Small Town News

Voters should consider ODonnells experience, not long-ago comments

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Christine O'Donnell is an overnight sensatior-literally. Her primary night win over Rep. Mike Castle catapulted her frorr obscure Delaware candidate to national celebrity within 24 hours.

With this new-found attentioi has come much nonsense: an over-emphasis on statements made more than a decade ago about sexuality and witchcraft. These comments, while cringe-worthy, will not harm O'Donnell; she will turn the situation to her advantage by blaming the media for attacking her. Indeed, this attention may well help O'Donnell by directing attention away from her real weakness-< lack of experience.

Instead of focusing on O'Don nell's past comments, voters should think about what Republican leaders themselves would say about a Democratic candidate with the credentials of Christine O'Donnell. We can't

know for sure but we have a good idea. Sarah Palin, in her introductory speech before the 2008 Republican National Convention, mocked then Sen. Barack Obama's work as a community organizer.

"I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,'" she said with heavy-handed sarcasm "except that you have actual responsibilities."

Palin was speaking about a man whose resume included being president of the Harvard Law Review, a civil rights attorney, a teacher of constitutional

law at the University of Chicago Law School, a three-term member of the Illinois state senate and a U.S. senator.

What then would she say of an office-seeker, such as O'Donnell, with no job? It's hard to imagine the scorn that Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity and the rest would heap on such a candidate.

President Obama also had the experience of being a husband and father; O'Donnell is single. I'm not saying it's necessary to have a job and a family before running for office, but I am saying that O'Donnell, at age 41, has yet to enter what most people-including, I assume, Sarah Palin-would consider the adult world of actual responsibilities.

Other biographical details do little to inspire confidence. O'Donnell once owned a house, but she sold it to a friend to avoid foreclosure. She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, but the school had to sue

her repeatedly to collect the money she owed. These facts don't preclude her from running for office but, coupled with her lack of employment, they do raise the question of whether she's a fully functioning member of society.

Because of O'Donnell's old video clips, Democrats may not take her seriously. This would be a mistake. Those same clips show a smart and engaging young woman who believes what she is saying; she will campaign effectively.

O'Donnell is also well-funded. Since the primary, she has received more than $2 million in donations, providing her with more than enough firepower. She also has the advantage of an energized base. If Democrats don't get out the vote, O'Donnell could win.

I realize some voters, especially independents, may want to "send a message," but they should consider the messenger.

O'Donnell's candidacy rests not on experience or knowledge of the issues but on her ability to deliver speeches filled with easy talking points.

Getting things done in the Senate requires an adult understanding of how the world works. Republicans used to trumpet "real world" experience. What happened?

Senate rules allow even a single member to gum up the works of what is often called the word's greatest deliberative body.

Serving as senator is an immense responsibility. Some day, perhaps, O'Donnell could be a credible candidate, but she needs to show she can shoulder the responsibilities of adult life before assuming the added responsibility of helping lead our nation. Getting a job would be a good start.

Don Flood is the former editor of the Dover Post. He lives in Lewes





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