Is 72 Too Old To Be President?

John McCain Would Be Nation's Oldest President; Some Voters Uneasy

(AP)  So how old is John McCain? Six-packs, automatic transmissions and the American Express card were all introduced after he was born - not to mention computers, which McCain admits he doesn't use.

McCain, himself, jokes that he's older than dirt. And while his age is being raised as a campaign issue, medical experts say voters shouldn't be concerned that, if elected, McCain would be the oldest man to assume the presidency, at 72.

In politics and other fields, they explain, it's not unusual for talented people to do signature work late in life, when they can apply the cumulative wisdom of experience, and leverage personal connections cultivated over time.

Nonetheless, a significant slice of the electorate has qualms about McCain's age. The presumed Republican nominee will celebrate his 72nd birthday shortly before his party's convention. Polls show the age question isn't going away, despite the Arizona senator's efforts to deflect it with self-deprecating humor, or disprove it by keeping a grueling schedule.

"Sure, people live to be 90, but you are not as sharp," said Virginia Bailey, 73, a retired administrative assistant who lives near Schenectady, N.Y., and is a Republican. "I'm not as sharp as I was ten years ago, and I'm sure (McCain) isn't either - even though he wouldn't admit it."

McCain's senior-citizen status raises more concerns among voters than Sen. Barack Obama's relative youthfulness, a new AP-Yahoo News poll indicates. Twenty percent said "too old" describes McCain "very well," compared with 14 percent who felt strongly that Obama is "too young." Overall, 38 percent said "too old" describes McCain somewhat or very well, compared with 30 percent who worried that the Illinois Democrat, who turns 47 this summer, is too young.

An expert on the presidency and professor of communications, Leonard Steinhorn, of American University in Washington, said McCain is "getting on the upper end of the comfort zone for Americans, who wonder whether he's going to have the vigor and the health as president. "

Capitalizing on such concerns, New York City graphics designer Joe Quint has launched an Internet site called thingsyoungerthanmccain.com. Quint, a Democrat, said he doesn't believe septuagenarians should be disqualified from the presidency, but age should be part of the discussion. He's planning a book of his Web site items before the election.

Medical science, however, suggests that concerns about McCain's age are exaggerated.

"The presidential campaign is full of chatter - much of it quite misinformed - about the role of age," said Dr. William Thomas, a geriatrician and professor at the Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus. Geriatrics is a medical specialty that focuses on the elderly.

"People in old age are fully capable of imaginative and skillful work," Thomas added. "A person's age is not a block to doing fantastic work."

Although U.S. life expectancy at birth is about 78 years, a person who reaches 70 can expect to live another 15 years. For a seventy-something president, that could work out to two terms in office, plus time for writing memoirsand cashing in on book sales.

But differences among people in their seventies can be stark, because some have already started into a steep decline.

Dr. David Reuben, chief of geriatrics at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, said he sees no outward evidence of such a problem with McCain, despite the occasional gaffe.

"As a clinician, I look at whether they appear to be robust, whether their sentences flow, whether their thoughts connect, whether they are easily distractible," said Reuben. "McCain appears to be quite robust."

The main medical concern about McCain is not his age, but his history of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. If McCain is elected, Americans would have to get used to the idea of their president as a cancer survivor, closely followed by doctors for any sign of a recurrence.

But Reuben said there's very little difference in clinical terms between McCain's age and Ronald Reagan's, who turned 70 soon after he was sworn in for his first term. Reagan managed to avoid the "old" label by often riding horses and clearing brush on his ranch in California. But he could seem to be forgetful at times. In Iran-Contra testimony in 1990, a year after leaving office, he couldn't remember that Gen. John W. Vessey served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for three years in his administration.

Reagan's Alzheimer's diagnosis came later, nearly six years after leaving the White House.

McCain has embraced what he calls his own "oldness." He jokes that he's older than dirt and has more scars than Frankenstein, but he's learned some useful things along the way. That seems to put many voters at ease. In the AP-Yahoo News poll, 58 percent said the term "too old" doesn't describe McCain at all well, or only slightly.

"I figure he's a very experienced man," said Robert Covarrubias, 38, a trucking company manager from Los Angeles, and a Republican. "We've had presidents who were up there in age before."

Mindful that it could backfire on them, Democrats have mostly broached the age issue indirectly, by trying to link McCain to festering problems that Washington hasn't resolved. That may resonate with some voters.

"McCain is old, but he wants to come off youthful and fears coming off outdated," said Steinhorn, the communication expert. "Obama is young. He wants to come off as wise, and he fears coming off as naive."

[vastr-wcon]

.
AMNESTY-JOHN too old? Absolutely!

One can hope he will select an outstanding VP, like Romney, who can serve a full 8 years.

Incredibly, in spite of this, the senile, ill-tempered, war-monger remains - by far - the BETTER candidate for president in 08. The alternative Kerry-like shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, inexperienced, elitist, flip-flopping gas-bag - who is so mentally deficient from extensive drug use he even has to plagiarize his hollow platitudes - is clearly much worse.

/

[six-six-seis]

If youre, Methuselah, youre just hitting the teenage years.

[sgtrds10-4]

It''s not his age, it''s his obvious senility.

[ponco seno]

Is 72 Too Old To Be President?



YES! Out of touch - with a modern & changing world.

[anecdote1]

Just keep him on soft foods and five naps a day and he should do fine. Try not to startle him with any sudden loud noises either.

[sgtrds10-4]

Just keep him on soft foods and five naps a day and he should do fine. Try not to startle him with any sudden loud noises either.

Posted by anecdote1 at 03:47 PM : Jul 14, 2008

And be sure to change his Depends before he meets any other world leader. No need to expose them to the stink.

[brianp55]

In a word...YES. And let''s remember, that his first term STARTS at age 72 (and he looks it). He would be 76 before completing his first four years. This is going to work solidly against him. The side-by-side comparison with Obama is almost startling and he can''t possibly win this election.

[l8c6]

Chuck Norris, Huckabee''s side kick thinks it is...and he did the math too. McCain would be 80 by the end of a second term. He''ll be in diapers by then.

[emelder]

Yes. 72 is too old to be President.

[danstoned]

Today the USA continues to suffer from the failed policies of the best friend al-Queda and Iran ever had: Ronald Reagan, who was too old to use good judgement. John McCain would be much worse, because suffers from PTSD.

[pleaseread]

Yes, way too old. Take a look at this U of M study:

"One in seven Americans over the age of 70 suffers from dementia, according to the first known nationally representative, population-based study to include men and women from all regions of the country.

About 3.4 million people, or 13.9 percent of the population age 71 and older, have some form of dementia, the study found. As expected, the prevalence of dementia increased dramatically with age, from five percent of those aged 71 to 79 to 37.4 percent of those age 90 and older."

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=6140

Plus, he no doubt has that old man smell, yuck.

[cold777]

YES IT IS

[pvperson]

GOP_forever , Obama may change his race leanings as often as he wants, but McCain will NEVER shed a day from his age.

[irliberal]

Is 72 Too Old To Be President?

No, of course it isn''t.

I''m a liberal democrat and I fully admit that.

For a 72 year old candidate to sing "bomb bomb bomb Iran" to the PRESS and think it''s FUNNY - now THAT makes him senile. We don''t need more wars and we don''t need another reckless warmonger.

It isn''t an age thing. It''s a humanity thing.

[danstoned]

John McCain is a liar and certainly no maverick as he has been labeled as such by the reicht winged fascist media. Racist Southern Whites are McCains base, the same white trash that voted twice for GW "Neanderthal" Bush.

[miamimama3]

Yes.

[mycomment-2009]

And be sure to change his Depends before he meets any other world leader. No need to expose them to the stink.
Posted by SgtRDS10-4 at 03:57 PM : Jul 14, 2008

I''m sure you think this is real funny but it is a symptom of our lack of respect for older people in our society. Many civilized (and uncivilized) value the wisdom that comes with age....a lot of American''s don''t. Old age is a badge of honor in many countries. Here, we just make fun of them like you just did, stick them in nursing homes and forget about them. Well, not to worry...what goes around comes around.

[jericho1337]

How old is too old... ?

How black is too black... ?

[credibility2]

Is 46 too young to be president?

[fstop100]

better age than inexperience...we don''t have good choices at all this coming election.

[drivelphobe]

Look how close Nancy Pelosi gets to the White House? Very scary! Just the mortality risk alone makes it clear 72 is too old. What a shame that when the GOP needs to win more than ever, we get a doofus like McAmnesty Mexpander.

This guy has three strikes before he even comes to bat. This whole 2008 election is a waste of time and money. The candidates are garbage.

[feedback3-2009]

How old is too old... ?

How black is too black... ?

Posted by jericho1337 at 04:24 PM : Jul 14, 2008
____________
I know you think you''re profound, but really you''re just racist. The number of pigment cells in your skin has nothing to do with anything, but one''s admitted lack of familiarity with the technologies that dominate world business and culture may be meaningful.

[frankbowers]

In all reality being 72 is old but not to old as a life time democrat i will be voting for him I am 70 and stikll do what ever I wish. The other side is being bl+ ack is too old, too dumb, and too bl ack even though he is only half white that is too much of the other side of the coin, and dRezko wilol always be in his picture.

[frootloop47]

Is 72 Too Old To Be President?
YES!!!

[credibility2]

jh6379: But comparative to the asinine argument being made that somehow 71 or 72 is too old for McCain to be president makes it logical to also interject that a 46 year old and especially someone who lacks experience and qualifications like Obama is not worthy or fitting for the office.

[yongamerica]

72 is too old only because the political compass of a 72 year old individual do not reflect those of far younger generations. This why it is important to have term limitations on all members of Congress. There should also be age and term limitations on all members of the Judaical branch. Today, this branch has very little, if no oversight and can go about willy nilly its own ways, stating what cases and laws are worth reviewing. This branch of government should have an equal set of checks and balances like the other two branches of government. Today the Judaical branch is more of a long term pawn of politics and not justice.

[danielle_mom]

If we are trying to push age limits, we need to identify several life time representatives, senators and justices.

[afsc30574]

"Is 46 too young to be president?
Posted by Credibility2

Ummm...no. It is set at 35.
Posted by jh6379"

Ummm...maybe the point is that there is no maximum age specified: that''s for the voters to decide.

[drivelphobe]

Mycomment....

Old age used to be valued when the average life expectancy was 60. People just live too long now and in the final 15-20 years, most of them are basket cases, fighting one debilitating disease after another. They are useless. They are too old for anything but addiction to ED drugs, mouthwash and Depends. The societal benefit is when they finally go to the hospital and the medical establishment squeezes every last drop of money out of the Medicare system using every trick in the book. Great revenue for the doctors and hospitals.

There are no more sages, just used up old bodies that have the stench of age and foul breath.

[frankbowers]

folks this boy rode in the front of the bus, he dnever had the thrill of riding like rosa he always rode in the front, and like gw bush and dic cheney did not serve in military uniform he was not white enough.
Further did you all know how to tell when one is lying just simply ask them if the are racial or not if they say no, like gw bush and all other attorneys their lips moved they lied.
So my votes goes to the old POW and veteran Sen. McCain. Frank

[frootloop47]

frankbowers
Take a glass of prune juice and a nap.

[yongamerica]

How dumb is toooo Dumb?

Posted by shado269

Just when I think I have that answer, someone like you comes along and changes it.

[marshall_nee]

Ron Paul is 72 so no.

[kevsan1]

We don''t need age limits. What we really need is common sense, intuition and intelligence tests. But most people would flunk them.

If someone is vital, on the move, thinking and can still make sense and not be easily misdirected, then why not have them run.

Given the realities of today''s politics, if someone can survive the intense scrutiny they are now put under they should run. Of course that would mean Madonna stands a chance! ;)

[frootloop47]

McCain, the early years:

1954: Can''''t get into Naval Academy. Daddy gets him in.
1958: Graduates in the lower 10% of his class.
1960: Graduated flight school where he earned a reputation as a "party man".
Stationed abroad the USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise where he crashed twice and once collided with power lines.
1965: Marries Carol Shepp, who he will eventually cheat on and leave when she is badly scarred in an automobile accident.
1967: Assigned to the USS Forrestal where he cause an accident killing 134 sailors.
1967: Out of cowboyish stubborness, disobeyed orders resulting in him getting shot down, beaten, and sent to a POW camp
1968: VC realize he is the son of the Commander US Forces in VietNam and provide "preferential treatment
1969-1972: Makes propaganda films for NVC.
1969: His wife suffers crippling/disfiguring accident. She does not tell McCain because she does not want him to worry.
1973: Released from POW camp.
1979: McCain meet Cindy Lou Hensley. McCain starts an affair with Ms Cindy Hensley. McCain leaves wife.
1980: McCain divorces his wife of fifteen years.
1980: McCain marries Cindy Hensley.
1980 %u2013 Present: been sucking on Uncle Sam%u2019s and Cindy%u2019s T I T ever since
Nuff said about leadership and character.

Vote OBAMA ''''08!!

[ciitzenusa]

Is 72 too old?
Gee, I don%u2019t know, let me turn it around on you:
Is it OK for a BLACK man to be President?

What? You don''t like the sound of that? Racist you say? Really?
Well, why is racism not OK but AGEISM is???

Ageism is one of the last permitted bigotries we seem to allow, and I don''t buy into this double-standard at all.

I''ll take a older person who is experienced and qualified over a younger person with virtually NO experience any day of the week.
And come November I think a slight majority of Americans will agree.

[nirak2-2009]

The USA would probably have the only President who wears DEPENDS.
Some older folks can still be alert and intelligent, but McCain istn''t one of them.

[anecdote1]

"John McCain Would Be Nation''s Oldest President; Some Voters Uneasy"

Just give him daily prostate exams to make sure he stays healthy...

[badbrown126]

Obama has no legislative achievements.None.

Was a senator for 150 days before running for presidency.

McCain is old but I will take experience over inexperience any day.

[nirak2-2009]

frootloop47
With a record like that I wouldn''t hire him to run a corner store

[floydzepp5]

McCain is too old to be President.

[libh8er]

Is 72 Too Old To Be President?
YES!!! Posted by frootloop47 at 04:38 PM : Jul 14, 2008

Unless you''re a democrap....then it''s NO, right? Loser.

[texanforlogi]

For a president, yes. The position of president is incredibly stressful and ages people prematurely. I''ve watched president after president age more than 4 years'' worth during each and every term. (The exception: Nixon--he was like a vampire gaining strength from each bloodletting.) McCain is too old to start with--years in the presidency are kind of like dog years, with a seven-to-one ratio.

[ourtomorrows]

CBS is yanking posts that the Republicans don''''t agree with!

Posted by shado269

That would be great if only it were true. A quick review of just the posts on this one article would not in any way bring one to shado269''s conclusion. CBS as part of the great right wing, neo-con conspiracy? I think not.

[floydzepp5]

John McBush is way too old to be President.

[floydzepp5]

CBS is yanking posts that the Republicans don''''''''t agree with!

Posted by shado269

That would be great if only it were true. A quick review of just the posts on this one article would not in any way bring one to shado269''''s conclusion. CBS as part of the great right wing, neo-con conspiracy? I think not.

Posted by ourtomorrows at 05:05 PM : Jul 14, 2008
---------

Watch this one disappear.......

[danielle_mom]

The real question of age is to ask the same question under different circumstances. Would Obama be a good president at 72? If a person biased if they said he is not too old but says McCain is too old.

[ourtomorrows]

Interesting that we are so obsessed with age in the US. European states regularly elected leaders in their 60s and even up through mid to late 70s or early 80s. It is more broadly part of our (American''s) overall lack of respect for our elders. To vote against McCain because of his age is just simplistic, uninformed and frankly, ignorant.

[badbrown126]

jh6379=we know who you are .... bwahahahaha.

[anecdote1]

Interesting that we are so obsessed with age in the US. European states regularly elected leaders in their 60s and even up through mid to late 70s or early 80s. It is more broadly part of our (American''s) overall lack of respect for our elders. To vote against McCain because of his age is just simplistic, uninformed and frankly, ignorant.
Posted by ourtomorrows at 05:08 PM

Oh Goody. Name three elected in there 80''s.