Wednesday, July 07, 2004

The Experience Issue



By now you are probably as sick as I am of hearing Republicans complain that Senator John Edwards lacks the experience necessary to be the Vice President of the United States (including Bloated Pill-Popper's rib-tickling claim that John Edwards is "Dan Quayle without the gravitas").

Count on E. J. Dionne to provide the anecdotal antidote:

When you hear Republicans disparage Sen. John Edwards's lack of experience, remember the words of Sen. Orrin Hatch, spoken to George W. Bush at a debate on Dec. 6, 1999.

"You've been a great governor," Hatch declared of his rival for the Republican presidential nomination. "My only problem with you, governor, is that you've only had four and going into your fifth year of governorship. . . . Frankly, I really believe that you need more experience before you become president of the United States. That's why I'm thinking of you as a vice presidential candidate."



Update: Rude Pundit provides an historic perspective.