Thursday, June 05, 2008
Experience. If I read one more person claiming Obama isn’t experienced I will explode. That would be very unfortunate, since then I couldn't make an Angelfood Cake for Saturday's naked pool volleyball games.
Obama is 46-years-old (he'll be 47 by January 2008). Here's what he has accomplished during that time:
- undergraduate degree from Columbia University (1983)
- community organizer for poor Chicago neighborhoods (1983-1988)
- law degree from Harvard Law School (1991)
- civil rights lawyer and law school instructor (1991-1996)
- Illinois State Representative (1997-2005)
- US Senator (2005-present)
In addition, he grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia, exposing him to many cultures, and has written two best selling books.
How much political experience have some of our recent presidents had? How old were they when they became president?
- Jimmy Carter: 4 years state Senate, 4 years governor (52 years old)
- Ronald Reagan: 8 years governor (70 years old)
- Bill Clinton: 8 years as governor (46 years old)
- George Bush: 8 years governor (54 years old)
Obama has more years in political office than these four men (currently 11). Bill Clinton was 46 when he became president, younger than Obama will be if he becomes president.
Yes, other recent presidents have had more years political experience before coming into office:
-John Kennedy 13 (44 years old)
- Lyndon Johnson 12 (55 years old)
- Richard Nixon, 14 (56 years old)
- Gerald Ford 26 (61 years old)
- George H. W. Bush 24 (64 years old)
I note that Obama has surrounded himself with very bright and competent individuals. Their teamwork produced a remarkable primary campaign.
When I hear people stating Obama isn’t experienced I wonder exactly what they mean. Is it a code word for something else?
Newer› ‹Older
Obama is 46-years-old (he'll be 47 by January 2008). Here's what he has accomplished during that time:
- undergraduate degree from Columbia University (1983)
- community organizer for poor Chicago neighborhoods (1983-1988)
- law degree from Harvard Law School (1991)
- civil rights lawyer and law school instructor (1991-1996)
- Illinois State Representative (1997-2005)
- US Senator (2005-present)
In addition, he grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia, exposing him to many cultures, and has written two best selling books.
How much political experience have some of our recent presidents had? How old were they when they became president?
- Jimmy Carter: 4 years state Senate, 4 years governor (52 years old)
- Ronald Reagan: 8 years governor (70 years old)
- Bill Clinton: 8 years as governor (46 years old)
- George Bush: 8 years governor (54 years old)
Obama has more years in political office than these four men (currently 11). Bill Clinton was 46 when he became president, younger than Obama will be if he becomes president.
Yes, other recent presidents have had more years political experience before coming into office:
-John Kennedy 13 (44 years old)
- Lyndon Johnson 12 (55 years old)
- Richard Nixon, 14 (56 years old)
- Gerald Ford 26 (61 years old)
- George H. W. Bush 24 (64 years old)
I note that Obama has surrounded himself with very bright and competent individuals. Their teamwork produced a remarkable primary campaign.
When I hear people stating Obama isn’t experienced I wonder exactly what they mean. Is it a code word for something else?
