Prior to his entry into politics , President Barack Obama worked as an organizer for a Gamaliel Foundation FBCO organization in Chicago . Marshall Ganz , former lieutenant of César Chávez , adapted techniques from community organizing for Obama 's 2008 presidential election . At the 2008 Republican National Convention , former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani questioned Obama 's role as a community organizer , asking the crowd " What does a community organizer actually do ? " , and was answered with resounding applause . This was seconded by the Vice Presidential nominee , Alaska governor Sarah Palin , who stated that her experience as the mayor of Wasilla , Alaska was " sort of like being a community organizer , except that you have actual responsibilities . " In response , some progressives , such as Congressman Steve Cohen ( D-TN ) and liberal pundit Donna Brazile , started saying that " Jesus was a community organizer , Pontius Pilate was a governor " , a phrase produced on bumper stickers and elsewhere . Pontius Pilate was the Roman Prefect who ordered the execution of Jesus
2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
Community organizing