if that's all it takes to be Pres. then i guess anybody who's held down a real job, paid taxes and raised a family should be qualified to be Emperor of the WORLD!!!
Posted on 11/20/2007 3:31:30 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton sharpened her attacks on Tuesday on rival Barack Obama's experience, a day after a poll showed her falling slightly behind him in Iowa.
Six weeks before Iowa kicks off the state-by-state battle for the 2008 Democratic nomination, Clinton questioned Obama's claim that living in a foreign country as a youth helped shape his world view and contribute to his experience.
"Voters will judge whether living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face the big, complex international challenges the next president will face," Clinton said during a campaign stop in Shenandoah, Iowa.
"I think we need a president with more experience than that," said Clinton, who has repeatedly touted her own experience as first lady and questioned the readiness for the White House of the first-term senator from Illinois.
Obama said in Iowa on Monday that his four years living in Indonesia as a child contributed to his knowledge of the world and how people live around the globe.
"If you don't understand these cultures then it's very hard for you to make good foreign policy decisions. Foreign policy is all about judgment," he said.
Obama's campaign fired back, saying experience was no substitute for judgment and attacking Clinton's votes to authorize military action in Iraq in 2003 and side with President George W. Bush recently in labeling an Iranian military unit a terrorist group.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Vice President Dick Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also spent time in the White House and traveled heavily.
"But along with Hillary Clinton they led us into the worst foreign policy disaster in a generation and are now giving George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran," he said.
It was the second consecutive day the two have exchanged fire on the question of experience, and follows the release of a Washington Post-ABC News poll on Monday showing Obama opening a four-point lead over Clinton in Iowa, within the statistical margin of error.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards was four points behind Clinton, setting up a tight three-way race in the January 3 contest in Iowa that will open the campaign to pick nominees for the November 4, 2008, general election.
Clinton leads national polls in the Democratic race, but a loss in Iowa could slow her momentum and puncture the air of inevitability her campaign has tried to promote.
The Edwards camp, accused of mudslinging by Clinton during the last debate, criticized her comments about Obama. Spokesman Chris Kofinis said: "When it comes to mud, Hillary Clinton says one thing and throws another."
The New York senator debuted a new television commercial on Tuesday touting her ability to stand up to Republican attacks.
It opens with shots of anti-Clinton ads from Republican rivals John McCain and Mitt Romney, labeled "The Republican Attack Machine," and end with shots of their faces.
"The same old Republican attack machine is back. Why?" an announcer asks. "Maybe it's because they know that there's one candidate with the strength and experience to get us out of Iraq."
Obama, campaigning in New Hampshire, said knowing the ropes in Washington meant appeasing special interests that block key issues such as health care reform and new energy policies.
"I hear candidates say, 'Elect me because I know how to play the game better in Washington.' We don't need somebody who plays the game better. We need somebody to put an end to the game-playing," Obama told several hundred students and residents in Alton, New Hampshire.
Geee, Hillary, and maybe representing the black panthers is a better qualification, you doofus!
Hillary! is WELL prepared internationally. She was a leading figure in managing the White House Travel Office during the Clintoon era.
Obama has as much experience as hillereee...her being first lady (and I use that term lady lightly) does nothing to qualify her to be president...she just happened to be in the house is all. Obama is more dignified, looks nice...is sharp looking and presidential and...he smiles ... he genuinely SMILES!
What a moron, neither of these people are capable of leading a nation.
Could the Dem's have front runners anymore unqualified to be President?
Candidates like Dodd and Biden look eminently better prepared even if they stink as well.
Obama has experience in cocaine and Hillary knows how to bake cookies.
Her thighness is as qualified as a White House Maid.
Wait, the maid might have been there for 20 years, maybe the Dem's should have recruited her!
LOL Don’t forget she did so much for education in Arkansas they were listed as next to last in the nation and Obama wrote a book.
Well, Bush and his consort agree with the former.
Even if she was “Co-President” for 8 years what the hell did the Klintons actually accomplish other than scandalize the country???
Two empty suits, neither of whom has experience. Both too cowardly to even appear on FOX News. How are they going to deal with world leaders? By running away and hiding?
She hasn't ANY shame!
Obama has recently stated that he abused drugs and alcohol while growing up. That should disqualify him right there. How do you fight the “war on drugs” when drug abusers get to run for President of the United States? Are we setting the bar low or what? Obama should not be eligible to run for anything just to set an example for the parents trying to raise their kids to do the right thing and not do drugs.
if that's all it takes to be Pres. then i guess anybody who's held down a real job, paid taxes and raised a family should be qualified to be Emperor of the WORLD!!!
Clinton has no experience whatsoever that would qualify her for POTUS. Richardson is the only one running on the dim side that has any executive experience at all.
When it the last time the Democrats nominated a well-qualified person (including understanding foreign policy) for President? 1948? 1892?
Precisely.
So suppose you HAD to vote in a Democratic primary. For whom would you cast your ballot?
Just curious to see what FReepers think.
:) hillelreee was a homemaker just like the rest of us. Living in the White House DOES NOT QUALIFY HER FOR PRESIDENT. She was the WIFE of the pathetic president that was in there. She was Mrs. clintin...that’s it...plain and simple.
That's not true, look at Dennis Kucinich. As mayor he ran Cleveland (into the ground!)
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