BILL STUNTZ on Palin, Obama, and the experience issue. “Perhaps the jobs she has held are too small to count in a national presidential campaign. But that isn’t obvious, not yet anyway. What matters more, to me and I bet to more than a few others, is what she’s done in those jobs. The fact that her approval rating among Alaskans is in Mark Warner territory suggests that she might be the kind of governor Warner was in Virginia. If so, that should count for a lot–even if she hasn’t had much time in office. Because time-serving won’t count for much in the offices these four candidates are seeking.”
Plus, fellow lawprof Ann Bartow on sexism: “The Supposedly Liberal Doods threw the most disgusting sexism at Hillary Clinton and her supporters during the Democratic primary. Then Obama picks Joe ‘no friend of women’ Biden as his running mate, rather than choosing somebody who would help build party unity. Now the Supposedly Liberal Doods are back in gear, throwing disgusting sexism at Palin. Why does it have to be like this? Hey Supposedly Liberal Doods, if you want Obama elected, stop burning bridges with women voters and start building some.” Good advice. But is Biden really “no friend of women?”
More on experience, from Ross Douthat (“Yes, Joe Biden has more experience than Sarah Palin. But there’s a not-implausible case to be made that Sarah Palin has more experience than … Barack Obama!”), Jonathan Adler (“Sure, Sarah Palin was a ‘hockey mom’ before her entry into politics, but Barack Obama has never held a single full-time job for more than three years.”) and Tyler Cowen (“Around the blogosphere you will see many left-wing writers criticizing Palin for lack of experience. Maybe this criticism is correct, but these commentators are falling into The Trap.”)
But from Ramesh Ponnuru, cold water. Eric Scheie, meanwhile, comments: “I wonder whether a media analysis would reveal whether ‘inexperienced’ Republicans draw more media criticism than ‘inexperienced’ Democrats.” Yes, as noted at TalkLeft, the Tim Kaine double-standard appears. Though that’s more a case, perhaps, of a gender double-standard.
UPDATE: Via Ann Bartow, this post on the Palin pick: “It will complete the alienation of the rest of the Hillary supporters from the Obama camp. How? That’s easy — the Obamabots will do it themselves. Go read the Washington Post blog or anywhere online where the Palin pick is being discussed, and you’ll see the trademark Obama misogyny already out in full force. She’s been on the ticket for two seconds and already the Obamabots are saying she ‘looks like a porn star,’ they’re making rude remarks about her childbearing, they’re ridiculing her intelligence.”
Yeah, Obama’s supporters are his biggest weak point. Including the ones in the media.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Ann Althouse and Rachel Sklar on the Palin pick.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Swimsuit competition? Yeah, that’s a killer issue. “The Obamabots really aren’t going to try to reverse that reputation for misogyny any time soon.”
MORE: A different perspective: “Palin hasn’t been running for national office for 18 months. Obama has. Running a presidential campaign is a form of ‘executive experience.'”