Leahy Compares McCain Slips To Reagan's

With Democrats on the precipice of raising the age issue against John McCain, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont seemed to cross the line completely, then immediately backtrack, my colleague Ken Vogel reports.

Leahy told Vogel yesterday the media has given McCain a free pass on flubs including mixing up Middle East geography, Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and referring to Russia's relationship Czechoslovakia -- a country that hasn't existed for 15 years.

"It was the same way with Ronald Reagan in the last few years he was president," Leahy said, referring to the belief that Reagan experienced early signs of Alzheimer's disease late in his presidency.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[RRK70]

This is along the lines of the Wes Clark statement. Sometimes the truth hurts. I don't understand why the MSM will blow a statement like this out of proportion. Kudos to Leahy for having the guts to speak the truth. we need more politicians that are not afraid to speak up

[Whinger]

What makes a man abandon principle, honor and integrity?

His conscience seems to have perished with the passing of time!

[NoSandwiches]

Why is the truth forbidden? When John McCain is tired, he is out of control, off message, and frequently says stupid and untrue things.

He sleeps until nearly 9am, and rests every weekend.

When he doesn't, it shows. He gets confused, makes inappropriate jokes, and fumbles about.

He takes sleeping aides which prevent him from being fully alert until they wear off.

He is old, he is getting older, and the stress of office ages every president we have ever had. Is he really pandering to the right, or is he have his personality, beliefs, and values changed?

Why does he constantly call for advice on his cell phone and why did his handlers take it away? My mother-in-law constantly called my husband as her mental faculties declined into dementia because she couldn't make everyday decisions. Her opinion, too, became that of the last person she spoke to.

Old. Really Old. No longer fit for command.

[donkat]

I just signed a petition demanding that MC must get an alzheimer's test...if anyone wants it, here's the link.

Sign our petition to the Corporate Media:

http://www.democrats.com/mccain-owes-america-an-alzheimers-test

[baghdadjoe]

We would do well to heed Senator Leahy's warning. We need strong leadership right now, not some nincompoop who can't even remember the difference between Sunni and Shia.

[Frankenoid]

I watched my father's decline. It started in his early 70s.

He would say something... then deny, with great vehemence and anger, that he had said it.

He'd confuse his children and grandchildren.

Small things... but it became bigger things. And as it became more, he became angrier.

Yeah, the possibility of a President in mental decline like my dad was at the same age scares the crap out of me. And it's not necessarily Alzheimer's: my dad had vascular dementia.

[Bluesue]

How reprehensible that Leahy would say that about a POW. McCain was a POW in Viet nam for over 5 years in case you didn't know.

[Podewumun]

So what?

[swift goat pet for truth]

So some posters think it is funny being sarcastic.

[jsinclair]

He was? Wow, who knew?

It would be wrong to EVER criticize a POW for anything! What was Leahy thinking?

(I hope McCain's obvious mental deterioration will show during one of the debates and be cause for alarm. I really think he's too old--other 72 year olds might not be, but HE IS.)

[TheIndependenceParty]

Just so we are clear, BlueSue, more veterans from Viet Nam have committed suicide than were killed in that war! War does not make one more fit for living, but less. The miracle is that anyone survives intact.

Being a POW does not qualify McCain for anything. Becoming increasingly incompetent on the other hand, certainly must be taken into account! That is what Leahy is saying!

[MidSection]

Too bad Reagan won in a LANDSLIDE.

[optech007]

Pat Leahy is 68 years old.

[CharlesJ]

come on pepole. What is wrong, you cant take a step forward with honesty and then back peddle. Here I sat as thinking tomyself as I read the headlines, finally someone telling it how it is in reality, McCain is beyond any doubt showing signs of dementia, early signs of alzheimer. Facts are facts, of course McCain could be putting on a show in hopes the democrats will attack his age, thus gaining a boot in the polls because he now becomes a victum.

[HoooooooHah]

well, you know, all's fair at this point. mcgoofy said he would never question 0bama's patriotism, and yet that's all he's been doing. so let's go after everything -- all the "off limits" topics like age, POWland, whatever.

[LisainNYC]

Spot on. If Obama had mixed up Shia and Sunni they would say it was evidence of how inexperienced he was.

When Howard Dean used the term "Soviet Union" he was crucified for it, yet McCAin has said Czechoslovakia THREE times recently and it's no big deal.

The media has totally ignored McCAin's bumbling idiocy. (It is unclear whether this is age-related or stupidity since he did finish 5th from last in his class as the naval academy.)They ignore his deficient mental state at our country's peril.

[Last-LiberalRepublicans]

I AGREE 100%!!!

[swift goat pet for truth]

Corporate media must support their Corporate socialist candidate.

Not that there is anything wrong with Corporate Socialism.

[addisonsteele]

Face it, John McCain is either mentally deficient or stupid. He is clearly mentally unfit to be president.

[Grannysue]

He'll be 73 Friday for crying out loud, HE'S OLD, everyone knows it, so what's the problem with saying it.

[CTmom13]

I have been saying this for a while.....McCain has dementia, he has some SERIOUS mental issues from his age