That’s not to say Obama, Bush I, and Clinton had no experience at all in government, as is the case with Trump. But in 2008, 2000, and 1992, less was more when it came to national government experience.
And that’s the way it was with Trump on the Intrepid Wednesday night. Lauer brought up experience right away — “What have you experienced in your personal life or your professional life that you believe prepares you to make the decisions that a commander-in-chief has to make?”
The real answer was nothing, pretty much the same as it was for Obama in 2008. Trump’s stock answer that he “built a great company” which did business “all over the world” is not much of an answer at all. When Lauer pressed, Trump’s answer — “The main thing is, I have great judgment. I have good judgment” — actually got closer to the mark.
Not that Trump actually does or does not have good judgment. The key was that voters will make a judgment of their own on Trump and Clinton, and with Trump they’ll likely judge in great part on what he says, while with Clinton they’ll likely judge on what she’s done. It’s easier to talk a good game than to cite one’s experience. Just ask candidate Barack Obama, 2008.
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