Does a day trip to London qualify you to be president?

Earlier this week I wrote this story about Barack Obama's relative lack of foreign policy experience.

I pointed out that he has made just one official visit as Senator to Western Europe - a one day stop-over in London on the way back from Russia where, along with other members of the Foreign Relations committee, he saw the then Prime MInister, Tony Blair.

He was later reported as saying, in the manner perhaps of a privileged but nonetheless excited tourist on his first visit to London, that "they let me sit in Winston Churchill's reading chair!"

A single quote can, of course, be misleading. But it is the only one that I can find on our database from this brief British trip and, for all his many other qualities, this remark really does not have the look of presidential timbre.

Nor can I find anyone from Downing Street who remembers much about the day in 2005 when the Senator came-a-calling - although it should be pointed out there aren't many officials remaining from the Blair era.   

Steve Clemons, who first divulged how Obama has not yet convened a single policy meeting of the Senate European sub-committee, has taken a consistently fair-minded approach to issue of foreign policy "intuiton" versus foreign expertise. 

Former US ambassador Joe Wilson (who has endorsed HIllary Clinton) make similar points in more forceful fashion. "Obama's supposed "intuitive sense" is no different from George W. Bush's 'instincts' and 'gut feeling' describing his own foreign policy decision-making. We have been down this road before," he writes.

Larry Johnson points out that the European committee which Obama chairs (or does not chair as the case may be) oversees “U.S. involvement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), relations with the European Union (EU), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Matters relating to Greenland and the northern polar region are also the responsibility of this subcommittee".

He is proposing a competition to  be Obama's tour guide when eventually makes it to Europe, a visit which the Senator's advisers suggest may take place "after he wins the nomination".

Obama himself has just been on CBS Face the Nation, responding to attacks on his lack of foreign policy experience. He says America should talk "not just to our friends but also to our enemies". Fine, but how about starting off by talking a bit more to the friends?

He says the "criticism that has been levelled at me is identical to the criticism that was levelled at [Bill Clinton] when he was running against George HW Bush".

A fair point. And a difficult one for the Hillary camp to refute because they can't point out, like the rest of us can, that the first Clinton term as president was marked by some mis-steps (on foreign policy as much as anything else) which might have been avoidable with more experience.

Comments

[JustWinBaby]

Few people doubt that Barack Obama would be up to speed on Europe should he become president. He is a smart and capable lawyer, a gifted writer and thinker. I'm not sure you can create doubts about his ability to operate on the world stage with, what you even admit, is basically a debating point. It's not the kind of issue that will resonate with Democratic primary voters. But good luck with it. And give my best to the Clinton press folks you dealt with on this one. Ta...

[Brett]

I'm a supporter for Obama, and I'll openly admit that his lack of any professional foreign policy experience is a weakness.

I look at it, however, as a trade-off: Obama has a background that may be very useful for passing and promoting legislation and his political party, and if he doesn't have foreign policy experience, well - perhaps he can appoint people and advisors who do.

[Malcolm Stephens]

And how far had Dubya travelled prior to his election?

[Michael Paterson]

Wow! Your piece really lifts the lid on the failure of potential presidential candidates to step up to the bat, professional foreign policy experience-wise! Quite frankly, I have some difficulty understanding why failure to shake the sweaty hand of Mr. Brown should disqualify a man from leading his nation but I'm sure it will all become clear when Obama make some egregious foreign policy error, like failing to worship at the feet of the Downing Street maestro.

[Thorval]

Consider the founding fathers; how many of them physically visited other nations? And yet their foreign policy is (in part) why we are the nation we are today.

[notrob]

It's telling that any American would even consider such an inexperienced player to be their leader on the world stage. As an American expat of a certain age living in the UK, it's been my misfortune to observe a hastening erosion in the American ability to even recognise, never mind value, experience over personality. I suppose we reap what we sow.

[john]

the 'experienced" politicos have done such a marvellous job, it would certainly be foolhardy to change anything

new ideas or approaches to world affairs are for suckers

[Jabli Izvesti]

Obama overflows with good intentions.As such,he could try to be a world leader like Jimmy Carter.

[Undecided]

I feel fairly confident that Obama's turn in the senate has given him as much foreign policy experience as one might gain as the mayor of New York, first lady of the United States, baptist minister, or supporting castmember on Law & Order. No one in this race, with the exception of Bill Richardson, has any extensive foreign policy experience. Neither did Bill Clinton in 1992.

My hope, in supporting Barack Obama, is that a smart, intellectually curious president will excel in what he knows, and learn what he doesn't along the way. After eight years of a president who already thinks he knows it all, that's the best I think we can hope for.

[Lisa LS]

Let's remember that Joe Wilson, although a hero in my view, has to "pay the piper" in the form of the Clinton's for their past support of him. He is not an honest broker in this matter. Let's also stop comparing any Democratic nominee to Bush with his "gut" instinct. I think conservative and liberal both agree that Obama intellect and deductive powers compared to Bush are like comparing Einstein to a very well-trained chimpanze (no offense to the monkey).

Last point...
I teach history and government to young people and Obama inspires my students and former students reclaim THEIR democracy. Clinton and Edwards have their selling points, but we need a leader to help America remember who we are SUPPOSED to be.

Vote OBAMA in '08!

[Barry]

Consider this: the last three first-term presidents we have elected that could truly have been said to have substantial foreign policy experience when elected:
(a) 1988, George H.W. Bush
(b) 1968, Richard M. Nixon
(c) 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

I think it would be fair to say that the foreign policy *results* of these three administrations do not lend much support to the premise that substantial prior experience is important. (Aside from the major, if problematic, contributions of Henry Kissinger).

[m.mostofi]

The president of US can only influence the directions of any decisions made for global operations. Mosty of these decisions are made by a groupe of expert appointed by the president and approved by the congress of the United state. I am very confident that Obama is capable of making such expert appointees

[John M. Turmelle]

How would a Barack Obama / Wesley Clark ticket suit you? too reminiscent of Bush / Cheney?

[Frenchy]

Obama is truly pathetic. He looks absolutely ridiculous as he comments on the death of Bhutto.....I wonder if he even knew who she was? If Obama really cared about the future of this country, he would step aside (along with his weak "resume") and support the most deserving candidate, Hillary Clinton, on winning this bid. He is motivated by personal gain and could care a less about the future of our country. Accepting the FACT that he is NOT the best choice would take experience, wisdom, strength and courage; character traits that he (obviously) lacks.

[Breiana]

The Politico -- Obama's "rookie mistakes:" Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic senator from Illinois "has also shown a tendency toward seemingly minor contradictions and rhetorical slips that serve as reminders that he is still a newcomer to national politics." we originally found ourselves a bit miffed that Sen. Obama has improved his fortunes so much. After all, as far as we can determine, the junior Senator from Illinois has distinguished himself for only two things: Uttering mind-numbing platitudes that would make the average politician blush and speaking ill-advisedly on matters of foreign policy.This, for example, was the guy who claimed he would blithely chat up Iran with no preconditions, right after he bombed Pakistan into the Stone Age. Well, that sounds pretty reasonable, doesn’t it? Tell us more about your deep-seated political wisdom, Sen. Obama.A foul-up again by the Obama campaign in South Carolina causing bad publicity in the home stretch. ministers have come forward and said they did not endorse Obama, despite their inclusion on his list of endorsements that the campaign had put out, .It could be that on a list of over 100 endorsements.

[b]

Does the world want "foreign policy experience"? Or does it simply want some empathy for those who are not Americans?

[Bass]

Experience? What experience did Bill Clinton have before becoming president? And do you know Bush had more experience than all these runners? And what about JFK's experience?

[Faye]

Uhhhhhhhhh, did George double-yuh who called Pakistanis "Pakis" ever leave the United States before becoming President of the Great United States?

[DanT]

His lack of experience is definitely troubling. But Hilary, despite her claims, has just as light a record. It is a stretch to say that being the wife of a President and using that connection to become a senator gives her any more foreign policy experience than Obama.

[Paul]

Right. Criticize Barack for this. How many times was W out of the country before he became president? 0? Right. So it's an issue only if you're a Democrat? Republicans get a pass? When Huckabee is your nominee is that a point you're still going to harp on?

[Osiris]

I too support Obama and admit that his foreign policy background is weak but let's just remember who is currently president. GWB is a 2 term president and his foreign policy is about as bad as it has ever been . A tree sloth would make better FP decisions.

[Lon]

John Edwards has traveled extensively and would be a better choice for President than Obama or Hillary Clinton.

[Lon]

John Edwards is the best candidate for the nation and the world stage in 2008!

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

NO,IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT1

[Sarah]

Barack Obama's lack of foreign policy experience is not nearly as relevant as the symbolic rejection of Bushism his victory would represent. Obama is the quintessential anti-Bush, in both the domestic and foreign policy arenas.

If there is any candidate who can help heal the damage caused by eight years of American unilateral imperialism, it is Obama.