Obama Addresses Question of Experience

[babylonsister]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8OL7H4G0&show_article=1&catnum=0

Obama Addresses Question of Experience
Apr 21 04:47 PM US/Eastern
By BETH FOUHY
Associated Press Writer


NEW YORK (AP) - Wooing black voters while tackling questions about his experience, Democrat Barack Obama said Saturday that his years as a community organizer and accomplishments in the Illinois state Senate have prepared him well for the presidency.

Addressing the National Action Network, a civil rights group founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, Obama touted his successes as an Illinois lawmaker in providing health insurance to children and reducing the price of prescription drugs for senior citizens.

He also told of passing legislation to monitor racial profiling and to require that police interrogations of suspects in capital cases be videotaped.

"I haven't just talked about these things, I've actually done them," he said, adding that he'd worked well with the Republicans who controlled the state Senate for most of his tenure there.

With just over two years in the U.S. Senate, Obama has faced questions over whether he has sufficient experience to be president.

more...

[illinoisprogressive]

1. he has experience. it is not traditional. But, if you combine

his years in the state senate and years in the us senate, he has more experience than Clinton or Edwards.
But, i think the community organizing, civil rights attorney, Constitutional professor roles are very important, especially in light of the Bush regime, to being a president. He understand the importance of all of this and respects it.

[elocs]

2. I think Obama has experience. I want a candidate who has a vision and a heart.

I am sure that Obama would surround himself with the best and brightest minds to help and advise him if elected. A president does not need to know everything about everything. Look at Bush--he has grown to know more and more about less and less until now he does know everything, about nothing.

[jakem]

3. Agreed. He has enough experience-

But more importantly he has enough intellect, drive, and integrity.

[papau]

4. Might favor Women/child issues -wait thats Hillary -- might gets into a war -wait that's the fratboy

that is fun to have a drink with that the media sold us for 2 terms.

It is so hard to get the GOP meme dejure straight.

Obama has enough experience - I just want more that the selling of "hope" and "bring us together" and indeed I want specifics on policy.

[Tellurian]

5. This quote from Obama didn't make it into the OP

This is definately a misstep.

Obama's statement right here could be problematic:

"I've said to Rev. Sharpton and I'll say it today, if there is somebody - I don't care whether they are white or black or they are male or female - if there is somebody who has been more on the forefront on behalf of the issues you care about and has more concrete accomplishments on behalf of the things you're concerned about, I'm happy to see you endorse them. But I am absolutely confident you will not find that," he said.

It's a pretty BIG statement that other declared candidates, and thats besides Hillary, might take offense to.

Hillary has done much in the 6 years she's been a Senator. Biden may come after Obama for that crack...just sayin!

[jakem]

6. Not that you are encouraging that kind of response...

:eyes:

[Tellurian]

7. I didn't write the article.but I did read the full link in the OP

if you didn't. The fact is if something comes of it, you'll be blaming Hillary saying because he commented when the cell phone rang and said it was Hillary, she will be accused of coming down on his misstatement because of the cell phone joke.

Call it what you will...just preempting, in case something happens in a few days.

The past is the best predictor of the future.

[aikoaiko]

8. Still not convinced. Does he have any executive experience?

[jefferson_dem]

9. Of course, he doesn't. Does that disqualify him? Silly.

Actually, none of the other "frontrunners" for the Dem ticket have executive experience, except Richardson. I presume he's your choice given the premium you place on such "qualifications."

[aikoaiko]

12. Disqualify is too strong a word -- but it is a legit weakness

Its one thing to be an advocate for a constituency, but its another thing to lead groups with different agendas.

[IndianaGreen]

10. jefferson_dem is right, Bill Richardson is the only candidate with executive experience

As to legislative experience, Obama has local and state level experience, which is very important for a candidate. Many of the others only have Beltway experience, and in one case, the only elective office ever held was a US Senate seat.

[Colobo]

11. The guy is ready. He just needs a chance!