I’m sure that quite a few people here are obsessed with Pakistan, but I think that the fact that Obama argued that he travelled to 80 countries qualifies him to be President. I backpacked across Europe when I was in college, but that doesn’t qualify me as a foreign policy expert.
I really hope that Obama tries to use that in the debate with McCain, because that’s basically a fast ball down the center just ready for a grand slam (akin to There You Go Again or You’re No Jack Kennedy). McCain mentioned it in his book... To paraphrase McCain’s answer... Senator, as a military brat and a member of the navy, I’ve been all over the U.S. and the world. That’s what we military people do, we travel all over in defense of freedom. In fact, before I was forty, the longest I’ve been in one place was in this town called Hanoi. (The debate audience probably gives him a standing ovation at this point).
You know, it doesn't. Foreign policy being a separate field of study.
It's akin to saying, well, I go to the disco every Saturday, I can be profesional dancer.
That said, traveling to other countries is a positive attribute in a Presidential candidate, especially travel as an ordinary citizen, not as say, First Lady. Helps to understand the world and how others relate to America.
I've always felt that Americans, as a whole, don't get out much.