The Experience Paradox

Jeff Greenfield: Common Campaign Debate Over Experience Takes On A Bizarre Twist This Year

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield.

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"The worst news for Mr. Nixon," John Kennedy told the Al Smith dinner back in 1960, "is that the Yankees fired Casey Stengel. It shows that experience doesn't count."

The quip, a play on the Nixon campaign slogan "Experience Counts", also shows that the issue is a hardy perennial in American politics. This year, it's taken on a bizarre twist, because the respective campaigns are offering arguments that can be used with equal force against themselves. If Joe Biden's 35 years in the Senate prove he is not an agent of change, as Sarah Palin argues, then what about John McCain's 26 years in Congress? If Palin's years as mayor of Wassila are the political equivalent of small beer, what about Barack Obama's years in the Illinois State Senate?

Beyond the "so's your old man" aspect of this back-and-forth -- no offense to John McCain intended -- this debate has revealed something remarkable about the "experience" issue: it's much more likely to matter in a vice presidential choice than in a presidential choice.

It is the unique nature of American politics that someone far beyond the nation's capital, someone with no experience in matters of national statecraft, can win a party's nomination for chief executive; indeed, it's something our European cousins find inexplicable. How can a peanut farmer from Georgia oust an incumbent president; how can an actor from Hollywood oust an incumbent president? How can a governor from Dogpatch -- okay, Arkansas -- oust an incumbent president? How can a Texas governor who couldn't find Pakistan on a map defeat (more or less) an incumbent vice-president with a quarter-century of Washington experience?

Americans don't find it all that puzzling: it's the historical antipathy to "Washington insiders"; the nominating process that long ago took the power away from political professionals and put it in the hands of primary voters; the capacity of the media to transform an unknown into a hot commodity in a flash (See "Obama, Palin, Convention speeches of..."). Within this process, however, lies a curious historical fact: the more voters have turned to outsiders as their presidential choices, the more these nominees have insisted on insider experience when choosing a running mate.

Consider recent history: from 1960 onward, we've had five nominees who came from beyond the Capital: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. In every case, these nominees chose running mates who were consummate Washington insiders: Carter chose Sen. Walter Mondale; Reagan picked Bush the First; Dukakis chose Sen. Lloyd Bentsen; Clinton picked Sen. Al Gore; and Bush the Second chose former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney. In fact, all of these selections were chosen because the Presidential nominees felt they had to balance their "outsiderness" with partners of unquestionable "insider" pedigree.

By contrast, only two vice-presidential nominees have not fit the "experienced insider" model. In 1968, Richard Nixon chose first-term Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew; and in 1984, Walter Mondale picked third-term Rep. Geraldine Ferraro. In both cases, the presidential nominees could argue that they were so clearly "experienced" that they did not need that quality in a running mate. And in both cases, the choices backfired: Agnew's foot-in-mouth disease resulted in the Democrats' airing an ad that featured a disembodied voice laughing hysterically at the idea of an Agnew presidency; the dicey real-estate connections of Ferraro's husband got Ferraro's historic-first nomination off to a wobbly start. (McCain's choice of first term Alaska Gov. Palin looks like a political winner, but we're not going to know this until she steps outside of the protective cocoon the McCain campaign has now erected for her)

Now take a step back from the history and ask yourself: does it make sense that presidential nominees demand more experience from their running-mates than voters demand of the presidential nominees? In a word, yes. In our long-distance campaigns, voters have months, even a couple of years, to assess the claims of the candidates. The press, the other candidates and the numberless voices across the Web, have time to examine every aspect of a candidate, from biography to friends and associates to public policy arguments. No matter how much a candidate lacks in traditional "experience", he or she will have had to come to grips with just about all the significant--and many insignificant--issues that a potential president might face.

In this sense, Rudy Giuliani's sarcastic reference to Barack Obama's "300 national security advisors" was revealing: Obama has indeed created something like his own national security apparatus within his campaign, just as George W. Bush turned to the Hoover Institute and George Schultz when preparing his own presidential run back in 2000.

This is also why, at a post-2004 gathering among operatives and the press, a top Bush campaign aide said the candidate they most feared was John Edwards. His less-than-one-Senate-term experience would not have been disabling the aide said, because the very fact of securing a major-party nomination gave that nominee credibility.

That does not apply to the vice-presidential selection process. Choosing a relative unknown means the public has to rely on the presidential nominee's standards and judgment; and that reliance is a lot easier to come by if the choice is someone the public can plausibly see as a potential president.

In choosing Sarah Palin, John McCain appears to have made the same calculation as Nixon did in 1968, and as Mondale did in 1984: "my credentials on the national stage are so clear that I can afford to pick someone the public doesn't know."

As a political calculation, that may work. The problem will come when and if voters cease to see McCain-Palin as a team, and ask themselves if they are comfortable with the idea of Palin as a potential commander-in-chief; a role five vice-presidents in the last century had to assume suddenly. If that question moves front and center, voters may decide, Casey Stengel to the contrary, that experience does count.

[dnsallday]

look, Mccain was running on experience as the only thing that matters. Only problem was he is washed up and people weren''t buying it, they wanted change from the Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain establishment.

So now Mccain sticks an unqualified ratical on his ticket and wants us to believe his campaign is a Change campaign.

Only problem is McCain is a washed up, has been who was drawing 500 people at his campaign stops, now Sarah Palin is bringing in 10,000 people at the events.

What people have to decide now is whether they want to vote for Sarah Palin as the leader of our country.

[gun_tower]

Yes, by all means, let''s emphasize the personal over policies!

I''d rather talk about my baby, or my war record than....EARMARKS!

Or this:

The federal budget deficit will jump by $246 billion to $407 billion this year, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Last year, the budget deficit was $161 billion. The agency attributes the jump to "a substantial increase in spending and a halt in the growth of tax revenues."

A gift from McBush to us.

CHANGE IS COMING.

Yeah.

You bet.

Riding in on the "Porkchop Express."

[homespunlady]

NEOCONS - the Party of "LOYALTY OATHS" to their "DECIDER OVER COUNTRY".

That young lady that testified in the Attorney FIRINGS ADMITTED that she swore loyalty to her "decider" OVER her country in her TESTIMONY.

Palin ALSO demanded a "loyalty oath" equivalent from HER underlings.

Thus you NOW GET EXCUSES for the INEXCUSABLE from those that believe in loyalty to PALIN OVER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS and the good of their STATE!!!

Sort of REMINDS me of a "gang mentality" where "loyalty" overrides even the basics in legality and decency.

[sean5002]

############

BIOGRAPHY OVER ISSUES ... that LINE is SOO INSANE why can''''t some americans see that , THATS like HIRING SOMEONE TO RUN MY FORTUNE 500 COMPANY , BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE BOY SCOUTS AND WENT TO VIETNAM.

ITS INSANE , WHY DO PEOPLE GO AND VOTE IS BECAUSE OF WHO WILL FIX THE ISSUES AND PRESSING PROBLEMS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE , EDUCATION , HELP THOSE GET JOBS , THE ENVIRONMENT , AND WHO WILL IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING NEW ROADS AND BRIDEES GOING INTO THE 21ST CENTURY , BARACK PLATFORM OF ISSUES WILL DO ALL THAT ,

ZERO POLICIES FROM MCCAIN BECAUSE HE IS USING THE SAME OLD POLICIES DATING BACK 20 YEARS THAT HAVE FAILED.

THIS ELECTION IS TURNING OUT TO BE ONE BIG JOKE , IS LOGIC TOUGH FOR SOME AMERICANS TO SEE.

[eggy1620]

Homespunlady hit the nail on the head. A McCain Palin administration would be run no different from the Bush Cheney administration. Like having the Sopranos in office.

[liberalme]

They yelling is not impressive ( caps?) and the fact that it is Obama, folks, that is like BUSH, ( lies, promises, taxes etc) Bush is not McCain, please get that straight or you really are in deep doo-doo.

Posted by Robert6781 at 01:53 PM : Sep 09, 2008

Well, unlike you---we liberals do have other media sources than that of Faux news, Lintball and Hannity.

We pretty much know the reason McCain is more willing to talk biography over issues is because his issues "mirror" Bushs!

We also are pretty sure Ms Palin isn''t up on many national/international issues---thus lets keep talking about McCains POW days.
That''s getting pretty old and desperate.

We''ll see who''s in "deep dodo"

[armydog2]

ptsd mccain and sara the baracuda. just what our Country does not need!

[actornaught]

Posted by Robert6781 at 01:53 PM : Sep 09, 2008

So how much do we spend on earmarks vs. budget deficit?

[hungryman9]

This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan, Taliban Minister of
Migration Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military
actions against Iraq continues, Taliban authorities will cut off
America''s supply of Convenience Store Managers and possibly candidates
for President of the United States. And if this action does not yield
sufficient results, Cab Drivers will be next, followed by DELL and AOL
Customer Service Reps; and then Motel 6 Managers.

It''s gonna get ugly!!!

[liberalme]

(Apologies to that guy from Ohio who wrote %u201CDixie.%u201D)


Posted by Gun_Tower at 02:14 PM : Sep 09, 2008

NICE going!!!!

Now who can you get so sing it?

[realpatriot1]

robert6781,

You need to get your head out of Limbaugh''s *** and check your facts!

Trinity United is not a "black liberation theology" church, whatever you think that is. It''s a memebr of the United Church of Christ which stands out prominently among mainline Christian denominations in efforts at bringing divergent Christian denominations and Jews together in a common dialouge. That''s why over 25 separate Rabbinical organizations have been early and active defenders of Obama and his faith against the smears of cretons like you!

He has condemned airs...do you not understand the meaning of the term despicable acts? That''s how Obama has described the acts of his neighbor that took place when Obama was 6 years old.

Just because someone doesn''t constantly lose his temper, call U.S. Senatos MFers, his wife a C, push elderly women in wheelchairs out of his way, and make jokes about bombing another country doesn''t mean he doesn''t care.

It means he''s a steady hand on the wheel when we need it most.

[liberalme]

Experiance does matter- And Obama does not have what it takes to lead this country. Period. It is becoming more and more evident for those who doubted and more and more clear that it is a joke he has got to this point
Posted by robert6781 at 02:16 PM : Sep 09, 2008


Please tell me who the "Keating 5" were.

So lets say McCain was one of the Keating 5--is that the same or worse than "associating" with someone?

[sleepyric]

I may have voted for MCCain and someone experienced. I will not vote for McCain and a JesusNut. Separation of church and state works, or did work until it was clouded by bush...oh, that''s right he signed off to eliminate that policy on a waiver...

[rosieod4prez]

realpatriot1 - is that why the Rev Wright refused to debate Hannity on Hannity''s show, when Rev Wright said first Hannity has to know about Mr Cone''s books and "black liberation theology" ?

Take the plank out of your eye before looking at the spec in robert6781.

[amrt5016]

''The problem will come when and if voters cease to see McCain-Palin as a team, and ask themselves if they are comfortable with the idea of Palin as a potential commander-in-chief; a role five vice-presidents in the last century had to assume suddenly. If that question moves front and center, voters may decide, Casey Stengel to the contrary, that experience does count.''

The question is relevant because of McCain''s age. But, who knows, the Christian conservatives only care they have one of their own in the White House. That''s more important than experience obviously. God is the source of all wisdom and will be guiding with His infallible hand.

[realpatriot1]

RosieOD4,

There''s no plank in my eye. Hannity wanted to debate a book and Wright was asking him to read it before arguing about it.

That may be the only reasonable thing I''ve heard from Rev. Wright.

What does Cone''s book have to do with the Church? It may have something to do with Wright''s own opinion but he''s just one of many Preachers at that Church and there''s no official doctrine related to those theories.

You should probably take your own advice not jump to negative conclusions about people based upon limited evidence combined with prejudicial stereotypes and hate.

Of course, it''s much easier to set the bar for others.

[rosieod4prez]

liberalme - Since you insist on bringing up the keating 5, a topic from 17 years ago when McCain had very little experience in politics (only 9 years - Note Obama would have only 6 years to catch up to McCain''s then 9), let''s continue to discuss the topic.


Of the 5, 4 were Democrats.

Of the 5, 3 were found guilty, all Democrates.

The other two were found to have exercises "poor judgement".


Poor Judgement!






Would that be like insisting you didn''t learn about the Koran in grade school, when you did ?


Or how about remaining friends with Rev Wright after hearing about "GD America" ?


What about maintaining friendships with SDS Weathermen that self-confessed to bombing the Pentagon and Capitol ?


Or what about ipso facto accepting property from people like Ratso Rezco ?


What about insisting the Selma March was the reason you were born - even though Obama was born 3 years before it took place - poor judgement ?


Or insisting that President JFK had Obama Senior brought over to attend school... Note JFK wasn''t in office until Obama senior was already in the US, by about 2 years.


So cut the crapola about "poor judgement", you and the rest of Obama''s supporters seem to be exhibiting enough of it yourselves.

[obamaslady]

As an elderly American, I will never understand how so many STUPID Americans have voted for incompetent people to lead us, but I do see where they have led us and it is not a pretty picture. Our country has been damaged in so many respects and to think that possibly, once again, we will end up with more incompetents to lead us into more damage and destruction both at home and abroad. How can Americans continue to be so self-destructive when voting for a POTUS? It is beyond comprehension! These elected officials are supposed to be leaders who have the ablility to govern; NOT FRIENDS OR DRINKING BUDDIES. They should be intelligent and have good judgment since there is absolutely no experience for the job of POTUS! God knows Americans need to get smart and realize that we require ''leaders'' not self-proclaimed ''mavericks'' and McShame/Palin do not qualify. [Being a POW does NOT qualify one to be POTUS.]

[taxguydave]

I find it interesting that all conservatives can say about fiscal discipline is that they are going to eliminate "earmarks and wasteful spending". That ain''t gonna cut it folks!

"Earmarks", in any given year, add up to $10-$40 billion/yr. Social spending (that evil welfare and stuff) add up to less than $70 billion/yr. Current year budget deficit is over $400 billion.

So, how are you going to take care of the other $300 billion? For the past 8 years, the Republicans have been making up the difference by borrowing money. $10 trillion plus--more than double what it was when Clinton left office (it decreased during the Clinton years.

All of this debt devalues the dollar, and is a big part of why gasoline went from $2 to $4/gallon. The situation can''t hold.

So, Republicans and "independent conservatives"--exactly how do you propose to dig us out of this hole? None of your politicians seem to offer any realistic plan.

Here''s where you can get the facts and figures:

www.cbo.gov

www.treasury.gov

[alohaone1]

yeah , I know it sounds strange , but I think characters trumph issues anytime , why , because the issues themselves change and the ways you approach them change and you abilities to do something about them change , for example , health care , good , it sounds nice , but look at the Clinton''s administration , they tried and failed . A lot of time , you have to take what the situation gives to you and works with that . And as everyone knows , you DO NOT what you want in life all the time . So , just be general on issues , but you have to have the Characters and the Experiences and the Wisdom and the Records when confronting an issue . Yes , your specifics on an issue may sound good , but what good does it do if you are a crook . Yes , your promise sounds good and all , but hey , how are you going to have the ability to pull it off? Is there any thing in your past that can help assure us that you will be able to do it ? After all, even banks ask for collaterals when lending out money , so we just do not want to end up on the empty side . So , in this election , as long as the candidates know what the issues are and have a general idea on how to deal with them that''s enough . Haven''t the whole country known that we need to dig our oil up instead of sending our hard-earned money to the Arabs , but with the inert Pelosi and Reid up there in congress , how will that issue be resolved now???

[alohaone1]

If Barrack has had any weight with his nice rhetorics , he would not have to engage in a public fight with the VP of his opponent. The Fact is , Obama has neither plans nor records to back up his rhetorics and I don''t blame him for that , most presidents do not and a majority of them can not do what they promise anyway once they got elected , so , it comes down to trust and experience and past records to bet if a guy can actually does what he promises he would . In that case , with Mc cain record of working across the ailes for more than 20 years , we are much better with him as president . After all , in a democracy , you have to be able to work with the other side if you want any thing done and Mc Cain has proven that more than enough . As far as his VP , I say the guy is not likely to die right after the election like the Obama''s camp seem to suspect that he would , so between Mc Cain ''s health and Obama''s hatred from the white supremacy , I say we should not be worry about Mc Cain that much , he is healthy and will be so in the next 10 years.

[realpatriot1]

alohaone,

Who stands the better chance of doing the right thing in office? The candidate who wants to do the right thing and spells it out accordingly or the one who advocates continuing to do all the wrong things?

This is an easy one for peole with brains.

[alohaone1]

As an elderly American, I will never understand how so many STUPID Americans have voted for incompetent people to lead us, but I do see where they have led us and it is not a pretty picture. [Being a POW does NOT qualify one to be POTUS.]


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Posted by ObamasLady at 02:53 PM : Sep 09, 2008

the fact that you do not undestand speaks in volume of your incompetence! For your info. Our incompetent leaders have keep us safe for more than 7 years , although hundreds of thousands of fanatics out there are literally DYING to hurt us . Our enemies are now living in caves whereas 10 years ago , any head of state would be very worry not to upset them in the slightest for that would mean bombs and suicide attacks upon their citizens . Now , we talk of Al-Qaida like something of the past , we do not fear them anymore . Also , the cost for war has been high BUT how does that compare with another of an attack the size of 9/11 our soil ??? NO , we rather lose money fighting and winning than lose money crying and whining ....Being a Pow does not qualify one to be the POTUS , it is what characters one reveals while being tortured as a POW that qualify one to be a leader of the freeworld , the POTUS.

[rowdyo]

alohaone,

Who stands the better chance of doing the right thing in office? The candidate who wants to do the right thing and spells it out accordingly or the one who advocates continuing to do all the wrong things?

This is an easy one for peole with brains.


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Posted by realpatriot1 at 03:21 PM : Sep 09, 2008
+ report abuse

The one who has the experience and knowledge to lead, and has been doing so for years.

Obama has NOTHING to draw on when a crisis occurs! He''s NEVER known one!

Not even to mention his Marxist ideology that he gets to re-distribute the wealth according to whom he thinks should have it...nor his ties to extremists and anti-Americans.

[hawksprings]

Oooo, these are good!
Read them again:


"Poor Judgement!



Would that be like insisting you didn''''t learn about the Koran in grade school, when you did ?


Or how about remaining friends with Rev Wright after hearing about "GD America" ?


What about maintaining friendships with SDS Weathermen that self-confessed to bombing the Pentagon and Capitol ?


Or what about ipso facto accepting property from people like Ratso Rezco ?


What about insisting the Selma March was the reason you were born - even though Obama was born 3 years before it took place - poor judgement ?


Or insisting that President JFK had Obama Senior brought over to attend school... Note JFK wasn''''t in office until Obama senior was already in the US, by about 2 years.


So cut the crapola about "poor judgement", you and the rest of Obama''''s supporters seem to be exhibiting enough of it yourselves.


Posted by RosieOD4Prez

[alohaone1]

alohaone,

Who stands the better chance of doing the right thing in office? The candidate who wants to do the right thing and spells it out accordingly or the one who advocates continuing to do all the wrong things?

This is an easy one for peole with brains.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by realpatriot1 at 03:21 PM : Sep 09, 2008

Where have you been??? Don''t you know that Mc Cain has opposed his party over and over again on: torture, immigration , tax cut (even Obama now says that in tough time , he rather leave the cut in place and they chatised Mc CAin for oppose it first and for it later ?), Troop levels in IraQ ( Mc cain was telling Bush about the Surge 2 years before Bush decided on it and it works brilliantly) ,campaign finance reform , abortion....It is Mc cain who got the praises from his Dem. pals and no one else! NOw how does Obama compares to that ??? Has Obama dared say things against Reid , Pelosi , DEan and the crooks who run the DNC???? Or did Obama think that the DEms is a PERPECT party that he should just follow whatever they diss out ? we all know the answer to that, don''t we?

[max_neiman]

It''s not the resume of Palin that really is the issue. It''s the wild swings in judgment. Lieberman one day and Palin the next. What''ve those two in common? It''s claiming that experience and readiness to be commander in chief to be the top criterion one day, and the next being happy to select Palin, with how much experience? It''s about McCain''s judgment. And by the way, we''ve heard a ton about Obama''s innocent involvement with the fellow being indicted in Illinois. How much have we heard recently from the media about McCain''s judgement with Charles Keating, and how many people were harmed by Keating? Obama is pressed on "The Surge" while McCain is not asked about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. And, apparently, not only was Obama wrong about the Surge, but so was virtually the entire military establishment, which also opposed it.
And, once and for all, is Palin bordering on a lie when she touts her opposition to "the bridge to nowhere," when, in fact she first supported it and then opposed it, although she also got to spend the money for that silly bridge. And, by the way, why no discussion about how 50% of Alaska''s state revenues come from oil related revenue, most of which is paid by us in the other 49 states?

[mmstar20]

All I know is that if Sen. Obama is the answer his supports claim he is, then why has he remained so close to Sen. McCain in the polls even BEFORE Gov. Palin came on the scene? Sen. Obama''s camp has a problem and it is NOT Gov. Palin.

[alohaone1]

You know , it is one of the strangest double standard I have ever seen . When Hillary speak of RFK and Obama , people jumping up and down and suggesting that she wished Obama ill when comparing RFK who got assasinated while campaigning and Obama . Okay , you are entitle to your opinion , but what about the left''s suggesting that Mc Cain drop dead after his election ? what about that non-sense . the Man is one year younger than Reagan when he won his second term , His mom is 93 years old , he just got a clean bill of health and with the medical technology of today , can a President of the US who is healthy be that much of a worry ? this is a spit in the face of the seniors and just one of the lies that coming from the left ! I would not worry one bit more about Mc Cain than I would about Obama !

[rowdyo]

The media has devoted two years to praising Mrs. Obama because she%u2019s married to Barry Obama, but what has she essentially done that makes her First Lady material? Michelle Obama has no track record as a lawyer fighting for the community; her reputation of service is based on what she and her husband have invented for the media.

Cindy McCain is the first in her family to graduate from college? Cindy McCain graduated from the University of Southern California, not an Ivy League college, and went on to teach special needs children in the state of Arizona. Her life story is outstanding and that of a role model: the mother of four selflessly aids victims of land mines, birth defects, genocide, starvation, deprivation, and disease.

[rowdyo]

1988: Mrs. McCain founded the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVNT) and led 55 medical aid missions into war-zones over a seven year period.

%u2022 1994: Mrs. McCain witnessed the Rwanda genocide first hand when her team risked their lives to help victims of gang rape, murder, hunger and disease. Mrs. McCain says she had to step over dead bodies to find those still alive.

%u2022 Mrs. McCain serves on the board of Operation Smile, a non-profit organization providing surgery to children born with cleft lips. 100,000 around the world children can smile because of Operation Smile.

[rowdyo]

Mrs. McCain is a member of the Halo Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing land-mines. Halo has removed 7,000 land mines in 10 countries around the world.

%u2022 Mrs. McCain volunteered for missions to Morocco, Vietnam, and India. On one trip to India 17 years ago, Mother Teresa handed Mrs. McCain a newborn child born with a cleft lip -- surgery was the only thing that could save the baby%u2019s life -- asking her to take the child to a hospital in the U.S. Mrs. McCain, who says she could not part with the baby when she reached the U.S., told Senator McCain: %u201Cmeet your new daughter.%u201D The beautiful young woman named Bridgette McCain stood beside her mother and siblings to introduce her father at the Republican National Convention.

[rowdyo]

In 2004, Mrs. McCain suffered a stroke from high blood pressure. Once fully recovered, she not only joined her husband%u2019s campaign, Mrs. McCain went back to being an aid worker, joining mission%u2019s teams around the world.

%u2022 She travels with the World Food Program: in 2008, Mrs. McCain joined WFP on a trip to Rwanda to deliver food and medicine to famine victims.

%u2022 2008: On the trip to Rwanda Mrs. McCain met a group called Women For Women International, an organization helping female survivors of war get educations, jobs, start businesses, receive counseling, rights, food, water, shelter, and medicine.

Mrs. Obama is accused of helping to shut down a Colorado pickle factory in 2005, causing 150 Hispanic workers to lose their jobs.

[rowdyo]

Mrs. McCain also works with Pour Un Sourire d%u2019 Enfant (For a Smile of a Child) providing support and education to abused children in third world counties where the basics are not available without the help of volunteers like Cindy McCain who are willing to hike through the most unpleasant situations to help others.

Mrs. McCain is not just another pretty wife of a politician in designer clothes: Cindy McCain doesn%u2019t just talk about lending a hand, she acts. Michelle Obama talks about bringing %u201Cchange,%u201D Cindy McCain has, in reality, gone out into the world and made a profound change in thousands of lives for the greater good of mankind.

The Republican Convention gave the world a look into the real life of the real Cindy McCain: she is the true definition of feminism. Between Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin women of America truly have two role models to look up to, admire, and aspire to be like.

[rowdyo]

All I know is that if Sen. Obama is the answer his supports claim he is, then why has he remained so close to Sen. McCain in the polls even BEFORE Gov. Palin came on the scene? Sen. Obama''''s camp has a problem and it is NOT Gov. Palin.


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Posted by mmstar20 at 03:43 PM : Sep 09, 2008

Exactly!

[hissteps4u]

It is so amazing that the American people can not see politics for what it is and to force change. They are so preoccupied on self interest keeping thier congresional team in place saying that longevity equals experience and best way to get federal dollars for their state or district exc..

Why they dont wake up and vote the Bums out is beyond me.

We are so fed up with washington Politics and the two party gridlock system it is apauling and abusive in all truth and so counter productive, Both major parties fighting for their paticular platforms or ideals when instead we as americans ought to be forceing them to do the right thing for America rather than allowing them to continue on their destructive and self serving ways.

Wouldnt Term Limits help solve this problem? I think so. Limit them to One term then out they go and bring in new Blood. I know that there are members of Both Major parties who agree with me.

How can we go about and create the enviroment of change and redirect their efforts to whats good for America regardless of which party makes the sudgestion or plan who cares as long as it is for the better good of all and not designed to give power to one over the other.

Real change is unblikely to happen and we will be forever slaves to a currupt system till we band together and change it.

The time is now!

[rowdyo]

Cindy McCain is the first in her family to graduate from college? Cindy McCain graduated from the University of Southern California, not an Ivy League college, and went on to teach special needs children in the state of Arizona. Her life story is outstanding and that of a role model: the mother of four selflessly aids victims of land mines, birth defects, genocide, starvation, deprivation, and disease.
Posted by RowdyO at 03:46 PM : Sep 09, 2008

This Dumb Repug is bringing up Cindy - Hasn''''t realised why she''''s being hidden by her husbands campaign ... LOL!


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Posted by parrots121 at 04:02 PM : Sep 09, 2008

Hidden where? Have you not seen the dozens of her interviews? Where have you been? On Obama.com.fulloflies?

[alohaone1]

You know , it is one of the strangest double standards I have ever seen . When Hillary speak of RFK and Obama , people jumping up and down and suggesting that she wished Obama ill when comparing RFK who got assasinated while campaigning and Obama . Okay , you are entitled to your opinion , but what about the left''''s suggesting that Mc Cain drop dead after his election ? what about that non-sense . the Man is one year younger than Reagan when he won his second term , His mom is 93 years old , he just got a clean bill of health and with the medical technology of today , can a President of the US who is healthy be that much of a worry ? this is a spit in the face of the seniors and just one of the lies that coming from the left ! I would not worry one bit more about Mc Cain than I would about Obama !

[actornaught]

Cindy will be the shadow president, ala Nancy Reagan, as John''s mind continues its decline, ala Ronnie. She does a good job keeping her mouth shut. Her poor speech at the RNC belies the old oil-moneyed background that she was born into, and that money could be the real puppet master at work.

[mr2258]

Sarah Palin would be a better president than Barack Obama.At least she is a true American.

[superdem]

Why are your trumpeting Cindy McCain''s work with landmine victims, when the American Military and the Republican Party will not make land mines illegal and will not sign any treaties not to use them ? Why are you trumpeting Cindy McCain''s adoption of a Bangladeshi baby when the Bush Team used that baby and American racism to defeat McCain in South Carolina ? Why do you trumpet her work in war zones, when her husband supports and perpetuates wars ? No one denies the good things Cindy McCain may have done, bless her for it, but why do you NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY - why do you USE her philanthropy to BENEFIT REPUBLICANS and BASH DEMOCRATS ? Cindy McCain is ridiculously wealthy, it would be a crime if she did NOT use some of her wealth to help this stinking world. But a paragon of virtue ? Better than Michelle Obama ? If she truly were, she''d have nothing to do with the causes of war, poverty, and disease, which can be traced right back to the Republican Party. She''d have sent John McCain packing as soon as she saw his wedding ring. Maybe her philanthropy is a sign of a guilty conscience.

[rowdyo]

Cindy will be the shadow president, ala Nancy Reagan, as John''''s mind continues its decline, ala Ronnie. She does a good job keeping her mouth shut. Her poor speech at the RNC belies the old oil-moneyed background that she was born into, and that money could be the real puppet master at work.


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Posted by actornaught at 04:21 PM : Sep 09, 2008

I seriously doubt that statement to be true at all...but Cindy McCain certainly has a good business head on her shoulders and lots of proven leadership abilities...plus Sarah Palin is there for back up!

NOT that I have any doubt whatsoever that McCain will falter one step. He hasn''t missed a step since 2007.

[actornaught]

"He hasn''''t missed a step since 2007."

THAT is rich. You''re just refusing to open your eyes. Addled John can''t even keep track of where he lives...

[clestes-2009]

I would effing hope so!

Sarah Palin is no more fit to be president than me. In fact less. At least I know the financial markets, including how Freddie and Fannie work or used to before yesterday, plus I have a really good grasp of foreign policy. I doubt she knows the difference between Sunni and Shiite.

[clestes-2009]

RowdyO,

what you been reading, boy?? Fossil John doesn''t even know how many houses he owns without checking with someone!

[paris1969]

"If that question moves front and center, voters may decide, Casey Stengel to the contrary, that experience does count."
............. in which case Palin would still be chosen over Obama because her experience as Governor trumps his overwhelming lack of action in the Senate seats he has occupied .. and his work as a community organizer.

Sarah Palin would be a better president than Barack Obama.At least she is a true American.

Posted by mr2258
------------------
Who made you the expert on what a "true American" is??

[gun_tower]

Both camps have been admirable in their efforts to minimize race and gender as issues.

Now...back to the real issues!

I''m tired of hearing about Palin''s baby.

I want to know what the two sides'' policies are.

Because here, clearly, Obama wins in a walk.

[rowdyo]

"He hasn''''''''t missed a step since 2007."

THAT is rich. You''''re just refusing to open your eyes. Addled John can''''t even keep track of where he lives...


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Posted by actornaught at 04:28 PM : Sep 09, 2008

Whatta crock! HIs wife owns several houses...he lives in a Condo in Washington...he doesn''t keep up with how many houses she owns or who lives in them, or what rent they pay to live in it.

wow. the current deficit, and the last deficit, both created by republican presidents. hasn''''t yet taken a republican to wipe the ars of another repub pres yet. but you point the finger as it fits your mantle. blaming ''''liberals'''' hasn''''t resulted in anything substantive, you can blame them for fixing the deficits of ruthless repub spenders, you can blame them for your ability to vote by age 18, you can blame them for making funds available for your stupid ars to go to college. you should, too!!!

Posted by smart4peace
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No bigger lie of the twentieth century than this republican "lower taxes" boilerplate they trot out every election. You can always depend on a republican to vow to "lower your taxes!".
And voters keep swallowing it. Amazing.
Where do they suppose the money came from to pay off the Raygun debt? Where will the money come from to pay off the idiot-sons debt? I doubt if it''ll be church collections. When a republican says he''s gonna "lower taxes", he means he''s gonna let your children pay off the debt.