Are You Experienced? [View All]

[H2O Man]

One of the issues that is being discussed both on DU and in the corporate media is "experience." It is a valid topic, and one that is worthy of serious attention. It reminds me of the same debate that the nation had in 1960, when Senator John Kennedy was running against VP Richard Nixon.

The Nixon campaign was trying to get an advantage in the close race by projecting an image of being a mature, seasoned candidate, who was running against an untested youngster. It was during a couple of press conferences that Kennedy's wit put the issue in a different context.

At a time when there is more than a little tension between the Clinton and Obama supporters on DU, I think that a couple of quotes from JFK's press conferences might be appreciated. I think that all democrats are glad that JFK beat Nixon in 1960!

{1} "Ladies and gentlemen, the outstanding news story of this week was not the events of the United Nations or even the Presidential campaign. It was the story coming out of my own city of Boston that Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox had retired from baseball. It seems that at forty-two he was too old. It shows that perhaps experience isn't enough." (Minneapolis)

{2}"I know a banker who served thirty years as president of a bank. He had more experience, until his bank went broke, than any other banker in Massachusetts. But if I ever go into the banking business, I do not plan on hiring him, and he knows the operation from top to bottom." (Jacksonville, Florida)