Video: Organizing for America’s training program
posted at 12:52 pm on March 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
I’ve been mulling over this latest entry from Naked Emperor News since yesterday afternoon, when I first saw it. On one hand, organizing for political change is perfectly fine, and I suppose training videos to make organizing more successful make sense. On the other hand, organizing a door-to-door campaign to support a political leader already elected to office seems to tip over into that cult-of-personality territory, to which Organizing for America seems oblivious:
From a purely pragmatic point of view, the OFA effort makes sense as a means of collecting addresses for later political campaigns. Think of it as a more-organized successor to the VP selection text messaging Team Obama used in August 2008.
But the mission here seems very, very strange, and not in line with traditional politicking at all. The creepy, ubiquitous Obama logo on their material gives the game away. They’re not supporting the economic policies, which by the way have yet to be fully explained. How can they encourage people to support Obama’s economic policies when even the Obama administration has trouble articulating them and providing details? And even if they could, the omnibus budget bill and Porkulus have already passed Congress and been signed into law. So why do they need a door-to-door campaign?
The policies don’t need the door-to-door campaign; Obama does. They’re pushing their Obama fetish, not grassroots policy change. And that’s very, very creepy.
Blowback
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Straight out of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao, Castro & all the other evil tyrants that I didn’t list….
DL13 on March 23, 2009 at 12:55 PM
“Chairman Burt”?
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Is it sick that I kind of want one of these people to come to my door just so I can tell them to get off my front porch?
patriette on March 23, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Stay away from my home please.
toliver on March 23, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Brown shirts are coming.
Christian Conservative on March 23, 2009 at 12:57 PM
A Wrinkle in Time —- in the flesh
Limerick on March 23, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I’m trying to think of some comebacks if they show up at my door:
I don’t join cults.
Pledges to human beings are against my religion.
How can Geithner price the toxic assets?
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 12:59 PM
That is simple, just say “Git!”.
Limerick on March 23, 2009 at 1:00 PM
I think your name and address goes in the ledger no matter what your reaction. Just a question of which side of the ledger: Hit up for donations or mark for reeducation.
SKYFOX on March 23, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Ok, parents, that kid at the end looks like he has a dead skunk on his head. WTF is up with that stupid hair? Get that flea bitten mop off his head. Hair cut. Good grief of all the vomit to come back from the 70′s, the hair is one of the more offensive things. I hate that stupid unkempt hair.
All that’s missing is Colonel Ike Dubaku. Get us some ‘little soldiers’ out there. And a barber.
austinnelly on March 23, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I’m going to unleash my crap throwing monkeys on these a-holes if they come knocking on my door…
saltydogg14 on March 23, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I’ve been thinking about how I would respond to someone like this. I honestly wonder if they would make a note of residences that don’t receive them, uh, warmly.
capitalist piglet on March 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Heh. I’ll bet they don’t do this out in the rural areas…for logistic reasons, of course.
AubieJon on March 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM
I wish they would come on ovah…i’m ready, willing, and oh sooo able.
the classic song comes to mind here:
Neon lights, a nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You dont have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
Im the smiling face on your t.v.
Im the cult of personality
I exploit you still you love me
—Living Colour
sandlin71 on March 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM
LMAO!!!!
“admire the work you did today”
alexraye on March 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM
A yellow star?
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Why are unshaven nerds with glasses always obama stooges?
When you can tell what is going on in someone’s head from 50 yards away, you know they are wearing a uniform of sorts.
Notice how they don’t mention global warming anymore? Or even climate change? No, that has been discredited now. Now, they simply use the word ENERGY. Which, I must say, is about time. The whole global warming narrative was not about any warming or any environment, but about the controlling of the distribution and use of ENERGY.
I hope the obama youth get an earful when they ring those doorbells.
keep the change on March 23, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Get Off My Lawn! -Clint Eastwood
Southern by choice22 on March 23, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Here’s the poster for this post.
abinitioadinfinitum on March 23, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Great, so now I have to throw Mormon missionaries, Jehovah’s Wittness & Obahmbo Missionaries off my porch. My shredders are already full of WatchTowers. I wonder of Obahmbo literature will shred as well?
portlandon on March 23, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Ed,
Here’s the really scary part: Suppose they come to your door and you refuse to sign their “pledge”? It’s just as easy for them to take note of which addresses refused to support the “lightworker”. Then it’s simply a trip to the Voter Registration Rolls to see who lives at those addresses and make a note of their names and political affiliation, if any. A TRUE enemies list, as it were.
Now when it comes time to hand out jobs, government assistance, support, whatever, the Obamabots will have a list of those who pledged, and those who didn’t.
If that sort of threat doesn’t frighten you, then odds are you’re already lost.
respects,
AW1 Tim on March 23, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Anyone who would be intimidated by a skinny college dork doesn’t sound like a conservative in the first place.
Speedwagon82 on March 23, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Hell, I pray they come to my door. Reading HA daily, I am loaded for bear; I would question them on Obama actions/inactions, and bury them with facts when they can only babble talking points. They’d be off my property in less than 5 minutes.
Patrick S on March 23, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Ask them how creating a nationalized healthcare system will improve our economy. Have a broom handy.
AubieJon on March 23, 2009 at 1:05 PM
These activists are weak-willed, feeble-minded and desperate to be ‘part of something’.
If Obama didn’t recruit them, radical Islamists would.
EnglishMike on March 23, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Perfect!
Rovin on March 23, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Dude.
flipflop on March 23, 2009 at 1:06 PM
hahaha “snappy uniforms”
alexraye on March 23, 2009 at 1:07 PM
It’s sad to see how weak some people are. So much easier to be a lamb and follow along than to take pride in your independence and all its wonderful gifts.
sherry on March 23, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Its the “permanent” campaign. Activities on the internet are expected to keep youth on the hook, while a door-to-door campaign are necessary to reach the dependent classes, who are not otherwise connected. My guess is that the youngsters who will be recruited to perform this “service” don’t have the experience to see this as a creepy precurser to a “Big Brother” scenario.
littleguy on March 23, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Really? Because up here in Oregon the Skinny College dorks are the ones burning logging camps, burning SUV’s & car lots. Ever heard of ELF (Earth Liberation Front)?
portlandon on March 23, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Getting rid of these people at your door is easy…just ask them why they support Obama and when they give you the “hope and change” bit ask for specifics and they will just leave.
pageram on March 23, 2009 at 1:10 PM
There is a good book on that written in the 1960s, The True Believer, by a remarkable man, Eric Hoffer. A self-educated philosopher who had worked as a longshoreman in San Francisco most of his life.
He watched fascism and communism arise and was interested in what would make people join mass movements. Not always the threat of brownshirts – they had to come from somewhere, too.
Reagan gave Hoffer the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Another reason to consider leaving the country while we are still allowed to leave.
MarkTheGreat on March 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Brown shirts in training.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 23, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Here in the Atlanta area on their big door to door campaign on Saturday they stuck to the solidly Democratic areas, not daring to venture out into the great wilderness known as conservative America, so whatever effect they hoped to achieve was negated since they were only talking to the followers and true believers anyway.
And to think I took down that “Beware of Dog” sign for nothing.
The only other thing I am waiting on is who is going to be the first “news” service to report that the protests of AIG is nothing more then a union rally. I have seen interviews on tv and the people interviewed are wearing shirts with SEIU logos. Maybe they are trying to keep attention away from union involvement in this economic fiasco or this is just another way of ensuring that the Democrat congress passes that card check legislation.
Just A Grunt on March 23, 2009 at 1:13 PM
creepy
katiejane on March 23, 2009 at 1:13 PM
You have been
assimilateddatabased. Don’t call us, we’ll call you regarding Phase 2 of the campaign to address those who want Obama to fail.econavenger on March 23, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Simple. Smile warmly, and ask whether you can sign them up for the Boy Scouts.
warbaby on March 23, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Didn’t you get the memo? Facts don’t matter, only loyalty matters.
Vic on March 23, 2009 at 1:14 PM
It’s not the skinny college dork that you need to be afraid of. It’s the political/military force behind hime that should have you worried.
MarkTheGreat on March 23, 2009 at 1:14 PM
No chance. Obama probably has some of that money going to one of those nonsense activities like “community stabilization” earmarked for laminating the literature.
BuckeyeSam on March 23, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Putin and his thugs have a Russian version of this called “Nashe”; a government and insider-business supported youth movement which can be utilized at a moment’s notice to intimidate and propagandize. Need a mob? Call Nashe.
Bishop on March 23, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Rhetorically people have commented on how could people have followed Hitler.
How could so many have found there way to supporting someone because of speeches and slogans, when it is so obvious historically how wrong they were…
Well we are getting the answer to that question first hand…and ironically Jews are a great supporter of Obama.
Now I am not saying he will “gas” people, but he is already set out to destroy a segment of society that have more then others…and isn’t that what the problem with “Jews” are? They (those evil Joooos) end up “controlling the money”…anyway that’s how it supposedly starts out.
But since he is not naming a “race”, then it must be okay?
right2bright on March 23, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I’m looking forward to seeing pledges from people like Al Coholic, Amanda Hugankiss, Mike Litoris, etc.
Snowed In on March 23, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I think I’ll read the form, ask for a pen, then rip it up and give them 15 seconds to vacate the premises.
patriette on March 23, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Get with program Comrade. I’ve got my teleprompter loaded up with my speech next to my front door.
Girl Scout Motto: Be Prepared!
Knucklehead on March 23, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I might also keep a Bible by the door and say, “Well, yes, young man, but first we must talk about more important matters. If you died tonight, where would your soul go? Let me share some Scriptures with you.”
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 1:16 PM
In the depictions I’ve seen, where a movement of this type begins and flourishes, it’s usually the outsiders who suddenly find acceptance who end up running things. They aren’t outsiders for nothing, either.
AubieJon on March 23, 2009 at 1:16 PM
I was thinking I would bodily throw these idiots off of my porch.
jewells45 on March 23, 2009 at 1:16 PM
When they come to your door, just tell them that Hugo Chavez has a very poor opinion of Obama and show them the newspaper article.
Then what will happen is that they will get confused.
Then you will see their face twitch.
Just a bit.
Then their eyes will blink in rapid succession.
Then, a moment later, you will hear an electronic popping sound and a small whiff of smoke emanating from the neck area.
You may hear some electronic whirling noises, kind of like when your hard drive goes crazy.
Then they will stumble backwards while reciting all the prime numbers from 1 to 315,684,987.
Have a fire extinguisher ready.
keep the change on March 23, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Didn’t Germany once have a “Youth” program.
Let me see – what was it called ?????
Public education is lacking in the U.S.A
jake-the-goose on March 23, 2009 at 1:16 PM
I am sure that is what they said about the Hitler youth…why they are just kids…
right2bright on March 23, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Maybe. But so do I. No such luck likely, though, I’m in a very red part of a very red state (Texas).
I would like to see an infiltrator volunteer to do some canvassing, just to find out what information they are supposed to record on those who refuse to worship The One. The creepiness increases daily with these clowns.
iurockhead on March 23, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Another reason to consider leaving the country while we are still allowed to leave.
MarkTheGreat on March 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM
If anyone is leaving, it sure as shiite won’t be me, it will be them.
Bishop on March 23, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Ophelia Butts.
We used to fill in blank spaces on class seating charts in law school with this crap. At least one professor would slip up every year and call out a name.
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 1:17 PM
The only difference is the color of the suicide vests.
MarkTheGreat on March 23, 2009 at 1:18 PM
I must say, earning an “Enemy of the State” label by freaking out on a fat hippie on my porch has a certain appeal to it.
innominatus on March 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM
“I, for one, welcome our new acorn overlords.”
/sarc
;-)
sonofdy on March 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM
And whether ugly women are covered up.
Wethal on March 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM
That is some scary shizit!
TheSitRep on March 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM
I just get a disturbing visual in my mind when those two words are used together in a sentence.
vcferlita on March 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM
How about “I’ll sign your loyalty pledge if you sign my petition to impeach Obama”?
Knucklehead on March 23, 2009 at 1:20 PM
I will not sign, no (ACORN) solicitors please!
FireBlogger on March 23, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Do what I do when telemarketers call: Wait for them to read their entire, long spiel and then ask them to repeat it. After the repeat, tell them you still didn’t understand and would they please repeat it. Continue until the leave on their own.
Bishop on March 23, 2009 at 1:20 PM
I can hardly wait for them to come knock on my door….
I hope they can out run my dogs.
Old Hippie Vet on March 23, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Do adolescents get an Obama Youth knife with the Obama logo emblazoned on the grip?
Crusty on March 23, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Or maybe say, “Yes, I’ll have 2 boxes of the Peanut-Butter, and one of the Sandies…”
dmh0667 on March 23, 2009 at 1:21 PM
That is creepy. eww
I hope they dont show up in my town, which overwhelmingly voted for McCain. Those bitter, gun-clingers sure wouldn’t like that. They’d run these folks off their front porches. heh
becki51758 on March 23, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Crusty on March 23, 2009 at 1:21 PM
No. But they do get a fresh batch of arugula.
I would ask them if they can do the Hail to Obama Song the kids did in the video.
kingsjester on March 23, 2009 at 1:23 PM
http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1237709752152800.xml&coll=2
capitalist piglet on March 23, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Time to buy my first gun.
kcluva on March 23, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Ophilia Butts
Hellen Bedde
Dick Hertz
TheSitRep on March 23, 2009 at 1:24 PM
8^O What?!? And have inferior proles rub their little, dirty thumbs on The Visage of the 0ne, P*nis-Butter Upon His face? Are you kiddin’?
dmh0667 on March 23, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Training tip #8:
Ask them to sign a card check card while you note their name, address, and personal information for the president. Make sure they know you represent “people who know people who know you’ll do the right thing”. Give a little bending of the nose gesture just so they know you’re serious, and let them know you know where their kids go to school (it shows how “organized” you are in their community). Good luck, or else.
Laura in Maryland on March 23, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Good to know.
sonofdy on March 23, 2009 at 1:24 PM
I prefer this movement myself.
flipflop on March 23, 2009 at 1:25 PM
oh please please please come to my front door .
Mojack420 on March 23, 2009 at 1:25 PM
You left out Ben Dover and his wife Eileen.
Patrick S on March 23, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Yeah, I thought so too. That was a quote from one of the organizers.
capitalist piglet on March 23, 2009 at 1:25 PM
This is the rebirth of the American Protection League under Woodrow Wilson.
pt on March 23, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Do the kids get double credit for this and “community service”? Dear God, what are these people’s rationality and incredulity? I get to teach them when they hit university, if they have the brains left. :P
esperpento on March 23, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Holy cow, I thought that was an Onion article quote.
Snowed In on March 23, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Intelligence on enemy intentions is always welcome.
I mean, good to know. ;-)
Remember what you swore to FIRST.
sonofdy on March 23, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Yeah…I don’t know anything about that source, but it looks like a newspaper. If anyone here is from Alabama, I hope they’ll let us know whether it’s legit or not. It’s pretty shocking.
capitalist piglet on March 23, 2009 at 1:29 PM
They’reObama pushingtheirhis Obamafetishagenda to fundamentally change America, not grassroots policy change. And that’s very, verycreepyfascist.FIFY Ed!
Obama Announces “Organizing for America”
Video Message
President-elect Barack Obama announced the formation of a new group known as “Organizing for America” that aims to continue the grassroots advocacy that the former Illinois Senator began in his presidential campaign.
“As President, I will need the help of all Americans to meet the challenges that lie ahead,” Obama said in a video message e-mailed to supporters (and reporters) this morning. “That’s why I’m asking people like you who fought for change during the campaign to continue fighting for change in your communities.”
The new group will be the flagship of “Obama 2.0″ as many people have taken to calling the transformation of the political organization created during the 2008 campaign.
The new group will work within the Democratic National Committee — led by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine — to advance the Obama agenda. “President-elect Obama has laid the foundation to meet the great challenges facing our nation, but we can succeed only if we build grassroots support for the administration’s agenda,” said Kaine in a release announcing the formation of Organizing for America.
The new group had been long expected within Obama’s inner circle and, although no details on how it would be staffed were released by the transition office today, it is expected that longtime Obama loyalists will be placed in charge — following the blueprint set out at the DNC.
It’s clear that Obama recognizes the power that his email list, which boasts more than 13 million names, represents in American politics and is working to ensure it stays within the control of a small group who are charged with protecting the Obama brand.
Texas Gal on March 23, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Any of these ass-wipes show up on my doorstep, they’ll be meeting the zap-end of my 500,000 volt Sabre stun gun. (20 times more powerful than what the police use. And, ci, it’s legal.)
I can’t wait. I’ve been aching to use this thing and see how well it works.
ErinF on March 23, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Adds more meaning to the idea of a national census……
administered by ACORN.
Skandia Recluse on March 23, 2009 at 1:30 PM
These are people who retaliated against contributors to Proposition 8 in California by creating a google map of all donors.
For informational purposes.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Gwen.
Gwen who?
Gwenna write down your address if you don’t fork over some cash money for hope and change.
jeff_from_mpls on March 23, 2009 at 1:31 PM
This encounter sums it up.
Classic!
Christien on March 23, 2009 at 1:31 PM
“We’re looking for supporters,” said DeHaven of Hoover, one of the event’s organizers. “We’re not looking for a fight. That will come later, when we have an army.”
LOL
This will be fun. Just to make it even for you idiots I won’t use anything I learned in Nam.
LOL
Old Hippie Vet on March 23, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Reminds me of the German Officer Corps forced to take a loyalty oath to Hitler as opposed to a loyalty oath to the nation.
Scary. Exit questions: If you do swear an oath to the Obamassiah, do you get a free Brown Shirt? Maybe an “O” arm band? Do they have a ‘secret handshake or salute’?
GarandFan on March 23, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Obama, Obama,
Uber alles
Uber alles
in dem Welt.
rbj on March 23, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Try this one, but make sure clear a path first: “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?”
Unless you have door-to-door evangelists, then try “I’ll be right with you after we sacrifice the goat.”
Laura in Maryland on March 23, 2009 at 1:32 PM
The Brownshirt comparisons are creepy enough, but this reminded me of another bunch of zombies I experienced back in the 1970s. It took me awhile to remember, but finally it dawned on me what this reminds me of.
Even though he never won the office, perennial Presidential candidate Lyndon Larouche (remember him?!) had a similar army of supporters. Scary, all of them.
Del Dolemonte on March 23, 2009 at 1:33 PM
I have some copies of “Awake” and “Watchtower” to hand to them in the highly unlikely event they show up on my doorstep. I make a point of listening to the JW’s and LDS’s that show up at my door, so I can give as good as I receive ;) I’ll see if they’re interested in a quid pro quo.
Or maybe I’ll give them a look at my new conversation ender. Depends, I guess, on my mood at the time.
mr.blacksheep on March 23, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I will be polite and cordial and would expect the same in return. If, after I refuse to support there initiative they do not vacate my property immediatly they will deal with my families “four legged” security devise – our 80lb fully trained Belgian Mali who really doesn’t like people “messing” with the family.
EagleClaw on March 23, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I’ll just whip out my own clipboard and demand to know their name and address before I sign their petition.
When they ask what for, I’ll give them a knowing look and say in my lowest and most ominous voice, “So we know where to find you when the time comes.”
Then I’ll back up very slowly into the house and ease the door shut.
Bishop on March 23, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Oddly enough I think he’s wearing a brown shirt (unless that’s a really bad green)
- The Cat
MirCat on March 23, 2009 at 1:36 PM
I googled Chris DeHaven and got his facebook site. He’s a fat, bearded lump of a ‘person’. Not sure what fight he’s referring to, unless it’s a fight at the donut shop.
AubieJon on March 23, 2009 at 1:37 PM
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