What's Up With John McCain's Left Eye?

AmericaBlog:

Joe and Rob both mentioned this to me in the past week, and now several readers have brought it up. I also just noticed that Atrios picked up on this too today. Something wrong, changed, droopy or puffy with McCain's left eye. Anybody else notice anything? I just searched Google a bit more and found references to his eye being droopy in April and May of this year as well. But whatever it is, it seems to be intermittent. (McCain has had 4 bouts of melanoma, and did in 2002 have a benign growth removed from under his left eye.)

I decided to take a look at McCain's Herbert Hoover Speech, as Rob calls the economic speech McCain gave last Friday in Wisconsin, and tried to see what it was that Rob was noticing wrong with McCain's left eye. It was only a 15 second video, so I pulled it up in my iMovie movie editor and checked out each frame (see a selection of still shots above). What you see is apparently McCain's left eye more closed than this right, and/or when he blinks, his left eye is lazier, or blinks slightly out of phase with his right. Either way, it does look like something's up. Perhaps McCain has always had a bad left eye, though it's odd that so many people just noticed this week.

Read the whole story: AmericaBlog

Comments

[eladora]

I dont know why my posts arent posted on this. There is a reason he wont debate and that is he will be square on with the camera for a period of time. I noticed on one tv clip they had the stars all blurred behind me which tells me they are tweaking the camera for his videos. And --he would never have paid 5500$ for a makeup person unless there was something he is trying to hide.

[08politicaljunkie]

Regarding the makeup: He could be hiding something or he could be simply trying to perk up his appearance -- he will be standing across from a man who is 25 years younger than him.

[saami]

Maybe he has had an iridectomy for either iris melanoma or glaucoma. My husband is a physician and he remarked to me about this about a week ago. Maybe the campaign should release his health reports to everyone.

[sandpiper1]

I think it could be mini strokes, they are common at his age. My late mother had quite a number of them though it did not affect her physical appearance, just her memory. I just hope he stays healthy until after November 4th when Obama becomes the president elect. People should finally see the real McFake, not the myth created by the media.

[ohjoy]

This really needs to be investigated and reported. My guess is that he's in NYC for medical treatment on Friday and needs time for healing.

[liberalOrgonian]

Maybe poor old John had a stroke! Maybe that is why he is spending his campaign. Why doesn't Sarah Palin fill in for him on the debate with Barack Obama on Friday night.

[allonfla]

I think people are noticing because many people are wondering why the McCain campaign is keeping McCain and Palin under wraps. McCain is making gaffe after gaffe and basically spiraling out of control with his message. There is something going on here, seriously.

[checkoayala]

He's falling apart before our eyes, hard core conservatives would vote for him even if he turns into a mummy before they vote for a black man.

[Susan60]

My husband noticed this yesterday and pointed it out to me. He said his eye looked weird, droopy. Now everyone is starting to notice it. It's weird and we should get an explaination.

[sandpiper1]

transient Ischemic Attacks(TIA), temporary interference of blood supply to the brain. Symptoms of neurological deficits may last only a few moments or several hours. No residue of neurlogical or brain damage remains so it could be just paresthesia of the eyelid. Why would a 72 year old person want to put themselves through this stressful ordeal in their ambition to be President for ambition.
Could it be hubris and arrogance or just sheer stupidity?

[lvdragonlady]

I had noticed it for sometime but assumed that it because of the surgery.
Small stroke maybe? or maybe just nerve damage.

[KathyinCT]

THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY SERIOUS so stop with Biden's hair jokes.

It’s the drooping left eye, PLUS recent apparent shakiness in one hand, PLUS bizarre decisions (hire Andrew Cuomo?) and quick shifts in positions, PLUS ongong cognition problems that have many people (including medical professionals who are posting) wondering about his CURRENT health, beyond his history of cancer.

When you look at the various physical symptoms, and his foggy state in some interviews (confused about the president of SPAIN) and his almost frightening daily changes of position and impetuous decisions (off to DC, suspend campaign, cancel debates) — and you put it all together, as citizens, we have to ask the question: what’s going on with his health right NOW?

Forget worrying about the recurrence of cancer - consider that he could be having a series of TIAs (transient ischemic attacks, small mini-strokes that most people over 50 have and don’t even realize) but which can be caused by factors that, if not carefully monitored, can lead to a more serious neurological incident. It could be Bell’s Palsy, it could be nothing, it could be something quite serious.

Can we risk someone with initial neuro impairment making idecisions about war, nuclear or otherwise — or suddenly becoming fully impaired and leaving us with Gov. Palin and tutors running the country?

I hope the media RESPONSIBILY but forcefully raise this issue and fight to get both the old medical records about cancer, but any NEW tests and H&P results.

[AnotherMike]

I have to agree, this isn't an age joke any longer.

I was just trying to find the footage and couldn't, but I wanted to post a link to the tape of McCain filling five gallon buckets with supplies in the lead up to hurricane Gustav. McCain appeared to be fatigued and about ready to collapse. He was breathing through his mouth and having a hard time following the volunteers directions on what to place in the preparedness kit during a routine photo op.

If anyone remembers or has an idea of where to find it, please let me know.

[carriellbee]

I think this might be it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_levDhmtTY

[mysnurse]

I also have noted the difference in size of Senator McCain''s left eye. My guess is lymphedema secondary to dissection of lymph nodes that occurred as a result of his bouts with melanoma. Lymphatic fluid needs to drain and, since the lymph nodes have been removed, the fluid has no where to go-hence the swelling which seems to have affected that left eye and the entire left side of his face. Women who have had mastectomies with lymph node removal often have to wear a constricting bandage to prevent the arm on the affected side from swelling that can be painful and cosmetically difficult. That's my take on it.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Shades of an episode in America's past when Grover Cleveland was operated on secretly for cancer.

http://www.healthmedialab.com/html/president/cleveland.html

[johninoregon]

Not to mention when Woodrow Wilson's wife sought to mislead the public about the full impacts of the Wilson's massive stroke and covered for him by assuming some of the functions of the presidency.

[carriellbee]

Interesting. It seems the country was in financial turmoil at that time, too.

[chandolyn]

Watch what you say. He will simply use the eye as another way of getting sympathy because it was a result of his being tortured in Vien Nam. NOT!!!!

[Yatata]

chill out, you're starting to sound just as crazy as the crazies on the right. have a heart, if it's shown that he is sick, people will feel for him, but no one will vote for him, he'd probably end his campaign.

[Sundance]

It's easy. Something starts to twitch when you continue to lie. With McBush, its his eye. Hee hee!

[2008FedUP]

The Pinnocchio theory. Instead his eye shuts with each lie.

[sugarmoes]

my friends... back when i was a p.o.w.... the guard distracted me by drawin a cross in the dirt with his toe while he jabbed a marble in my left eye... still haven't gotten it out but rest assured my suffering is for america... i only feel pain if america gets hurt... my friends....

[dillydawg]

It doesn't matter what his health is or will become, people will vote for him anyway. Just to stop Obama. the Neo- Conservative Republicans will only use him as a puppet. He will sing and dance to their agenda.

[2008FedUP]

True, some folks will vote for him if he is in the hospital in a coma and they will feel he still HAS the experience to LEAD!!