Clinton, Obama spar over experience

Posted: Monday, November 19, 2007 1:58 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Christina Jamison and NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
KNOXVILLE, IA -- In a thinly veiled swipe at her rival Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton stressed at crowded gymnasium here today the importance of having a strong leader who doesn't need "on the job training" to deal with foreign dependence on oil, rising heating and fuel costs, and falling consumer confidence.

"The next president will be a steward of our economy at a time when the bills from eight years of neglect and mismanagement are coming due." She also took another apparent shot at Obama, saying that "Change is just a word without the strength and experience to make it happen."

At a press conference in Fort Dodge, IA, Obama was asked about Clinton's questioning of his economic experience, and he replied: "If a voter asks me the question, then I'll address it. If Sen. Clinton or her campaign spin team asks me the question, then my response is to say that our economic plan and our approach on these issues, I think, has been superior to hers, and that is one of the reasons I'm running for president."

He added in response to a follow-up question: "My understanding is that she wasn't Treasury secretary in the Clinton Administration."

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Comments

Obama just doesn't get it! You don't personally attack another Democrat! It's the 11th commandment! And besides, he's a smoker...can't trust him.

pat huntington ny (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:03 PM)

How hard can this be? They both have none.

LC Taylor, Kansas (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:06 PM)

BAT, What the hell you are talking about? Smokers can't be trusted?

Larry, Toronto (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:08 PM)

Am I missing something Pat b/c I sort of feel that Clinton attacked Obama----there's nothing personal about his comment. She wasn't Treasury secretary!

Lewis, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:08 PM)

Obama gets it alright - America is tired of the Clintons!

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:11 PM)

Bill Clinton insert Cigar into Monica L. private body and smoked it...So Clintons and her supporters better be careful not to go that road...

stan (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:12 PM)

Obama can't be trusted...he's muslim. He's responsible for 9-11.

RedNeckVoter (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:13 PM)

Obama, are you really working for the republican party?

And how in hades thinks less than 2 years experience is solid traing for the presidency. Hell, Obama was in diapers when Clinton was changing the world

Tofun,Disney (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:13 PM)

ouch!! I still don't understand how senator Clinton claims experience in being president. She has expereince being in washington and thats about it. Obama 08!!! go Obama go!!! we are behind you all the way!!

teddy, orland fl (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:13 PM)

This was smart for Clinton: she needs to keep the focus on experience because that's the only buffer she has in this campaign. She doesn't have the trust of the voters, she isn't the number two caucus pick for most in Iowa, and she isn't winning the change argument. But she's tough, focused, disciplined woman and people respond to the idea that she can fight and win this election.

Obama needs to keep the subject to issues and character and when questioned on experience state his resume and how he not only knows how this government works but how to effectively bridge the partisan divide.

Between the stuff that happened this weekend and the final stretch I wonder if the two front runners are going to bloody themselves to much to win Iowa. In which case New Hampshire will be really important if Edwards comes out of an Iowa win.

R (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:14 PM)

Senator Clinton is not as experinced as she is despised. If she really cared about our country she wouldn't be running.

American Voter (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:15 PM)

Hillary Clinton's experience is with partisanship - how in the world will she form all these "bipartisan commissions" she keeps touting? I doubt the "vast right wing conspiracy" will be lining up to work with her.

What has she done independent of her husband that serves as "experience" for the White House?

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:19 PM)

The American consumer is NOT buying what you're selling hillary.

American Consumer (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:32 PM)

Senator Clinton's experience has apparently taught her that pay of $97,500 per year is middle class (keep in mind that only 6% of people make more than that level). That may fly in the NYC area, but Clinton obviously fails to connect with the rest of the country that lives closer to the $25k-$75k range.

In this race, experience is out the window. NOBODY has the experience to be president. It is all about judgement. Obama is second to none in this category.

Obama/Edwards '08

Jesse, Burnsville, MN (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:33 PM)

The more I hear Hillary the more in love with her I get!

Bee (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:34 PM)

Ops! Another swipe at the Clinton's machine who think they can have it both way.

The questions is out there for proper answer. Is she the treasury secretary?

Obama 2 Clinton 0

Bee (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:34 PM)

In terms of experience, there is a clear hierarchy among the top 5 candidates: Biden is clearly the most experienced (no matter what the Hillary Clinton campaign says), followed by Richardson, Obama, Clinton, and Edwards.

Edwards and Clinton fans have argued with me and said that they both have plenty of senate experience, but fail to demonstrate any legislative achievements they had. (Not votes that they made, but bills they actually came up with and pushed through the senate.)

Ruth Bethinger, New York, New York (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:34 PM)

Clinton wins again ! hillaryclinton.com

Bill C. (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:37 PM)

Once again I ask: What the heck experience is Hillary Clinton saying that she has? How is she able to call herself an expert on the economy? If voters felt that Washington experience was the only thing that should be considered, Biden, Dodd and Richardson would be the top tier candidates right now.

Release your records Hillary, so we can see what you are claiming as the experience necessary to fix our broken economy.

SB (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:38 PM)

She is a flip flopper and lacks leadership...

Hillary was against Ethanol before she was for it. She was for Iraq before she was against it. She was for unconditional negotiations with Iran before she was against them and before she was for them again. She was for for taking nukes off the table with Iran before she was against it and before she was for it again. She was against raising social security taxes before she was for it and beforee she was against it again. She was for NATFA before she was for it. She was for Baby Bonds before she was against them. She was for drivers liecenses for illegals before she was against them and before she was for them and before she was against them, and before she was for them...etc, etc.

Not only is she more easily portrayed a worse flip flopper than John Kerry, she and her campaign are are allowing themselves to be portrayed as exaggerators just like Al Gore was in 2000. Her supporters are comparing last week's debate to the Anita Hill hearings. And today, Bill Clinton is comparing criticism of Hillary's Flip Flopping with the swift boat attacks on John Kerry. The difference is that calling Hillary a flip flopper is fair...calling John Kerry unpatriotic is unfair...there is a big difference.

Why do people think she is our strongest nominee? Yes, the republicans will shoot at whoever we nominate, but why do we want to pick the clintons who will hand them the ammunition? Let's not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and nominate Hillary. The times are too important to take that risk!
Oh before i forget...her negative is in the 50,s

Emmy (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:38 PM)

It's not to late come take a good lookie. hillaryclinton.com

Chelse C. (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:38 PM)

"when Clinton was changing the world "
Tofun, Disney
-------------------------------------------------
Wow! I stand in awe of this woman! So ending the Iraq war, ending hunger and poverty around the world, stopping human rights violations in developing countries, ridding the word of global warming, ending the tension in the Middle East, etc. should be a piece of cake for her, right?

Dot, Illinois (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:39 PM)

Obama just doesn't get it! You don't personally attack another Democrat! It's the 11th commandment! And besides, he's a smoker...can't trust him.
pat huntington ny (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:03 PM)

Actually, the 11th commandment is referring to Republicans attacking one another. FYI, Sen. Obama is not attacking Hillary. He's just exposing her outrageous claims on experience. Hillary has cleverly hijacked her husband's presidential record. As for the smoking remark...I guess one can't trust Bill either.

Real Democrat, CA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:41 PM)

Hillary has less experience than Obama.

Hillary's success fooling the primary voters that she is "experienced" is going to be ripped to shreds if she's nominated.

Her "experience" argument will falter immediately if challenged by someone who actually DOES have experience, like, gee, i dunno....McCain, Romney, Gulliani, Huckabee, etc. etc.

Dems are idiots if they nominate Hillary.

j (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:41 PM)

Obama just doesn't get it! You don't personally attack another Democrat! It's the 11th commandment! And besides, he's a smoker...can't trust him.
pat huntington ny (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:03 PM)

Pat NY...and Hillary is Fat. He stopped smoking...think she has the psersonal courage to lose about 30lbs.

You don't want to go there..espically with that Fat candidate

grace (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:41 PM)

hillary is very experienced in how to launder corrupt lobbyist money, avoid, mislead, lie, pander, flip-flop, condescend, ect. on these points she shows extraordinary experience and knowledge, unfortunately most people don't think that type of experience is what the country needs presently, thus bush lite's luster continues to fade as people are exposed to her experience. She is what she is, business as usual in d.c., vote for Edwards so we a candidate that truly wants change, and someone who can win the general election.

MK,MO (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:42 PM)

Hilary if you say that you have experience, then release your so-called experience records. Or are you scared that we will find out that you were a total failure on issue during your husband's administration?.

Hilary you are a con/artist and stop saying you have experience when you voted for the Iraq war and then you voted for iran revolutionary guards which will send our men and women to war with Iran. And beside you flip-flopped on issues too many times. someone with experience will have it right the first time.

Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United State of America!!!! clear the way people, here comes our president

Lek (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:43 PM)

Here is the full report...
Reporters asked Obama about Clinton's claim that she would be a better-prepared steward of the economy at a press conference before an appearance at a community college in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

" I am happy to compare my experiences with hers when it comes to the economy," Obama said. "My understanding was that she wasn't Treasury Secretary in the Clinton Administration."

"I think she's a capable person. She's been a senator, like I have," he added. "But rather than just assert experience, if she has specific differences with me with respect to economic policy, I'm happy to have those debates. But this general notion of experience based on longevity in Washington I don't think is sufficient."

Obama all the way

Bee (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:44 PM)

Obama is a great speaker, had great education, but he doesn't have strong record to show his experience and leadership. Some details can be found in Meet the Press Tim Russer show. I do feel not comfortable why he did not keep his record cince he plan to run for president. Also, sometimes when he anwsers questions, it seems that he doen't keep that subjest to the issue which make people sometimes hard to follow.

Firstimevoter (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:47 PM)

I T ' S N A T I O N A L W E A P P R E C I A T E H I L L A R Y D A Y ! hillaryclinton.com

Amy Thompson, not associated with Fred (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

BO was nailed:

"A Republican-leaning journalist runs a blind item designed to set Democrats against one another," said Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson. "Experienced Democrats see this for what it is. Others get distracted and thrown off their games."

Tofun,Disney (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

"The same old experience is not relevant: You can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience"

Guess who said THAT one? Bill Clinton.

Obama has 12 years of experience serving in public office. Clinton has 6 years experience serving in public office. Clinton has MUCH MORE experience, lying deceiving and douping the American public. She's got more experience planting questioners, much like Bush administration. She's got more experience not answering the hard questions. She's got more experience telling people what they WANT to hear instead of what they need to hear. She's got more experience waffling on issues. She's got more experience voting in favor of wars. She's got more experience following Bush-style diplomacy of not talking directly to foreign leaders.

That's not the experience we need. Obama offers the experience and judgment to make America a better nation. Obama has more experience standing by the principles the democratic party has lost. Principles, judgment, these are the things that make a GREAT President.

BARACK OBAMA '08

Ron, TX (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

I like Hillary. I hate Obama because he's...

Michael Furlong, NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

And how in hades thinks less than 2 years experience is solid traing for the presidency. Hell, Obama was in diapers when Clinton was changing the world
Tofun
*****************************************************

And 8 plus years of giving sloppy second blow jobs is sexperience for POTUS? Other than fellating her philandering husband during the 90's what other experience has she gleaned from being married to a president? It is unbelievable that so many Democrats have yet to see just how much this lady is hated... hated even by those in her own party.

Jimmy Chicago Il. (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

Did anyone making comment care to even read the speech of Clinton??? Not anywhere was she talking about Obama, those journalist are just fuelling the horse race.
"The next president will be a steward of our economy at a time when the bills from eight years of neglect and mismanagement will be coming due. He – or she – will have to turn our nation and our economy around.

"More than ever before, our workers will need good job training for the jobs of this new century. But there is one job we can’t afford on-the-job training for – our next president. That could be the costliest job training in history. Every day spent learning the ropes is another day of rising costs, mounting deficits and growing anxiety for our families. And they cannot afford to keep waiting.

"Now, it’s no surprise that the President continues to stand by his failed economic policies. This is, after all, a man who believes that stubbornness is a virtue.

"What is truly amazing, however, is that the Republican candidates for President are determined to continue these failed policies. In fact, we can describe their approach to the economy in four simple words: More of the same."

That is the passage which mentions experience, and now see it it refer to Obama or the republican?

seib (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:51 PM)

The more I hear Hillary the more in love with her I get! Bee
----------------------------------------------------

I did not approve this message from Hillary's machine. I am not voting for Hillary, period. Let us have a debate.

Obama all the way

Bee, NH (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:52 PM)

Hillary isn't fat! She's curvey and pretty too! Obama is too skinny to be president. And ugly.

pat huntington ny (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:00 PM)

And 8 plus years of giving sloppy second blow jobs is sexperience for POTUS? Other than fellating her philandering husband during the 90's what other experience has she gleaned from being married to a president? It is unbelievable that so many Democrats have yet to see just how much this lady is hated... hated even by those in her own party.
Jimmy Chicago Il. (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

I am absolutely disgusted that this comment was posted. Are we in junior high now? Goodbye, decorum - hello, First Read. Way to go, moderators. Seriously.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:00 PM)

whoa! all you guys/girls are making a lot of assumptions based on media, and way too much negative for me. and may I add, NO ONE, repeat NO ONE has experience as POTUS until he/she gets the job.

stix66-illinois (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:01 PM)

Obama has one thing over Hillary. He hasn't proven he can't be trusted yet.

Dave, Tn (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:03 PM)

What experience is she talking about? Mr. Obama has more experience than she does, he has tremendous experience as a community organizer, Constitutional law professor, Illinois Senator and now State senator well less that Mr. Biden for sure.and these MSM are so biased and have given Mrs. Clinton the crown of most experienced candidate. Does being in White house for 8 years counts as EXPERIENCE? if so, can we also give the crown of 8 years experience to Mrs. Laura Bush?

The only work she did while in White House was that she pushed for Universal Health Care and what happened, went down the drain, If failing to achieve things also counts as Experience then Mrs. Clinton has the most (she never reached across the aisle).

John Hair (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:03 PM)

Hatred is a sin! Cleanse yourself of hatred and you will see a new energetic world!

PreacherObama, Heaven (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:09 PM)

Hillary Clinton has been fighting for children, families and healthcare for years. She has more expereince than Obama and she really wants to take this country on a different directions. I just want people to stop judging her and give her chance. Hear what she has to offer and then judge her.

Aidyn, NY, NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:09 PM)

Quit talking about it! I hear Hillary toute that she has over "35 years of experience", I'm in I.T. and have been for 3 years, I've been using a computer for probably 15 years, but I don't say I've got 15 years of the experience needed for my job, I say I've got 3. Somebody should just put up a website that lists plainly the resume's of each candidate!!!

Blake, Denver, CO (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:11 PM)

Carrie,

You wrote, "Are we in junior high now? Goodbye, decorum - hello, First Read. Way to go, moderators. Seriously."

When others are unable or discuss the various candidates' merits and their positions on the issues, things often disintegrate into sophomoric quips.

Don, New York (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:12 PM)

I agree with Giuliani that I don't know what to make of her experience. She says she has "35 years" of experience fighting for public causes but at least half of that she was a lawyer in private practice and unless it was a no-show job to shove money to the Governor's wife, she was working or fighting for her clients. Then she was First Lady and Clinton's Defense Secretary, William Cohen, says she was never in the room when he briefed the President. What was she telling him to do about Rwanda? She hasn't been a worldbeater in the Senate, where she voted the wrong way on the Iraq War.

Katha Tysan, Somerville, NJ (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:14 PM)

'''.The next president will be a steward of our economy at a time when the bills from eight years of neglect and mismanagement are coming due." ...'

Actually, 15 YEARS OF ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT !!
Sorry !
The Clinton Adminsitration was NOT CAMELOT !!

Bill Clinton and Al Gore sold us out on NAFTA
NAFTA was created by, for and of the corporations and Wall Street investors.
NAFTA was bad for labor, consumers and the environment

But wait, there's MORE !
WTO was also a corporate oriented trade agenda...
Thank you Slick Willie !
Thank you, Lying Al Gore !

Go back and look at the millenial Communications Act
That has given us monopoly capitalism for the media

Clear Channel has over 900 radio stations in one corporation !!
Thank you Slick Willie !!
Pay to play !!

How about citizenship for Rupert Murdoch !!
Why SURE !! You're a Friend of Bill !!
That way Citizen Rupert could buy Fox and start Faux Newz !!
Pay to play, Rupert !!
Now you owe Hillary a favor !

How about Time/Warner/CNN...
ABC/ESPN/Disney......
All the big media congolomerates !!
Thank you Bill !!
Pay to play, right ?

The Clinton Administration WAS NOT CAMELOT !!
It just looks good in comparison to Bush !!
Mussolini looks good in comparison to Bush !!

Slick Willie couldn't pass the Kyoto accords !!
A Real Leader might have passed it !!
OH ! Too busy with Monica, huh ??

Anybody remember all those self indulgent scandals ?
A bloody, stupid cabaret of moral depravity

OH !
Pat.....
'...he's a smoker...can't trust him.
pat huntington ny...'

Bill Clinton was a smoker
Remember when he put his cigars INSIDE MONICA ?
Get a grip, patty girl !!

Why

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:19 PM)

Obama has one thing over Hillary. He hasn't proven he can't be trusted yet.
Dave, Tn (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:03 PM)

----
Don't worry Dave, it's only a matter of time until people see Obama for who he really is...a muslim set to destroy this country.

Bee, NH (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:20 PM)

And why should I think that Hillary Clinton is more experienced to lead this country? Oh...yeah, maybe it has to do with that phenomenal leadership and flexibility that led to the passage of a universal health care pkg. in 1993. Oh, no, wait a minute, that didn't pass, did it?

No, no, no, I know that it has to do with that stellar voting record in the senate. You know, that record where she shows her great judgment in foreign policy. No, that can't be it. She voted to authorize the president's use of force in Iraq without reading the NIE, thinking that he would use this authorization as a tool for diplomacy. And didn't she cede Congressional oversight of this use of force by voting against the Levin/Reed amendment? So, that's not it. That can't be an example of her good judgment and preparedness to be president.

Oh, I've got it. It has to do with what she has learned in the Senate, in terms of dealing with the lunacy of the Bush/Cheney administration. No, that's not it either. After five years, she voted for the Lieberman/Kyl amendment to authorize the president to use force against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. And this is after she had said that she never thought that the president would use the first (Iraqi) resolution, to take us to war.

I must be missing something. This claim of a great trove of experience and good judgment that should enable her to lead the nation from day one of her supposed presidency, completely eludes me.

Somebody will have to explain her claim of superiority to me. Could it be that she thinks that Bill Clinton will act as the de facto president? No, it couldn't be that either. That would sound too much like the Perons of Argentina (both #1 and #2 Mrs. Peron). After all, I would think that Hillary would be aware of the 22nd amendment to the Constitution, doncha think? She must realize that we don't have ruling families in this country.

Gosh, this is such a puzzlement to me. I'll have to go back and do some more research. No...I'm sure some of the Hillarophiles will be able to explain to me that her good judgment, this vast experience, is only trumped by her trustworthiness.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:20 PM)

Mark Murray
** hey guys can you take this guy off the blog, it is way over the line!

And 8 plus years of giving sloppy second blow jobs is sexperience for POTUS? Other than fellating her philandering husband during the 90's what other experience has she gleaned from being married to a president? It is unbelievable that so many Democrats have yet to see just how much this lady is hated... hated even by those in her own party.
Jimmy Chicago Il. (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 2:48 PM)

I am absolutely disgusted that this comment was posted. Are we in junior high now? Goodbye, decorum - hello, First Read. Way to go, moderators. Seriously.
Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:00 PM)

H P Boston (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 3:26 PM)

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