Obama: What's funny about community work?

YORK, Pa., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama Thursday rebutted ridicule by top Republicans that his resume includes working as a community organizer in Chicago.

GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made light of the community organizer role in her acceptance speech Wednesday night.

"I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer except that you have actual responsibilities," Palin said.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani similarly ridiculed the idea in his speech earlier in the evening.

In York, Pa., Thursday, Obama used the criticism to suggest Republicans are out of touch with everyday people.

"Why would that kind of work be ridiculous?" he said. "Who are they fighting for?"

Obama said the GOP criticism did not surprise him, CBS News reported. He noted his GOP critics have not brought up his experience as a civil rights lawyer or constitutional law professor, but he said the ridicule was "not that big of a deal."

"I've been called worse on the basketball court," he said.