biggest criticisms facing Obama is that he lacks experience. His detractors say he’s not ready to step into the Oval Office. Once again, Sorensen draws comparisons between Obama and Kennedy, who as a presidential candidate was also a first-term senator under the age of 50. “They told [Kennedy], you’re too young and too inexperienced. You should just settle for the vice presidency this time around.”
Some political analysts, such as Republican former Rep. J.C. Watts, have pointed out that Obama has just as much experience in _foreign relations as Bill Clinton did when he won the presidency in 1992 against a much more seasoned George H.W. Bush.
Another clear distinction between Obama and the other _Democratic and Republican contenders is his independence: His campaign has taken less than 1% of its donations from political action _committees (PACs) and none from lobbyists (see chart). He is also pushing the creation of a transparent presidency–one in which voters will see all nonemergency bills that have been put before him, via the Internet, and comment on them before he signs or vetoes them; his Cabinet will hold regular town hall meetings to gain input from communities on proposed policies; and he plans to put an end to no-bid contracts to major companies. “It will no longer be business as usual in the White House,” Obama says. “There will be a new openness in Washington.”
One thing’s for sure: Americans want change. Obama has the message, the team, and the money. Now it’s up to the people who have the vote to make history and set the nation on a new course. “With the aplomb, the charisma, and the crowds, I have certainly never seen anything like it in American politics,” says Wilder. “It’s happening.”
–Written by George Alexander, Derek T. Dingle & Nicole Marie Richardson