Today's DKos front page story "Clinton Leads Obama by 12 in California" mentions that
Clinton is perceived by voters as holding a big advantage over Obama as being the candidate with the right experience
This is presumably because Hillary talks ad nauseum about her "35 years of experience". I would like to know how she accounts for this.
Unfortunately, the Obama campaign has done nothing (at least nothing that I've seen) to counter this dubious claim, which appears to be at the heart of her argument for the nomination. But at The Huffington Post, Ari Emanuel takes a look at
The Curious Math of Hillary's "35 Years of Experience" and finds:
35 years ago you were 25... You were going to Yale Law School at the time -- which I'm sure was a personally transformative experience, but it's hardly the kind of change that should count on one's Presidential Training Experience resume, is it?
This 35 years would also, presumably include her years as First Lady. By that reckoning, should Laura Bush be able to run for office next year sighting her "8 years" of government experience?
Of course, in Hillary's case, this is supposed to be experience working for progressive change. I wonder how much of that she achieved as a corporate lawyer sitting on the Board of Walmart?
Emanuel also notes the flip side of Hillary's comparative claims:
As liberal as you are with your Experience Arithmetic, you are awfully stingy when it comes to the experience and background of Barack Obama.
"He was a part-time state senator for a few years," you recently said of Obama, "and then he came to the Senate and immediately started running for president," she said. "And that's his prerogative. That's his right. But I think it is important to compare and contrast our records."
For starters, the state senate in Illinois is not a full-time job, but you make it sound like he was some kind of political temp worker... [and] why is it that you get to count your time canvassing for McGovern as working for change, but Obama's time as a community organizer and public housing advocate aren't worthy of mention?
In fact, when it comes to experience getting things done in government, working for positive change, Obama runs rings around Clinton. His ability to craft and pass legislation -- getting groups initially vehemently opposed to a measure to sign on -- is legendary in Illinois: skills that will come directly in handy as President.
Now lets see... I know Hillary had a hand in crafting a piece of legislation before joining the Senate -- in fact, it's the one bit of her tenure as First Lady that actually DOES qualify as real "experience". Does anyone remember whether that effort (which began with wide public support) was a resounding success or not? [/super snark]
I have no idea why the Obama campaign hasn't hit back HARD on this ridiculous claim of Clinton's. Perhaps if this diary gets some support here (yes, I am whoring for recommends) someone there will take notice?
One can only hope. And I say that based on my 42 years of experience working for change (dating back to the first time my diaper was changed, of course).