Is Congressional experience an asset or liability for a candidate?

[BurtWorm]

Is a candidate's experience in Washington a plus or a minus for you?

[Padraig18]

1. Neutral. n/t

[Sir_Shrek]

2. Don't think it's either here or there...

Bill Clinton: none
George W. Bush: none

now consider....

Bob Dole: yes
Al Gore: yes

I think things like Congressional and military experience carry a lot less weight than they used to.

[BurtWorm]

7. Well argued. And so economically! But...

this year, personally, it's a liability for me. I find the guys with lots of Washington experience tending to have a ruling class perspective that I can't get with, myself. For example, they tend to express shock and outrage over the plain truth spoken about the war in Iraq and on terrorism. Maybe it's a Senatorial thing, in particular, considering the Kucinich difference on that score.

I also think it's a liability to have collaborated with the GOP leadership of either chamber. This doesn't necessarily mean that they had any choice. It just makes it more difficult to sell themselves as small-d democrats--to me. I don't want to reward collaboraters, no matter how well intentioned--or how seemingly unavoidable--their collaboration was. (I'm thinking No Child Left Behind Act, in particular.) In my view, this is a time of crisis. The Republicans cannot be trusted in the least. I don't get turned on by the position, "If we didn't go along, we'd get nothing." Over and over and over again the Repubs have made it clear that we get nothing no matter what we do. Better to resist them all along. Make their life miserable. To do otherwise is to collude.

But that's just me.

[Monte Carlo]

3. Well, I think that would be a case-by-case thing.

IMHO, people like John Kerry is the positive result of Congressional experience, while scum like Tom DeLay exemplifies the worst of stereotypes about Congress.

[xultar]

4. It appears to be a liability because every vote is scrutinized by current

standards and not when it occurred.

[rucky]

5. Considering the last 5 presidents had none...

gotta say a liability.

Should tell you something about the swing voters

[kerry-is-my-prez]

6. It should be an asset - but Senators begin to engage in "Senatorspeak"

That is a language only "wonks" and intellectuals can relate to and understand NOT the average American. The average American relates better to someone who speaks simply such as Bush or Dean. Kerry has had to actually "dumb down" in order to relate to people. Sad comment isn't it???

[BurtWorm]

8. It's not just wonk speech. It Club Speech.

And the Ruling Club point of view.

[Bombtrack]

9. today it is

particularly post 9-11

[BurtWorm]

10. Today it is

what? An asset or a liability? :crazy: