justification for waterboarding and better”.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“I’m sure part of the Alinsky method is to redefine terms to fit the goal.”

From the “Rules of the Ethics of power politics”:

10. You do what you can with what you have and clothe it in moral garments.
11. Goals must be phrased in general terms like &”Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” “Of the Common Welfare,” “Pursuit of Happiness,” or “Bread and Peace.”

[Dr.Deth]

2. The judgment of the ethics of means is dependent upon the political position of those sitting in judgment.

This is the linchpin. This is why the raison d'etre of the Democratic Party is gaining political power by any means necessary.

[SERKIT]

There seems to be no daylight between the Obama Economy Doctrine (redistribution of wealth, class envy, central control, nationalized industries, thugocracy) and Marxism. If Marxists were to publicly announce a coup, they would likely have identical plans.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[Nachum]

Was that on another site, or in person?

[444Flyer]

Pervert truths and get the useful idiots to implement them and put them into practice.