Experience, heroism and the future.

Much is made, by Clinton and McCain, about their experience and Obama’s lack of it. If being a successful Senator is an attribute for a Presidential candidate then we’d have a long history of Senators going from the Senate to the White House. The historical truth is Senatorial experience has never been considered a great asset for the presidency. That’s the reason, this election being an exception, that only one serving United States Senator, John Kennedy, has ever been elected president. And JFK’s success required the counting of votes from a lot of dead people in West Virginia and southern Illinois.

Unlike an executive, being a successful legislator requires willingness to compromise. You have to vote for that other guy’s bill, despite its “questionable” value, in order to get him to vote for your “valuable” bill. Additionally, bills of quality, often overloaded with pork, are repeatedly voted down until the bacon fat is adjusted to an acceptable level. The result is a Senator, voting no and then yes on a bill, is often branded as a person who waffled on the central issue. The point is, a senator’s voting record, especially a long one, is not an asset when running for president; just ask John Kerry. And Obama’s lack of an extended voting record may, in fact, be an asset.

When Obama points to Clinton and McCain’s votes to authorize the war and that it was a great mistake, they say, Oh that’s history, and try to redirect the conversation to what to do now. But that history is the backbone of what Clinton and McCain claim as their experience; their history of bad judgments that they portray as their strength. They can’t have it both ways. If they were wrong then, what makes them right now?

If being a war hero is a real requirement to be president, then Duke Cunningham would be in the White House instead of the big house. After all, he was not only a Navy flyer, just like McCain, he was a better flyer, in that he not only didn’t get shot down, he got a Medal of Honor for shooting down the bad guys. The truth is; physical courage and moral courage are mutually exclusive.

When Congressman Lewis switched his support from Clinton to Obama, he said Obama’s candidacy is more than a campaign, it’s a movement. A 21st century movement led by a 21st century man for the future, as opposed to Clinton and McCain, especially McCain, who are 20th century people trying to tailor their old solutions to fit the new times.

Is Obama perfect? No. Is he the pick of the litter? I think so.