Is it fair for OBAMA to compare his experience running a political campaign for President to Palin's exec exp?

Question

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/01/obama-defends-natural-disaster-experience/

Answer 1

Absolutely.  It has been claimed by many that Palin's executive experience as governor for approximately 20 months (and let's not forget Mayor of a town of 6,500) gives her greater experience than Obama who was in the state legislature for 8 years and has been the Senate for nearly 4 years.  While I think it's an apples to oranges comparison in the first place - she may have executive experience, he has legislative - I personally don't believe governing a state of 700,000 people for less than two years equals the pressures you are under in mounting a presidential campaign and running against some very impressive candidates as the Democratic primaries showed.  Not to take anything away from her, but he has been under intense scrutiny for a very long time and has been under great pressure and performed beautifully.  As she has not been allowed to answer any questions to date, it is really hard to know how she will fare.  Besides, governing over a state of that population during a time of ballooning budgets thanks to the increase in gas prices makes running a state that much easier.

Answer 2

Is life ever Truly fair??

Answer 3

His claim that running a campaign is somehow "executive experience" is downright silly.  Look at his campaign.  It spends hundreds of millions of dollars of other people's money every month and has very little to show for it.  In that respect, it sure looks like a Liberal President's administration.  

Sarah Palin was in elected office for five years before Obama ever ran for any office. She was on the City Council, then Mayor and finally Governor.  As the Governor of the largest State in the Union she learned pretty darned quick that you can't just go to George Sorros and ask for more money or to "donation bundlers".  She even sold the State Plane her predecessor bought on credit.  She sold it on E-Bay.  

This is a leader.  Obama is not.  He has yet to lead anything.

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Answer 4

I wondered the same thing. Yes and no, I think. His campaign is much bigger and more scrutinized, but its temporary, and the nature of his cash flow is quite different. So in some ways its fair, and in some ways its not. But I sooner think neither Obama's "executive" experience running a campaign nor Palin's experience running a small town should count. Neither remotely resemble what it means to manage the US economy or deal with natural disasters the scope of Katrina.

Small advantage to Palin for being a governor for a year and a half. And that's about all that should be said on the executive experience question.

There is still the foreign policy question.

Answer 5

Compare away. I will say this however, Obama has been preaching to the choir. In a Democratic primary, all things being equal, a black male trumps a white woman. A black woman trumps a black male and a black handicapped woman trumps a black woman. A black handicapped g*y woman would trump them all. Now, if they could in fact find a black, handicapped, g*y female, they'd have their perfect candidate.

Oh my, I've just described Donna Brazille.

Answer 6

Yeah, in his dreams because that's the only place it is a good comparison.