Barak Obama's Experience

[usregimechange]

Education:

BA in political science (with a specialization in international relations) from Columbia University.

JD Graduate of Harvard Law School (Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude).

President of the Harvard Law Review (the first ever African American).


Experience:

Civil rights attorney (turned down a prestigious judicial clerkship1)

Constitutional law professor.

Community organizer.

State Senator.

Chairman of the Illinois State Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

US Senator.

Member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Environment and Public Works Committee, and Veterans ’ Affairs Committee.

Author.

Husband and father of two daughters.

Board member of the Joyce Foundation, the Woods Fund of Chicago, and the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.


Honors:

Grammy award winner (Spoken Word category).

Honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (for narration of one of his books).

Honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston (for among other things, "advancing and protecting the interests of the less fortunate"2)


Seems rather experienced to me...


References:

1. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1682433/bio

2. http://www.umb.edu/news/2006news/releases/may/060526_obama_press_release.html


http://www.barackobama.com/
http://hopefundamerica.com/

[Tiggeroshii]

1. But he wasn't president before.

How could he be qualified to be president?

:sarcasm:

[Sensitivity]

2. I grew up in a world where you had to have faced battle or jail for your cause

to be viewed as a leader of state.

This is a new world or manufactured opinion and political illusion.
It is unclear what makes a leader in this world or
whether the Democrats will come to grips with the kind of leadership
it needs into the future.

[PeaceProgProsp]

7. Like Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Kennedy, Truman, Roosevelt,

and Wilson?

I don't think we've ever had a president who meets those criteria (much less, a Republican president).

[beaconess]

13. Actually, Carter, Kennedy and Truman all faced battle

as have many other presidents, including Nixon, Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush.

[neoblues]

3. Bush has raised some questions...

In some ways, he's shown that a chimp can handle the Presidency. Coincidentally, he's shown just how much damage a bad President can cause.

Personally, I doubt that the Presidency, aside from the responsibility (presuming that the person has the ability to comprehend, appreciate and respect that responsibility), is all that difficult. The key being the ability to make informed decisions and surrounding yourself with quality advisers.

Bush surrounded himself with the worst possible bunch of lunatics, wherein both he and his advisers were imbued with the most destructive ideology possible. While incompetent, it wasn't so much the incompetence as the flawed (even 'evil') ideology/intentions that was behind the damage he's caused.

All things considered, I think Barak Obama, as an intelligent, rational, thoughtful man with good intentions, the right ideology and wisdom beyond his years, would be far more than capable of being a fine President. Those who focus on the lack of a track record in Executive type positions are focusing on one small part of the qualifications to the exclusion of the more important ones. Alas, I can't prove that formal experience as a leading government executive, such as a state governorship, isn't important. It seems it might be useful, but not necessary--but making a convincing argument to that effect doesn't seem easy.

I hope someone can make that argument, because Obama has both the "brains" and the charisma needed to get elected--and to be a terrific President. He certainly has experience working with people and clearly rises to positions of leadership (which is the essence of being a leader). It would be a shame to forego his potential just because he "lacks experience".

As Shrub so malignently, but correctly, expressed with his "I'm the Decider" remark, the main thing Presidents do is make decisions. In the arena of making intelligent, measured decisions, as well as getting along with world leaders, I'd say Obama would be among the most capable leaders America currently has to offer. Put him in debate with other candidates, and his ability to express his positions--and example of his decision making ability and effectiveness as a leader, and he'll have a hard time not making the others look like the small-minded, politically ambitious hacks they are.

When people become familiar with him, listen to him speak and recognize his thoughtfulness, concerns over his supposed lack of experience will fade. No doubt Republicans will continue to focus on that as a "weakness", especially with McCain (who, fortunately has many weaknesses of his own). Obama is smart enough, though, I'd bet he has many Republicans seeing things his way before long. He has enough experience and intelligence and charisma will make up any needed difference.

[beaconess]

4. You said that SO beautifully

EVERYONE on DU should read this!

[Eurobabe]

5. And I wholeheartedly AGREE

I think Barak would be terrific! The more I see him, read what he has written, watch in video clips, etc., the more I am convinced that he would make a fine President.

He's REAL, he's got a sense of humor, he can laugh at himself. That's more than I can say about some of the 2008 candidates (announced or otherwise).

[PeaceProgProsp]

8. Bush is bad for America because of what he believes and not

because of what is on his resume.

He could have a great resume, but if he still believed what he believes (think McCain and Guiliani), he'd still be wrong for America.

[Zynx]

9. The worst ideas of the Bush administration have been pushed by those

with the most experience(Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice). Judgement is more important than experience.

[Catchawave]

6. Thank you for posting this...

Wish DU would spend more time on what's right with our '08 hopefuls than what's wrong :D

I like Obama, I hope he runs, as he brings incredible warmth and humility to the Democratic message :patriot: Then we can sort them out at the polls :D

[usregimechange]

10. Your welcome

[jefferson_dem]

11. Thanks for posting this! I totally agree that Obama has the "experience" and other supreme

qualities necessary. THIS is his time...

Cheers!

[usregimechange]

17. It would po me if the GOP has the first black on a pres ticket.

which they won't since it would peel 10% off their base.

[Pithy Cherub]

12. Please spell his name right, BaraCk Obama!

The newbie has nice stamps in his passport too, doesn't mean he is experienced.

[usregimechange]

14. Thanks for pointing that out, but I can't edit now.

[depakid]

15. Once he consistently starts showing good judgment

Then maybe we can consider whether his experience makes him worthy of consideration. As it stands- based on his record of the last 21 months, he has a lot to learn.

[usregimechange]

16. Is that poor judgement or independence?

[usregimechange]

18. Kick!