Let me say, I know that my views about Hillary Clinton are distorted, despite my best attempts to listen to what the woman says, read what others write about her, and remember her actions. Moreover, I really feel that my value-added lies outside of discussing further today’s political situation given that we are being bombarded on television with every nuance of every statement, every debate and every primary. So, for a very long time, I will not write about this year’s upcoming election.
Given these caveats, I found today’s editorial about Ms. Clinton somewhat assuring, since they fit in with my own prejudices.
First of all, Mr. Kristoff points out that Abraham Lincoln, not a shabby president had less experience than Senator Obama.
Secondly, Kristoff points out that “the best experience comes from experience learned from lessons leaned from “those rooted in the real lives of real people” so that we bring real results if we have the courage to change. In essence, Mr. Kristoff is concerned that “inside the beltway experience” might not be the right experience to correct the many flaws that beleaguer our country. In a nutshell, Mr. Kristoff said “length of experience in national politics is a poor predictor of presidential success.
Thirdly, Mr. Kristoff points out that of the 19 presidents that have served since 1900, three of the greatest were among those with the fewest years in electoral politics—Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt. Mr. Kristoff points out that all these men had executive experience actually running something larger than a Senate office. Mr. Kristoff went on to say that three Republicans—Romney, Giuliani and Huckabee have more administrative experience than either Barack or Clinton.
Fourth, Mr. Kristoff does not dismiss experience; however, he feels that experience does not have to be confined to politics. Mr. Kristoff points out that Mr. Barack’s experience as an antipoverty organizer gave him insights into how to end cycles of poverty and his experience in Indonesia gave him a “crucial insight that we would not be greeted in Iraq with flowers.”
Fifth, Mr. Kristoff points out that Mr. Obama’s experience as an Illinois legislator should not be dismissed by Ms. Clinton. Mr. Obama made many outstanding contributions during his tenure in Illinois.
Sixth, Ms. Clinton’s strength is her mastery of the details in domestic and foreign policy. Mr. Barack’s experience is his vision and charisma and the possibility that his election would heal divisions at home and around the world.
MR. KRISTOFF SAYS THAT MS. CLINTON’S CLAIM OF 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE IS SPURIOUS. Also Mr. Kristoff pointed out that Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson had far more experience than either Ms. Clinton or Mr. Obama. However, it seems that in the minds of “the enlightened public they had too much experience.
Mr. Kristoff ended with the final blow against “political experience.” That is, the best qualified person in America today in Dick Cheney—heaven forbid if that mean-spirited man were to become president.
