Now Obama wants experience?
posted at 1:02 pm on August 29, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Since when did Barack Obama value experience so highly?
Barack Obama’s campaign is blasting John McCain for putting “the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency.”
The scathing description of Sarah Palin, from Obama spokesman Bill Burton, comes as Democrats scramble to gather a response to a selection that nobody in the political world expected.
“Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same,” added Burton.
What a desperate statement! Here’s Barack Obama on his massive foreign-policy credentials:
To counter opponents’ accusations that he lacks experience in foreign policy, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois often cites his ties to relatives in poor villages in Kenya and the years he spent growing up in Indonesia. Now he has added a new personal detail to that résumé: a trip to Pakistan while a college student.
Wow. So his mother took him to live in Indonesia when he was eight, and he took a trip in college. Meanwhile, Palin has governed a state surrounded by foreign nations. Which has the practical experience in foreign policy and diplomacy?
During the entire primary campaign, Obama kept telling voters that his judgment overruled his lack of experience. Now, suddenly, it doesn’t — but that puts Barack Obama at the same level as Sarah Palin, or even below, as Palin has the executive experience that Obama lacks. Moreover, Palin has spent her time in politics actually accomplishing reform and challenging the political machine in her own party. Did Obama do that?
And let’s not forget that Palin is running for the Vice Presidency. Obama, with his complete lack of the experience his campaign now suddenly believes is crucial for the job, wants to be President.
This is a foolish, bitter, and tone-deaf message. As one source close to the McCain campaign put it, “We already know what Barack Obama thinks about small town America. But the bitterness of the Obama campaign’s knee jerk attack says more about them than anything else.”
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BHO is experienced– he can Organize a Community like no othuh brutha!
leftnomore on August 29, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Obama doesn’t know what he’s up against in McCain-Palin. Go to http://www.gop.com and http://www.johnmccain.com and send them money! Do it now!
D0WNT0WN on August 29, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Someone called this eairlier here on Hotair, did not take them long to bite on the bait.
TroubledMonkey on August 29, 2008 at 1:05 PM
The Obama train is a slow motion wreck now. This is lovely.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 1:05 PM
So then…where’s that list of Palin’s foreign policy experience?
Dave Rywall on August 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Game over, man.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Bring. it. ON!
SWLiP on August 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
When I heard team Obama respond in this fashion, for a moment I thought that they could not seriously miss the absurdity of what they were saying. Then I realized, they did.
V15J on August 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
My wife is from Malaysia. I’ve visited there twice. Therefore, I have just about as much foreign policy experience as Barack HUSSEIN Obama.
tre on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
In their rush to begin attacking Palin, it seems team Obama is making a huge mistake.
Now, McCain won’t need to quote Hillary and Biden when talking about how important experience is. Instead, he can quote Obama’s own people about how important experience is.
This seems like a huge misstep on their part if you ask me.
JadeNYU on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Obama you are the head of the your party’s ticket you have no experience.
Chakra Hammer on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
There goes Obama bashing small-town America again.
dugan on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Palin is classy and has far more leadership experience than Obama……Besides Palin carries a gun and is a NRA member who can take care of herself and this nation.
azcop on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Where’s Barack’s? Oh. Oh. Wait. He did go to PakEEstahn when he was a youth.
You are a joke, Dave.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
About that trip to Pakistan…I’ve read he traveled on an Indonesian passport? Is that true?
flyfisher on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
For whom, Obama or McCain? Hmm, McCain DID go to a foreign country in his youth too… for 8 years.
leftnomore on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
The top of that ticket has that in spades. Ironically, Alaska is one of the very few states that have some attention necessary to foreign affairs.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Obama wants experience? Well BO, get ready to experience defeat!!
JohnnyD on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 PM
*SMACK* Barack is showing just what a hypocrite he is
Defector01 on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Governor Palin is fresh and green. But I really think the “experience” card has been overplayed by both sides. The presidency is largely a matter of delegating and PERSONALITY.
I don’t care that she’s green. I actually like it. My main problem is about as shallow as you can get.
Somebody please teach her to say “nuclear.” That’s all I got in the complaint dept.
The Race Card on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Let Obama raise the issue of experience all he likes. He can’t do it without implicitly reminding the voters of his own inexperience. And, unlike Palin, he’s the No. 1 on his ticket.
paul006 on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Oh yeah! That’s right, insult small towns some more, and conveniently forget she’s the Governor now.
This is gonna be great!
forest on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 PM
McCain needs to stop with the talking points and start telling stories… they’re horrible at driving the narratives… nail his present votes… nail his inability to cross the aisle… do it with sourced details and not just bumper sticker assertions
ninjapirate on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Hey, don’t forget, “I knew what Sunni and Shia was before I joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” he said.
Impressed yet?
Buy Danish on August 29, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Gov. Palin’s foreign policy resume is as long a Pres. Clinton’s when her ran for PRESIDENT.
SPCOlympics on August 29, 2008 at 1:09 PM
So, Obama wants to talk about experience…
evenfarer on August 29, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Barry is flailing. If that Indonesia experience was so important how come he never mentioned that in his speech. Sarah was awesome. Barry is in trouble and he knows it.
BrianBoru on August 29, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Russia, Canada.
It isn’t much, but it is way better than Obama’s vacation. And she can learn on the job, since she’s number 2. Obama doesn’t have the luxury, since he’s number one.
p40tiger on August 29, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Laughably stupid.
Obama, I’d much rather have someone nicknamed “Sarah Barracuda” handling foreign policy than a neophyte that thinks we can “talk” to mad men like Ahmadinajeed.
thirteen28 on August 29, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Fox News is already covering her basketball and hunting/fishing exploits.
Again, this is gonna be great!
forest on August 29, 2008 at 1:10 PM
a swing and a miss
EyesOpen on August 29, 2008 at 1:10 PM
……………. Obama who?
Seven Percent Solution on August 29, 2008 at 1:10 PM
I just want Obama or Biden to say this in the middle of a debate - please for the love of God lay that hanging slider in front of the Republicans
Defector01 on August 29, 2008 at 1:10 PM
How big is Hyde Park– 29,000 or so? Is that so big in the scheme of things?
MayBee on August 29, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Makes me like her even more!
evenfarer on August 29, 2008 at 1:11 PM
The best response to the B.O. campaign is this:
-
Senator Obama’s lack of executive and foreign policy experience does not change the fact that he too would have been an excellent choice as the Vice Presidential Nominee.
Mark30339 on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
No mention in her speech about the big o. I hope McCains convention keeps the theme, “the one who shall remain nameless”. I heard John McCain’s name more during the Dem Convention than I had for weeks prior.
a_sure_thing on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Where was the list for Bill Clinton’s foreign policy experience? And even more laughable, where is Obama’s list of foreign policy experience? And Palin is occupying the VP spot… remember? At least Palin has executive experience which Obama does not.
Maxx on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
game over man, game over.
trailortrash on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Obama and the democrats are in a state of shock. Like most of us they never saw this coming. McCain has stolen the momentum from Obama in a big way. Check all the major news websites. No Obama on the day after his nomination. Obama’s camp is already confused and reacting by opening up the “inexperince” card against Sarah Palin. This will only backfire on them. I see another McCain commercial in the works comparing Obama’s experience to hers. This election is wide open now. Mccain-Palin is on the move. This is going to be interesting.
kanda on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
The Palin choice puts someone inexperienced at the bottom of the ticket. The Obama ticket is just the opposite. And they’re complaining about it. That’s gall, baby!
Nethicus on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
With one humble decision - made for the people of the United States - McCain has secured the White House for the next 12-16 years.
Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Will the 9:00 show be different from the 7:00 show?
DaveC on August 29, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Which was likely part of the reason McCain made the pick. BO’s response highlights his own negatives… and the Dems are walking right into it.
Karl on August 29, 2008 at 1:13 PM
This is just rope-a-dope. Any body who pays attention to politics, nevermind the political junkies and talking heads, wouldn’t think it was a good idea to throw out the charge of inexperience from a campaign, including its political supporters, purposely go out their way to avoid any discussions of the inexperience of their candidate by any means necessary.
Quarterback fumble on Team Obama. Team McCain just got possession of the ball.
Weebork on August 29, 2008 at 1:13 PM
I’ve visited Italy and gone on trips to Canada and Israel for work (probably going back in a couple of weeks). So I have about as much foreign policy experience as the Messiah, too.
crazy_legs on August 29, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Lol…it’s going to start hurting at some point today when you realize how bad this is for Obama. I suggest a 100 percent agave reposado. If you can’t drink it straight, mix it with tonic.
Repeat until the pain goes away.
Asher on August 29, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Mr Magoo
Let’s not be too cocky like that, we should have held government onwards after 2001 but still we lost because we screwed up. So let’s try and keep from being THAT cocky.
Defector01 on August 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM
I wish McCain had selected someone with more experience. After all, if he’s elected and tragedy strikes, Palin will be facing off against a Putin and Ahmadinejad.
That’s a gamble.
But it’s a bigger gamble to have an Obama facing those men and Obama’s questioning of Palin’s experience is absurd.
Advantage McCain but, for my tastes, a mixed one.
SteveMG on August 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Meltdown.
ronsfi on August 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Obama want’s foreign experience?
let him call his brother..
DaveC on August 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Unforced Error…
sign of a campaign in disarray, they should have either HAD a plan for response, or just stopped to think for a couple of days first.
Romeo13 on August 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM
In my home the past several years it has been pronounced Nuculer and I like it. I will never again say nuclear just to pi__off my dem friends.
I cannot wait to see the polls that will come out next week. Let’s see how Bambi is doing then.
bopbottle on August 29, 2008 at 1:14 PM
The
DemocratsRepublicans are the progressive party.Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 1:15 PM
I think an earthquake just destroyed the Barackapolis.
Buy Danish on August 29, 2008 at 1:15 PM
The press is helping out by making sexist comments about Palin now. Please keep it up. Hello, Hillary supporters. Which party is one that stands up for women?
guitarplayer on August 29, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Dave Rywall on August 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Why don’t you show us Obama’s foreign policy expereince or executive experience or military experience?
She is the Commander in Chief of the Alaska national guard that has had troops deployed in Iraq as well as having its air defenses probed by Russian bombers on a weekly basis.
elduende on August 29, 2008 at 1:15 PM
TONE DEAF?
But what big ears you have, my dear.
seejanemom on August 29, 2008 at 1:16 PM
I can see her in a debate right now: “I’ve sent F-22’s to intercept Tupolov Bear bombers…What have you done?”
McBaine on August 29, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Fox just showed film of Palin firing an M-16.
One more area of experience in which she exceeds Obama.
BTW, Obama’s already dumping on her foreign relations experience. Where’s Obama’s experience?
Anyway, Obama also dropped trow and dumped small towns.
What elitist idiots.
BuckeyeSam on August 29, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Anybody feel that swell of patriotism? A belief in the good things about America? I have not seen anything like this since Reagan in ‘80!
Barack can take his malaise back to Chicago.
One last thing…….you know that the ‘rats are going to try and pass the Fairness Doctrine to shut down the Rushs, Seans, Levins, etc. We need a “surge” to support Mike Pence’s Broadcaster Freedom Act.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 29, 2008 at 1:18 PM
PRAISE GOD! Obama needs help! She has more experience than he does!!! SO EXCITING!
Dixiforlife on August 29, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Say what you like, Obama truly is a good public speaker. When coupled with an increasingly dumbed down public, he is real trouble. He doesn’t know $hit about running anything, but he sure can bamboozel the sheep.
She will need to match is oratory because McCain is kind of a dud speaker.
Let see what happens. I am “guardedly cautious” about making up my mind on how smart this pick is.
saiga on August 29, 2008 at 1:19 PM
And more important… a son in the Army… and knows which end of a gun the bullets come out of…
Romeo13 on August 29, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Clown act Obama.
High time for him to exit.
We’re not worthy of him.
Find another world to be a god of, Obama.
NoDonkey on August 29, 2008 at 1:19 PM
He walked right into the trap. The other trap is for Biden to start attacking Palin. Let’s see how dumb they really are.
TheBigOldDog on August 29, 2008 at 1:19 PM
So…simply living in a foriegn country now counts toward foriegn policy crendials??
I guess in the world where community organizing counts as…well, anything really, that could make sense.
I’ve got more foreign policy experience than Barry Obama, and in the same nation. And I was a grown up at the time. Shall we debate in Bahasa Indonesia, BO?
TexasDan on August 29, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Dave Rywall on August 29, 2008 at 1:06 PM
and BEFORE YOU RESPOND on this board with some pathetic leftist drivel produce THE LIST OF OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE SO WE CAN COMPARE IT TO OUR VP SELECTION.
elduende on August 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Alsaka just finished negotiating a deal with Canada to build a natural gas pipeline.
Not much, but it’s more foreign policy experience than Obama has.
And more practical experience than Joe “let’s send Iran $300 million” Biden has.
MarkTheGreat on August 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Barry’s experience:
Community organizer - Result: More dangerous than Baghdad
Annenberg Challenge - Result: Money for terrorists and schools get worse
Illinois State Senate - Result: Ran for US Senate
US Senate - Result: Ran for President
Hopey and Changey
Captain Hate on August 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM
And yet she still has far more experience then the chosen one.
Mojack420 on August 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM
The McCain response on Fox News was classic. I’ll paraphrase:
I was giddy.
And I can’t believe all those 900 pound brains in the Obama campaign would put out something so quickly that’s so ripe for ridicule in so many ways.
They’re fools and have learned NOTHING. Based on that alone, I’d vote for him why…?
tree hugging sister on August 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Rush just said Clinton is probably trying to get Sarah’s #. I don’t think that would be a good idea by the look of that Todd Palin. Looks like he can take care of himself.
LtE126 on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Let’s hope that all the people who don’t visit political blogs daily will also be able to come to this conclusion on their own. You know that the press will spin this in his favor. And for the regular viewers of MSNBC, they will be completely oblivious to the truth and beleive whatever tweety bird and bathtub boy will tell them what to think about this.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Governor Palin has more executive experience under her parka than Obama has under his turban.
She’s worked hard in her political career. She climbed the ladder, fought hard, and earned every vote she got.
She’s come up against slick, fast-talking, corrupt empty suits in Alaska politics and kicked them square in the nads each time.
Palin is Hillary without the baggage.
GulfCoastBamaFan on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Sarah P. is the commander of the Alaska National Guard. She has more executive experience than Biden, Obama, and McCain combined.
kcfrommt on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
“Senator Obama’s lack of executive and foreign policy experience does not change the fact that he too would have been an excellent choice as the Vice Presidential Nominee.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Buckaroo on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Mwhahahahahahahaha.
Voting Democrat is sexist!!!
VolMagic on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I took your advice and just donated $100…first donation to the McCain campaign!!!!
HawaiiLwyr on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself.
Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I hope that makes it to youtube. Thanks for mentioning that, tree hugging sister and I’m glad you caught that.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 1:22 PM
The Palin pick is a brilliant tactic designed to pick a fight with Obama on the experience issue. Come on, Obama, McCain will even give you the first swing.
Diabolical. Almost Rovian.
Cicero43 on August 29, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Equal to the man you’re running for President.
Chuck Schick on August 29, 2008 at 1:22 PM
I so hope Obambi scurries off to find an M-16 for a photo-op. The visual would rival Dukakis in his tank. I am looking forward to the “Obama Hunts with Secret Service Agents in Tow” stories, too.
flyfisher on August 29, 2008 at 1:22 PM
This is so funny - nobody has the guts to admit that Palin has zero foreign policy experience. Just a bunch of sputtering about Obama’s lack of experience.
I’ll gladly admit that Obama’s is thinnish.
How much did W Bush have when he was elected in 2000? A couple of cocktail parties with the president of Mexico. That’s how much.
Dave Rywall on August 29, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Once again why McCain’s pick was brilliant.
He has already lured Obama’s Team into using the “E” word, and it can only get worse from here.
Seriously, choosing Palin was a mastermind move. She lures and baits Obama’s team into attacking a VP with charges that can be fired right back at their actual nominee.
It is political gamesmanship at its finest.
I would not like to play McCain in a game of Risk, he would surely win.
BKennedy on August 29, 2008 at 1:23 PM
“Rush just said Clinton is probably trying to get Sarah’s #. I don’t think that would be a good idea by the look of that Todd Palin. Looks like he can take care of himself.”
Double BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Buckaroo on August 29, 2008 at 1:23 PM
I loved her BRIDGE TO NOWHERE comment: “No thanks, if we want a bridge, we’ll build our own.” She should have been the mayor of New Orleans during Katrina.
Mr_Magoo on August 29, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Wouldn’t it be cool if Palin ripped off her face to reveal Rove? Magnificent! :)
Coronagold on August 29, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Dave,
remember back in 2000 that everyone in hte media was deriding the fact that Bush had only been to Mexico a couple of times, Ghana, Israel and that’s about it. The media went nuts that Dubya had this wealth of potential experience because of his dad to see the world but ‘chose not to’.
Defector01 on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
I bet she also clings to her guns and religion with antipathy towards others not like her.
/sarc off
BrianA on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
She is incredible. Uuuuuuhbama is so boned! And the funny part is, he knows it. When people compare the accomplishments of the Republican candidates with the two dems and they’ll be very impressed. These two have lived lives well spent. The dems are a couple of lawyers.
thekingtut on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
ed: I thought exactly the same thing as soon as I heard it. Palin may neutralize the experience argument for the GOP, but only if Obama doesn’t bring it up. If he keeps this up, it will wind up being an even bigger liability for him than it was to begin with.
Athanasius on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
She has zero foreign policy experience. Put her on a plane to visit Europe for a week, though, and she’ll match Obama’s.
MayBee on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
His dad? You mean Sr. bin Laden?
Coronagold on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
scroll up, are you blind or just stupid?
trailortrash on August 29, 2008 at 1:24 PM
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