by Mike Dorning
FORT DODGE, Iowa—Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was in Iowa today arguing she has the experience to lead the economy out of a downturn and that signs of economic trouble ahead make it risky to elect a different candidate.
But rival Barack Obama wasn't willing to concede the former first lady's claim of a superior economic background. "She wasn't Treasury Secretary in the Clinton Administration," Obama responded, when questioned by reporters.
Throughout the campaign, Clinton has suggested that Obama, who is a first-term U.S. senator, does not have enough experience to be president. Though her campaign has focused the criticism on his preparation to conduct foreign policy in an age of terrorism, she began a two-day swing through Iowa on Monday with a speech on economic policy delivered that again raised the question of experience.
''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,'' Clinton said, according to excerpts released in advance by her campaign. ''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.''
The advance excerpts released by the campaign, which usually stress the points a campaign hopes to see in media coverage, emphasized the point.
“We need a president who understands the magnitude and complexity of the challenges we face – and has the strength and experience to address them from day one. A president who has faith that the American people and the American economy are up to the task," she said. "If you give me that chance, I will be that president.”
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."





Comments
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.
Posted by: julie | November 19, 2007 2:18 PM
Hillary has the experience and Bill's help. We trust Hillary will restore our economy and we will have Social Security and Health Care when we retire.
Posted by: All Voters | November 19, 2007 2:42 PM
Barack, haven't you gotten it by now? Hillary is the smartest, most capable, most wonderful person EVER!! She knows how to do EVERYTHING!! She can run a country, run a business, run the world because she was First Lady of Arkansas AND the United States. Nothing in this world compares to the sheer brilliance that is the Queen B!
Posted by: John D | November 19, 2007 2:46 PM
Hillary has all the experience of a back-seat driver. She is quick to point out every flaw and profess to have greater driving abilities but we are required to forget her disasterous handling of issues when she was clearly in control.
Mention a mistake of hers and she points a finger of blame elsewhere, says she was tricked, calls it old news, or doesn't recall a single detail. If she had to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth her body wouldn't know how to act. Thats why she spent so much time in the ladies room after her grand jury testimony.
Posted by: whatnow | November 19, 2007 2:55 PM
What an amazingly un-dazzling record of non-achievement Barak has, too, eh? Democrats & Republicans continually come up with slates of candidates who inspire nothing and who mean just as much. What a pathetic mess we've voted our way into and look predestined to do it again.
Posted by: snalg | November 19, 2007 3:01 PM
Sure Hillary is the smartest, most capable, most wonderful person ever. Just ask her.
Posted by: Jeffrey Thal | November 19, 2007 3:03 PM
Hillary Clinton's "Economic BluePrint for the 21st Century" is a set of proposals that brought me and my husband right into her camp. We support her and will vote for her.
Hillary is clearly the most fiscally responsible of all the candidates running for President, in either party.
Posted by: Helen DeBarr | November 19, 2007 3:07 PM
Neither Senator has any qualifications to run anything. They're legislators with no executive experience. They act as if they have no other job besides criticizing the President. But they do have a job - passing laws. The President is not a dictator with absolute power, yet the way they criticize him you'd think Bush is. If they want to change things, they can pass the laws to do so, and not act like mere spectators with the power only to criticize. Get to work and show us you're capable of DOING something!!!
Posted by: haas | November 19, 2007 3:18 PM
Anyone whose alleged experience is based on a State House or the White House and a limited term as Senator has absolutely no reason to castigate Sen. Obama. Senator Clinton's suitability is entirely summed up by her botched health care revision,the Whitewater scandal, and her remaining married to a sexual predator! How can she lead this troubled and divided nation with such poor personal judgment? Moreover how can we so readily forget being made the laughing stock of the world and elect the woman who has condoned such scurrilous behavior by remaining married to this man.The Clinton White House was a total embarrassment and the Clinton Administration was a farce. Nothing of social or redeeming value was accomplished at home or abroad. Can we please elect a leader who will be a worthy example to us all as well as an astute politician, diplomat, strategist and leader in wartime.Are you listening Condi??????
Posted by: Malwolf | November 19, 2007 3:33 PM
Clinton will perpetuate the political dividedness that's been going on for decades. The American people will be fighting her the whole way. You actually READ her tax policy? Very damaging to the middle class.
She IS a backseat driver. Bottom line. She's total garbage, and we all know it. Have fun following her poll-driven campaign like a bunch of sheep.
If she gets the nod, Democrats are just as stupid as Republicans. And I'll re-register as an Independent.
Posted by: Angel | November 19, 2007 3:33 PM
I think Barak and Hillary should step aside and give the nomination to Bill Richardson - he is the only one who truly has leadership experience and represents the American people and not the interest groups that have been funneling money to both the Clinton and Obama camps.
Posted by: the truth | November 19, 2007 3:39 PM
''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.''
The new politics of fear seem to fit Hillary like a glove.
This is Obama's moment, and she knows it!
Posted by: Keith | November 19, 2007 3:55 PM
Can we please elect a leader who will be a worthy example to us all as well as an astute politician, diplomat, strategist and leader in wartime.Are you listening Condi??????
Posted by: Malwolf | November 19, 2007 3:33 PM
Wolfie,
Why don't you tell us what Condi has "accomplished"?
Shoe sale anyone?
Posted by: John E | November 19, 2007 3:58 PM
Barack should continue to speak to the general issue of a change from the the negative nasty governance by people who are so full of themselves that they have the audacity to believe that the citizens of this country want more of them. Hillary/Bill are masters of deception and have the guile to ooze their way into power once again. Democrats should not wait until the Republicans dress down Hillary/Bill, they need to be taken down now.
Where did Hillary/Bill get all this economic experience? and all the other experience she says she has? She sure didn't get it from Big Bill, he was busy with his "real" First Lady most nights. Imagine this woman who wants to be president! She pisses and moans about mud slinging and has done more of it than any of the other candidates. She's the little girl in the sandbox who knocks over all the other kid's castles and whines and calls assault when they knock over hers.
Posted by: GW | November 19, 2007 4:13 PM
In response to Julie from the 1st post:
Barack if you were such a great IL Senator then release your records from the time you were an IL state Sen. See it works both ways. Only a hypocruite would call for one to release the records and excuse the other. TO Obama claiming she wasnt the Treasurer. News Flash Obama has never been anything but a teacher and do nothing gov official. You know what they say, those who can't, teach.
Posted by: Vinny | November 19, 2007 4:32 PM
Heil Hillary! After she destroys Obama, the christians and any non-democrats are next!
Glory to Allah! Hillary is the best tool the Muslims have!
Posted by: Nathan Reese | November 19, 2007 4:41 PM
And when Hillary is president we will all be wearing Mao Tse-Tung styled pant suits. Beware fashion industry, she is coming after you next.
Posted by: Rm | November 19, 2007 5:09 PM
Barack if you were such a great IL Senator then release your records from the time you were an IL state Sen. See it works both ways. Only a hypocruite would call for one to release the records and excuse the other. TO Obama claiming she wasnt the Treasurer. News Flash Obama has never been anything but a teacher and do nothing gov official. You know what they say, those who can't, teach.
Posted by: Vinny | November 19, 2007 4:32 PM
We're still waiting for Adolph Giuliani to release all of his records from when he was the most unpopular mayor that NYC ever had, until him and the other Republics do this you're not going to see anything but your own backside, Vincie.
Rudy records like this:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0732,barrett,77463,6.html/full
and this:
http://therealrudy.org/radios
Posted by: Smirky Chimp | November 19, 2007 5:13 PM
Experience? You know, I'll bet Barack Obama's friend Warren Buffet would be glad to help if he has any questions about the economy. I understand Mr. Buffet has quite a bit of experience. The president doesn't have to have experience, he just has to listen to the experts and take advantage of their experience.
Posted by: Tom O | November 19, 2007 5:23 PM
Glory to Allah! Hillary is the best tool the Muslims have!
You got it wrong - Hillary is the best tool the Zionists have. Husband Bill will take out his yamaka and Hillary will fill her administration with Jewish surnames and Israel will again be the puppeteer to this puppet govenment. First on her agenda will be to solidify Israel's power in the Middle East by attacking Iran. Be afraid, very afraid.
Posted by: the truth | November 19, 2007 6:03 PM
What experience does she have leading an economy out of a downturn. When her husband became president, the economy was 18 months removed from a recession.
On the other hand, she (her husband) does have experience putting an ecoonomy into an downturn since when they (he) left office, the economy was 38 days away from a recession.
Tom O.,
As far as Mr. Buffet, he can't even be honest about his true tax rate that he earns on his own dividend income.
Posted by: Terry | November 19, 2007 6:22 PM
Hillary's economic plans are GOOD news for middle class voters. There is not a more experienced package than Hillary and Bill. Sending you great vibes Madam President!!
Posted by: Brooks | November 19, 2007 6:37 PM
Cheney and Rumsfeld had plenty of DC experience too! Look how well that turned out.
Posted by: WhoDat | November 19, 2007 6:43 PM
The thing about Hillary is she's never actually done anything. She's been an "advocate" for children, health care, etc., for X years.
OK, fine. But she's never actually done anything.
Posted by: Brian | November 19, 2007 6:55 PM
The best part of this exchange between the two camps is that it demonstrates both camps' ability to play insulting politics and stoop to the level that the current administration had tried so hard to normalize in today's politics. Both Clinton and Obama should raise the level of discourse - bottom line is that Hillary is an extreme corporatist and Obama is a less-extreme corporatist. Her political experience is felt everyday that we contend with the problems introduced by NAFTA and the WTO. After this exchange, the clear choice to me is Edwards - we need to get the money out of politics before it's too late - if it isn't already.
Posted by: Mark M. | November 19, 2007 6:58 PM
Smirky Chimp, er John E (how many names do you post in here by the way??), Guiliani won re-election and by a pretty healthy margin too. This is especially noteworthy because he is a Republican who was mayor of a city in which 85 percent of the residents are Demoncrats. There are plenty of NY mayors who were way more unopopular. Ever hear of Dinkins for one??
Posted by: John D | November 19, 2007 8:28 PM
Mark, capitalism is here to stay, until China says otherwise. Corporatism won't be cured by laws, which have loopholes, but by open government, online and available with full broadband access for everyone to see both the donations to everything from campaigns to foundations that donate to campaigns, and earmarks by each and every legislator.
That's what Obama offers with his Chief Technology Officer and Technology Policy - accountability. When more people see what we manage to find only through deep digs into many watchdog websites, we will have more allies to end corporatism aka fascism once and for all.
The more I read/learn about Barack, the more I see a pragmatic but dynamic reformer. If we don't make him POTUS, get ready for much more defiant resistance as things deteriorate faster, climate and economy and intl affairs wise. There is urgency, but not the "Be afraid, hide behind my skirts" kind. The urgency is the "Real change we can believe in, right now!" kind.
Barack's done more to stem corrupt corporate influence than any of the other candidates, ergo, the Secret Service protection. Let's protect our greatest asset. Just vote for Barack, please.
Posted by: VCubed | November 19, 2007 8:41 PM
Hilary claims a lot. She says she has experience, in fact, Joe Biden has more experience and knowledge than her. She says, she will be ready to lead from Day One. That is a joke. She will sit there and Divide this country further from Day One. I feel sorry for the democrats for supporting her. This country is not in need of the divisive politics of the 90's and Bush's presidency. Just the thought of the baggage that comes with the Clintons is enough to weigh us down and divide us further. Let us look for an alternative candidate.
Posted by: Brian | November 19, 2007 9:51 PM
So many candidates claim experience.
Few are ever asked, experience at what?
Neither Obama nor Hillary have economic backgrounds.
This kind of empty argument is why American presidential campaigns have become almost meaningless exercises in rhetoric and advertising.
More like a marketing fight between two brands of hamburger or cola than a genuine political debate.
The Republicans are no better, having wasted decades on "issues" like family values.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | November 20, 2007 9:47 AM