Friends,
My article in The Nation today, "The History of Hope," examines the controversy over Barack Obama's emphasis on "hope." The Clinton campaign says Obama is peddling "false hopes," is more about "words" than action, and doesn't understand how to bring about change. Obama counters that his years as an organizer taught him that change only comes about through a combination of hope and struggle, and he uses examples from the history of grassroots movements to make his point.
An article I wrote for American Prospect a few weeks ago (with Kelly Candaele), "The Year of the Organizer," examines Obama's background as an organizer and how he's incorporated the culture and strategies of community organizer into his campaign, symbolized by the frequent use of the phrase "Si Se Puede/Yes We Can," the slogan of the United Farm Workers movement, at Obama rallies.
Thanks.
Peter Dreier
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