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.

Comments

[jsinclair]

She doesn't have 35 years of experience. And obama isn't a "kid". He's a man with a longer record as an elected official than hers.

Thank you for pointing this out. her unchecked "spinning" is annoying..­...

[jbstonesfan]

Hillary has forgotten more about politics than Obama ever knew. You far lefties will once again cost us the election by voting for freaks like Nader, Paul, and the novice Obama.

[dclobbyist]

Hey Ari --- When does the new season of Entourage start??

[Wordforge]

Not only are the 35 years of experience questionable, I fail to see the significance of Hillary's experience as first lady as having weight.
As much as to say, instead of my performing brain surgery, I'm sending in my wife to do the routine. She'll do just fine; I've been married to her since med school.

[standforpeace]

I think we have come to a point where politicians (and presidents) feel free to tell any lie -- even the most bold faced, obvious lies. And like most of the folks who post here, my first inclination is to blame it on the guy that lied us into Iraq. But I think the first step to demanding more from those who want to lead is to spread some blame around. Imagine how much differently we might have reacted to all of Bush's lies if Bill Clinton had come before the American people and said, "You know what, I did have sexual relations with that woman. I've already apologized to my family and to those who work for me doing the nation's business. Now I want to apologize to the American people. Because I'm not going to make things worse by lying. I know that the right wing is going to try to crucify me on this, but I refuse to lie to you because the most important thing that a President needs to do is to maintain an honest relationship with the citizenry.­"

I don't know what the personal result for Bill would have been if he had come clean right away, but I do believe that the months of lying to the American public about his sexual escapades and the way in which Democrats were forced to come to his defense and minimize not just what he did but all of the lies told afterwards created an environment in which Bush could lie, lie, and lie somemore about WMD, torture, warrantless wiretapping, rendition, etc. It's obvious that the next batch of candidates has learned the lesson that they can lie with impunity while they pursue the presidency. Maybe it's time for us to send a strong message that the last thing we want is another accomplished liar in the White House.

[wrabbitt]

With 35 years experience at working the system to her advantage we can no longer afford to think she is working towards our best interests. As president she would help big business, and the taxpayer will foot the bill. Just say no to Hillary,not now ,not ever.

[dutchlady]

And if politicians distort these important facts, what else do they distort? Actually, even though this is about/against Clinton, I know of no politician who tells the truth or doesn't distort the facts. So, this is news, isn't news, depending on how you feel about Clinton. Put in someone else's names and the distorted facts that they use to win whatever they are running for, and it is still "politicians lie/distort truth". Not really news, is it????????

[jbentley4]

I have been wondering how it is that the media and the conventional wisdom in general have bought into Hillary Clinton's claim that she's some sort of crack executive, technocrat-manager type who's mastered the bureacracy will solve all of our problems on "Day 1." As best I can tell, she has virtually no managerial or executive experience and the one major policy initiative that she undertook during Bill's Administration, revamping healthcare, totally went down in flames. In fact, it became a textbook example of how not to get a major policy initiative through Congress, and was widely credited with being a major factor in the massive congressional gains made by the GOP in the mid-1990s.

[Hume]

Poor Hillary's never to blame.
Her actions are merely the game.
Which is why she supported
Her man who cavorted
Giving his actions an entirely new name.

She uses King English as a tool,
to confuse, to amuse and to rule.
Pay attention, forsooth;
It's not about truth;
But we citizens in the role of the fool.

[TXRed]

This article is a needed summary, but it's way way way to brief and lacks detail. If Hillary gets the Democratic nomination, all of us will soon see a detailed, complete record of Hillary's "experience" as has most probably already been researched in depth by the Republican party. She will be blown away when confronted by the truth of her experience versus the vague myth she keeps touting. BRING 'em ON now, Hillary, show us a fully detailed resume that can be verified NOW, otherwise the Republicans will reveal it if she is the Democratic nominee.

[Dunollieman]

Obama is unelectable we all know it so why don,t we admit it, America is NOT going to elect a black president for the simple fact that more than 50% of voters are closet racists (it,s in their psyche) so let,s be real and vote for Hilary because she can beat anyone the repugs.nom­inate i.e. crazy Walnuts, Flip Flop,Crudy or Huckleberry she can beat all of them.It,s make or break time all you fence sitters out there, step up to the plate and vote for your party.

[Roxanna]

Thank You Ari Emanuel !!!
For Drawing attention to all of Hilary's so called experience.

Let's also call attention to her "Ineffectiveness" as a present day Senator. Where has she been in organizing the Senate to stop this "Waist less Break the Nation War" ?

[JerseyBred]

Great article. I'm gonna send this one around.

[wrabbitt]

The only change i see that Hillary makes is when she takes a dollar and, she gives back two cents. Change? who is she trying to convince of that? And sadly there is people who will vote for her just because shes female! Remember the "PROMISE" of Universal Health Care? When she took $800,000 to shut up is when she lost any chance of me voting for her.Monica had the presidents attention. Did she?

[Purple Girl]

Hillary reminds US how little has been done in the last 35 yrs.
If I were here I wouldn't mention that nor her senate record nor her set on the Armed Services committee.
HILLARY THE WRONG CANDIDATE REGARDLESS OF GENDER!