When it comes to personal characteristics and diversity, the 2008 presidential race has covered a lot of ground. Are Americans prepared to embrace an African-American candidate (Obama)? A woman (Clinton)? A Mormon (Romney)? A Latino (Richardson)? A thrice-married serial adulterer (Giuliani)?
But the one question that no one seems anxious to talk about is the fact that John McCain, at age 72, would be the oldest person ever elected president. There’s apparently some public discomfort over this, but it’s ground that few are prepared to tread.
In his big foreign policy speech the other day in Los Angeles, McCain began his remarks with a personal anecdote:
“When I was five years old, a car pulled up in front of our house in New London, Connecticut, and a Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. My father immediately left for the submarine base where he was stationed. I rarely saw him again for four years.”
Now, I suspect the story was intended to remind the audience about the proud military history in McCain’s family, but there were probably more than a few people who heard the anecdote and thought, “Wait, McCain was already five in 1941?”
I mention this in part because the new NBC/WSJ poll (pdf) asked respondents if they think Americans are prepared to elected an otherwise qualified candidate, who happens to be have certain characteristics. 72% of Americans, for example, said the country is prepared to elect an African-American president, and 71% said we’re also ready for a woman president.
But when asked about a candidate over the age of 70, the number dropped to 61%.
This isn’t a new problem, which is all the more reason it’s surprising this is barely a blip on the political world’s radar.
I half-expected the age issue to be a bigger deal. Way back in February 2007, an WaPo/ABC poll asked Americans: “I’m going to read a few attributes that might be found in a candidate for president. Please tell me if each would make you more likely to vote for that candidate for president, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or if it wouldn’t matter.” When the attributes mentioned race, gender, religion, and marital status, poll respondents generally didn’t care at all. When the poll mentioned a 72-year-old candidate, 58% said they would be “less likely” to vote for such a candidate — more than the totals for a woman, African American, and/or Mormon combined.
Around the same time, a USAT/Gallup showed that 42% of voters said they wouldn’t support an otherwise qualified 72-year-old candidate.
But that was well over a year ago, before the race began in earnest. Have the numbers changed? Not much.
A CBS/NYT poll last month asked American what the best age is for a president. A majority (55%) preferred someone in their 50s, while a president in his or her 40s was second (with 26%). How many preferred someone in their 70s? Less than one percent.
Earlier this month, the WaPo polled on this again, and found that Americans still aren’t on board with electing the oldest president in history. Poll respondents were told that Hillary Clinton would be the first female president. 20% said that makes them more enthusiastic about her candidacy, while 11% said less. They were told that Barack Obama would be the first African-American president. 16% said that makes them more enthusiastic about his candidacy, while 11% said less. And when told about McCain’s age, 4% said that makes them more enthusiastic about his candidacy, while 27% said less.
Here’s the catch: Americans may not like the idea of a 72-year-old candidate, but no one has any idea how to take advantage of this. What are Dems supposed to do, tell elderly jokes? That’s clearly not going to happen.
Voters may not be comfortable with McCain’s age, but figuring out what to do about this may be one of the more complicated questions facing Dems in the general election.
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Article correction:
But the one question that no one seems anxious to talk about is the fact that John McCain, at age 72, would be the oldest person ever elected president.
NOT TO MENTION HE IS PANAMANIAN & NOT A NATURAL BORN AMERICAN!
I remember during the Republican primary, when McCain was losing (and left for dead) they used his age as the explanation for his problems. However, once they found out the other Republican candidates were all even CRAZIER, McCain’s age (maybe we should call him (McCANE - like needs a cane? Anyone?) wasn’t brought up again.
The Democrats should not attack McCain on his age. Attack him on his policies, which are wrong. Let the age thing just stew in the back of people’s minds. We really do not want to piss off the elderly - our most reliable group of voters.
below_me @ 1:
Actually, he IS a natural born American. He was born in the Canal Zone, which at that time was American territory. Besides which, having two American citizens as parents makes him a native born American, no matter where he was born. If he was ineligible to run for President, don’t you think someone would have brought it up already?
Yeah, but his age is sure to land him major endorsement deals for products advertised during network newscasts.
I wouldn’t necessarily attack him for being 72 but I’d really be curious to know what meds he’s taking. I mean at 72, with his history, and in America land of the Pharmaceutical Co. I can only imagine the cocktail of daily meds he may be taking. I want to know about side effects, I want to know about complications arising from mixing them all.
(really I don’t want to know. I just think it’d be a good avenue of attack for a surrogate to make)
ekwhite @ 3:
I agree. Allow him to show his age himself. To batter him about it would look disrespectful. That’s not what I think the party wants to do.
What I wonder is at his age, why in the hell would he want the probably most demanding and time consuming job in the world?
pissed off patricia @ 7:
Ya at this point I think I could beat McCain in the General just by running an ad campaign based on video clips of McCain.
Why would a Democratic nominee make this argument directly?
Both Clinton and Obama are healthy people who will probably be in public service well into the time they are 80-90. They wouldn’t want this argument thrown back at them in the future. Being President though, is more stressful than other careers in public service, so perhaps an argument could be made there.
I don’t think it’s the strongest argument to make against McCain because he could just as easily remind voters that he has more experience. Moreover, if the concern is that McCain will die during his term, I think there’s an equally strong argument that Barack Obama might be assassinated because of his historic presidency.
pissed off patricia @ 7:
As Bush 3.0, he’ll be able to vacation as much as he wants. He could even give a go at breaking Bush 2.0’s record.
There are no signs that Bush 2.0 is under any kind of pressure. As our troops and Iraqis suffer in a hell he created, he dances and laughs.
Perhaps Bush 3.0 could gain the same kind of satisfaction and joy from the suffering of others, that Bush 2.0 enjoys?
And as to McCain being 5 in 1941, at least he didn’t say he was 5 years old when WWI began.
McMisstatement has too many senior moments.
Doddering old fools should not be in charge of nukes.
Age is the wrong thing to address. If anything is going to be addressed it should be the things that typically come with age that may be a problem. Declining mental health being a big one.
If he’s of sound mind at age 99 that’s fine with me.
There are a lot of things wrong with McCain that can be assualted but since nobody (MSM) is really doing that coming up with new things to assault isn’t going to make a difference. We can come up with a 10,000 item laundry list and the MSM will still concern themselves with irrelevant bullshit.
And has been said, attacking a person because of their age just exacerbates our piss-poor national dialogue.
I think the way to go is bombard the airwaves with McCain’s various positions on every issue and show him in no uncertain terms to be a serial panderer. And while doing that, do it some more with his panderific war-mongering.
McCain traded his integrity for a shot at the white house. He’s as weak as a person can be and that needs to have bright light shone on it.
My mom is 75 , And she has dementia now,among other things.
I’m sorry, but at the risk of sounding discriminatory against people who are older.McCain is just too old. The brain cells start to breakdown at an older age. Now, I’m not saying all people over 70 are the same.It’s just Sen McCain has had a few gaffes lately,which to me is evidence that he’s not in top form for the job.
Not too mention I disagree with him on his political positions.
But hey, I’m sure he’d be a helluva nice guy to burn one with, and maybe pound a few beers with.
I agree that we shouldn’t bang him up on his age, but it certainly is a consideration. Presidentin’s hard work don’tcha know.
Add his continuing support of the totally failed GOP domestic policies, and you have the makings of a republican whoppin’ for the ages.
Tax-cuts for the rich, trickle-down poverty, and socialism that only extends to Wall Street millionaires. Good luck selling that flaming turd to the American people this time around Mr. McInsane!
McCain’s “Senior Moments” a Product of Bush’s Iran Propaganda
i think this will actually not hurt mccain….further, it will help to shield him from allegations of adultery and sex-bribes…however substantiated they might be, nobody wants to believe that grandpa is having sex with somebody two or three generations younger….even dems…
No need to harp on his age, just show this clip
The problem with politicians of his era seems to be that they ignore the saying :you can’t take it with you” — they do try to take it all down when they go. Ego.
I think people are missing a big point here: it doesn’t matter if a candidate brings up an issue anymore, we are in the age of surrogates. I don’t think Bush ever accused John Kerry of faking his wounds etc. He didn’t have to. I think there will be plenty of talk about McCain’s age. Especially if Hillary is the nominee:can you imagine Bill keeping his mouth shut on this one?
Indeed, why is it acceptable to repeatedly ask Senator Obama if he’s black enough, white enough, etc, yet no one asks McCain if his age is a liability, which I believe it is. Why would a 72 year old man want such an incredibly stressful job, and is he really up to the mental and physical strain? It’s absolutely a legitimate question. I’m only 50, yet certainly have much less energy and stamina than just 5 years ago. Let’s face it, the next president is inheriting a huge mess from the Bushies.
Demographic concerns — older people still read newspapers, so papers won’t make a big deal; the group formerly known as the American Association for Retired Persons; our whole economic system redistributes AWAY from younger people and towards older people (Social Security is wide, aid to schools is local), so there are powerful forces at play in keeping aging acceptable. And psychologically, most of us will be old one day and we’d probably like to think, Hey, I could be pres at 72! So I don’t think this one will play well even if it should be an issue. Energy, clear thinking, flexibility, ability to deal with new technology, fewer chronic health problems — this is a younger person’s game.
Forget the age thing. It’s self evident and could backfire.
Plus, some might consider senility a major improvement after the imbecility of Dumbya the incompetent.
the fact that Bush and Chaney are still in office is barely a blip on the political world’s radar.
Clinton would have a bit of difficulty running against McCain after the comment she made about his having experience and the one Bill made about McCain loving his country. Taking those two clips, McCain’s campaign will have a nice political ad for McCain. His opponent has already in some way endorsed him for his patriotism and experience.
If McCain and Obama appear on a stage together I think the age difference will be very apparent. No one need make note of it.
What exactly was going on inside McBush’s head at this moment?
ekwhite @ 4:
they already have. :o)
At 70+, you should be worried hosting bridge games, playing shuffle board, and just plain chillin’ and not destroying nations (including this one.)
pissed off patricia @ 25:
That won’t be nearly as apparent as the domestic policy differences, as McInsane will be giving the finger (ala Bush) to 90% of american’s, while Obama will be adressing the reality of the GOP (aristocratic) economic failures.
Why would a senior citizen even want the toughest job in America? How is refusing to retire any different than, for example, Castro holding onto power for as long as he did?
I am disgusted at dictatorial men who can’t let go. Maybe McCain finds his grandkids annoying, who knows? I can picture him sitting on the porch hollering at neighborhood children to keep off his perfectly manicured lawn.
America already endured a senile President under Reagan. When will we learn?
I’m not nearly as old as McCain but I sure as hell wouldn’t want to begin a new career at this stage of my life. When I’m his age I want to just kick back and try to enjoy every day with no pressures or major ordeals to deal with.
pissed off patricia @ 31:
agreed.
but somehow I get the feelin that it won’t be so easy.
ok off to work,have a nice day folks.
pissed off patricia @ 31:
my friend, have you seen what the lobbyists and the interns look like in DC…..that’s not what I call working too hard…
these people in DC spend their time getting wined and dined and supined….it’s like one big strip club up there…..
Despite indications pof early dementia, the press will continue to not do it’s job. They’ll keep cheer leading.
ChrisM70 @ 2:
What makes you say he is otherwise qualified.
I refute that as a given. Are you just giving them that ground, or maybe you are just being nice today.
He doesn’t understand economics and he doesn’t seem to understand the Middle East.
McCain is NOT competent.
The big picture here, is that the same “handlers” that take care of Bush, aka “Bubble Boy”, will be business-as-usual with grandpa. The fact that Dubya sleeps well at night, thinks working in Iraq is exciting and romantic, and he is, of course, envious of the troops(!) proves his grasp of reality is somewhat iffy. Grandpa is more likely to suffer from garden-variety dementia, but the net effect is the same: others handle them, and the corporate-owned media looks the other way.
pissed off patricia @ 31:
I’m a little shy of that grand age too. I say “Just keep the Aleve bottle handy.”
Other than the sheep who will vote republican no matter if the devil himself were on the republican ticket, I would like to hear why people are going to vote for McCain. I can’t figure it out. When it comes to the major problems we face today, he really will be bush III
pissed off patricia @ 31:
These ultra-rich aristocrats spend their entire lives without a care in the world. They don’t have any of the daily pressures the rest of us deal with. Their money insulates them from 95% of life’s typical worries. Power is just the ultimate aphrodisiac for these ego-maniacs.
To speak to his experience.
He argued passionately that torture is wrong, illegal, and evil.
Then he supported it through his voting record.
He knew full well that he was committing a war crime by voting for it. He even told us it was a war crime. And he did it anyway.
This isn’t the kind of experience I want in a President.
Paul @ 35:
That’s because he’s the closest thing to their hero Reagan, 1/2 dead!
Age should be of concern to everyone! In fact I think it should be a predominant factor. I recently lost my father aged seventy four. He was very healthy, vegetarian, regularly exercised and was very active. I always thought he would live well in to his eighties. Two yrs before his death he had a series of minor strokes and started showing signs of dementia. Before his diagnosis he showed only subtle signs (slight confusion and memory loss). The family knew something was wrong, but not sure exactly what. Later on the doctors told us that age related dementia and stroke is very common in older people.
My point is that McCain may look and be healthy right now, but if he is elected he will be in charge till he is 80. Age related changes can be very subtle. Loss in cognitive skills is very very common in the elderly. Experience, character or any other positive factor will not mean much if his health deteriorates!
McCain was picked by MSM. The fact is many so-called conservatives claimed they would never vote for him. Remember Limpballs frothing at the mouth at the thought? Now the sheeple will join together and tamper with MY primary just to screw up the election process. What tools!
[Ooh. I see black people. zorro, take your white fearmongering about black people over to Stormfront. Please. I’m tired of reading your junk-Sitemonitor]