The Elephant in the Room

For all the "strum and drang" about Sarah Palin and her qualifications, for all the semantic dispute about whether insight into Russian motives and behavior in Georgia equates to having Russia in sight of the Alaskan shore line, for all the second guessing about whether the Israeli tail should wag the American dog on such minor issues as an Israeli nuclear strike on Iran, we are missing a more important point. The important point is that these are not very important points unless John McCain's chances for a natural death in office are significant. They are.

Senator McCain, as he is more and more wont to remind us as a way of avoiding any uncomfortable question, spent 5 and a half years as a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam. He suffered severe injuries and can still not raise his arms above his shoulders. He was malnourished and lacked medical attention. As a fellow Naval Academy graduate and fellow prisoner of war testifies those who have endured this experience have a shorter life expectancy than the general population.

Then there is the fact of Senator McCain's bout with a severe case of skin cancer. No matter how this is now in remission, the chances of a swift recurrence cannot be ruled out.

Another concern is Senator McCain's legendary temper. This is documented by several vignettes, perhaps none so telling as that told by the sister of a POW upperclassman of mine from the Air Force Academy who was shot down, seen in prison but never accounted for. Senator McCain seems to have a particularly short fuse when it comes to veterans' issues. At a town hall meeting in Denver, he got upset when pressed on why he had not supported the new GI Bill of Rights and why Veteran Service Organizations rated his voting record so poorly. He blustered and said that he had been endorsed by all major veteran organizations. This is demonstrably false since only the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) has an independent political action committee (PAC) that can endorse. The rest, the American Legion, Blinded Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans and others are tax exempt and cannot endorse.

There are too many reports of similar behavior to dismiss them. And along with these tendencies, whether they are acted out or repressed, comes increased chances of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. And his behavior raises concerns that he may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of my fellow Vietnam veterans believe that he is. This is not conducive to long life or rational management of the office of the presidency.

I am not a medical professional or a mental health expert but the above speculation about the elephant in the room that is not being discussed needs to be addressed. The easiest way to address this critical issue is for Senator John McCain to release his complete medical records, including those from his prisoner of war debriefing and evaluation. In addition, the would-be president should reveal whether he has attended anger management classes or is on any related medication.

Sarah Palin's selection certainly raises questions about Senator McCain's judgment and his decision-making process. But that misjudgment will be of little consequence unless she ascends to the presidency. The selection of Gov. Palin has shaken up the campaign but it should also step up the discussion of Senator McCain's health. The electorate needs to have a much better understanding of the odds of a Palin presidency.

Let's talk about that elephant.

Comments

[artiste]

People have a right to know about PTSD and how it can affect your judgement!

I have had PTSD for 22 years after a serious car accident. Once you develop it you always have it. There is no cure for it. It can impair your ability to make competent decisions. Anger problems and irrational behavior is a trump issue. Memory problems, including amnesia and inability to see things like they really are classic symptoms. Do any of these look familiar when we take a closer look at John McCain?

[Karisma]

Many people who are involved in traumatic events or witness them have a brief period of difficulty adjusting and coping. But with time and some healthy coping methods, such traumatic reactions usually get better on their own. In some cases, though, the symptoms can get worse or last for months or even years. Sometimes, they may even completely disrupt your life. In these cases, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may include:

Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
Shame or guilt
Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
Feeling emotionally numb
Irritability or anger
Poor relationships
Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
Hopelessness about the future
Trouble sleeping
Memory problems
Trouble concentrating
Being easily startled or frightened
Not enjoying activities you once enjoyed
Hearing or seeing things that aren't there

[yvonne61]

THERE ARE SO ISSUES THAT SCARY ME ABOUT MCCAIN IS HEALTH IF SOMETHING HAPPEN TO HIM. MY FAITH TELL ME SHE NOT THE RIGHT ONE TO STEP IN I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THINK THE SAME. THIS TELL ME MCCAIN JUDGMENT IS IN QUESTION ABOUT THIS. I NOTICE HE FORGET ALOT OF THING HE HAD SAID THEN COME BACK A TRY TO FIX IT. IT WILL BE THE DANGEROUS. CATASTROPE­,UNQUALIFE­D EVENT IN AMERICA HISTORY. SOMEONE NEED TO GET IT OUT THERE THAT IT A PROBLEM TO THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT TICKET FOR THE JOB. I DON'T SO.

[jackie4444]

I disagree that Palin only 'matters' if McCain dies a "natural" death in office. If McCain wins, he will be another figurehead, just as Reagan and GWB. McCain is way too unpredictable, too 'historically unreliable' to be allowed at the helm by the true power players. And he lacks the force of personality to oppose them and forge his own path, even if he had the motivation, which he does not. It is, in short, the title he wants on the tombstone, not the job.

Palin is a dangerously ignorant puppet willing to do exactly what she's told. Asked the sibling
rivalry challenge question - 'well, if he told you to walk off a bridge, would you do that too?' , Palin
could truthfully answer 'yes'. So with a McCain/Palin win, is Palin going to be calling the shots,
Cheney-style? Certainly she will be facilitating, carrying out orders. Making the decisions?
In my opinion, no. No way that a male establishment, many with long-unfulfilled "Presidential dreams", and which has historically stomped-down every effort of females to move up politically is going to just simultaneously genuflect to this zero-dues outsider. When hell freezes over.

So seems to me the question is who will be running the country with a McCain/Palin win.

[cgr]

PTSD, perhaps, but certainly he's seeming more and more confused, befuddled, as if he really hasn't a clue much of the time. He's adamantly denied things he's said and done, even though they're well documented. He either lies flat-out or really is lost in some kind of fog. Either way, this isn't someone we want in the Oval Office making executive decisions.

It's such a complete turn-about from who he has been in the past. Something's going on. I've wondered if the far right hasn't got him in some kind of vise, or his mind is going, or he's so exhausted and stressed he doesn't know whether he's coming or going, what he's for or against.

Either way he seems to be just doing whatever his handlers tell him, and even then having trouble remembering things or staying on message. It seems even he doesn't know who he is now.

Early signs of Alzheimers??? Strange thought: his "handlers" know this, and if they can get him elected, if/when he should become incapacitated, with Palin lined up to take over, they know they can control her and the White House...as she seriously hasn't a clue and would end up just a figure head.

Spooky. Our nation truly at extreme risk .

[SeriousBlack]

I don't think he has PTSD. But having said that, I think that he is simply old, not very smart, and incompetent. And he has ALWAYS been not very smart and incompetent. That's all.

Oh, and now (based on his campaign tactics over the last couple of months) he is a dishonorable man. That's new.

[RolloWisc]

I am a mental health professional who works mainly with PTSD and it is not helpful to put this diagnosis onto John McCain without a full evalutation.

BTW - I am an Obama supporter!

Obama/Biden 08

[rzan1]

I don't know how he couldn't have it, given the ordeal he went through. I suspect he has had an evaluation, and it is in his VA records. Those records need to be made public.

[athenasword]

I agree, which is why he should be pressed to release his records (not 1160 pages, available for only a few hours). Personally, in my experience w/ elderly family members w/ dementia, I see more signs of congitive impairment (memory loss, confusion, irritability, short fuse, stubborn argumentative attitude, easily frustrated) I would love to know how he does on mental status tests.

[jacqmac]

Well-he MAY BE too old! No shame in that! However, this does NOT need to be an attack.
Here's what is probably going to happen and I've seen the signs: During a debate, or TOWN HALL, someone is going to 'needle' him about an issue. Whether it's his statements about the Economy, or the War, or various aspects of Foreign Policy, we will see McCain get a tad more red-faced than usual and there's gonna be a RAISE to his voice. Then the CAMPAIGN is going to come back with how 'unfair' the press or the person or even Barack Obama has ALWAYS been to him and we'll be debating PTSD for 48 hours. Regardless­-REPUBLICA­NS TAKE NOTE!! THIS IS THE LEADER OF YOUR PARTY! Someone who goes on the airwaves TWICE with statements about the ECONOMY that are utterly ABSURD! AND THEY ARE the POLICIES of THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICIES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ARE WRITTEN IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM AND JOHN McCAIN IS A REPUBLICAN. Keep repeating this People--Obama's 'attacks' have ALWAYS been the same-he's just stepping them UP!!

[useyourbrain]

McCain's temper. Go to youtube and search for "McCain, angry" and you will see some shocking video of him at a Senate hearing on missing servicemen from Korea and VIet Nam and to a reporter on his press plane. Both were women. His testy performance on morning Joe -- also to a female -- calls into question his verbal abuse of women and his attitude towards women (hint, it isn't a good one).

[rzan1]

When he ran in 2000, he really was nasty to Maria Shriver, who was a reporter for one of the networks at that time. It really gave me the creeps because he has this almost passive personality otherwise. I can't believe Schwarzenegger would support him.

[canobs]

This would be the most counter-productive line of attack against McCain imaginable. No matter the rationale, falting McCain his war injuries, invites a wave of public sympathy towards him. Furthermore, you higlight McCain's heroism and Obama's lack of any meaningful accomplishments, besides having run for President (two autobiographies notwithstanding). All this will accomplish is drive McCain's favourability rating higher, as Obama is forced to praise his rival's status as a heroic American soldier.

[Rockwell]

I agree. There's no need to talk about the elephant in the room because everyone can already see it.