Question from a fence sitter!

[Hersheygirl]

Since I don't really have a horse in this race and since I will enthusiastically vote for and support either of our candidates here is my question.

If Senator Clinton's name was not Clinton and she had not been married to a former president would she have been elected to the US Senate from New York state? And would she be where she is today, running for president? What experience exactly did she have for that job, since I don't remember hearing that she had ever held an elected office before?

I just seems to me that Senator Clinton feels she is owed this nomination.

Flame away.

[book_worm]

1. She would not have been a US Senator from NY if she wasn't Bill Clinton's wife

she wouldn't have been first lady. She might be a quite successful very prominent lawyer, but she would not have been a US Senator from NY and wouldn't have been in this race now.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Eh, it's kind of a useless hypothetical.

If McCain hadn't been a fighter pilot shot down over Vietnam, would he be running?

If Obama hadn't gone to Chicago to be a community organizer, would he be running?

To answer your question, yes, maybe it is true that Sen. Clinton wouldn't be where she is today if she hadn't married her husband. But, really, none of the candidates would be where they are today if they weren't the sum of their past experiences.

[shaniqua6392]

3. If she were not the wife of a former President,

she would still be a six year Senator going up against a two year Senator. I don't think she feels she is owed the nomination. They are both just fighting for it. I think it is strange that we ended up with two Senators who have not even been in office that long for our candidates. We pushed aside any other candidates with more experience like Richardson and Biden. It is definitely a strange election season.

[mculator]

4. Well said.

[SusanaMontana41]

6. I do think she feels as if she's owed it

Can't point to anything specific to make me feel that way, but I do.

Strange election season, indeed.

[Yael]

12. Her own words?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xGsX-R_ZTQ

[shaniqua6392]

13. Displaying confidence and a desire to be President

is all she has done. It is the same thing Obama has done but, because he is a man, he is just considered strong. If you think that she feels like she deserves it then you would have to think the same thing about him. They are both strong and determined and I am proud of them both. I think it is really awesome. I am not going to begin to "hate" one of our candidates because they are acting like politicians and are fighting for the same prize. This is how it is supposed to be and we should all lighten up.

[butterfly77]

5. If Obama would have lost the last eleven ...

primaries and caucuses wouldn't he be asked to drop out by now?

[IndianaJones]

7. she would have been killed as a baby in China..in hopes of a strong male heir. nt.

[Carolina]

8. Hell no

more ammunition for McCain when the question of experience -- real experience not that derived from a spouse-- comes up!

[ronnykmarshall]

9. Oh you and your ol' chocolate!!

Pffft!

:silly:

[casus belli]

10. The advantage of name recoginition can't be over-stated

It certainly didn't hurt her, and name recognition has proven in some cases to be a much more powerful influence than any particular qualifications - Reagan, Jesse Ventura, and Schwarzenegger come to mind.

[Yael]

11. Her response to your "owed" impression

30 second YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xGsX-R_ZTQ

Assuming you are here in central PA from the nick?

We are about to see our beautiful green state scorched and burned and left smoldering over the next 7 weeks. :(

[boston bean]

14. Does it disqualify her because she was? Who knows what other magnificent accomplishments

she may have had?

This line of discussion is insulting.