Obama needs to make a stronger case for his experience

[Onlooker]

Yesterday, Rasmussen Reports found that people view both Obama and McCain as roughly equal on the economy. This is absurd, and makes me suspect that people still question Obama's experience. Yet, when you get down to it, Obama actually has outstanding experience, in many ways better than McCain's. I think his campaign has got to do a better job establishing him as someone who's experienced and unusually bright.

Obama's experience is better than McCain's, except for the fact that McCain has been around longer:

Compare their records (source: Wikipedia):

McCAIN
Military school
- finished near the bottom of his class at a well-known military school

Soldier
- 7 years flying peacetime missions (and crashed 3 planes during that time)
- 20 hours in combat
- 5-1/2 years as a POW (which is unfortunate, but most of that time is not particularly useful)

Military service
- 7 years in various military roles, including Navy liaison to the Senate

Politician
- 6 years in the House of Representative
- 20 years in the Senate

OBAMA
Education and work
- Earned his BA from Columbia University
- 1 year working for a business that helped American companies abroad
- 3 years working as a community organizer for a church based organization
- Attended Harvard Law School and graduated Magna Cum Laude (and served as Editor of Harvard Law Review)
- Short term jobs
- Worked in private law firms during summer months
- Directed Project Vote (staff of 10, 700 volunteers)

Teaching
- 12 years teaching Constitutional law at the University of Chicago

Law
- 11 years working in a private law firm that focused on civil rights and redevelopment

Community service
- 9 years serving on various community boards that represented the poor

Politician
- 8 years as an Illinois state senator
- 4 years as a U.S. Senator

The bottom line is McCain has only worked for government, while Obama has worked for private business, non-profit organizations, and government as well. McCain's salary always came from government, while Obama's came from a variety of sources.

McCain never multitasked, which has to be a key skill for the position of President, while there were times when Obama simultaneously practiced law, taught, and engaged in community work.

The Obama campaign needs to play up his experience, perhaps through a biographical ad. This will give more people more confidence in his ability to lead the nation.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Obama needs to play to his strength. Experience is not it. He already wins...

the "understands the problems of people like you" numbers over McCain.

Obama's strength is his thoughtful, deliberate nature. He won't start a war because his bowels are acting up that day.

[iamjoy]

2. Good Point, But...

I think Americans will be more impressed if he is able to speak knowledgeably and confidently about the economy in terms the general public can understand.

[Ashy Larry]

3. I agree with you to some extent

I don't think Barack himself should get bogged down in explaining his resume all the time but I do get frustrated when republicans on tv say stuff like, "Obama has no experience at all." And the Obama or Dem surrogate will just say, "Yeah, but this is a change election." The surrogates need to at least say, "That's not true." and then they can move on.

[fed_up_mother]

4. Imo, Obama needs to make a stronger case for his "qualifications"

Experience and qualifications aren't necessarily the same.

[Dawgs]

5. "Rasmussen Reports"

:rofl: