Many Democrats are Considering Presidential Runs. Do They Have Enough Experience? [OPINION]

Experience matters. Joe Biden has been considering a race for the White House for a long time. Beto O’Rourke is also considering one with hesitation, which is maybe why he initially said he wouldn’t run. For some reason, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is also considering a presidential run, and surprisingly so was Stacey Abrams, who has been on some sort of a political mulling joyride; governor of Georgia, state senator, or president of the United States. Abrams announced late Monday that she will postpone her presidential decision until 2028, however later, after apparently mulling some more, she tweeted, “Now 2020 is definitely on the table.” 

Several of the candidates mentioned earlier are trying to generally project the message that the presidency can be an entry-level job. While that certainly is the case with Donald Trump, the issue seems to center around having little experience in politics. The Democratic Party should prioritize experience when picking its nominee, and only Joe Biden really fits that bill.

Barack Obama, for example, had little experience; however, he was a U.S. senator and was recognized widely as a gifted politician. 

But, today, in this moment, the Democratic field is infested with candidates who have the name recognition of a failed local bit actor. As an example, I offer you Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. Her history defines her as a clearly accomplished woman, a National Guard officer, among other things, but her actions in Congress of national importance are yet to be seen. Or Julián Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio who served as Obama’s secretary of housing and urban development, but who still lacks presidential vigor. The rest of the field is similar. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont stand out but not in one very important area where presidential authority is of the utmost importance; foreign policy. Joe Biden is the only one with those credentials. The others seem to be greatly inexperienced in the area where ill-informed decisions can lead to war-like results.

When you consider the weak moments in history for American foreign relations, the decisions of two past presidents come to mind. The first is George W. Bush. His decision to go to war in Iraq was criticized as being quick, costing thousands of American lives wounding countless others. Another was Obama’s refusal to enforce the “red line” when Syrian forces used chemical weapons on parts of Damascus. But well before that, Obama publicly refused to intervene in the Syrian war. 

Often it seems like Democratic presidential candidates are compared against John F. Kennedy on television and in print. The comparison comes up with O’Rourke, although in his case, Bobby Kennedy is the more appropriate comparison. Both John and Bobby were young, John only being 43 when he took office. Kennedy was the youngest man elected president, succeeding Dwight D. Eisenhower who was then the oldest serving president in history according to History.com. 

But when the young Kennedy was elected, he was already a combat veteran of World War II, previously serving in both the House and Senate. He was also the author of two books, one on foreign policy. With the exception of Biden, no one considering a run can approach Kennedy in foreign policy experience.

As we are seeing often in today’s political climate how oversight can slow a president’s domestic agenda. But foreign policy is a different ball game. The president has profound ability, and what is lacked in this experience can be their greatest downfall. I yearn for someone in office with great experience under the belt, or at the least someone who trusts the recommendation of their advisors. From my point of view, Biden is the only one who fits this bill. 

I remember meeting Abrams at a small café, months ago in Little Five Points, Atlanta during a press conference. I found her to be incredibly genuine and downright personable, but I did not then recognize her as a political powerhouse, someone who could fill the office of Georgia governor. She is already looking to the presidency when she has only served in the Georgia legislature and come close to winning the governorship. The voters should truly consider experience when they go to the polls because often, many don’t think of the larger implications. The core of the Democratic Party should take Trump as a lesson.Experience matters.