Experience Twisted

Senator Hillary Clinton continually touts her 17 years of experience fighting the Republicans.  She is battle hardened.  Her claim is not just dubious, it is also politically opportunistic.

Senator Barack Obama has served four years in the U.S. Senate to Hillary's eight years.  Is six years the magical experience threshold?  Was Hillary inexperienced two years ago?  In the Senate, Obama serves on both the Foreign Relations and the Homeland Security committees.  Obama has an additional eight years experience in the Illinois State Senate while Hillary has no such experience as an elected official.  However, since Hillary is older than Obama, the "experience" claim tends to stick like glue.  And Hillary knows it.

So what is Hillary's experience fighting the Republicans for 17 years?  The Republicans absolutely steamrolled her on healthcare back in the 80's.  Then the Republicans mercilessly impeached her husband and did a pretty impressive job trashing the Clinton legacy.  As a Senator, Hillary gave President George W. Bush a free pass on the Iraq War, letting the Republicans steamroll her yet again.

Most all of the positions Hillary holds are respectable progressive positions, but she is 0-3 in big battles with Republicans.  Despite being battle hardened, Hillary has never once beaten the Republicans on anything substantial.

America does not need another president whose primary strategy is to beat up the opposing political party.  And we definitely do not need a Democratic president whose 17 years of experience is 17 years of losing.