Lately we’ve been noting the numerous “senior moments” experienced by John McCain in public appearances. Is he really mentally fit enough to lead this nation if by some small miracle he prevails on Tuesday? I have serious doubts his brain is capable of handling the stress. Does age matter at the White House? Dr Sanjay Gupta examines this question in a recent article.
By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Lately, there has been a lot of talk about double standards when it comes to the health of the presidential candidates. An ad from the group Brave New Films that ran in the New York Times called for Sen. John McCain to release all his medical records to the public, not just journalists. McCain campaign officials told us this was a double standard, reminding us that Sen. Barack Obama released only a one-page summary, basically stating he was in excellent health.
But, when it comes to double standards, there is something else worth considering. We have retirement ages for many different professions in this country. CEOs at many large companies including American Airlines, Boeing and Exxon are required to step down at 65. Airline pilots, for example, must retire at 65, a limit set by Congress. Generals and admirals in the U.S. military face a mandatory retirement age of 64, even though their commander-in-chief does not. As we all know, there is no mandatory retirement age for president.
Over the last several months, we have been looking into what it takes to be “Fit to Lead.” No doubt, we have seen McCain for the last 18 months tirelessly campaigning and certainly being more active than most people half his age. I have gone to sleep watching him on television and there he is again, when I wake up. Some say that should be evidence enough his stamina to lead the country. As we have blogged about in the past, cancer is the foremost issue for him, but his own doctors have given him an unequivocal thumbs up.
Ronald Reagan was our oldest president: He was 77, at the end of his second term. At 72, McCain would be the oldest ever sworn in as a first term president. But, Golda Meir was prime minister of Israel until she was 76. French President Charles de Gaulle was 78. And, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela was 80.
So, does age matter? Should there be an age limit for our leaders?
Age does not matter but MATURITY and experience do. Which is why I endorse Senator John McCain.
As Sarah Palin said in her speech here in Asheville, John McCain is the one person in the race who has actually fought for this county.
That is overwhelmingly important to me and many millions of other veterans.
On what medical evidence do you base your conclusions or is it just opinion? McCain fought in a wrong war and I doubt he gave it much thought. After all, he was already a career Navy man long before the Vietnam war so what was his choice? what ought to be overwhelmingly important to you and millions of other veterans is McCain’s terrible voting record in regards to veterans issues. To add insult to injury he was also wrong about the war in Iraq.
Age does not matter but MATURITY and experience do. Which is why I endorse Senator John McCain.
As Sarah Palin said in her speech here in Asheville, John McCain is the one person in the race who has actually fought for this county.
That is overwhelmingly important to me and many millions of other veterans.
I bet it wasn’t so overwhelmingly important to you 4 years ago when decorated Vietnam Vet, John Kerry was the one person in that race who had actually fought for this country.
I REALLY find that offensive, Tom ... I really do. I, too, fought in that war because my country asked me to. It was not a ‘wrong’ war. And I do not regret serving.
I REALLY find that offensive, Tom ... I really do. I, too, fought in that war because my country asked me to. It was not a ‘wrong’ war. And I do not regret serving.
Sorry, I speak my truth, no intention to offend. I would, no doubt, have done the same as you had I been summoned. You should not regret serving but it was still a wrong war fought for wrong reasons. Look at the judgment of history. Vietnam is a trading partner. MCCain’s jailer endorsed him for president. How much more proof do you need that it was a wrong war entered into for wrong reasons, in fact a contrivance called the Gulf of Tonkin did the deed. But, if I may be so impertinent, this is another topic and does not address the question of age.
I bet it wasn’t so overwhelmingly important to you 4 years ago when decorated Vietnam Vet, John Kerry was the one person in that race who had actually fought for this country.
Most vets I know knew Kerry was a phony. The folks I know (including myself) who won some of the same medals as Kerry had to do a lot more to earn them. And some of his outlandish claims, such as being in Cambodia, were easily disproved. I was there myself in Christmas of 1968 and had firsthand, authoritative knowledge of who was in Cambodia at the time and Kerry was nowhere near it. I wrote an article detailing that, as a matter of fact, which is still available on the net:
Ralph, please stick to the issue. However, your comment about Obama is absurd. He did not choose to enlist. If that’s ducking service a whole hell of a lot of people have ducked it. It’s a choice, that’s the way most people want it to be.
So George W. Bush and Dick Cheney’s war records (or lack thereof) were much more impressive to you?
Bush served… maybe not very well but he served. Cheney you can have. Please.
It’s not ‘war’ records that are important, it’s _serving_. Many millions of veterans served in peacetime or never left the states ... their service is just as valuable and worthy of respect as those fought in the deserts and jungles and on the oceans and in the air.
Love of country is what counts the most.
Obama does not seem to have that.
So I’m voting for John McCain.
(Edited: 02 November 2008 12:26 PM by Ralph Roberts)
Ralph, please stick to the issue. However, your comment about Obama is absurd. He did not choose to enlist. If that’s ducking service a whole hell of a lot of people have ducked it. It’s a choice, that’s the way most people want it to be.
But this IS the issue, Tom ... “he did not choose to enlist” is just one of the many signs that Obama does not love this country.
As to age, to change somewhat Ronald Reagan’s classic quote, I WILL hold Obama’s youth and inexperience against him.
So George W. Bush and Dick Cheney’s war records (or lack thereof) were much more impressive to you?
Bush served… maybe not very well but he served. Cheney you can have. Please.
It’s not ‘war’ records that are important, it’s _serving_. Many millions of veterans served in peacetime or never left the states ... their service is just as valuable and worthy of respect as those fought in the deserts and jungles and on the oceans and in the air.
Love of country is what counts the most.
Obama does not seem to have that.
So I’m voting for John McCain.
Love of country? Obama doesn’t seem to have that? There are many ways to serve a nation, many ways to show love for your country. Who are you to judge what’s in the man’s heart. I love my country too but I do not love the way our government has behaved in the world nor how some of it’s citizens have behaved and I count it not only as a right but an obligation to speak out when I think something is amiss.
Again, the topic is age in the white house. If we do not police ourselves the long arm of Steve will reach in here and do it.
Ralph, please stick to the issue. However, your comment about Obama is absurd. He did not choose to enlist. If that’s ducking service a whole hell of a lot of people have ducked it. It’s a choice, that’s the way most people want it to be.
But this IS the issue, Tom ... “he did not choose to enlist” is just one of the many signs that Obama does not love this country.
As to age, to change somewhat Ronald Reagan’s classic quote, I WILL hold Obama’s youth and inexperience against him.
Then I gotta say by that logic, millions have not loved their country since the end of the draft. Don’t be absurd! As for Reagan, he may have had Alzheimer’s whiole in office. heard a psychologist speak on this point a few years back and consider this.
Dr. Louis A. Gottschalk, a prominent neurologist and psychiatrist believes that Ronald Reagan was indeed starting to display early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease as the time of the presidential debates between candidates Walter Mondale and Ronald Reagan in 1984.
