It is interesting that in this year’s race for president there is less emphasis on the issues. Between Obama and McCain are a lot of differences in how they will tackle issues. One will pull out of Iraq and one will stay forever. One will let the free market determine the fate of the people and the other will make sure that the government has a say. One will work hard to overturn Roe Vs. Wade the other will preserve the rights of women to choose and so on and so forth.

In spite of all the differences, what we are inundated with are rumors and innuendos. When not battling to dispel them, we have to perambulate on the issue of experience. It is difficult to argue that we do not need a person with experience as president, even when history shows us a different picture.

One observer once noted that “Roosevelt proved a man could be President for life. Truman proved anybody could be President; and Eisenhower proved we don’t need a President.” In a modern version of it, we can say that Reagan proved a man could be President for life. Clinton proved anybody could be President; and G.W. Bush proved we don’t need a President.

Talking about Reagan, writer Gore Vidal noted that “As the age of television progresses, the Reagans will be the rule, not the exception. To be perfect for television is all a President has to be these days.”

It all makes you wonder who stole the real debate on issues and why. Does it have something to do with McCain not being a real Republican or Obama being Black?
Recently I got this email that evidently illustrates the matter.
Enjoy.
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You have two choices for president:

The first one has one of the longest lines of political experience in history. He is exceedingly popular in congress. He was a soldier who volunteered to defend the United States in the Navy.

The second one has no real political experience outside of Illinois. He is tall and lanky with big ears. He even lost a few of his first attempts at gaining political office. He is an excellent speechwriter and orator. He is a good attorney and has a successful law practice.

So which one would you choose?

This is a trick question because both were already Presidents of the United States. The first one is the 15th President of the United States, James Buchannan. He is the President who mired us in the Civil War by declaring the action illegal but doing nothing when the south decided to seceed from the Union. He is largely considered by historians as being the worst President in American history.

He was followed by the other man who became the 16th President of the United States: Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln is credited with the end of slavery, the end of the Civil War, and unification of the nation. He became president at a dark time when our country was deeply divided over very polarizing issues. He had no experience in Washington prior to his Presidency. He is widely considered by historians as one of the best Presidents in American History.

Which one would you prefer as your President now? We have an almost identical choice before us today between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Could you sleep well at night if you made the wrong choice?