Age Won't Be Obama's Trump Card against McCain

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama coyly hinted at something that has been virtually taboo during the fierce hunt for the White House in 2008. That's likely GOP presidential candidate John McCain's age. In a speech at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Virginia in early February, Obama hailed McCain for his half-century of service to the country.

This borderline ageist damn with faint praise of McCain was, of course, tame stuff compared to the dumb crack from B karate movie action guy Chuck Norris before the Florida primary last January that McCain was just too old to be president. Norris subsequently apologized but he still got a swift and deserved disappearance as a prominent mouthpiece for McCain's GOP presidential rival Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. It probably ramped up in the number of votes McCain got from the loads of AARP seniors that retired in the state. That sweetened McCain's victory there and rocketed his once seemingly DOA campaign forward faster.

Norris aside, age is and will be a factor in the possible showdown between McCain and Obama. Some Democrats undoubtedly bank that Obama's boyish looks and fresh-faced vigor will stand in stark contrast to the weary, and slow pace gait of McCain. But age won't be an Obama trump card against McCain.

It just doesn't titillate and get the tongues furiously wagging as race does with Obama and gender with Hillary Clinton. It shouldn't. Age is no legitimate measure of McCain's mindset, physical health, or even his possible longevity in the office. JFK, Nixon, and Clinton were all in their forties when they took office. Each had serious health problems, and each one faced serious political and personal crises during their terms, but their health didn't lay them low. McCain released hundreds of pages of his health records before his presidential run in 2000 and last year to head off talk that he's medically and emotionally incompetent (that pertains to his torture as a Vietnam POW) to be president. Even if he hadn't, and even if there were health issues with him, his age still holds minefield peril for Obama.

Reagan is the best example of that. Other than sniggers, and wisecracks about his memory lapses and occasional gaffes, there was no evidence Reagan lost a single vote because anyone thought he was too old. The early signs of Alzheimer's came much later in his term and by then the Reagan myth and legacy had been well ensured. The eyes of many in their audiences misted over the countless times McCain and the other one time GOP presidential candidates evoked Reagan's name during their debates and on the campaign trail.

Reagan for his part did much to defuse the age issue when he turned to his Democratic opponent Walter Mondale in their presidential debate in 1984 and challenged, "I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." The aim was not to score a quick debate point or to cut Mondale low, it was to make the point that age is not a liability but a desired quality in a head of state; that age equates with experience, level-headedness, and maturity.

Then there are the voter demographics and age related issues. The vast array of programs from social security to education and housing subsidies for seniors soaks up more than a quarter of the federal budget. Legions of senior citizen advocacy groups keep a hawk-like watch on funding, spending, and possible cuts in those services. The slightest hint of any attack on social security either real or manufactured politically is the political kiss of death for a candidate. Seniors have the political muscle to make sure of that. Those aged 60 and older make up almost a quarter of those who turn out on Election Day.

There is no such thing as an old age voting bloc. Seniors vote based on their needs, personal tastes, interests, and political preferences, just like other voting groups. But seniors have been far more likely to vote for Republicans than Democrats. In 2004, those over age 60 gave Bush a wider vote margin over John Kerry than any other age group.

McCain deftly snatched a page from Reagan's political playbook, dampened the age issue, and will try to turn the age table on Obama. He'll pound on the point that a schoolboy-looking, relative political newcomer on the national scene simply can't be trusted too make the mature, sober, and vital decisions that presidents have to make especially in times of war, terrorist peril and domestic crisis. The irony is that age may just turn out to be McCain's trump card instead of the Democrats even if Obama tries to help him out of his chair when they debate.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House (Middle Passage Press, February 2008).

Comments

[LuckyKay]

Very interesting post. Obama won't have to use McCain's age. That's more Clintonesque. I believe Obama is a bit more clever than that.

[larry278]

Appealing to EOH to stop criticizing BHO is like spitting in to the wind during a Hurricane. EOH will continue to spot BHO's faults & take care to tell us of each fault in great detail. Call it a black thing at your own risk. It is a human thing to spot faults of others, regardless of race or gender.

[Shantee]

I totally disagree with you...age will be a factor and should be. McCain is so old school, offers no new or fresh ideas and tells us we may be in Iraq for 100 years....Obama will beat John McCain hands down!

[jungpatawan]

Due to the centrist/populist nature of the two candidates, this will be the first 50-state race since practically forever, rather than a shore-up-the-base-and-run-for-Ohio race.

For McCain, forced to campaign across the US rather than in 12 swing states having maybe 20 major population centers, the age difference will begin to tell ENORMOUSLY in September.

You can already see it in the 46-year-old Barack vs the 60-year-old Hillary contest. She cannot keep up with his pace, and at the end of each primary week she sounds hoarse and worn out.

In part, this is because Obama is outraising them both, as well. They have to try to out-do in public appearances what Obama can do by television commercials.

And remember, when McCain gets tired, he becomse irascible. Reagan could be tight, focused and angry and come across as righteously wrathful.

McCain comes across as a cranky old man.

Age WILL tell, and will be yet ANOTHER reason why Obama will win in a landslide.

JP

[sd4david]

Obama is already running against McCains age, and age old views. His campaign is about change. "How can we CHANGE Washington, with the same OLD people in charge?"
It's time for new people, with new ideas, and new methods..
McCain is Bush's third term, like Bush SR was Reagan's third term.

[JB2]

Earl -

You've framed the question correctly, but you've come up with the exact wrong answer: Obama will easily play the age-card against McCain, to good effect.

McCain will make Republicans long the scintillating candidacy of Bob Dole. He's a nasty, stumpy, intemperate jerk. He's not one-tenth the politician Ronald Reagan was. And, as an added bonus, McCain is a big old lobbyist pimp!

[LouKane]

Also, Earl...

"McCain deftly snatched a page from Reagan's political playbook, dampened the age issue, and will try to turn the age table on Obama."

I thought you were suggesting a possible way around the age issue for McCain... But that quote sounds like he's already made his case against Obama. Which is it?

[larry278]

Barak Hussein Obama may cite John McCain's stupidity & cupidity to beat Mac, the knife. That will allow BHO to avoid mentioning that Sen McCain is 71 yrs old.
The public can see that Sen McCain isn't aging gracefully.
Being a fighter pilot can be rough on a man. Years of being held as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton is very rough on a man. Being a captive of Uncle Ho & Gen Giap has left its mark on John McCain.

[tfangmel]

The problem with McCain is not his age but his mental level. McCain is damaged goods. His Vietnam experience has so affected him that his perspective is off. He is still fighting a lost war. Most vets from that era have moved on. Many never wanted to talk about that period of their lives. McCain lives for the past. That's his problem. He belongs in the past.His vindictive and mean spirited positions reflect this. How can any rational, intelligent person wish someone to die as McCain did with Fidal Castro. Shame on you McCain.

[Edmonsky]

If Earl were to go back to many of his previous write-ups on Obama"s campaign for nomination, he would realize how wrong he was and has been in his commentaries. Here, he goes again without contending with many salient variables.

Age will be a serious problem for McCain if he were to run against Obama in the general election. The moment both of them start to stand side by side during the debate, the contrasting visual image of the two will start to sear into the minds of the voters. McCain must come up with a mitigating quality to offset that obvious deficit. Some people would say national security experience. But McCain was wrong on Iraq. McCain is arguing about tactical success in Iraq while Obama is insisting on the strategic error of invasion. Obama is going to whip McCain on this issue and we shall see.

Reagan was very easy and charming to the eye and McCain is just plain. Reagan communicates his thoughts eloquently with rare charm, style and infectious smile, while McCain is the opposite. Reagan inspires citizens to be prideful and in return, he was adored. McCain has short fuse and Obama is going to get under his skin and force him to lash out like a grumpy old man. Obama is not going to use age overtly against him but late-night comedians will do it for him. Only what Obama has to do is exude exuberant vitality in the ways he walks and engage audience in his campaign. By the way, people who voted in 2004, 24% were 60-yrs and older; 46% were 18-yrs to 29-yrs; 59% were 30-yrs to 59-yrs.

[Citizenofreality]

Well age does matter.... especially if it is paired with a message that seems out of touch with the needs of the American people. McCain recently revealed elements of his health care plan in Indiana, part of it involved sending the Manning brothers around the country to promote health and fitness in schools. Nice idea, but it illustrates how out of touch McCain is with the everyday problems of everyday Americans. Peyton Manning lecturing 13 year olds on fitness is not going to help the millions of Americans who either have no insurance or are underinsured. You might be surprised at the number of voters who will look at an older candidate with outdated ideas and decide that they'd much rather take a chance with someone younger.

[Ides]

Obama damned McCain with faint praise three weeks ago and just now you decided to write an article about it?


The reality is, nobody will care about age unless it is hammered over and over again, and Obama seems only interested in pinning McCain to Washington with an arrow through his heart.


50 years of experience wasn't an age crack, it was a "Look how long this guy's been in Washington" crack, and it just might work.

[desmirl]

McCain's campaign will implode long before age becomes a factor. McCain has a long history of preaching virtue and practicing sin, and each new revelation about McCain's lack of character will sink him slowly and painfully in full view of the public.

[MyThought]

What's all this talk about generation? Obama is only 14 years younger than Hillary - a generation is 20 years plus. Hillary is only 12 years younger than McCain - a generation is 20 years plus.

The only TRUE generation difference is between Obama and McCain.

The trouble with McCain (partly because of his age) is he is "set in his ways" and cannot bring change or have a new vision.

[soulstressed]

Dear Lord, why do you hate this man so much Mr. Hutchinson??? Did Obama kill your dog or something???

Your constant venom against him is simply remarkable.

Carry on. Do you.

Good luck with that ok?

[we0z]

Obama's magic personality wil amplify McCain's irrating personality.
Obama will look like the eloquant JFK and McCain will come off as Nixon as a mad pit-bull.
Voters will run from McCain.

[bellecloche]

I've been thinking the same. It's all fluff, but I have known loads of voters (often little old ladies) who will prioritize the handsomeness of the candidate and trendiness of his wife's clothes over anything else. Reagan may have been old, but he was an ex-MOVIE STAR who never had a bad hair day. Back in 2000, a Republican told me she couldn't vote for McCain over Bush in the primaries because "he just looks too creepy." I have no idea how to get such voters to look at the policies rather than the face, but this time all signs point to the stylish basketball-playing charmer with two cute kids who are too young to get caught sneaking into night clubs. He could be the ugliest politician alive and I'd vote for him, but he WILL pull some of those voters who said they liked Bush 'cuz they felt they could sit down and have a beer with him.