McCain's Medical Records: Why the Delay?

The mainstream media ask Obama why he doesn't wear a flag pin, but they aren't asking McCain why he doesn't release his medical records. McCain, who would be the oldest man ever elected president, had surgery for melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer, eight years ago -- the scar is still prominent on his face. He has promised several times to release the records, but each release has been postponed.

It makes you wonder: is there something in McCain's medical records that he doesn't want you to know?

The McCain campaign's explanation: his doctors are too busy. "The reason for the delay is because they want to gather all his doctors for a press conference to answer reporters' questions," CNN reported, "and May is the soonest that can be done." Three doctors are expected to answer questions, according to the Arizona Republic.

You'd think that it wouldn't be that hard to get three doctors together to say that the Republican candidate for president was in good health.

The last news about McCain's medical records came in a short item on CNN.com on April 3: "The McCain campaign said Wednesday the Arizona senator's medical records will no
longer be released by April 15. They now say the new timetable is 'sometime in May.'" That was the fourth time this year that the promised release of medical records has been postponed.

In March the New York Times ran a page one story about McCain's cancer and the chances that it might return. The reporter, Leonard K. Altman, who is also a physician, spoke not with McCain's physicians, but rather with melanoma experts who had not treated the senator. Those experts told the Times that "his prospects appear favorable," because he has survived this long without a recurrence of the disease.

But "with melanoma, a patient is never completely clear," said Dr. Richard L. Shapiro, a melanoma surgeon at NYU. "If melanomas do recur," the Times reported, "standard treatment options are limited for many to surgery and a difficult form of chemotherapy. The chances of long-term survival diminish."

McCain's surgery in 2000 lasted five and a half hours -- a long time. The official explanation from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, where the surgery was performed, was that his surgeons were looking to see whether the cancer had spread from the skin on his temple to "a key lymph node in his neck." They concluded that it had not.

But, according to the Times, "Since the 2008 campaign began, doctors not connected with Mr. McCain's case have expressed intense interest in the extent of the face and neck surgery he underwent." Those doctors told the Times that "the surgery appeared to be so extensive that they were surprised his melanoma was not more serious -- perhaps Stage III, which would give him a bleaker prognosis. These doctors said they would be surprised to learn that such an operation would be performed without evidence that the melanoma had spread."

Other doctors interviewed by the Times disagreed. Release of the records would resolve this question.

If McCain is free of cancer and otherwise healthy, why doesn't he release the medical records that document those facts?

And why hasn't the mainstream media been asking for the records? The key Times piece ran on March 9, more than six weeks ago. That same day, McCain was asked on "60 Minutes" about the records, and he replied, "we'll be doing the medical records thing with the media sometime in the next month or two."

Since then the Times has mentioned McCain's medical records only once -- in an opinion piece by Frank Rich on Sunday -- one sentence in paragraph 20 of a 21-paragraph column. George Stephanopoulos didn't mention medical records to McCain in his Sunday morning TV interview, and the Washington Post ran a page one piece on Sunday about McCain that also failed to mention the missing medical records.

Comments

[rosal]

Even if a disliked him, I wish him good health. What is disturbing, is the media's constant pandering to this man. This is a serious issue agravated by his age. I hope he will release his medical records soon.

[OliviaRee]

Untreated combat PTSD is an extremely serious condition. McCain's reckless behavior such as uncontrolled rage, feeling invulnerable (refusing Secret Service protection) could be indications of this illness. It is common for an individual to be in denial about the symptoms.

[kiraalex]

Mr. Weiner makes an excellent point that I have been waiting for someone in the M.S.M. to cover for awhile...

Why isn't this an important issue to media pundits, voters...Americans in general???

Now I dont discriminate against the elderly --my great-grandmother is Sen. McCain's age and she's just as fiesty as she wants to be. But even she brought up the point that he has made entirely too many "mis-statements" (according to the media, but they were blantant errors to me because he repeated the statements even after being corrected by Sen. Lieberman and is continuously provided with excuses why by the media), has an infamous temper, and (no offense) will probably not make it through his Presidency if elected.

This legislatively challenged but couragous patriot went through God-knows-what when he was a POW - who knows the effects that time may have had on him. I dont know about you, but I'd want to know if the future leader of the free world had any post traumatic mental issues.

THIS is an issue that matters to me as a voter - not some most likely "Made in China" label pin??!!

[kyeblue]

I am afraid that he has Alzheimer disease.

[sleeperd]

Maybe the delay is due to the fact that they're still working on Bill Clintons and John Kerrys records.

[helonias]

But was his cancer shaped like a flag pin?

[myklwains]

hey,i got one! John McCain i older than sound.

[pertello]

The danger of attacking Mccain on his health must be obvious to the Obama campaign. So they must portray him as old, out of date, out of touch. Not up to the demands of the presidency without actually mentioning his illness. Let the surrogates bring that out. Is there a famous well respected doctor or other medical professional out there who is an Obama supporter who can publicly explain why McCain isn't up to the presidency?

[260Parkway]

Gramps is not delaying it, he probably keeps forgetting he needs to release it. I just don't think I want to look at this man for 4 years or hear him talk or see him smile or see him always with a pen in his hand or hear him cuss or possibly see him engaged in fisticuffs with a member of Congress or hear him call his wife the C word again. These are the many things I find DISTURBING about this man and his possible presidency besides his politics. Anybody but John McCain.

[tatin]

All candidates regardless of age should release their medical records. JFK pretended to be youthful vigor itself when he had Addison's disease, a very bad back and was taking uppers. And the worst example is FDR, whose wheelchair was hidden from the public.

Obama is a recovering chain-smoker. His family history includes severe alcoholism and cancer. Hillary seems to be in good health, but who really knows without seeing the proof in the medical records.

The public should demand that a candidate's life be a complete open book.

[gonavy]

The public should demand a stop to this invasion of privacy. This has gone too far.

Your example of FDR gave away your motives. FDR was one of the greatest presidents we have ever had, he lead this country through one of it's most difficult eras. While there may have been other motivations, the media's non disclosure of his wheelchair was out of respect for the man and the office.

[chinacatsunflower]

if i have to consent to pee in a cup every time i apply for a job, which is a huge invasion of my privacy, then i don't see why someone who is running for president shouldn't release their medical records.

[2lib4oh]

You mean the public doesn't have the right to know if McCain's temper outbursts are do to a stage of alzheimers, PTSD, mental health issue or any other condition that might make him dangerous around a red button that starts another war?

Maybe Kerry had the same right to privacy when he was being hounded for his records, who knows?

Respect goes both ways.You have to give it to get it.

[seenitall]

they might just prove what we already know...

[rollingdivision]

Maybe McCain should follow the Bill Clinton example on releasing medical records. Clinton's non release was more than acceptable for the Democrats. But McCain will not follow the Clinton standard. He will release his medical records. Has Obama released all his tax returns from when he was elected in Illinois yet? Has Obama released his medical records?

"McCain Declares Himself Cancer-Free

By GLEN JOHNSON Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) - John McCain declared Monday he has been cancer-free since a bout with skin cancer 7 1/2 years ago, although the pending Republican presidential nominee underwent a full medical examination - including a cancer screening - earlier in the day.

The Arizona senator pledged to release the test results before the end of April, the same timeframe for releasing his income tax returns.

McCain cast the doctor's visit as a routine part of his medical regimen, but the 71-year-old senator has faced questions about whether he is beyond the risk of a recurrence of cancer.

In August 2000, doctors operated on the left side of his face to treat melanoma, the source of a cancerous growth on his temple. The surgery marked him in such a way that McCain often jokes, "I have more scars than Frankenstein.""

[zigzag1]

McCain hid his medical records in Vicki Iseman's underwear drawer and we all know where that is. I think Cindys tax records are in there also.

[guntotinganglion]

I'm thinking the psychiatric records might be the most revealing, and potentially damaging. Ol' Mad Dog ain't firing on all 8.

Which leads to something I've thought for a very long time. The Presidency is THE most important and dangerous job in the world. Among other things that aren't done with candidates for this office is, no drug testing. Why? Politicians are the ones who established drug testing, in direct violation of the Constitution (it denies due process, presumption of innocence and privacy), and yet they are not drug tested. If you drive a bus, you are drug tested. If you sell Slurpee's at 7/11 you are drug tested. Don't you think that having access to the end of the world button might qualify as an appropriate reason for drug testing of ALL Presidential candidates? I also think the President should have to take a drug test EVERY morning...regardless of political party! It's too important an office to take it on faith that they're not doing drugs. And if you ask me, Bushemada is on drugs...and alcohol...be afraid...be very afraid!

And how about some vetting in the form of standardized psychological evaluation? I think this would be particularly important for Mad Dog McCain, because he is known to be, shall we say, runnin' on three wheels. When it's obvious that all the dogs ain't barkin', you might consider some form of medical evaluation that at least establishes a minimum standard for behavior.

[Chavez08]

In the past century, it seems the role of "President of the United States" is merely a puppet position - real power being held by a handful of extremely wealthy and determined ideologues who dream of building a world empire via slave labor, monopolized resources and military occupation.

I seriously doubt that a sane, competent, intelligent, sober or reasonable person would be willing and/or able to fill the job requirements of:

Pave way for poisoning the planet with industrial waste
Torture dissidents
Conquer and occupy all territory not friendly to unchecked capitalism
Destroy all labor and consumer protections across the globe

(Some say Cheney was not so dimented before he hooked up with Irving Kristol)

I'm counting on Obama to be as brave as he is eloquent so he has what it takes to tell the Status-Quo Oligarchs to go _ _ _ _ themselves.

[rollingdivision]

Has Obama released his medical records? Has Obama released his psychiatric records? Has Obama voluntarily agreed to drug testing?

[guntotinganglion]

Obama's not 100 years old. But, that said, he should. And Obama doesn't have a history of unbalanced behavior, as Mad Dog McCain does. Again...that said, Obama and EVERY Presidential candidate should release full records of this type. This isn't a lightweight job...this is serious business. I'm pretty sure that airline pilots have to be screened in these ways, and while they're responsible for the lives of their passengers, their aircraft don't normally carry a 100 million people! The President is responsible for more people's lives than any human being in history, and we get candidates and Presidents who are virtually unknown in this respect. Is it beneath them to be drug tested, or pass a psychiatric screening as a pilot would have to do? Pilots also have to pass rigorous medical exams regularly...why not the man (or woman) who might be required to be up for 4 days straight?

Politicians started drug testing average Americans for no good reason...why shouldn't they be tested as well?

[aricogfj]

I think question is about the media. If its good for the goose, its good for the gander. If we have to listen to questions about flag pins, then we should certainly know how his health records.

[sheraz]

I guess medical records doesn't fall into the Straight Talk category.

[vixie29]

Melanoma loves to spread to the brain.
I would imagine there are other things lurking in his records. How can a person with extensive torture in his past not have PTSD or other mental issues? Would the diagnosis of PTSD or depression rule out a commander in chief? Certainly you would not see a top general with PTSD in a position of importance, would you?