McCain Restricts Medical Records: Limited Access To Reporters, NYT Not Allowed

John McCain is scheduled to release 400 pages of medical records this Friday, after having promised to release the records for more than a year. Doing so on the Friday before Memorial Day makes this look like a classic document dump. To make matters even more controlled, McCain will only allow a limited number of media outlets to view the records. Notably absent from the list is the New York Times. Could this have anything to do with wrote the paper's controversial article about McCain's ties to lobbyist Vicki Iseman? The Washington Times reports on who will get to see McCain's medical records:

The McCain campaign has selected a handful of news organizations to review the records today in a conference room at the Copper Wynd Resort in Fountain Hills, Ariz., near the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

Reporters from all five major news networks -- CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN and Fox -- will be allowed to take notes from the records, as will wire reporters from the Associated Press, Reuters and Bloomberg news agencies. Just two print newspapers will be among the pool: The Washington Post and the Arizona Republic.

McCain campaign officials said yesterday that the high level of interest in the records meant they had to limit access by reporters

Update: Politico's Michael Calderone reports that the New York Times requested, but was denied, access to McCain's medical records:

"When we learned of the arrangements for the release this week, we made a number of very specific requests to be included and they turned us down," said Times political editor Richard Stevenson.

Asked about whether the aforementioned incidents have strained relations, and could be a factor, Stevenson said, "We've gone about doing our jobs the way we always do."

Stevenson added that the Times has requested medical records "for a very long time, predating the arrangements of this particular release."

Comments

[VOTER]

McCain's secrecy in revealing his health records and holding VP interviews/distractions

over the weekend, including one with a Baby Boy from Louisiana,

will only make voters more concerned about McCain's stability.

A healthy candidate would not handle things in this manner.

McCain must be more ill than what we thought.

[andyg]

the baby boy older than obama

[lhaz]

Now it's time for Barack Obama to release his medical records, including any medication he is on. The side effects of some medications can absolutely affect judgement and the public should be made aware of the possibilities.

[VOTER]

I agree and Obama will do so.

Should we ask the candidates to line up their daily medicine bottles so we can

count them? : - )

Also, I do not believe McCain's daily medicines are being shown today. Why?

[lhaz]

I think McCain's meds should be made public also.

[trollsbwild]

So much for the MyCane who had said his WH would have more transparency.
When was he EVER worthy of the straight talk express moniker?
My friends, this medical record release issue is tip of the iceberg "stuff". If he ever gets elected, expect more of the same.

[pmorlan]

He tells us on May 15 about how transparent his administration will be and by May 23 he is already restricting info to "certain" journalists. I agree that this is a very troubling sign that McCain will continue the Bush policy of jerking the media around. It will be interesting to see if the NYT protests or just rolls over and let's him do this.

[gurukalehuru]

John, John, John, we just need to know if you've got a terminal condition, because that would mean your VP candidate is actually a stealth candidate for president and we would have to scrutinize them more closely.
There's no reason someone who is impotent, or even incontinent, cannot be President.

[ched]

Given McCain's age and medical history, we must consider his VP choice to be a stealth candidate in any event. Anyone choosing McCain must assume - far more than is usually the case - that they are choosing his running mate to be president.

[richcpl]

Nice temperament. They have to "take notes" on 400 pages of medical records? And only these outlets get to see the file? That shows complete contempt for the public. The NYT should show up and demand to get a copy, thus provoking the old crank to take a swing at the reporter.

This guy is a nut.

[timothe]

The Washington Post is a fair paper...the New York Times is not. There are consequences to advocacy journalism.

I'm surprised he let NBC in.

[daddydamon]

The Post is not fair. Neither is NBC, CNN (especially - geez Wolf Blitzer? What a hack!) and of course ABC, alos known as the Christian Propaganda channel. ALL of the media who wants to be there should be able to go, or else free press means nothing.

[VOTER]

McCain is running for President.

Seeing his medical records is not a "prize" to be given out to a select few.

McCain is showing bitterness and temper toward the NY Times or

hiding something which he expects them to write about.

[dill]

Please, timothe! The only reason you think the Washington Post is fair is because you are a conservative Republican--the Bush enablers that the Post panders to.

[VOTER]

I like your idea of the NY Times showing up to see McWar's medical records

without an INVITATION to his "secret" unveiling.

It would certainly spark up this weekend's news.

McCain is wrong to go about showing his heath records in this manner. Each and every time

we see him, his physical presence is just plain OLD AND WORRISOME.

MCCAIN IS OLD! TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

[TuppenceWorth]

It appears that these medical records pertain to his physical health and treatment history, but in the event that he gets elected, it will be his emotional stability and mental capacity that we'll need to worry about.

[Amalek]

This is a pretty good example of how McCain will operate as president. Keep everything secret. Fight against disclosure, and when you finally have to do it, give a handpicked friendly journalist access on terms that guarantee the real story does not get out. This really is a continuation of the Bush legacy.

McCain's health is a valid issue. He should put everything up on the internet so every doctor in America can give us an opinion on how long he will live. Privacy is not relevant when you decide to run for president in your eight decade.

Now, on the issue of erectile dysfunction. John, we understand, and I am sure it will not keep you from invading Iran.

[GiannaX]

So...I take it these select reporters are in on the game?!

[Amalek]

I am surprised they are not all from Fox

[Texas4Obama]

It would be even impossible for a doctor to sit down and review 400 pages of medical records properly in that time frame let alone reporters. And the important stuff is what is not there - a page taken out here and there....

[BusterG]

What about Hillary's medical records? What if by some miracle she becomes the Democratic nominee and has to release her records? If she has no STDs that means she and Bill have not had sex forever.

[AndreaDoria]

Bill Clinton never released his medical records. JFK certainly didn't.

[JohnHinkleyFanClub]

Bill Clinton and JFK were not old as dirt when they became president. There are a lot of legitimate health concerns about McCain that need to be addressed - cancer, mental and physical conditions resulting from years of torture. The last thing we need is another president with alzheimers.

[vippy]

It is being said that JFK and Clinton are related for he is supposedly the bastard son
of Joe Kennedy, the hooded eyes, the hair, the preferred upbringing unlike his brother's.
Maybe?

[GrandpaMcCain]

*he

[GrandpaMcCain]

Disgusting. Thankfully, this helps ensure has no chance at the presidency.

[NotMcCain]

What a strange way to "disclose" medical records! Clearly, he has things to hide.

My guess is they're hoping that reporters will be too busy looking through what IS there (in 400 pages of mostly fluff) to note the things that AREN'T there (the medical problems he clearly doesn't want the public knowing and speculating about).

I would say that this way of releasing health information does not inspire confidence in his health.

[deadcustodian]

Read more about the most flawed candidate in American history here:

http://www.wcltam.com/news/special/articledetail.cfm?articleid=23261

[knighthowl]

I am no McCain supporter, but how can you call him the most flawed candidate in American history? That candidate got "elected" in 2000 and still sits in the oval office.

[Amalek]

This is a pretty good indication that the McCain administration will be just like the Bush administration. They will keep everything secret. Fight and delay the release of any information. Then put conditions on the release that make certain that no one can understand what is there.

If McCain wants to put us at ease about his health, he needs to put it all on the internet so that all the specialists can see it can help us understand if he will make it to a second term. This is relevant. When you run for president at his age, I think the public has a right to expect you to surrender your privacy in this matter.

And that prescription for Viagra - John, a lot of us younger than you have a limp dick. It is not a sign that you would not invade Iran.