Friday
29Aug2008
Battle of the resumes
Friday, August 29, 2008 at 06:34PM The biographies and stories about Sarah Palin are beginning to pour in, and will continue for the next few weeks. Of everything I've read so far, Clinton sycophant (and Time columnist) Joe Klein has the most interesting piece.
His main thrust is that, in an odd way, Palin's relative inexperience sort of puts a spotlight on Obama's own shortcomings in that department. Klein proffers that a prolonged national discussion about Palin's resume will only invite closer inspection to Obama's thin CV, and it's not something the Obama camp is interested in having. If the election does become a debate over experience, one could argue that at least the Republicans got the ticket order correct.
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Reader Comments (8)
With you in respecting Joe Klein - and always appreciate interesting perspective from reading his column - but do you really think voters directly compare a presidential candidate's resume/experience in the same vein as a VP's? True - Obama lacks international (albeit a critical piece), but Palin can likely count on one hand her political trips outside of Alaska.
Obama has visited the floor of the Senate 140 times in 4 years. He's spent most of his time in the Senate running for President. Does that really count as experience?
He's a constitutional lawyer, community organizer, state legislator and a US senator, and he has run one of the most successful campaigns in history. He's the real deal and demonstrated that to 38 million Americans last Thursday. I think that's why McCain people have resorted to such a wildly reckless gamble.
But agree on the brilliance of the move as a PR tactic.
And she was a mayor, state cabinet member, and governor (as well as mother of five and businesswoman) ... would seem to be equally as (un)qualified as Obama. If her selection makes this a referendum on experience, maybe that's what McCain was aiming for ...
i still can't make sense of this selection. An article in Politico put the Palin pick as by far the most inexperienced pick of any vp selection in history. This isnt a brilliant pick, it is a desperation pick.
McCain has only met her ONCE, and that was six months ago. I mean, is she applying for a job at McDonalds? I know a VP's role is as much ceremonial as anything, but this is making a mockery of Executive Branch.
This is by no means a brilliant move. Although for the first time as I can remember, James Carville was actually at a loss for words on Larry King last night, and that has to count for something.
The two most experienced Veep selections in the past 50 years -- Lloyd Bensen and Ed Muskie -- both lost. The two most inexperienced -- Spiro Agnew and Dan Quayle -- won. I still think she has as much experice as obama, and her selection brings the issue to a head.
H
Her own state newspapers are questioning her fitness. MSM hasn't even started on her yet, given the holiday weekend. If McCain felt safe in winning or being close, he would have picked one of the obvious choices. Her selection tells me that he is grasping at straws, a hail-mary if you will.
I think Americans are too smart to fall for this. His supporters will always be there, but this move, in an effort to attract independants, women, hard-core right wingers, etc will not move the needle. In fact, it will backfire. Though grammar school PTA's around the country are flocking to her i am sure.