A Tale Of Two Résumés

by Dean Barnett - September, 2nd, 2008 - The Daily Standard

So what did Obama choose to do with his limitless potential after leaving Harvard? Not much. His first two years out of law school, he began writing a book, commenced lecturing at the University of Chicago Law School and returned to his old vocation of community organizing. Obama's résumé would probably advertise the fact that he eschewed big money options to better serve humanity in these various capacities. Many members of the legal community would view these claims of selflessness with skepticism. Some cynical readers of his résumé would infer that he spent the time "trying to find himself," and perhaps think of the old Bill Cosby crack that after two years of searching, he should have been able to find not just himself but a couple of other people as well.

[snip]

A 1987 graduate of the University of Idaho, Palin's greatest accomplishments from her youth would come in the "Miscellaneous Information" portion of the résumé. The fact that she had won a beauty contest would impress some people. Her sinking of a critical free throw on a broken ankle in her high school state championship would impress others. Still, there would be nothing in Palin's résumé from her younger years that would suggest potential like Obama's. And yet throughout her adult life Palin, again unlike Obama, overachieved. In 1992, she got elected to the Wasilla, AK city council. In 1996 she became mayor. She was by all accounts a very successful mayor. Her résumé entry for her mayoral years would have all sorts of bullet points for tangible accomplishments like reducing city property taxes by 40 percent. Similarly, Palin's time as governor has been distinguished.

The conclusions of this article are an obvious reflection of the above summary of the career to date of each of these candidates. I think that they also reflect to a great extent the difference between the two parties. Democrats are impressed with Obama's impressive rhetoric. Republicans are impressed with Palin's getting things done.

In sports there is a favorite expression about the difference between those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk. Barack Obama was a bench warmer in his basketball days. Sarah Palin was a star who won championships even as she played through pain.

We will learn a lot more in the coming days, however so far, it seems to me that Palin is by far the preferred candidate. It does seem ironic that Palin is number two on the Republican ticket and Obama is number one on the Democrat ticket. That we are even having this discussion suggests a bizarre reality. It is arguable that Palin has done more than Obama. How then can anyone seriously argue Obama belongs in the same league with John McCain?