Larvatus Prodeo

[the quoted material below has been updated to include the comments from Pataki and Giuliani]

“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities.”
— Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, acceptance speech, September 3, 2008

“[Barack Obama] was a community organizer. What in God’s name is a community organizer? I don’t even know if that’s a job.”
— Former Governor George Pataki

“On the other hand, you have a resume from a gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community organizer. What? [Laughter]…I said, OK, OK, maybe this is the first problem on the resume.”
— Former NYC Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani

In response to expansions on this theme from several speakers at the RNC, Christy Hardin Smith on Firedoglake:

Cleaning up a local riverbed or a walking trail with your kid’s scout troop? Republicans think you’re a loser.

Working with a job training or literacy program to help folks move from welfare to work? Republicans think your efforts deserve ridicule. Promoting a spay and neuter program at your local animal shelter? Republicans are laughing at you. Volunteer at your church pantry to help the least of these? Republicans are mocking you.

Pam’s House Blend, BitchPhd (and again), Feministing, Making Light all have responses, but John Scalzi has found the pithiest comeback is already making the rounds of the web:

“Jesus was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a governor.”