The Experience Question

Any time the Democratic Party attacks Palin for “lack of experience,” the McCain camp is quick to rebut with the point that Obama has even less experience than the female VP candidate.

Let’s discuss the experience question and who can claim more political chops…Palin or Obama?

Sarah Palin’s Political Career- Summary

Palin got into politics after joining the PTA, then getting elected to city council in 1992. She became mayor of her town in 1996, defeating a 3-term incumbent at only 32 years of age. She subsequently won a second term as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and then from 2003 to 2004 served as the chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

In December 2006, Palin was elected as the first female governor of America’s largest state. During her governance thus far, she has overseen the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and the construction of a $40 billion natural gas pipeline. In addition, she returned over $1000 to each Alaskan citizen from windfall state oil revenues despite opposition from the big oil companies. Her politics are ridden with economic reform and lessening government spending. She is responsible for the state’s budget and approving/disapproving legislation.

Most of her political career has been focused on energy and economic/tax reform.

More info.


Barack Obama’s Political Career- Summary

After graduating from Harvard Law and working as an attorney and community organizer in Chicago, Obama was elected to Illinois senate in 1996. In 2000, he ran for congress and lost to Rep. Bobby Rush. From 2003-2004 Obama served as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee then ran for a seat in the US Senate. He was elected with 70% of the vote and gave the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Just a couple years later, Obama announced that he was considering running for President. As we all know, he became the Democratic nominee for President over Hillary Clinton and later selected Senator Joe Biden of Delaware for his running mate.  Republicans have criticized Obama's experience, which wanes in comparison to McCain's political career, but in all fairness, McCain has many many years on the Democratic candidate.

See a more complete timeline of Obama’s political career here.

Comparison

Obama chose Biden as his running mate for his years of political experience and involvement in foreign affairs. McCain chose Palin as his VP for her knowledge of energy issues and her “Washington outsider” vibe as a mother of five and the first female Alaskan governor. In debating experience, we cannot forget that it’s the top of the ticket that matters. No one can argue that Obama has more experience than McCain. Obama’s pick of Joe Biden to make up for his perceived lack of experience in politics and foreign affairs was smart, but doesn’t ameliorate his inexperience—and it is Obama who is running for President. Sarah Palin is not. Even so, she has more executive experience than the Democratic Presidential nominee, indisputably. In the beginning of their political careers, Palin trumps Obama as the mayor of a town in Alaska compared to a community organizer.  Furthermore, she has pushed for more reform in her career, even though both Palin and Obama began in politics around the same time. Palin also has a stronger resume in the area of bipartisan efforts and crossing the aisle for reform. For example, in 2004, Palin joined a Democratic representative in an ethics complaint concerning an international trade deal against the Republican Attorney General of the time. Her involvement and efforts led to his resignation.  Learn more about this by clicking here. 

Conclusion

Palin and Obama are hard to compare in terms of experience because their careers have both been unconventional and unique. Palin, still, wins over Obama in terms of executive experience. Also, Obama’s seat at the top of his party’s ticket should invite more scrutiny and heat over lack of experience, and a good VP pick does not make up for the Presidential nominee’s short political career. Yes, the VP is a “heartbeat away” from the Presidency, and Palin’s experience with energy issues and economic reform should allow Americans to rest easy in knowing she could be President if necessary. Even so, McCain is the Republican nominee for President and Palin, his running mate.  People might want to worry, though, about if Obama is elected President.  Joe Biden will not be the one in the Oval Office.  Is someone who has never served in the military suitable to be our Commander and Chief in a time of war? Just one of my concerns.  Food for thought...