The GOP theory that Palin, as a former small town mayor and half-term governor, has more "executive experience" than Obama, is really a two-pronged attack. The obvious goal is to belittle Obama's experience. But comparing Palin to Obama is also a symbolic reversal of the ticket, an attempt to diminish Obama by comparing him to the other side's VP choice. We should not go along with this strategy by playing the "Obama versus Palin" game.
Instead, let's compare the two presidential candidates. If executive experience is what counts, it's far more appropriate to compare McCain to Obama. McCain's much-vaunted experience is primarily legislative: 2 terms in the House and 4 terms in the Senate.
According speaker after speaker at the GOP convention last night, recycling the anti-McCain argument of the GOP primary, those years don't count.
Last night, Palin emphasized her governing chops, refering to herself at one point as a "chief executive." This theme was repeated by so many speakers, it's clearly the convention's central message.
It's notable, at least according to GOP notions of leadership and experience, that she could not cite an actual instance of McCain exercising executive authority. Obviously, he needs to step aside: Palin is far more experienced than McCain.
Similarly, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani cited Palin's executive experience---much as he bragged about his own last September when challenging McCain in the primary. Same consistency for Mike Huckabee. The message is clear: Executive experience is what counts in a presidential race.
Apparently, GOP voters have made a tragic mistake in chosing McCain, who has none.
Yes, McCain has a line of defense here. When Mitt Romney, who also echoed these talking points this week, questioned McCain's executive experience during the primary, McCain famously shot back, citing his leadership of the "largest squadron" in the Navy. Just how big was that squadron? A skeptical right-wing blogger at the time quoted McCain, who estimated it at "over a thousand." (The number is not sourced, so should be treated with caution). The former mayor of Wasilla governed about 7,000 people, which is obviously a lot more.
I'm not in the military, so I don't know, but a captain looks to me like someone in the middle of a large hierarchy, not an executive. Leadership, perhaps. Executive experience, not so much. Seems that in selecting his running-mate McCain is questioning his own ability to govern.
Maybe, though, executive experience is not all that relevant. Maybe judgment matters. On the issues, Obama has the mastery, which is why the GOP keeps playing shell games. One candidate said in 2002:
I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars.
One candidate dismissed last summer's "gas tax holiday" idea as a shameless gimmick. It's time to focus on the issues that will win the election.