Organizing For America Now Recruiting for Summer Program

In the wake of the disgrace that is the behavior of Organizing For America (OFA) relative to the Wisconsin protests, the Obama Administration again lied by saying it had nothing to do with organizing the protesters. This, despite overwhelming evidence in the form of OFA blog posts, facebook posts, and tweets proving just the opposite. Instead of backing down however, OFA (Obama) has decided to continue following Uncle Saul's rulebook, which says to 'keep the pressure on.'

My inbox this morning contained an email from Jeremy Bird of OFA with a subject line that said, 'Know Any Good Organizers?' It appears that OFA is looking to grow its 'civilian national security force' this summer by enticing young students to sign up for the program and get college credit for doing so. Here's the email I received; the two images are screen shots from the page the links within the email took me.

Ben --

This summer, Organizing for America will train a new team of summer organizers. The Summer Organizing Fellowship is a grassroots program that aims to put boots on the ground and help foster a new generation of leaders -- not just to help win elections, but to strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.

We're reminded nearly every day of the power of organizing -- of people standing up and speaking out in their communities. And that kind of effective organizing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It takes commitment, time, and hard work to build a movement around a cause.

That's exactly what our team of summer organizers will do.

They will be trained in the basic principles that have always built and powered effective grassroots movements, and will be assigned to a specific community where they'll work to organize supporters street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. They'll recruit volunteers, run events, knock on doors, and do what it takes to support the President's agenda. And, in the end, their work will take our grassroots power to an impressive new level.

Apply now to be a summer organizer, or pass this email along to anyone else you know who might be interested.

Folks who trained in programs like this one have gained important skills that have since helped them in careers with OFA and beyond. And they had a good time doing it.

Becca Siegel, a student at Stanford University, spent the past two summers organizing in Colorado -- and she loved it. "Working as a summer organizer certainly taught me a diverse set of skills in a fast-paced environment. Each day brought new opportunities and challenges: a meeting with a local activist followed by voter registration at an outdoor concert, or a conference call with other organizers from around the country followed by volunteering at a community health clinic."

When she graduates from college later this year, Becca will take the skills she learned at OFA to a new job in South Africa.

You don't have to be a student, like Becca, or a recent graduate to be a summer organizer. Nikki Giancola, now a regional field director for OFA Illinois, was a middle school teacher for four years before becoming a summer organizer. "I will never forget the day the Affordable Care Act passed," she says. "It was a feeling like no other -- I had played a part in helping millions of people, and the summer organizer program gave me the chance to do so."

Summer organizer Paras Patel had a similarly unforgettable experience -- meeting President Obama at an event in Detroit. "He shook my hand and told me that he was proud of me and appreciated the work I was doing. I didn't know what to expect when I started at OFA, but meeting the President was definitely a surprise and something I will never forget!"

Successful movements have always been built and grown by ordinary people who take responsibility for organizing their fellow citizens to make their voices heard. We're looking for folks who are ready to work hard to support the President's agenda and lay new groundwork to carry this movement forward for years to come.

Click here to apply for the OFA summer organizers program or pass it on to a friend -- no experience is needed to apply:

http://my.barackobama.com/Summer-Organizers

Thanks for all you do,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

Again, this is gall on display. OFA has been directly linked to the Wisconsin protests which saw, among other things, fraud in action when Doctors were handing out fake sick notes to teachers who wanted to get paid for protesting instead of working. Instead of even feigning shame or laying low for a while, Obama and company have decided to stay on offense after LYING about it's involvement in the first place. It's vintage Saul Alinsky.

I think it's safe to say we're learning what Obama meant when he said this on the campaign trail:

Obama Lies About His Involvement in Wisconsin Protests

This is unbelievably ridiculous but it's happening anyway. The Obama Administration is actually denying involvement in the protests that have been taking place in Wisconsin despite Organizing For America (OFA), a Barack Obama entity, having fingerprints all over the protests. Blog posts, tweets, and emails all show that OFA has been coordinating protesters far and wide. Yet, Obama is apparently claiming he had nothing to do with it.

Via New York Times:

Over the weekend, the White House and Democratic Party officials pushed back against criticism from Republicans that Mr. Obama and his political network were meddling in the Wisconsin dispute.

Administration officials said Sunday that the White House had done nothing to encourage the demonstrations in Wisconsin — nor was it doing so in Ohio, Florida and other states where new Republican governors are trying to make deep cuts to balance their budgets.

And, officials and union leaders said, reports of the involvement of the Democratic National Committee — specifically Organizing for America, the grass-roots network born of Mr. Obama’s 2008 campaign — were overblown to start with and were being inflated by Republicans sensing political advantage.

“This is a Wisconsin story, not a Washington one,” said Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director. “False claims of White House involvement are attempts to distract from the organic grass-roots opposition that is happening in Wisconsin.”

First off, there is a difference between flat-out denial and claims that the charges were 'overblown.' If the White House wants to communicate that it had nothing to do with organizing these protests, why not say that? Instead, they said such reports are 'overblown.' That would seem to indicate some level of involvement. Second, while Team Obama is claiming it had nothing to do with the protests while saying such charges are 'overblown,' conspicuously absent is a list of things it attempted to do to stop them.

h/t Gateway Pundit and Doug Ross.

Obama is Behind Wisconsin Protests

There really is no other way to look at this. The Organizing For America arm of the Democratic National Committee is the spawn of Obama; it is something he created. He can alter its direction with a phone call. OFA is responsible for the protests taking place in Wisconsin at the state capitol there. The governor of Wisconsin is doing what the people of his state elected him to do - cut the funding of public sector unions and OFA doesn't like it. In another clear example of the left not understanding where money comes from, these unions are demanding what is no longer available - money.

The larger story here is that the president is behind these protests.

Via POLITICO:

The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America arm -- the remnant of the 2008 Obama campaign -- is playing an active role in organizing protests against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's attempt to strip most public employees of collective bargaining rights.

OfA, as the campaign group is known, has been criticized at times for staying out of local issues like same-sex marraige, but it's riding to the aide of the public sector unions who hoping to persuade some Republican legislators to oppose Walker's plan. And while Obama may have his difference with teachers unions, OfA's engagement with the fight -- and Obama's own clear stance against Walker -- mean that he's remaining loyal to key Democratic Party allies at what is, for them, a very dangerous moment.

OfA Wisconsin's field efforts include filling buses and building turnout for the rallies this week in Madison, organizing 15 rapid response phone banks urging supporters to call their state legislators, and working on planning and producing rallies, a Democratic Party official in Washington said.

If further proof is needed that Obama is in fact supporting these protests, look at his own words via the Washington Post:

"Some of what I've heard coming out of Wisconsin, where you're just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain generally seems like more of an assault on unions. And I think it's very important for us to understand that public employees, they're our neighbors, they're our friends. These are folks who are teachers and they're firefighters and they're social workers and they're police officers.

"They make a lot of sacrifices and make a big contribution. And I think it's important not to vilify them or to suggest that somehow all these budget problems are due to public employees."

The president's public stance is that unions are being 'assault(ed).' It is quintessential Alinsky: 'Rub raw the sores of discontent.' Instead of chastising a group he created (OFA), he is overtly egging them on by appealing to one of the lowest common denominators of human nature. He is telling them they are victims when in reality, they've been living off the backs of others for decades.

If the president wanted to, he could easily instruct OFA to back off. He's not. In light of his office, he's complicit in his silence. Then again, he's not all that silent; he's encouraging them with his own words.

He also seems content with teachers lying by collectively calling off sick as well as the latter's exploitation of students for their cause.

Exploitation of high school students for a political agenda is simply disgraceful and it demonstrates another Alinsky precept: 'The ends justify the means.'

Former ACORN Leader to Head Obama's Reelection Campaign

The man who holds the equivalent of the job Karl Rove held in the Bush administration is apparently leaving that gig to head up Organizing For America (OFA) so he can work on Obama's reelection campaign. Patrick Gaspard is apparently a seasoned Alinsky-ite as well. The gall here is palpable though. As Republicans in the House consider mixed seating at Tuesday's State of the Union speech in order to demonstrate civility, Obama taps a guy who used to lead an organization that's already proven to be thoroughly corrupt, to coordinate his reelection efforts.

Via Matthew Vadum at the Daily Caller:

Gaspard comes from the same world of radical left-wing community organizing that shaped Barack Obama. Gaspard is well schooled in the brutal, street-smart organizing tactics taught by the late Saul Alinsky, author of Rules for Radicals. He’s the hatchet man Obama sent to New York over a year ago to strong-arm then-Gov. David Paterson into dropping his reelection campaign. As executive director running the DNC’s day-to-day operations Gaspard will oversee Organizing for America, a project of the DNC supposedly modeled on Alinskyite organizing principles. (Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine will remain as general chairman of the DNC.)

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Haitian parents, very little is known about this Rasputin-like power behind the throne. Gaspard shuns publicity and is extremely reluctant to speak to the media on the record. Look him up on Nexis and you will find virtually nothing about this otherwise influential counselor to the leader of the free world.

But his colleagues hold him in high esteem. “Patrick is the best political mind of his generation in New York and maybe the nation,” according to Kevin Sheekey, a lieutenant of New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. “I wouldn’t dispute that,” added David Axelrod, a senior advisor in the Obama White House.

Gaspard came to the White House from ACORN’s favorite labor organization, Service Employees International Union. (SEIU Locals 100 and 880 were until recently official affiliates of ACORN.) He had been executive vice president for political and legislative affairs for SEIU Local 1199 United Healthcare Workers East, which claims to be the largest union local on the planet “representing more than 300,000 members and retirees in New York, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Massachusetts.”

Gaspard was previously revealed to be political director for ACORN’s New York branch. Although the source of this information, ACORN founder Wade Rathke, has since feigned senility and claimed he was mistaken, other evidence points to Gaspard’s involvement with the nation’s most notorious activist group.

Read it all.

VIDEO: BREITBART TAKES ON ENTIRE MOB - AND WINS

This video is awesome. While in Chicago for the Right Nation event, Breitbart went outside to confront the union-sponsored mob that arrived on school buses to display collective ignorance and annoyance. Breitbart challenges individual protestors to explain their signs. None could. Shortly thereafter, the crowd literally backed down in the face of Breitbart's rebukes.

Watch all the way to the end because one straggling protestor sticks around and informs Breitbart that Organizing for America (OFA) was behind it all.

The quote of this video from Breitbart: "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE!"

Via Founding Bloggers

AUSTIN STATESMAN RESPONDS TO MY OFFER OF SOLIDARITY

After the very liberal paper - the Austin American Statesman - printed reader letters expressing opposition to the Austin city council's boycott of Arizona over SB 1070, it heard from Barack Obama's Organizing for America (OFA). OFA was going astroturf against the Statesman by encouraging all of its members to write to the paper. Why? Because there were no letters expressing support of the boycott and the Statesman and OFA saw it as a matter of unfairness that had to be righted.

I decided to write the Statesman to express my support for them, despite their very storied liberal bent. If the Community Organisms were going identify them as a target to be intimidated, they should be supported regardless of how ideological they are.

On May 28th, my letter appeared in the Statesman, strategically placed right above an editor's note that seemed to be an attempt to dismiss the offer:

As a radio talk show host and producer for "The Lynn Woolley Show," I would like to express solidarity with the American-Statesman with respect to the paper being the target of intimidation from Organizing for America. Stand strong and know that you did nothing wrong by publishing reader letters (May 19) in opposition to the recent City Council resolution calling for an Austin boycott of Arizona.

Ben Barrack

benbarrack@yahoo.com

Georgetown

Editor's note: Organizing for America (www.barackobama.com) has borne no pressure on the American-Statesman, either directly or via letters that the organization might have encouraged. We have received a high volume of letters about Arizona's immigration law and the Austin City Council's resolution to stop doing business in Arizona, especially after we published 20 letters against the Austin boycott on May 19.

— Tom Widlowski, Letters editor

As with most of these newspaper guys, they're clever with how they word things, leaving much up to reader interpretation. If Widlowski is making the claim That OFA did not attempt to intimidate or pressure the Statesman, he's not being truthful (see image of OFA Austin flyer). If Widlowski is saying that OFA Austin attempted to organize an astroturf campaign that wasn't successful, he should have said that.

There were two emails I received in response to the letter above which I found interesting. The first serves as a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

From: Jeff
Subject: funny
To: benbarrack@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, May 28, 2010, 9:55 AM

That was so funny how the Austin American-Statesman called you on your lie in today's Letters column. This is a great example of what we all know (but many refuse to admit) that right-wing talk show hosts do best: make stuff up!

cheers,
Jeff

Calling what I wrote a lie is easily refuted by looking at the OFA flyer. Then again, perhaps Jeff's view comes from a misleading editor's note.

My personal favorite came from Michael. Keep in mind what the Arizona boycott is supposedly about - racism and discrimination as you read it.

From: Michael
Subject: Hate radio
To: benbarrack@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, May 28, 2010, 12:18 PM

Thanks for giving a name to just some of the hate radio right here in Central Texas. 9/11 happened on Bush and Chaney's watch...never forget!!

And just because you are a host and producer of some redneck talk show doesn't mean your words are truth for all!

Proud Native Texan senior,

Michael

Wouldn't you love to know what Michael thinks of the term "redneck" in light of the debate over the new Arizona law.

h/t to Hot Air for posting about the OFA Astroturf effort. That is how I became aware of it.

OVER THE TOP: EMAIL FROM BARACK

Organizing For America (OFA) is COMPLETELY separate from and has "Nothing to do with" the White House (according to Robert Gibbs). Totally believable, right? Now that we got that straight, on to an email I received from OFA today (complete with Obama logo). The Contents of the letter are in italics with my commentary in (parentheses)

Ben --

Opponents of health insurance reform have power (what do you call having the White House, a majority in the House, and a Super Majority in the Senate?). Some reap huge profits from the status quo. Others take large campaign contributions from those who profit (I direct you to the "donate" buttons provided by OFA in the body of this email).

So they'll do anything to keep the current system in place. When fact-based arguments don't work, they attack President Obama with outlandish lies about a government takeover and euthanizing the elderly (I guess we're supposed to ignore the fact that Obama, Emanuel, Sebelius, Feingold, Krugman, Schakowsky, and a host of others have been caught on video advocating a trojan horse to reach government-run health care - Obama is the one lying). And once that doesn't work, they'll go even further.

We don't know what they'll do next (ah, if the same couldn't be said about Obama before, it can be now that he's announced he will beam his mug into every public school classroom on September 8th). What we do know is that we'll have to be prepared for anything -- ready to set the record straight, ready to make sure the media and Congress see the overwhelming support for reform, and ready to pass real reform this year (Doesn't the media already overwhelmingly see overwhelming support for reform? They report like it's there).

But we'll need the resources to do it -- to pay for rapid-response ads in key districts and states (wasn't Mitch Stewart deriding those who contribute to further their cause earlier in this email?), organizers to put together large rallies and grassroots events throughout the country, and the best technology available to empower volunteers -- all at a moment's notice (welcome to astroturfing). Please chip in $5 or more to help us pass real reform, this year. ($5? Isn't there enough in that $787 Billion slush fund? Just joking, that would be dishonest).


This was never going to be easy. As candidate Obama said just three days before the election: "Don't think for a moment that power will concede without a fight." Now, we're seeing how true that really is (Uh, again, who's the one in power again?).

These same well-financed forces have killed reform in the past, and they're aiming to do it again (hmmm, OFA is calling grass roots citizens "well-financed" while launching a full-fledged campaign to get.....well-financed....via....donations).

But here's why this time can be different: There are folks like you, all around the country, who are ready to go toe-to-toe with the special interests, even when they're not fighting fair (I know, these grass roots special interest groups in the form of individual citizens have somehow managed to put MSNBC and CNN in their back pockets. Oh, wait.....).
And we'll keep at it, because we know that the work we're doing together right now can make the lives of hundreds of millions better for decades to come.

But we need your help to keep it up. Please donate $5 or more to help beat the special interests (If OFA has "nothing to do with" the White House, why does the donate link have "barackobama.com" in it?):

https://donate.barackobama.com/power

There's too much at stake for any of us to sit this one out. Please chip in (Because that $787 Billion just wasn't enough).

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

NOTE: See for yourself how defensive and adamant White House Press Secretary and the "Uhmmm" King, Robert Gibbs gets at the slightest hint that OFA and the White House are even remotely connected.

This now famous exchange between Fox News Channel's Major Garrett and Robert Gibbs from August 13th has Gibbs' sentiments on the connection between the White House and OFA. Fast Forward to :30.



Oh, almost forgot. Here's the VERUM SERUM video that shows several democrats advocating a trojan horse. We're dealing with LIARS.