Apples and Moose-Turd

The line of attack keeps coming up that Obama is inexperienced. It continues to be false. As I mentioned in an earlier post (March 5, 2008), Obama has twenty two (22) years of relevant experience: five (5) years as a community organizer dealing with voting rights, three (3) years as an associate at a big law firm, ten (10) years as a constitutional law professor, and twelve (12) years now as an elected official.

Also for those who compare Obama’s community organizing experience to the largely ceremonial duties of the Mayor of Wasilla. Here are the duties of the Mayor of Wasilla, as defined by the Wasilla Municipal Code:

2.16.020 Power and duties of mayor.

A. The mayor is the chief administrator of the city, has the same powers and duties as those of a manager under AS 29.20.005, and shall:
1. Preside at council meetings. The mayor may take part in the discussion of matters before the council, but may not vote, except that the mayor may vote in the case of a tie;
2. Act as ceremonial head of the city;
3. Sign documents on behalf of the city;
4. Appoint, suspend or remove city employees and administrative officials, except as provided otherwise in AS Title 29 and the Wasilla Municipal Code;
5. Supervise the enforcement of city law and carry out the directives of the city council;
6. Prepare and submit an annual budget and capital improvement program for consideration by the council, and execute the budget and capital program as adopted;
7. Make monthly financial reports and other reports on city finances and operations as required by the council;
8. Exercise legal custody over all real and personal property of the city;
9. Perform other duties required by law or by the council; and
10. Serve as personnel officer, unless the council authorizes the mayor to appoint a personnel officer.
B. The mayor may appoint a person to the position of administrative assistant and deputy administrator. If appointed, the positions may not be eliminated during the mayor’s term of office without prior consent of the mayor.

So there you have it, the sum total of Palin’s pre-2007 experience. No trade or foreign policy or economic issues dealt with, no laws written or even considered, no public policy to set. Nothing. A figurehead. Now does anything really think that being a United States Senator is also a figurehead position? Or that the two are in any way comparable?

Also note that when Obama was community organizing, Palin was still in college, and then working as a sportscaster on some small local station. Palin didn’t start serving as governor until after Obama had already announced his run for for the Presidency. Apples and oranges. Or rather, apples and moose-turd.