Murtha says McCain too old to be president

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. John Murtha said Wednesday that Republican Sen. John McCain is too old to be president. Murtha is 75, four years older than McCain. He says they are nearly the same age, and the rigors and stress of running the country is too much for guys their age.

"I've served with seven presidents," Murtha told a union audience. "When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older."

"This one guy running is about as old as me," he said, drawing laughter and applause. "Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job."

If elected, McCain would be the oldest man to become president at age 72. Ronald Reagan became president at age 69, but he served as president for eight years and was just a few weeks shy of his 78th birthday when he left office.

McCain, in an interview with CNN on Wednesday, said, "All I can tell you is that I admire and respect Jack Murtha. Speak for yourself, Jack. I'm doing fine. Thanks."

Murtha, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, made the comments while introducing the candidate he has endorsed, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, to the AFL-CIO's Building Trades National Legislative Conference.

Clinton referred to Murtha's introduction when she took the stage, saying she was grateful to have his endorsement and agreed with his sentiment that it will be difficult to turn around all the damage of the Bush administration. She didn't mention his comments on McCain's age, and the campaign sought to distance itself from the comments.

Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said Clinton "considers Senator McCain a friend, and she respects him. But it's not his age she has a problem with, its his ideas for the future."

Earlier this week, McCain was asked about his age and he joked about it, at first feigning sleep.

"Watch me campaign. We keep a heavier schedule. We campaign harder," he said Monday during The Associated Press annual meeting. "People will judge me by my performance. I am confident that my energy, my intellect, my experience, and my judgment is what American people will _ hopefully that they will view me as qualified to be president of the United States."

His campaign said Wednesday Murtha's comments were "nonsense attacks."

Of the Democratic candidates, Clinton is 60 and Sen. Barack Obama is 46.

McCain and Murtha are both Vietnam veterans who have worked closely on national security issues. Age hasn't slowed Murtha down. After Democrats took control of the House in the 2006 election, Murtha sought the House majority leader position but was defeated.

Comments

[Hallucinocynic]

Murtha is wrong. Crash shouldn't be discounted because he's 72. Crash should be discounted because he is not a viable candidate for chief executive. Holding archaic notions about national hegemony, waging war as a tool for peace, embracing destructive economic policies, exhibiting an inability to rationally deal with conflict without slipping into an egocentric rage - these are the reasons why Crash should not be Prez.

[ohioangel]

"Clinton referred to Murtha's introduction when she took the stage, saying she was grateful to have his endorsement and agreed with his sentiment that it will be difficult to turn around all the damage of the Bush administration. She didn't mention his comments on McCain's age, and the campaign sought to distance itself from the comments."

Funny how she doesn't comment on this and/or attack McCain for his age, but takes ANY opportunity to attack her supposed "teammate" for his race, elitism and anything else she can scrape up about him. Says a lot about who she is and which side she's on.

[Gabrielle]

YES, AND SO IS BILLARY....JUST KIDDING

[jakie]

MURTHA IS RIGHT THIS MAN NEEDS TO GO TO ARIZONA AND ROCK ON A PORCH AND SPEND THE MILLIONS HIS WIFE HAS

[ignorantwillyharper]

jakie,
you're right, why do people that are filthy rich, then they want power. If I had his money, I'd be on a pvt. island with nothing but high paid servants, that would have high pay and great benefits.

[BlackLeatherRain]

Bingo. Were I 71 with a history of cancer, a failing memory and a younger wife with millions in the bank, I'd spend my time traveling the world and writing the great American novel. No work for me!!!

[jalapeno]

It's actually a 2 mil $ house in North Central and a new 3 mil $ condo on Camelback and 22nd st. Not to mention the ranch near Sedona 2 mil and a place back east...

[Grannysue]

EXACTLY!

[oracle99]

Murtha is right....he is.

This is a fact about Ronald Reagan In 1994, five years after he left the White House, Reagan announced to the American people that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (which affects some 20% of over 70s). Some suggest that this could have started during his presidency. John McCain is 72 now ......is this what we want ?

[cynicism101]

So, 20% of people over 70 are impacted by Alzheimer's and that affliction rate should impact your impression of John McCain. But somehow, your logic doesn't hold-up for Rep Murtha, someone a handful of years older than McCain - they guy you're saying is "right" and the genesis for your argument.

So Murtha is right, McCain and Reagan are wrong. Does this anything to do with D's vs R's? It's Ok, be honest ... I already know.

[ejay579]

Let's attack the messenger rather than evaluate the message. The issue here is not whether Murtha is too old to serve in Congress, the issue is whether John McCain is too old to become president.

[pithymaxim]

What should the cut off age be then?

[ejay579]

It is hard to determine. But it is kind of like pornography, you know it when you see it. And, specifically in relation to John McCain, we see it and we know it.

[oracle99]

What about a new bumper sticker "No country for Old Men" ?

[oracle99]

Yes ...he is and Murtha should know!

[ErinBerin84]

This reminds me of how Tucker Carlson sometimes used to say (when he had his own show! haha) "Older people DON'T WANT a president the same age as them, for some reason..." and then gets a cryptic look in his eye.

[Griff66]

Well..

Murtha would know .. they were born in the same decade..

[CheshireCat2]

Oh, so now he tells us!

[MissingAmerica]

I agree with Murtha.

[brwnizofmine]

I used to like Murtha, he was against the war! He needs to retire.

[Shanti]

It is not McCains age that concerns me but I think the poor guy is becoming senile and losing it. Anyone that has been tortured and a P.O.W. that is his age, and seems to have a lot of anger,I would not trust as President.

[Annette]

All 72 year olds may not be too old to be president, but McCain is, either he is losing his ability to deal with facts or he is as factually challanged as Bushie. He has repeatedly made major factual errors without realizing it, seemingly. He has a major problem controlling his anger, not a good thing in a job where you can start a war as part of a snit. McCain has indulged his temper by attempting to physically fight other senators, he is rude, uses unsuitable language for his co-workers(other senators). He will kiss up to anything, that includes literally kissing Georgie, for political gain. He will change his positions for political gain. The "straight talk express" is a figment of his memory. The man is as straight talking as a corkscrew. I don't know if he is senile but he sure is a liar.