The Democrats: 2008

All sides of the Democratic debates have so far been focused on experience, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. Having it, not having it, not even wanting it.

(And let’s never talk about the whole Clinton-Obama ‘would I-wouldn’t I talk to korea’ scuffle again.)

This Labor Day weekend, traditionally the marker for the real race to start (what were the last 4 months then?) Clinton unveiled a new speech and a new ad.

“I know some people think you have to choose between change and experience. Well, with me, you don’t have to choose.”

Obama and Edwards came back with their own attacks on the system Clinton touted.

“…the system isn’t working for us and hasn’t in a long time.”

But outside their whole hardened veteran vs. idealistic outsider ‘narratives’, does experience even matter?

When it comes to foreign policy, presidential experts are saying no.

Besides…

Unless being first lady counts as a foreign policy credential, Mrs. Clinton does not have that much on her resume.

The real problem for the Democrats is that even though foreign policy (read: Iraq) is a big issue in this election, and one that could play well for them considering the mess a Republican government has made [The Washington Post leads with a story on the situation and on the GAO's recent report that the government has failed to meet 11 of 15 benchmarks set], none of the front contenders really have anything useful to say about how to fix the situation. Or win this supposed War on Terror.

From the The LA Times:

The Democrats all want to talk about getting out of Iraq, but not so much about Al Qaeda or terrorism. The Republicans all want to talk about terrorism, but not so much about Iraq.

Clinton makes the valid point that a terror attack would be a GOP boost. Of course, she was attacked for pointing this out, but that doesn’t make it not true.

If the Democrats don’t figure out how to change the foreign policy debate and control it, it won’t matter how messed up Iraq is. They aren’t going to make it (or America) any safer.

What about where the terrorists came from in the first place? There’s plenty of room for policy addressing the roots of poverty and disease as a breeding ground for terror and violence.