The Palin Pick and Talk of McCain's Mortality

An initial reaction to the McCain VP pick: does it not accentuate the talk about McCain's age in a way that a more experienced VP choice would have neutralized?

I've seen a lot of coverage about whether Palin would be ready in the event of the the death of McCain.

Consider even McCain advisor Charlie Black's quote in today's New York Times:

"She's going to learn national security at the foot of the master for the next four years, and most doctors think that he'll be around at least that long," said Charlie Black, one of Mr. McCain's top advisers, making light of concerns about Mr. McCain's health, which Mr. McCain's doctors reported as excellent in May.

That quotation is troubling. Do only "most doctors" believe McCain would make it through a full term? If this is a joke, it seems poor political strategy to accentuate McCain's mortality.

This focus on McCain's mortality brings to the surface things which were mostly left unsaid before this pick.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[Aylah95]

"Who will teach Obama foreign affairs?"

Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983 where he majored in Political Science, specializing in International Relations. He then went on to graduate from Harvard law school with a JD (doctor of law) magna cum laude. While there he was elected editor of the Harvard Law Review the first year and was President of the Harvard Law Review by the time he left. THEN he went on to teach Constitutional Law for 12 years. From 1997-2004 he was an Illinois Senator before winning the State senate in 2004 with 70% of the vote.
There is NO comparison to your VP candidate. With her bachelor's in journalism she couldn't teach pre-school.

[HowAboutThis]

I heard that John McCain's mother is still alive and may attend the convention. Maybe the mortality talk is a little over done.

[JimboSlice]

I also hear McCain's mother didn't spend 5 and a half years in a POW camp. I hear that that can do a number on the body and mind. I also hear that McCain's mother never had skin cancer. I also hear McCain's grandfather died at the age of 61 and his father died at the age of 70. Doesn't bode too well for a man who just turned 72, seems like he is living on borrowed time.

[IndependentMeans]

His dad is dead, your point? Also, known fact, POW's have a shorter life expectancy due to malnutrition, etc.

[HowAboutThis]

My point is that people die at every age. I think age discrimination is inappropriate--it should even be politically incorrect.

[CintiBlue]

My Dad's mother made it to 96.

He, on the other hand, at 72 was fine one day and not fine the next.

[rwt1138]

His father only lived to 70. And it is absolutely relevant to discuss, as whoever McCain picks stands a reasonable chance of running the country.

To suggest that Palin is ready for that is ludicrous. Nothing about Alaskan politics prepares you to run the entire country. The Palin nomination does nothing but prove that McCain's attacks on Obama's experience are nothing more than a cynical bid to smear his opponent with no basis in fact or even his own personal opinions.

I keep hearing the comment "nobody votes for the vice president" thrown around; if you are planning on voting for McCain, you are either voting for the vice president as well, or you are an idiot. failing to recognize that the stress of the presidency could indeed prove overwhelming to a 72 year old man is simple and unrealistic.

I don't know whether she is up to the challenge or not, but that's the point: nobody does. Sarah Palin. "Change We're Ready to Spin The Wheel On".

[Aylah95]

Yah, but was she a POW? I believe we were supposed to question McCain's viability eight years ago, the idea was he wasn't a safe bet physically or mentally, at least if you listened to Bush's campaign then. Some things come back to bite.

[MYQUEEN7]

In Palin's own words : "Doesn't know a lot about foreign or national issues. However, now that my son will be going to Iraq, perhaps I should learn something about it..."
In John McCain's own words: " In choosing the VP, the single most important decision of the presidential nominee, the VP will need to be someone who is qualified and can immediately step into the role."
In Charlie Black's own words: " Palin can learn about national security at the feet of McCain..."
In my own words: "You have got to be kidding me! Tell this is just more republican humor."
In President Obama's own words: "ENOUGH!!!!"

[afgail]

Palin is Huckabee in a skirt. McCain just wanted the campaign to become the Vagina Monologue.

[Boikin]

Who will teach Obama foreign affairs? Biden?

[lisangela]

Perhaps you were sleeping the week that Obama went overseas and had a more successful and better received tour than W ever has. Obama is a brilliant man who already knows more than Senators in office twice as long, but his greatest ability is to surround himself with even more brilliant people. McCain clearly sees no benefit in doing the same.

[kdoklahoma]

(Laugh) You are funny....Obama has a ton more experience than Palin does, in everything. The point is...she isn't even comfortable in front of a crowd, and McCain isn't at ease with her. As for foreign affairs, McCain isn't strong in foreign affairs either....being a prisoner of war does not give you foreign affairs experience. McCain is a war hero, and I respect him for that, but I have to agree with other Democrats, while that is nice....it doesn't mean that he is president material. As for Palin....I'm not impressed! Okay, I'm a democrat, but seriously there are a lot of well respected republican women who would have done a great job for this country..why her? I've heard, she is not running for president....okay, lets be honest, the chances of John McCain dying in office are high enough that she should have to pass the test for both offices. As for McCain...the republicans definitely could have found someone bettter to run for president.

I found a youtube on McCain, that is scary, but well done and worth watching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w&eurl=

[Last-LiberalRepublicans]

OBAMA JUDGMENT and IDEAS is what the BUSH Administration is using to SALVAGE what ever repution they have left!

THE WORLD RESPECT and LOVE AMERICA when Obama Speak! A Year a go when I traven around Europe with my America Flag, people shout ANTI-AMERICAN slurs at us. Today, in Europe, people can once again display there American Flag PROUDLY!!

[SCVADem]

It's a shame no one taught GWB. I blame his father.

[mesmerize]

Judgement is not taught. You either have it or you don't.

[KiwisCanFly]

"This focus on McCain's mortality brings to the surface things which were mostly left unsaid before this pick. "

Lets be a little more accurate Rick Hansen, left mostly unsaid by MSM. McCain's age has not been ignored or overlooked by bloggers.

[tompoe]

Are you saying McCain's advisor, Charlie Black, has had some doctors express concern that McCain may not make it through his presidency? Well, then, it's a good thing McCain picked the most qualified vice president.

[johnwinner]

Altgough Obama fans may have been too ferocious about it, we did try to warn Clinton fans _ did you not know McCainb was going down this path? Did Clintonistas really think Mccain capable of showing women respect? Have you not grasped what "4 more years" really means? Palin - the former beauty queen who became a 'reformer' becuase she didn't get the job she wanted, but who thinks its really about makin' babies and shootin' endangered species and drillin' wild-life preserves and using government to get back at people she don't like and taking bribes and teachin' cresationism in schools and - 'yup yup.' PUMAMA