I looked at this information about the four candidates, and thought about the disparity that the resumes point out. The difference between building your life from nothing, and coming from a life of privilege where everything is handed to you. A life of privilege where you can get into one of the top military schools in the country as a legacy, but party and brawl your way to the bottom of the class. A life of privilege where you can flit from school to school, taking your time to check out the scenery. A life of privilege where you know that if things get too tough academically or personally, you can just move on to another school with a less rigorous curriculum, or perhaps go back after a break. "Privilege" does not have to mean "wealth" in this case.

Looking at these four educational resumes*, without knowing their race or their gender, who would you give an interview to?

Suppose you are a hiring manager and have four young candidates to choose from to work in your business. The job involves managing a diverse group of people, having a basic knowledge of economics, politics, foreign relations, education, law, and government. You need someone who is a team-player, is decisive, and has a "get the job done" attitude.

Compare that to the student who comes from working-class or low-income parents, who attends college and then graduate school on scholarships and student loans, the student who knows that this is their one and only chance to make something of themselves and do better than his parents.

Certainly, none of the candidates' resumes end with his or her educational accomplishments. Each has participated and served in government at varying levels, and we could argue all day about what those qualifications mean or don't mean.

But, consider this: What does it say about them, when the playing field was as level as it might ever be, how they chose to use their educational opportunities? To me, it speaks volumes about their character, and their ability at a young age to seize an opportunity or let it nearly slip away.

I have a son who is in third grade. Like most kids, he would rather play than study. How can I tell him to work hard in school so he can get ahead in life, if the top leaders in the land took school as a joke? If their example shows that anyone can be President, but not because of hard work and brains, but based on their connections or good looks?

Moreover, what does their experience with higher education say about how much they themselves value education, and whether or not it will be a priority to them that all children get a good education?

As a mom, I know who I want as a educational role model to my child. As a hiring manager, I know which candidates I would give an interview to and who would not get past the paper phase.

Hint: Their names are not Palin or McCain.



*Hat Tip to Stephen Fox, an Obama supporter, for sending this information.

When not drilling her kid on spelling words and math facts, Glennia is an attorney and hiring manager at a large educational institution, and blogs as The Silent I.