Wednesday, Los Angeles, California

For the political junkies out there, as well as any citizen following this dynamic presidential election, it is certainly the most interesting we have had in years. Not since the bizarre election of 2000 between President Bush and Al Gore, with the handing chads and the supreme Court intervention, has the event an election with his many twists and turns.

As each party inches closer to identifying their candidates, one of the main issues revolves around the experience of the candidates. And for the three left standing as of now, it would seem that Hillary Clinton and John McCain have significantly stronger credentials then the upstart Barack Obama. There is no question that Obama’s resume cannot compare to that of his rivals. But on reflection, I wonder what that really means?

When I think about the work of legislators, the individuals elected to office nationally or in their state, it certainly seems that an awareness of how to bring an idea to enactment in law is an important skill. This is why they surround themselves with researchers and other skilled aides who help negotiate the necessary compromises to make their term effective. But when it comes to the office of the President of the United States, I wonder how much that really matters?

From where I sit as a citizen, it appears that the president’s main job is to be the voice for the nation. In reflecting the values and priorities of the party and the people that swept them into their office, the President’s job this to be, in Teddy Roosevelt’s famous phrase, the “Bully Pulpit.”

In reality, it is the work of a President’s staff of the president to translate the ideas and commitments of the campaign into the administration’s policy and law. The president needs to be knowledgeable, of course, and articulate the policies of the nation to the world on our behalf. If this assessment of the office is valid, then it seems to me that the strategy taken by Clinton and McCain attacking Obama’s inexperience is not likely to stick. Their criticism that he is all rhetoric and little substance is not the slander that they think it is; it is not a criticism that has much weight. In fact, it might be that Obama’s capacity for elevated rhetoric, and inspiration is exactly what is most effective in that office.

Of course on the matter of experience, I am reminded of the worry that surrounded President John Kennedy, who also was a young, inspirational and charismatic figure. In David Halbertam’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, “The Best and the Brightest,” he detailed Kennedy’s early decisions upon his election to surround himself with the best minds he could possibly find from around the country. History will judge better than me, of course whether these great minds served him well or not. But at the time this instinct to surround himself with notable human resources went a long way toward reassuring people that he was up to the job.

It seems to me that this is the same challenge for Barack Obama’s. If he is elected the true test about his experience, or lack of experience will come with his appointments, with his advisers.

If there is a reason to reject Barack Obama’s, I’m not sure the charge of youth and limited experience will do it.