Clinton and Obama: A Handy Comparison Chart

Notes to readers: (1) FOR A GENERAL-ELECTION CHART OF MCCAIN AND OBAMA, CLICK HERE; (2) a new entry, Understanding of Economics, was added on February 16, 2008.

War and Peace

Hillary Clinton (2002): voted for war in Iraq without reading NIE (National Intelligence Estimate), though NIE’s dissents proved right

Barack Obama (2002): had no access to NIE, but spoke out against war based on own judgment

Planning for Conflict

Richard M. Nixon (1968): had “secret plan” to end Vietnam War, which evaporated after election

George W. Bush (2002-2005): had no plan for aftermath of Iraq invasion

Hillary Clinton (2007): refused to state plans, if any, to fight Al Qaeda in Pakistan

Barack Obama (2007): announced and published comprehensive plan to fight terrorism, including Al Qaeda in Pakistan

Foreign Policy

Hillary Clinton (2007): says talking to leaders of unfriendly countries without preconditions is “irresponsible” and “naïve”

Barack Obama (2007): says “Not talking doesn’t make us look tough, it makes us look arrogant”

Openness in Foreign Policy

Hillary Clinton (2007): our policies on terrorism in Pakistan and nuclear first strikes should be ambiguous and secret; her policy is, in effect, “trust my ‘experience’” or “I’ll send Bill”

Barack Obama (2007): provides thoughtful and thorough public analysis and plan

Understanding of Economics

Richard Nixon (1974): acknowledges failure of wage-price controls

Soviet Union (1989): after 72 years, abandons command economy founded on price controls and other economic mandates

Hillary Clinton (2007): proposes command-based health-insurance program with individual mandates

Hillary Clinton (2008): proposes five-year price controls (on interest rates) to address mortgage crisis

Barack Obama (2007): proposes health-care plan based on incentives, subsidies and free market

Barack Obama (2008): proposes mortgage-crisis solutions with subsidies and other relief for suffering homeowners but no price controls

Health Care

Hillary Clinton (1993): endorsed failed plan with mandates on small business and no way to keep desirable insurance

Hillary Clinton (2007): proposed new plan with mandates on individuals

Barack Obama (2007): no mandates, just help in paying

John McCain (2008): pounds [subscription required] Hillary’s health-care mandates

Work Experience

Hillary Clinton: no life but politics; never ran anything but own campaigns; some work as children’s advocate

Barack Obama: ran successful organizing effort in Chicago; as civil rights lawyer, represented ordinary people abused by system; taught constitutional law at University of Chicago

Most Notable Books

Hillary Clinton: It Takes a Village [to raise a child] (1996): widely derided by conservatives and religious Americans

Barack Obama: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (2006): universally praised as insightful and inspiring

Life Experience

Hillary Clinton: from Wellesley to White House, by way of Arkansas Governor’s mansion—all but seven years as political spouse; sheltered, well-to-do upper middle class upbringing

Barack Obama: middle class Kansas roots; time in Hawaii, Indonesia; several years working in Chicago suburbs devastated by plant closings

Bipartisan Appeal

Hillary Clinton: red flag to conservatives and religious folk for being Bill’s spouse and for views on child rearing

Barack Obama: praised by leaders of both parties for 2004 keynote speech on national unity

Money and Politics

Hillary Clinton: leads Democrats (and Republicans!) in donations from lobbyists; has complex and questionable personal and family finances (including Whitewater)

Barack Obama: won’t take lobbyists’ money; has promised to rely on public funding if Republican nominee will do the same; has transparent and simple family finances: royalties from best-selling books

Further Reading: For more on the myths and misconceptions surrounding the two candidates’ “experience,” see linked posts. For another blog’s more extensive, updated comparison covering more issues, see this post. For another blog’s more philosophical discussion of how the conventional wisdom is dead wrong— and why there is a big difference in principle between Barack and Hillary—see The Differences Between Obama and Clinton. For my own more extensive discussion of Senator Clinton’s poor grasp of basic economics, see this post.