December 18th, 2007
05:30 PM ET
15 years ago

Johnson: It's no time for a 'rookie'

Magic Johnson hit the campaign trail in Iowa Tuesday.

(CNN) - Basketball legend Magic Johnson hit the Hawkeye State campaign trail on behalf of Hillary Clinton Wednesday - and appeared to take a thinly-veiled shot at the New York senator's chief rival, Barack Obama.

"You don't want somebody in there that is young or a rookie at politics," Johnson said at a rally in Davenport, Iowa. "We want somebody in there that knows what they're doing, because this job is so huge."

The Clinton campaign has long sought to portray Obama, first elected to the Senate in 2004, as too inexperienced to be President of the United States. In response, Obama has cited his experience as a community organizer and Illinois state senator, and said his lack of Washington experience makes him better able to bring about change.

Asked at a separate campaign stop Tuesday why he decided to support Clinton over Obama, Johnson again cited the New York Democrat's experience.

"Thirty years experience right here," he said with Clinton at his side. "This country right now needs a leader with experience, because this is not going to be an easy job, this is not going to be an easy job. And the only person in this race on either side that has the experience, the knowledge, the wherewithal, the work ethic, is Sen. Clinton.”

- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

soundoff (154 Responses)
  1. Brian Venezuela

    What has Hitlery done? someone please tell me! experience of what? 35 years fighting for children? doing what? show me a child she has helped and that changed that person's life because of her. No one will come forward. All we need is a big mouth ex President that has had more affairs than a dictionay has definitions in it and a fat bald headed ex basketball player that has had just as many affairs as his buddy ol' Clinton. How many kids has Magic have with all those women, he even has HIV if I remember right, yeah that is the kind of person I want to have by my side that will support a criminal like Hitlery. Bush, Clinton, Bush, we don't want another Clinton, time to get someone else don't you think! We deserve better than that.

    December 19, 2007 03:23 pm at 3:23 pm |
  2. Fresh Air

    Shame on you Magic! I hope America get exactly what they vote for. I know my vote will be Obama, I need a breath of fresh air, not the polluted one that has taken place since Bush/Cheney. Speaking of inexperience, what the hell you call George W Bush?

    December 19, 2007 03:45 pm at 3:45 pm |
  3. Brad, Saint Paul, MN

    The irony is that in his rookie season Magoc Johnson turned the NBA upside down with his up-tempo "Showtime" style of basketball, averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, earning a spot on the NBA All-Star team, and leading his Lakers to the NBA championship, dominating the deciding Game 6 with a remarkable 42 point, 15 rebound, 7 assist, 3 steal performance while filling in at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, switching from his usual point guard spot. Some rookies are treuly special. You'd think Magic Johnson, of all people, would remember that. But never underestimate the capacity of the Clinton machine to rewrite history when it's politically convenient.

    December 19, 2007 06:05 pm at 6:05 pm |
  4. Al, Dallas

    My oh' my...How the mighty have fallen! Magic, I respect your analysis when it comes to Basketball, but you're a fish out of water when it comes to politics.

    December 20, 2007 02:16 am at 2:16 am |
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