Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) on Tuesday slammed Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) on the issue of foreign policy experience, saying that growing up abroad did not prepare her main rival for the Democratic nomination for the challenges he would face as president.
{mosads}“Now voters will judge whether living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face the big, complex international challenges the next president will face,” Clinton said. “I think we need a president with more experience than that.”
The former first lady touted her own experience of traveling the globe and meeting world leaders when her husband occupied the White House, and as a senator.
“I went to Beijing in 1995 and stood up to the Chinese government on human rights and women’s rights,” she said. “I have fought for our men and women in uniform to make sure they have the equipment they need in battle and are treated with dignity when they return home.”
Obama has touted his international background as a reason for why he understands foreign countries. The father of the Illinois Democrat is from Kenya and he spent four pre-teen years living in Indonesia.
Clinton argued that she would not need “on the job training” and also argued that she has the thick skin necessary to prevail in a general election.
“I offer the experience of being battle tested in the political wars here at home,” Clinton stated. “For 15 years, I have been the object of the Republican attack machine and I’m still here.”