McCain’s interview on Fox refocused the question of ‘experience’ to include the additional aspect of ‘judgement’ = what was learned by that experience. McCain did a great job of reminding America that Gov Palin has been to Kuwait as a commander-in-chief of the Alaska National Guard, it underscores how quality time is better than just wall clock time. Palin beat Obama to the war front because she was a concerned commander. Obama has wasted much of his time campaigning and making wild and unrealistic promises.

But the essence of McCain’s point is the concept of tenure (years in a seat) is nothing if you don’t address the ‘judgement’ that was garnered from those years. And that will end most of the experience nonsense from the liberal left.

Which is too bad really, because every time the liberal media and democrats try to slice ‘experience’ to favor the man (Obama) and handicap the woman (Palin) they are desperately trying to place that glass ceiling back over women – who know this is EXACTLY how men with relatively equal experience find marginal differences to make sure they get the higher pay and better opportunities. This stealth bias, that there must be a different bar for women to progress, is so subtle and so ingrained that the left doesn’t even know that they are still trying to fix those 18 million cracks that Hillary’s supporters pounded into the glass ceiling.

McCain has taken the right path here. Anyone can limit the ‘experience’ question to the point one candidate finally creeps ahead of the other (which always seems to be the man – right?). The fact is there is very little difference on how far Palin and Obama are from the typical experience level for Presidential candidates. In one aspect Obama may be a tad closer, in others Palin is much further ahead. But the fact is Obama and Palin – compared to the older two Senators on the ticket – are about the same distance experience wise.

The fact the liberal males keep trying to slice this subject to establish a different bar for their man and one for the GOP woman is actually one of the best things happening to the GOP with regards to the woman’s vote. As long as the left keeps trying to set different standards for men and women they will drive women to Palin’s side.  And for some it is not that big a jump:

“We may be seeing the first woman president. As a Democrat, I am reeling,” said Camille Paglia, the cultural critic. “That was the best political speech I have ever seen delivered by an American woman politician. Palin is as tough as nails.”

Boy, you get Paglia’s respect you are doing something important. More importantly, the landslide of donations going into the McCain-Palin campaign is the best sign out there the dynamics have shifted towards the GOP since the Palin selection.  Today the polls will give us our first indication of how much a shift is happening.

Now that is my definition of gun control.

Tags: 2008 Election, Sarah Palin