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The Curious Math of Hillary's "35 Years of Experience"
Hillary Clinton keeps talking about her 35 years of experience. "I am offering 35 years of experience making change," she said in New Hampshire. "I'm not just running on a promise of change, I'm running on 35 years of change." And she repeatedly mentioned the 35 years again in this week's debate in Las Vegas.
Well, Senator Clinton, I'm confused. I've done the math. You're 60, which means that 35 years ago you were 25. And I Googled your name, looking for all the change you were making as a 25 year old and, frankly, I'm not finding much. 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? Is that when you started your personal Working-for-Change-O-Meter?
That summer, the summer of 1972, you campaigned in Texas for George McGovern's unsuccessful presidential bid. A worthy -- if ultimately futile -- endeavor to be sure, but a notch on your Years of Change belt? Kind of a stretch, don't you think?
But 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, just filling in when someone called in sick. But leaving that aside, 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? And what about his time at Harvard Law (where he was the first black president in the history of the Harvard Law Review)? Doesn't count? But your time at Yale Law does? In the now immortal words of your husband: Give me a break.
I know you are good person who is devoted to public service. But that doesn't absolve you of the responsibility to not distort your record. And to not distort the record of your opponent.
Your 35 years talking point just doesn't add up.
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I'm basically an Obama supporter, but I'm also a Yale Law alum, so I wanted to point out that when Hillary was in law school, she did a bunch of work helping to defend Bobby Seale at the Black Panther trial in New Haven, which was a pretty big deal.
On the other hand, I also think that Obama's experience as a community organizer should count. It's kind of odd that we may praise the hard work of organizing "grassroots," but when it comes to assessing leadership experience, big media and "wise men" like David Broder seem to think that only glitzy executive posts count--regardless of how little actual effort they might require (EG the governorship of Texas).
puberty through menapause= 35 years of change.
REPUBLICAN Love to see Hillary rising up and get the Nomination.
The mudslinging war is waiting for the CLINTONS. There no such poll or any poll that would project that Mr. Clinton would be the first man in the house..... Hurrah.... This time he will have more free time to smoke Cuban cigars and inhale in downtown!
We don't have to go back to her early years during and just after law school to be astonished by her gall and mendacity. Hillary was unemployed for 8 years while First Lady. She only has a handful of years as a Senator. Before that she was a lawyer. I think what she is saying by years of experience is that she is "old."
Hillary's cynicism and temperament continue to remind me of Richard Nixon. Mark my words: if she makes it into the Oval Office, she will bring her spell-checked and collated Enemy's List with her. Hillary Clinton aka, The Manchurian Candidate.
A commentator hit the nail on the head today – he said the republican party is suffering due to division among the party, then added -- if you want to see the republican party unit again elect Hillary Clinton.
I'm not sure what Emanuel's agenda is in trashing Hillary -- and I'm sure he has one -- even though Hillary supports Emanuel's rabid commitment to NAFTA, and even though it's one of the prime things ruining our country's economy -- and Mexico's.
Nevertheless, in case no one else here has mentioned it... I wonder if Hillary's 6 or 8 years sitting on the board of Wal-Mart counts in her vast experience? Sure, she's had experience... but not as a progressive.
People continue to argue over Senator Obama’s experience but seem unwilling to question Senators Clinton’s claim of 32 years of experience. Frankly if one were to compare and chose a candidate on experience, why then are Biden, Dodd’s and Richardson out of this race?
In short here’s what I know about Senator’s Clintons experience: If you count 15 years as a corporate lawyer experience, then you must count Obama and Edwards time as lawyer’s. This "35 years of experience" also includes her three years as a law school professor; Obama was too in “Constitution Law”. Then there is that experience as a first lady. First Lady of Arkansas, then First Lady of the U.S.A. So, according to her biography 11 were spent being a First lady. As yes she traveled abroad and did good work as “First Lady” but she was not making crucial decisions that affect the world nor at home. She has had 7 years in the Senate, which in my opinion really is the only experience that should count. Let's not forget the first crucial decision she had to make (how to vote on the Iraq war) she got it wrong.
At least she didn't include the Goldwater years. That's a relief . . . sort of.
I for one would love for Hillary to put on her her site, or anywhere else - some details of her experience that covers 35 years.
That way Hillary's supporters could point to facts rather than chanting the mantra "35 years".
Hillary and her supporters might want to get that list out - because in the General - someone might just ask...
32 years is the combined time the Clinton's have in office.
Based on Hillary's experience I expect that HP will be hiring Melinda Gates to design a new operating system and Astrid Buffett will made CEO of CFC...?
When will Obama start to point out that Clinton's claim of 35 years is experience is bogus. The public has thus far bought the lie and considers her to be more experienced. She was the first lady of Arkansas and the US--her biggest efforts gave us the health care debacle and travelgate. Does anyone recall that they locked her down after these failed efforts? WE Dems. also must be wary of an October surprise involving Bill, a self confessed sexual compulsive. We know that such behaviors flare up during times of stress. Bill is showing signs of great stress already. Can we afford to roll the dice with Bill and his compulsive acting out behaviors? WE need a new voice!
Hillary thinks that people are dumb enought to believe her 8yrs as the presidents wife qualifies her to lead the free world ; however following this logic so is Mrs.Bush because she also has 8yrs experience as the wife of a president.Did Hillary turn into a plant during her 8yrs"experience"and retain all of this "experience"by osomsis?
The only political experince she has is by being elected as a carbagger senator from NY.
Once you accept the premise of the "shared" Presidency it opens the door to all sorts of claims.
Chelsea, circa 2024: "Both my parents were President and I was right there for all of it. They asked me a lot about what young people were thinking. I actually had a hand in some of the decision-making. I have a lot of experience and I'll be ready to go on day one!"
Noelle, circa 2032: "My grandpa and uncle and dad were all President and I was right there for all of it. I have a lot of experience and come from a Presidential family. It's royal blood, you know. I don't need to wait until day one--I can take over right now if you want me to!"
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Yep, takes your dollars and gives you back change.
At least it isn't a lie.
Yet another Hillary-bashing article on the Huffington Post. What a surprize!
I remember reading similar articles bashing Al Gore written by alleged liberals and progressives in 2000 because he supported NAFTA and voted for the first Iraq war. Thanks to those articles, we got Bush as President.
I remember reading articles bashing John Kerry by the same people in 2004 because he voted to authorized force in Iraq and because he went to Yale. And thanks them, we got four more year of Bush.
So thanks a lot Ari. If Hillary is the nominee you've helped to do the work of Rush, O'Reilly and the GOP. Good Job!
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