How Much Experience Does the President Need?
Posted by Ted Hopton on January 20, 2008
Nicholas Kristoff makes an effective case in his NYT column, “Hillary, Barack, Experience,” that years of political experience, particularly in Washington, are not a good predictor of a successful president. He also points out that other kinds of experience may count as much or more:
The point is not that experience is pointless but that it needn’t be in politics to be useful. John McCain’s years as a P.O.W. gave him an understanding of torture and a moral authority to discuss it that no amount of Senate hearings ever could have conferred.In the same way, Mr. Obama’s years as an antipoverty organizer give him insights into one of our greatest challenges: how to end cycles of poverty. That front-line experience is one reason Mr. Obama not only favors government spending programs, like early-childhood education, but also cultural initiatives like promoting responsible fatherhood.
It continues to be an interesting political contest this presidential year. More drama yet to come, no doubt.
