Help Wanted

Jason Zengerle asks some very good questions about Hillary Clinton:

Is this what Hillary means when she talks about experience–things she watched her husband do? And if he hasn’t done them before, she’s basically clueless?

In the entire history of the Republic it has never before been asserted that having been First Lady constitutes experience that’s relevant to the Presidency. Is there something special in Hillary Clinton’s character that makes her different in that respect? Something in Bill Clinton’s? What?

I’ve interviewed scores perhaps hundreds of people seeking jobs over the years and I’ve hired a few. I’ve undoubtedly read hundreds of resumes. It’s never occurred to me that being married to somebody who had the experience I was looking for qualified the applicant for the job.

3 comments… add one
  • PD Shaw Link

    How about its something about her competition? Edwards: six years in the Senate. Obama: less than 2 years in the Senate. Clinton less than 8 years.

    It’s as if you were making hiring decisions in a (dysfunctional) corporation. Someone else has narrowed down the choices to three and you oddly find yourself crediting spousal experience and demanding the heads of the winnowers.

    (Though I think Obama has a point: The Senate is structured to force a politician to cast bad votes as better than worse)

  • Whether Hillary absorbed any practical job experience is questionable, but I think it’s pretty obvious she learned politics inside and out. As sad as it is to admit, politics is an important dimension to success in office and to get anything done in Washington. She did not get any practical decisionmaking experience, but in Washington, it’s “who you know” and not “what you know” much of the time. In that regard, Hillary’s stint as first lady was very beneficial and that “experience” has made her campaign such a success.

  • Also, my impression is that the vast majority of the electorate couldn’t care less about experience – or they might say they care, but ultimately their vote is decided based on other factors.

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