An "expert historian" who gave positive reviews of Barack Obama's experience and judgment for a McClatchy article is not a non-partisan observer -- the "expert historian" has endorsed Barack Obama and is an active member of an organization trying to elect Barack Obama. The McClatchy article is titled, "Presidents don't always live up to resume, scholars say." From the piece:
Many undecided voters have a common concern when they size up Barack Obama: his inexperience.
"I have nothing against Obama. I just think John McCain has more experience," said Steve Viernacki, an Ashley, Pa., restaurant owner.
Experts say that such worries are overblown.
"Experience matters, but its importance is terribly overstated," said historian Robert Dallek, the author of recent books about Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon.
Notice that Dallek uses the word judgment. That happens to be an Obama talking point. But it's probably not a coincidence: it turns out "scholar" Robert Dallek isn't a non-partisan observer -- Dallek is an unabashed Obama supporter. In fact, he is a member of "Historians for Obama,: which is something of a loose organization of historians who have signed a document stating they have endorsed Barack Obama for president. You can read the endorsement here.
Oh, another thing -- Dallek's wife Geraldine is a donor to Obama's campaign, according to this web site.
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McClatchy reporter Lightman cheated readers by not disclosing information about Dallek's commitments and allegiances.
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But Lightman isn't the only McClatchy reporter turning to Dallek for pro-Obama spin. Dallek turns up in a July piece by Margaret Talev on whether Obama's lack of military experience will hurt Obama in the election. Talev turns to Dallek -- Talev calls Dallek a "presidential historian" -- for his opinion:
Presidential historian Robert Dallek said in an interview this week that military experience in a candidate "is useful, it's valuable" but "it's no guarantee of anything. What's much more important is judgment."
What matters more than experience, scholars said, is an ability to hone and trust one's instincts. "Give me good judgment every time," Dallek said.
Nice that Obama campaign talking points get inserted into McClatchy news articles by Obama boosters Lightman and Talev.
