Palin and Obama: why experience doesn't matter
The problem with the experience question is that if we really think Obama is qualified to be president—and I have become convinced of that—then “experience” becomes a largely moot point. I don’t think Obama is qualified because of his experience, but much more because of his ability to think critically about important issues and motivate others to think critically and act. Our next president will most likely need to appoint at least one Supreme Court justice and I want someone who is smart, thinks critically, and analyzes both short and long term issues. That has little to do with “experience” and more to do with intellect. In my mind, Palin’s lack of experience is insignificant compared with her reactionary and anti-intellectual stances on issues that are important to me (global climate change, choice, creationism in schools). I shudder to think who a President Palin might appoint to the Supreme Court, and that’s a criticism of her judgment, not her experience.
I predict that Palin will be very popular with some voters and she will bring votes to the Republicans. We have to take that seriously. Refusing to take her seriously doesn’t make her less of a threat. She has huge appeal for conservative women, she’s very popular in Alaska, and the ethics issues she’s dealing with now, including the possibility that her "fifth child" is actually her first grandchild, don’t seem to concern the media. Who’d have thought we should take McCain so seriously when he’s allowed himself to be so strongly identified with Bush, the most unpopular president in modern history? But look—McCain is a serious contender for president. Most polls show him in basically a dead heat with Obama. So failing to take Palin seriously is a serious mistake.
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