A Dust-up Over the McCain Age Issue
A comment by Obama prompts a response from a McCain adviser
The age issue is erupting in the presidential campaign. It was prompted by Barack Obama's comment yesterday on CNN that John McCain was "losing his bearings" because he pointed out that a senior Hamas adviser said Hamas would welcome Obama's election as president.
Mark Salter, a key McCain adviser, took offense and issued a response accusing Obama of raising the age issue and not playing fair. "First," Salter said in an E-mail to reporters and McCain supporters, "let us be clear about the nature of Senator Obama's attack today. He used the words 'losing his bearings' intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue. This is typical of Obama's style of campaigning."
If elected, McCain would be the oldest person to take the oath of office for a first term, at 72, and many voters tell pollsters they are concerned that McCain is too old for the job.
Bill Burton, Obama's spokesman, issued a riposte in an E-mail titled "Response to McCain Campaign Rant." Burton said; "Clearly losing one's bearings has no relation to age, given this bizarre rant that Mark Salter just sent out. It's clear why a candidate offering a third term of George Bush's disastrous economic policies and failed strategy in Iraq would want to distract and attack, but it's not the kind of campaign John McCain has promised to the American people that he would run."
The McCain team is clearly sensitive to the age issue. They also addressed it indirectly in a new TV ad for Mother's Day this weekend, in which McCain and his 96-year-old mom, Roberta, talk about his childhood. She comes across as strong and energetic—and a good antidote to the concerns about her son's advancing years.
—Kenneth T. Walsh
Reader Comments
The brain Degenerates with age
This is a fact that can be tempered by accumulated wisdom. However, even with lots of wisdom, there comes a time that the brain is no longer able to use it.
Yes, indeed. The brain degenerates with age, and Mc Cain could end up being a puppet of his handlers.
grandpa mccain is losing his brain... hee...hee...hee...ha..ha..ha
The guy's ancient; he's crippled and riddled with cancer and he has that horrible old man temper; the repiglicans should have nominated someone with some vigor.
gerald clough
laramie, wy
http://www.savagerun.com
Of Course The Brain Gets Bad
Being a puppet of his handlers - we have seen that before and look where it got us. Ronnie dozed through most of this two terms and his handlers and Nancy pretty much ran the country.
Of Course The Brain Gets Bad
Being a puppet of his handlers - we have seen that before and look where it got us. Ronnie dozed through most of this two terms and his handlers and Nancy pretty much ran the country.
Of Course The Brain Gets Bad
Being a puppet of his handlers - we have seen that before and look where it got us. Ronnie dozed through most of this two terms and his handlers and Nancy pretty much ran the country.
better than a puppet of Rev. Wright
There are a lot of individuals out here who will not vote for someone who so easily appears to distance himself from his 'spiritaul" advisor; but notably his spouse does not.
Age_Baiting?
This issue of age didn't become an issue until these media/adviser guys made it an issue. Hearing Obama's comment, I didn't even think it to be an 'age attack' until this adviser guy started getting loud and acting offensive.
Age-Baiting??? Who is making up this stuff?
Lets get back to the real issues please. Politics SUCK!
In the weeds
I'd be a lot more impressed if candidates would stop feigning offense and prove how under their administration, American lives will improve.
Brain degenerates? Tempered wisdom? Are you kidding?
I'm in medical school and I think that your "accumulated wisdom" is in conflict with medical research. From what I understand, unless a discreet neurodegenerative disorder is involved, the brain does not degenerate with age UNLESS it is not being used for active, creative purposes. Running for President and being a Senator probably qualifies as an active, creative use and he has no symptoms of any neurodegernative disorder.
It's Silly Season....
I saw that interview and there's no way the comment was meant to reflect on McCain's age. His ethics maybe. Seems dumb for Salter to draw attention to McCain's age as an issue. Let's hope the debate gets better than this.
Still Invoking Irrelevant Wright?
It baffles me how some ppl are still focused on rev Wright in these comments. And this whole idea of "spiritual adviser' is NONSENSE. Where did that notion come from? When the media sells it, some ppl are quick to buy it, repackage it, and sell it again.
Are you kidding?
Your tempered wisdom conflicts with medical research. From my understanding (I'm working toward my MD), unless a discreet neurodegenerative disorder is involved, a brain does not degenerate unless it isn't being used for active, creative activities. Running for president and being a senator probably qualifies as active, creative activities.
McCain
We are seeing a preview of McCain's fall campaign. He has said he would run a clean campaign apparently this is what he means.
Unfortunately McCain, the mass media and many of the political pundits have not figured it out yet. The American people no longer afford any deference to this of politics. If you bet against the intelligence of the American people you are going to lose. If you want proof look at last Tuesdays primary results and the Clinton gas tax holiday disaster. McCain proposed this "idea" if you don't remember.
The politics of creating fear, hatred and divisiveness and then trying to take advantage of that are dead.
I have some news for Senator McCain. Most of the people in the world would like Senator Obama to be president more than they would McCain. This includes the majority of the American people who are ask.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Senator McCain has lost his ethical bearings.
Brain degenerating--Are you kidding?
Your tempered wisdom conflicts with medical research. From my understanding (I'm working toward my MD), unless a discreet neurodegenerative disorder is involved, a brain does not degenerate unless it isn't being used for active, creative activities. Running for president and being a senator probably qualifies as active, creative activities
puppet wright
Robert of nj suggested that Wright would be an issue in the fall. That sounds good to me, I would love to discuss what Parsley has said McCain's "spiritual adviser". We could throw in Hagee and Falwell too. Great politics!
How about we stick with the issues this time like that inane idea for a "gas tax holiday", you know the one McCain introduced that caused a disaster for Clinton Tuesday in the primaries.
His age isn't a problem, its his politics
Stop it. I'm for Obama, but supporters should not denigrate him because of his age. I'd vote for my 96 year old father before I'd vote for McCain.
No, McCain asked for the 'lost his barings' comment by throwing in this distractor arguement about Hamas. It is a screw rediculas idea, like most of mcCains ideas: the gas tax cut, extending tax cuts to rich, allowing the federal deficit to explode, staying in Iraq, even in the context of Japan etc. He has said he doesn't understand how the economy works, so how can we trust his judgement?
You have to have your barrings to lose em.
Pilot
Maybe "losing his bearings” was not a jab at his age, but rather his piloting skills. He did end up in a POW camp.
they nominated an empty suit so what else can they do..
"The guy's ancient; he's crippled and riddled with cancer and he has that horrible old man temper; the repiglicans should have nominated someone with some vigor. "
Typical Obaminion garbage.. McCain is more of a man than you or Obama will ever be, considering your Commie buddies broke his shoulders while he was a POW and hung him up for hours trying to break his spirit... how can he not have vigor if he has a temper? So what, I'd rather have someone with a bit of a temper as president rather than some unknown who will pander and Chamberlain what little is left of US strength to Hamas and their Iranian buddies.
Attacking an ex POW whose body was permanently damaged while in captivity just because he is old. Pathetic but typical Obamite trash.
It seems obvious.
I don't know, I read the comment by Obama "before" I heard Mcain's party reply and I though exactly the same thing. "what a low age joke, just stupid..." To say that the phrase "losing your bearings" and age aren’t related, (outside of topography) is ignorant. Mcain was very discreet when he said that it was a top hamas aid who wanted Obama president, and not Hamas inclusive as an official statement. He also was equally correct when he said that those hostile parties overseas do NOT want him elected. Obama slipped up, shot a low blow, and should move on. Age is not an issue in this election.
Pilot
My point is, if one wants to make an issue out of a non-issue then why not go all the way? Surely McCain brining back the attack on Obama’s patriotism would be more politically useful than sparking some venom among the elderly. Lack of creativity, I guess. Sometime a common phrase it just a common phrase.
No when do I get that gas tax holiday. If I could save $1 next time I fill-up, maybe all my problems will go away. Real issues, people.
Nothing to do with age
The phrase "losing one's bearings" has nothing to do with age. It is a term used in navigation for having gone off one's previously charted course into an unintended direction. This is clearly the intent of Obama's words -- a once-honorable man is now resorting to the types of arguments (Hamas=Obama) that in the past he would have deridden as "low" politics. The trajectory of McCain's political career did not appear to be headed toward floating these specious arguments, at least until he secured the Republican nomination and "lost his bearings." This is the argument that Salter is trying to avoid and he raises the specious "age" issue to avoid it.
Salter's continued resort to illogical spin, character assassination (see Jean Rohe) and accusations of lying (see Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff) show just how far McCain's campaign has "lost its bearings" (already!).
Age is just tip of the Iceberg
Neither Age or Temper are really the issue. McCain frequently contradicts himself which suggests an "Age" problem and he is well known for his "Temper".
These concerns point to a more fundamental problem...
Most important thing I want answered is:
“What are the long term mental and emotional affects of being a POW and being tortured in Vietnam and what has he done to compensate for it?”
Apparently the US Navy doctors think he is 100% disabled.
http://www.mccain-temper.com/2008/05/us-navy-john-mccain-100-disabled/
Dirty politics
I thought Mr. Obama was to be a new politican. Does anybody believe he wasn't behind the "Hussein" middle name affair with the Reverend in a blatant attempt to get the Arab-American vote. The age issue is nonsense. Germany's chancellor who took them from ruins to an economic miracle was in his 90s. By the time the election comes, the economy will have pulled out of its problems unless the media talks everybody into not spending.
The cost of energy is due to a 30 year snore and nothing being done since the '74 energy crunch and food prices are going up as our docks are jammed with food being exported (we don't manufacturer anything anymore so we must sell something).
Age Attack
Since when did losing one's bearings stop a candidate from becoming President? (viz: Bush / Reagan)
At least we can be comforted by the thought that Hilary hasn't got any bearings to lose and is therefore unlikely to become President.
Wait, what are we talking about again?
This is a ridiculous attempt by McCain (via Salter) to avert from the FACT that McCain tried to tie Obama to Hamas. I, like most people who heard the "losing his bearings" comment, took it to mean that McCain is succumbing to the very sort of campaign tactics (namely using fear) that he has sworn he would not use. Of course, this is not surprising. Republican have for many years now used fear to get people to vote against there own self interest. Please don't fall for this again folks, the country and world literally can not afford it.
lack of issues
It is disheartening to read that the American electorate who is more concerned with the trivial, the doings of Britney, Lindsey and Paris are the same who will elect the next leader of the world. Where are the issues that matter? Economics are not a game; we have those incompetent players in power right now. Our national wealth is being poured down a huge sand dune because we were fed lies by an incompetent crew in the White House. We have a war with no compass but all the money redirected from our own home. The ship called the U S of A needs righting, now. And, the trivial “who said what about whom” will not cut it. The present bungling lot needs to be removed and both the House and Senate need some serious weeding out. We need to “find” the bearings to do this and get rid of the coarse set by the stench of Karl Rove. Never again.
I’ll take brains, thought, and inspiration from anyone of any color before another neocon leads this country down more paths to ruin. Leadership comes from application. The degrees George the Ist bought for George II from Yale and Harvard did that dip stick no good. We need youthful vigor and not repeat of the same failed formula.
Spiritual advisors
: There are a lot of individuals out here who will not vote for someone who so easily appears to distance himself from his 'spiritaul" advisor; but notably his spouse does not.
You mean McCain, right? I'm pretty sure that Obama hasn't called anyone that (though the media has).
But yeah, why would McCain seek the endorsement of people like Hagee? And who would go around saying that all hurricanes were vengeance from God? Saying that Katrina was "deserved" reminds me of Job's friends. And what about Hurricane Andrew? What did anyone do to deserve that?
But you notice, not ONCE has McCain denounced them or distanced himself from them. I guess that means he agrees?
AGE
WHATS THE BIG DEAL.? SENATOR McCAIN IS OLD, I REPEAT SENATOR McCAIN IS OLD. WHAT BOTHERS MEA LITTLE IS WHO THE SENATOR WILL PICK AS HIS RUNNING MATE BECAUSE AT HIS AGE, IF ELECTED PRESIDENT WE WOULD IN ALL PROBABLITY ALSO BE VOTING FOR "HIS SUCCESSOR."
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AGE BECAUSE WITH AGE COMES MATURITY, HEIGHTENED SENSIBILITIES, TOLERANCE, WISDOM ETC..BUT AGE ALSO COMES WITH DIMINISHING BRAIN POWER, FORGETFULNESS, DISABILITIES, DEPRESSION ETC. I KNOW THIS TO BE FACTUAL BECAUSE I AM, AT 70 JUST 2 YEARS YOUNGER THEN SENATOR McCAIN.
BUT HEY, WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW.
McCain's Age
He still has his marbles, and is very sharp.
We have had a pickled brain in the white house in the last 8 years, and with McCain at the helm maybe the republicans can be great again.
McCranky
Crickey!! This is too funny! Joe Lieberman is personally in touch with John McCain's bearings:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBdpEPxTQZw">"I just want to report that this morning I personally checked John McCain's bearings. He has not lost any of them. They're all really in great shape." - Joe Lieberman</a>
John McCain on Bush:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U5KZzgaB2k">"I voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004. And not only that, far more important than a vote, I campaigned everywhere in America for him. I enjoyed it! I campaigned with him. I did everything I could to get him elected, and reelected President."</a>
McCain's religious ideas
Why aren't people concerned that McCain is involved in Bob Jones University? YOu know, the place that until recently didn't allow inter-racial dating, that didn't even allow blacks until 1971. The place Billy Graham comes from!! How can people be so in a tizzy about Wright, and look the other way at other politician's religious connections?
McCain vs. Obama
If you dont vote for Obama, you are racist
McCain
If gas is $4.00 a gallon, If the Iraq war is still going bad, if we are in a recession, If President Bush's approval rating is at 30%, Who really cares if McCain is too old, lost his bearings,whether he voted for Clinton or not, whether he can't tell sunni from Shia, Whether or not Reverend Wright or Ayers will hurt Obama, or that Hamas wants Obama to win,whether we care if Clinton came under fire in Bosnia, The people will want CHANGE!!!!
McCain's Age and Lost Bearings
Obama's comment was incisive. He said nothing about age, but he pin-pointed a tendency of McCain's, to make inaccurate and smearing remarks. McCain repeatedly and deliberately says that Iran trains Al Quaeda fighters and sends them into Iraq--this smarmy falsehood fans his wish for a U.S. Iran war. And his linking the names of Obama and Hamas implying a connection between them is another smearing falsehood. Cheap, dirty Republican politics, certainly off its bearings this year, this time. Rovian politics.
way too old to be president!
this is crazy. how can anyone vote for a man that will be 76 at end of first term? makes no sense to elect someone this old. Might as well assume the VP will take over the 2nd term due to health issues is very high as well.
Race
It is Ridiculous that we can never bring up the race card but In south central Los Angeles Obama Campagners are pounding each African American they see saying, "you're voting for Obama Right?" and when they ignore white people this is not racist?
A bad Lot
As bad as Bush has been for this country, John McCain would not be another Bush Term, it would be much worse. The fact that McCain is the Republican Nomineee is laughable, considering he is more liberal than most Dems. This November, regardless of who wins the Democratic Nomination, or the Presidency, will mark the start of a new Era in this country. The united States of America will take their place at the head of the line with all the other 'socialized' nations of the world to unite in a common goal of undermining and even obliterating individual liberty in favor of the collective good at the discretion of an elite collective we will soon come to think of us as our Rulers.
If there was anyone left in America that could 'THINK' instead of 'FEEL' about the issues, much less the fate of our nation the rest of us that had an I.Q of say anything greater than the last two digits of your Government Subsidy Check or Food Stamp card would write them in this November and send all 3 of these Marxists back whence they came.
dude
blabla
Mother Day Reflection on Election Campaign 2008
Mother Day Reflection on Election Campaign 2008 :
Obama and Black supportors reminisced wrestlers whose matches are pre-arranged and play by hitting under the belt theatric causing economic downturn just to win. So, stop watching American games. Obama's white supportors are insulting their own race as incompetent and incapable of managing their own country . Whether Obama will be elected his "super delegates", who endorsed at other's expense, must be sentenced to live in Black neighborhoods for more than four years to find out what they are really like. The democratic governor of Oklahoma who had just endorsed Obama must be executed for causing their supernatural tornadoes. The communication media of the U. S. are circus clowns not worth commenting on because they have never given any honest election comments. Hillary Clinton, best American candidate in history, can be identified with a unspoiling mother who has wasted her own $10 mllion just to warn her stubborn and ignorance daughter not to date strangers in the street. American voters in general are "blind" to good judgement. Happy Mother Day!
Add your thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our comment guidelines.advertisement
But..
What if he really has lost it because he's so old?
May 09, 2008 15:56:20 PM [permalink] [report comment]