The typical litmus test for a vice presidential candidate is whether or not he or she is ready to take over at a moment’s notice. Pundits are magnifying this truism and for good reason – considering McCain’s age, the vice president could literally be a heartbeat away from taking over the most powerful office in the world.
Sarah Palin’s selection as McCain’s vice presidential nominee calls into question her ability to take over the task of president. Is she ready to direct the next major overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system, address high gas prices and fix a faltering education system? Those are all valid questions that her selection raises, but another interesting question on the flip side is whether with her experience as governor, she’s more qualified to be president than Barack Obama.
Palin is the wife to a seasonal oil worker on Alaska’s North Slope. She has five children, one has Down Syndrome and another is set to be deployed in Iraq. Her political experience is nowhere near that of Joe Biden and John McCain, but she has served as an executive. Palin has served as governor of Alaska for two years after defeating incumbent Republican Governor Frank Murkowski as well as served on her hometown’s city council and as Mayor for two terms. Palin’s selection brings up an interesting comparison to Barack Obama and his lack of experience.
Obama’s record is similar in respect to his lack of political experience. His twelve year political career includes a stint in the Illinois House of Representatives and his 2004 election as U.S. Senator.
Other than a promise, Palin has years more experience at actually serving as an executive of a government. In terms of relating to college students and issues like the economy and education, who seems to be more qualified to relate to these issues? Would it be Palin with a son in the army, teenage daughters in high school and a husband who’s a union member and small business owner, or Obama who has a plan formulated with a team of advisers? On energy, she’s worked with Alaska’s immense energy infrastructure. She understands the internal workings of the American oil industry and effective ways to tax windfall oil profits, and she’s actually visited ANWR – all practical experiences that could help an administration looking to bring relief to high gas prices. All Obama has is a plan.
Is Barack Obama any more qualified than Palin? Obama has no more experience than Palin, and his words of hope and change are the same things that Palin can offer in the coming months. As absurd as it may seem – Palin is more qualified to be president, and yet Obama is the one seeking the office.
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