From The Editor: Ever since John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate last Friday, I keep hearing the same message: “Do we want Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency?” While no one’s implicitly saying “McCain’s an old man and could drop at any second,” the subtext is definitely there. None of us wanted race, gender or age to be a political pivot this electoral season, but that “heartbeat” speak seems to hinge on McCain’s 72-years. I’m not McCain’s biggest fan, nor do I necessarily think age doesn’t matter, but this meme makes me uncomfortable. Am I alone?
“Heartbeat.”
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Andy Peters
The fact that the meme ultimately, purposefully or not, refers to age is unfortunate. The message–this nutjob is next in line if anything happens–is an important one, however.
I agree that there may be better ways to drive this point home but few are as succinct.
daniel k
Well it’s a reality. Seemingly healthy older people die suddenly all the time, Isaac Hayes immediately coming to mind. I won’t go into the whole Obama vs. Palin experience thing, but Joe Biden clearly brings alot to the “team” and hopefully will be crucial to the decision making. What does Palin bring except her right wing agenda and air of scandal? The “heartbeat” issue is valid to both candidates, but is a bigger issue when one of them is in their 70’s.
Dubwise
I don’t think it has anything to do wit age. The editor is reading to much into it…or projecting his own mortality fears.
I think it has more todo with her qualifications…i’ve hear the heart beat away for years and about other presidential tickets.
Don
The “heartbeat away” meme has long been associated with candidates’ VP selections. There is nothing inherently ageist about it. Joe Biden also sits in a similar position were something to incapacitate President Obama. Is this consideration particularly notable given McCain’s age and medical history? Perhaps. But that concern is reasonable based on actuarial statistics, not on any age-related bias.
Doug
Doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all. The man is old and, if you ask me, showing signs of senility or alzheimers already. Who is next in line matters, and a 44 year old inexperianced nobody from Moose Droppings, Alaska doesn’t float my boat.
PearlsBeforeSwine
John Stewart on the Daily Show mentioned that McCain is 72 and has had cancer multiple times.
Sarah Palin seems to have a lot of drama in her life. That is something else I would like to keep out of the White House. Here is Sarah Palin’s to do list for your amusement.
dvlaries
Tim Russert was barely into his later 50s, with first rate health care and faithful medicating of his sundry and non-life threatening concerns …and Boom. If anything, the age question in McCain’s case -and his bouts with skin cancer- has been TOO gingerly stepped around as a sop to political correctness. Never-dull Matt Cale of ruthlessreviews.com handles the Palin question definitively for me http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/reviews.cfm/id/1515/page/mccain_palin__a_heartbeat_from_velvet.html
ron
I see what youre saying but race and age arent the same thing.
Someones race or gender doesnt effect whether they are up to the task of becoming President.
Age is a different matter entirely.
My father is John McCains age and I was speaking to him about the election and he thinks McCain is too old to be President. My father said people dont understand how being that age effects your life day to day. You tire easier, your mental facilities are slower etc…
Its a valid criticism.
PearlsBeforeSwine
Is John McCain’s possible Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also a suitable topic of discussion?
LexNYC
It’s what people think about when they consider a vice presidential nominee. No matter how delicate you try to be about it, in McCain’s case, people will always flash on his age. In my lifetime, the youngest president in history did not live to finish a term while the oldest in history sailed through two. Both had vice presidents that could and did lead the country ably. This woman? Cheney as president would make me less nervous.
flightoftheseabird
According to history, regardless of age, if McCain/Palin are elected, she has a 1 and 3 chance of being President.
But age is and should be a concern. John McCain has reached the end of his statistical life (the average male lives to the age of 72). And while McCain has access to good health care he has not lived a statistical normal life. He was enhanced interrogated for five years during vietnam, and had four bouts of the worst kind of skin cancer.
emb
You are not alone. mccain has surprisingly made his age and health an issue now, along with raising questions about his judgment and ability to govern. palin’s unsuitability to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency is not a gender issue as much as a fitness issue: her executive leadership experience is extremely small-scale (there are more people in Obama’s campaign administration than in Wasilla, Alaska) and short-lived (governor of a state that would be the 47th largest US city in terms of population for less than 2 years); her stated policy positions, such as they are, are dictated by extreme evangelical doctrine; and she’s demonstrated on more than one occasion and in two separate elected positions the same kind of abuse of power that has defiled the US Justice Department under bush.
That someone who has claimed his strength is in his wisdom, experience, and patriotism would put someone so ill-suited, so unqualified, and so generally disastrous in a position so close to the Presidency is appalling and insulting. Not to mention scary as hell.
John
I think it is an extremely legitimate issue. The older someone is the more likely they are to die sooner (see life insurance premium rates). John McCain is not 52, not even 62, but 72. (He’s also someone who has suffered a lot of physical wear and tear what with the POW thing.)
Assuming he won (knock on wood), his vice president would be more likely to become president than if he were twenty or ten years younger, because he would be more likely to die than if he were ten or twenty years younger.
There’s nothing inappropriate about the topic or anything that should make anyone feel uncomfortable discussing it, imho. After all, we all die.(There, I’ve said it!)
I also think people probably consider a range of variables when deciding for whom to vote, even if some of those variables are appropriate for polite conversation or not, so I think the more open we are as a society about these sort of sensitive topics, the better we will be served.
ChristopherM
It is certainly not inappropriate to discuss his age. He’s barely short of the average life expectancy of the average American male, and has had a whole host of health problems to boot. While none of us know when our number is going to be up, it is likely that McCain’s will be long before his opponent, therefore who he chooses as a running mate is a far bigger issue.
Joe Politics
Are you kidding? After 8 years of Swiftboating from them, this you are uncomfortable with?
CHURCHILL-Y
Well if you’re not a hypocrit like ^ who goes on picking and choosing who is deserving of not being discriminated then of course you should be uncomfortable with ageism.
Age and the physical and mental capacity one has are things that can be separately evaluated.
In the case of McCain now with Palin as a running mate it would be a huge plus if for any reason she would have to occupy the Presidential office.
Dubwise
CHURCHILL-Y
You are a racist troll. You of all people are not qualified to discuss discrimination of any kind.
polobear
Churchill-y reminds me of a Roy Cohn or J. Edgar Hoover type
And it is a seemingly interesting argument that she has more executive experience than Obama or Biden because she is a governor: then you are inadvertently saying she is more qualified than McCain
She teaches abstinence but not to her own daughter. If that was Obama’s daughter we would sure hear it but like I said they could nominate a turd and certain people will stand by the choice
Good Girl
Why is it that racism is wrong? Sexism is wrong? But it always seems in this election that there is nothing wrong with ageism? The LGBT community has a lot of hang ups when it comes to age. Just go out on a weekend and see how someone over 40 gets treated. Go on a guy’s hookup site and see how honest guys are about their ages. Our community isn’t the best barometer for age.
We should also view everyone as an individual. I have grandparents that all lived to at least 90. One set of grandparents are still alive at 90 and 93. They live alone in their own homes and they even drive!!! John McCain’s mother is still alive and healthy. Everyone’s DNA is different and it appears that McCain after all he has been through is from sturfy stock.
Good Girl
PoloBear, Obama’s daughters are too young to guess what they will be doing as teens, but if you do your research Obama’s mother gave birth to him at 18. She was a teen mother. Obama was smart not to cast stones since it could come back to hit him.
Thomas
Will the Federal Gov’t hire a 72 year old to work Full-Time 12+ hour days 7 days a week? Having watched many a family member be FORCED into retirement, I think it is absurd that someone over 65 can be elected to the most powerful in the government.
The Seniors I know would like it if his running was an example that the Elderly can do any thing anyone else can. You know, like Hillary did for women and Obama is doing for Minorities. But, no McCain is not standing up for the Elderly. And the Elderly I know are not standing up for him. They are old and wise. They saw what 8 years did to Bill Clinton and even W. McCain could never survive that AND be effective. How many naps will be too many? My Grandmother lived to be 97. Her mind was as sharp as a tack till nearly the end. She was forced into retirement at 71. Ageism in RAMPANT in this country and electing someone who is 72 is not going to change that.
We have had 8 years of “8 hour night sleeps” and “more vacations than any President”. My senior friends want to see someone young and full of energy who can get the job done.
One lady put it perfectly, time for McCain to be given his Gold Watch, a speech, a pat on the back and shown the door. Then next week he can get a letter in the mail that his pension was liquidated by the Treasury to shore up the economy. (she won’t vote for anyone over 62.5 years old). Everyone in Congress over 65 should be forced out. “Do unto others as others have done unto me!”
Tom
polobear
but they are usually not the ones who throw stones( the so called evil liberals) of course I know that Obama’s daughters are too young! but just imagine the talk if it was one of them at 17. Michelle (awesome speech btw) would be labeled an unfit mother .. you know its true.
And Obama’s point is that he came from not ideal beginnings but worked hard and is living the American dream. I do not want an average american I want an extraordinary American. I do not want a C average I got into Yale on legacy president I want an intelligent hard-working American plus the disregard for science by Bush and now the “average american” hockey mom Palin spouts is unsettling Intelligent design? Creationism? come on how about tinkerbell or better yet THE FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER oh and fertility clinics destroy many more embryos than abortion or the morning after pill so why aren’t they going to be banned
Ageism is wrong but Mccain has shown signs of not being as sharp as he used to be. We would not vote a 12 year old into office and it is a fact as some of us get older we lose our edge
Doug
Age is an issue. It should be an issue. All you have to do is prove that your age is not a problem by your actions and your decisions but I don’t think McCrabby has done that.