While testifying before the federal grand jury on August 17, 1998 regarding his alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky, former president Bill Clinton had a moment of Zen when he offered testimony defending his response denying "sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky."

President Clinton said:

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement....Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true."

Because of his existential response, lovers engaging in extramarital affairs the world over would never again have to admit to adultery unless they were caught in the act. 

    Fast forward to almost 10 years after that infamous testimony and we now have the former president's wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, joining her husband in changing the landscape of our dialect.   This time, determining professional work experience comes under scrutiny. 

At the vibrant age of 60, Senator Clinton is claiming 35 years professional experience in politics.  This would include the work experience gained since she was 25 years of age or 26 (give or take a year) until the present. 

Maybe it doesn’t matter that she was first elected to the U.S. Senate in the year 2000.  By my calculation that is about 10 years professional political experience for Senator Clinton including about 2 years of campaigning .  That leaves 25 years for which are unaccounted. 

Now if Senator Clinton believes it's fair to pad her political resume with her years of experience as a corporate attorney then I counter that office politics doesn't count. Not even if she was successful at making partner.   Another on-the-job experience disqualifier is “wife of" governor, or "wife of" president.

I was the wife of a plumber but trust; you don't want me anywhere near your pipes.

So what "Is" a qualifier for Senator Clinton’s political work experience? Oh wait, we already had this public discussion; our 42nd President laid the foundation when he said “It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" 

    What I believe IS; we are ready for change - not a change in discourse but a change in policy and a change in leadership.   (c) 2008 Mel Hopkins