Maybe. Maybe not. But there was an interesting discussion started in another diary yesterday that makes a good case for it, and it hinges on Obama being familiar with the writings and philosophy of another Chicago community organizer, Saul Alinsky.
I'd like to thank SethRightmer for making the connection here.
More on Saul Alinsky here.
Rules for Radicals
The most important thing to remember is that Alinsky was SUCCESSFUL. His philosophy and strategies WORKED. There is empirical evidence that they work.
Alinsky:
There's another reason for working inside the system. Dostoevski said that taking a new step is what people fear most. Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution. To bring on this reformation requires that the organizer work inside the system, among not only the middle class but the 40 per cent of American families – more than seventy million people – whose income range from $5,000 to $10,000 a year [in 1971]. They cannot be dismissed by labeling them blue collar or hard hat. They will not continue to be relatively passive and slightly challenging. If we fail to communicate with them, if we don't encourage them to form alliances with us, they will move to the right. Maybe they will anyway, but let's not let it happen by default.[2]
More on his theories on organizing:
For Alinsky, organizing is the process of highlighting whatever he believed to be wrong and convincing people they can actually do something about it. The two are linked. If people feel they don’t have the power to change a situation, they stop thinking about it.
According to Alinsky, the organizer — especially a paid organizer from outside — must first overcome suspicion and establish credibility. Next the organizer must begin the task of agitating: rubbing resentments, fanning hostilities, and searching out controversy. This is necessary to get people to participate. An organizer has to attack apathy and disturb the prevailing patterns of complacent community life where people have simply come to accept a situation. Alinsky would say, "The first step in community organization is community disorganization."
Through a process combining hope and resentment, the organizer tries to create a "mass army" that brings in as many recruits as possible from local organizations, churches, services groups, labor unions, corner gangs, and individuals.
According to Alinsky, the main job of the organizer is to bait an opponent into reacting. "The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength."[2]
Alinsky was a Chicago Community Organizer. Ya think Obama may be a tad familiar with his work? Alinsky employed a long term strategy and was successful at doing so. Isn't it possible that someone as accomplished, brilliant and talented as Obama, who is involved in the highest stakes possible situation might ALSO employ some long term strategic thinking, strategy and theory? Isn't it at least POSSIBLE? Yeah, yeah, 11th dimensional blah blah. But if someone involved in politics at the highest level possible ISN'T playing 11th dimensional chess, who is?
Nahhh. Can't be. It's more productive for us to promote the belief that he's feckless, naive neophyte who somehow got lucky and stumbled into being the first AA President.