Foreign Policy Experience

[JSojourner]

Big knock on Obama is that he has no foreign policy experience.  I think that's a very fair criticism and it has prompted my call for Joe Biden or Dick Gephardt or someone like that as his running mate.

That said -- of the above Presidents, assuming Obama wins in November, which has more foreign policy experience on day one?

[MODU]

Off the top of my head, I would have to say either Reagan or Bush.  Both came as governors from large states that shared borders with a foreign nation, requiring interaction on the international scene.  Who had more, I would have to go back and look.

[exopolitician]

Sen. Kerry was on MSNBC last night talking about the situation and Chris Matthews brought up foreign policy experience and asked if this would hurt Obama in the general election if he won the nomination. Kerry explained that Obama has more foriegn policy experience than Bill Clinton and George W. had combined before both of them took office. Or something along the lines of that...I wish I could find audio of video of the conversation.

[JSojourner]

The short answer is Obama.

Two years on the Senate foreign relations committee trumps being governor of a state, even if that state shares a border with Mexico.  So Howard Dean had foreign policy experience because Vermont borders Canada?  Not much.

And most of the Mexico border issues are federal matters.  The Governors deal with the feds, not the Mexicans. Governors DO gain a modicum of foreign policy experience, diplomatic experience, etc. when they travel abroad to drum up business.  Sometimes states have "sister cities" in places like Japan and China and Germany.

But when it comes to grappling with our nation's relations with the world, I'd take Senate FRC experience anyday over eating rubber chicken at the German consulate in Dallas.

That said, you can certainly assail Obama for still not having enough experience.  Or for not working as hard on the FRC as maybe you think he should have.  Or one can make the argument that actual foreign policy experience is overrated.  But don't tell me The Decider had foreign policy experience.  Unless weekend golf outings with members of the House of Saud count.

And anyway -- McCain has more than Obama, Clinton or any of the people on the poll (at the time of their ascendency.)

[TheGlobalizer]

I was thinking of George H.W. Bush when I voted for George W. Bush.

But GWB had a lot of interaction with Vincente Fox prior to the election.  I think that counts.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Probably Reagan; eight years as Governor of a state on the border with Mexico counts for something.

[Wakie]

Reagan.  As the head of state of one of the world's largest economies (yes, California alone is and was one of the world's largest economies) part of his job was encouraging other country's to do business in California.

Bush, Carter, and Clinton had similar experiences in their positions.

Although Obama has been in the Senate since 2005, he recently said in a debate that he has been campaigning for President for "2 years".  And as anyone who has even remotely been involved in a Presidential campaign can tell you, it is a full-time job.  So really ... Obama has about 1 year in the Senate.

[JSojourner]

I was thinking of George H.W. Bush when I voted for George W. Bush.

But GWB had a lot of interaction with Vincente Fox prior to the election.  I think that counts.

Oh HW Bush wins hands down.  CIA Director, U.S. Ambassador to China, Vice-President.  Hell, he had more foreign policy experience than Obama, Clinton, McCain, Bill Clinton, Ford, Carter and Reagan combined. LOL

Sonny boy, not so much.  I don't count governing a state that borders Mexico as meaning much, since most substantial foreign policy work done with Mexico is at the federal level.

[TheGlobalizer]

I was thinking of George H.W. Bush when I voted for George W. Bush.

But GWB had a lot of interaction with Vincente Fox prior to the election.  I think that counts.

Oh HW Bush wins hands down.  CIA Director, U.S. Ambassador to China, Vice-President.  Hell, he had more foreign policy experience than Obama, Clinton, McCain, Bill Clinton, Ford, Carter and Reagan combined. LOL

Sonny boy, not so much.  I don't count governing a state that borders Mexico as meaning much, since most substantial foreign policy work done with Mexico is at the federal level.

Yeah, that's why I was like, "What a stupid question?", but it clicked in my head 5 seconds later.  Duh.

I agree that a border state is usually not a plus, but GWB did make immigration and relations with Mexico a big part of his approach in TX, so I think he gets some extra credit.

That said, none of the options had any significant real-world FP experience.  Personally for me, Obama wins on style points.