What is "executive experience" and how do you get it?

Question

In the current political campaign for President in USA, everyone is saying Gov. Palin of Alaska has more executive experience than Senator Obama. Why?

Do you have to be a governor, or mayor to get Executive Experience?

I thought Gov Romney had both, experience as Gov of Ma. and a CEO in his father's business. Yet, McCain passed him over, why?

Being Governor of Alaska for two years, is this enough time to grow into an "excutive", and do it well?

Can't people gain Executive Experience in other ways? Like managing a national-wide campaign, or even running their state-wide elections, or in management of their own households.

Is the whole emphasis on being a CEO, or Governor overdone, for political reasons?

It seems to me, that being a judge of character, and being able to select great advisors, and appealing to more people, and being inspirational, all these make a person a great executive.

Aren't Executives made, and not born?

(sorry for long questions. You can emphasis most important for you. Please try to explain your ideaa of what YOU THINK best prepares someone to be an executive.)

Answer 1

They're referring to holding an executive office such as mayor, governor or president. Obama, McCain and Biden have all worked in legislature and haven't had as much experience in executive offices.

I think people can gain executive experience in the private sector and in other ways. JFK was a senator before becoming President so I don't think executive experience is the most important qualification to being President.

George W. Bush had plenty of executive experience as Gov. of Texas and look where that's gotten us!

Answer 2

Palin's "...articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking..."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/31/b...

AND CHANGE NOT another Lawyer!