Senator Clinton has routinely claimed the mantle of experience, arguing that her experience in the White House makes her "ready to lead on day one" and the candidate who is most qualified to answer the "red phone" at 3 am. Among the questions the media has failed to ask, let alone explore, is what specific experiences support Senator Clinton's purported strengths on national security, foreign policy and domestic issues. No one disputes that her service on the Armed Services Committee is relevant. However, does she otherwise have any more "Presidential" experience than Laura Bush? Compare their resumes (click read more for the text versions).
LAURA BUSH
EDUCATION
BA, Southern Methodist
MA, University of Texas at Austin
YEARS IN WHITE HOUSE: 8
Formerly First Lady of Texas
DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE
- Married to Commander in Chief during 2 Wars: Afghanistan and Iraq
- Represented U.S. in Afghanistan, meeting with President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan to promote equal rights for women
- First spouse of a President to deliver President's weekly radio address, using the opportunity to highlight the suffering of women under Taliban rule.
DOMESTIC POLICY EXPERIENCE
- Led President's "Helping America's Youth initiative"
- Convened and presided over White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development
- Partner with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in publicizing The Heart Truth: that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in America. Mrs. Bush educates women about their risks and emphasizes the importance of healthy lifestyles and screenings.
- Co-founder of Preserve America, a national initiative to protect our cultural and natural heritage
- Got George W. Bush sober.
| HILLARY CLINTON
EDUCATION
BA, Wellesley College
JD, Yale
YEARS IN WHITE HOUSE: 8
Formerly First Lady of Arkansas
DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE
- Married to Commander in Chief during Kosovo conflict
- Made a speech about women's rights before the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China
DOMESTIC CREDENTIALS
- Chaired President's Task Force on Health Care Reform, but failed to achieve Health Care Reform. Helped to win passage of State Children's Health Insurance Program.
- Wrote a weekly newspaper column entitled "Talking It Over" to discuss her experiences as First Lady and her thoughts on women, children, and families she has met around the world
- Served on organizations concerned with children's welfare and on the board of Wal-Mart and several other corporate boards.
Sources: whitehouse.gov, wikipedia |