Free Republic

In 1985, Barack Obama traveled halfway across the country to take a job that he didn't fully understand. But, while he knew little about his new vocation--community organizer--it still had a romantic ring, at least to his 24-year-old ears. With his old classmates from Columbia, he had talked frequently about political change. Now, he was moving to Chicago to put that talk into action. His 1995 memoir, Dreams from My Father, recounts his idealistic effusions: "Change won't come from the top, I would say. Change will come from a mobilized grass roots. That's what I'll do. I'll organize black folks....

It's hard to keep track of all the Democratic activists in Chicago with jobs at Catholic parishes. While Rev. Pfleger at St. Sabina's is certainly the most active and notorious member of the Democrat party, there is an entire class of non-clerical activists like Jerry Kellman, who spoke at the Democrat convention. A well known Democratic party operative, Kellman was brought to Mary Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge by left-of-center pastor Rev. Robert Mclaughlin formerly of the Holy Name Cathedral, now formerly of Mary Seat of Wisdom. Kellman is still there though, get this, as "Adult Faith Formation Director."...