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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Can we just say it? Hillary is a LIAR. I lost count of the lies on her Meet the Press interview. She reminds me of my ex-wife. She'll say anything to get what she wants.
I think I echo the sentiments of many Obama supporters when I say that I don't question that Hillary Clinton has experience (although experience is only valuable based on what you've done with it. Witness Rumsfeld and Cheney. Plenty of experience).
I believe the problem is with Clinton's double-standard when calculating her experience versus that of Obama. She includes non-elected positions, community work/activism etc. into the equation... yet does not account for this with Barack Obama.
I can see why she does this. Without the "experience" meme to differentiate her, she frankly doesn't have anything that would propel her beyond Obama.
If you take a look. I think its our responsibility to look up information before regurgitating candidate talking points mindlessly:
Their records are on Project Vote Smart
Obama: http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=9490
Clinton: http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=55463
Hillary was very active politically as a young 25 year old. Just her advocacy for children alone is impressive.
"I'm not just running on a promise of change, I'm running on 35 years of change."
Yeah. Look what the long-time wife of the first black president did for Katrina and the Ninth Ward. The UN today called Katrina sufferers evidence that it's a Third World country catastrophe down there. STILL.
More interesting than the length of her experience is the kind of experience. Did she ever consider working as a public defender, legal aid lawyer, assistant district attorney, community organizer? Anything that required putting herself on the line instead of at the board room table?
Hillary is the poster girl for capitalism.
If you like increasing prices of food, vote Hillary.
If you like the price of gasoline and heating oil, vote Hillary.
If you like the price of health insurance, vote Hillary.
If you value war over education, vote Hillary.
If you value media and corporate consolidation of our public airwaves, vote Hillary.
If you want pesticides in your food and cloned beef and milk, vote Hillary.
If you prefer lobbyist and corporate influence to grassroots citizen democracy, vote Hillary.
Sleep well America, let the dream continue.
I think Clinton is trying to say.."you know me", only its not coming out that way. She should really center her message around the fact that people do know her, they know her record, they know her values. They know what to expect from her, and this is not a deficit, this is a plus, even when change seems to be the theme, because change does not mean unfamiliar, it only means different. The change voters seeks is relative, as in contrast to the last 7 years, not necessarily our entire Democratic history. I really like Obama, and Clinton, and Edwards. I would feel very fortunate to have any of them leading this country, but I believe they all have an obligation to set a positive tone and elevate the standards of campaigning.
Thank you!!! It is about time someone said this outloud other than me!! I keep telling this to people but no one listens to me... finally maybe someone will listen, when you do the math it just doesn't add up! Her years of experience is just slightly more than Obama's, that is if you are living in real the world, using real math vs Clintonland...
What about her time as a Goldwater girl? If Goldwater had been elected in 1964, LBJ would not have signed the civil rights legislation. Goldwater was against it. So what about that Hillary. I know MLK needed LBJ's help, but he would have received no help from your choice for president in 1964. What about that Hillary?
The most qualified people have already dropped out of the race, Biden, Dodd, and Richards. If experience were the issue at all, these men woud not only still be in the race but would be in the lead.
Eight years of being first lady qualifies you to be first lady. When is the last time the world drafted a former first lady for president. It annoys when Clinton attempts to parlay those years as qualification.
Personally, I find the top three about equal in life, political and relevant experience. They are also all offering the same agenda.
What it boils down to is who do you think will be the most effective. That is a tougher choice and perhaps why there is so much contention among supporters to find a material difference.
Each has some unique appeal. Obama is clearly the best at inspiration. Clinton is probably tougher. Edwards has gone toe to toe with the exact forces that are destroying this country.
In terms of motivating Americans, Obama has the advantage. This translates into political advantage in the general election and for founding legislation thereafter.
At last. I have often wondered how Hillary computes "her" 35 years? I read the first 2 entries on the White House website (First Ladies) and found interesting information.
Mrs. Clinton began her "active role" in 1993.
Question: what does "active role" mean?
Based on my interpretative/evaluative skills, Hillary Clinton can claim "experience" from 1993 to 2008=15 years. How do 15 years equate to "VAST" experience?
Granted, Hillary Clinton was First Lady for 8 years. She traveled all over the world as a "goodwill ambassador" (according the the First Ladies' website), met lots of people, smiled politely and built an outstanding picture portfolio. BUT how does THAT translate into Hillary's having better qualifications for Day 1 in the White House?
I REMAIN confused.
Its Simple Math
35 years of experience - 45 minutes of RELEVANT Experience = 45 Minutes of Relevant Presidential Experience.
35 years of experience - O years of Executive Experience = 0 years of Executive Experience.
I am so pleased that someone is asking about the 35 years of change. Thank you. Considering the problems we (the US) are facing, what does Hillary have to show for her 35 years of making/being/thinking about change? Obama is REAL CHANGE...he is not a Bush or a Clinton.
Perhaps she was a waitress in a diner "working for change".
So, aside from being in the Senate, Laura Bush is equally qualified as wife of a governor and president? It's laughable, and she needs to be called on it.
As to change, sure, lobbyists will need to change who to make checks out to.
That's not the change I want.
I would be interested to see how the author would hold up in a one on one discussion with Clinton..
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