Community Organizer Obama Asks Activists: “Where’s Your Base”?Randy Shawbyline‚ May. 19‚ 2009Some activists excited about Barack Obama’s community organizing background forget what this fully means – namely, that he expects groups seeking progressive measures to mobilize their base. Community organizers do not expect politicians to challenge entrenched interests absent grassroots pressure, and President Obama is not about to spend political capital on issues like Afghanistan, the military budget, or “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” without an organized campaign. But a surprising number of progressives have skipped Community Organizing 101, and are now angry that Obama is not taking on entrenched interests by himself. |