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I can appreciate the fact that the McCain campaign and Republicans in general are a little touchy about the senator’s age — running to be the oldest president in U.S. history will do that — but that’s no reason to characterize every critical adjective in the language as some kind of slight about McCain’s septuagenarian status.
Poll after poll shows that more voters trust Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on matters of national security than they do Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois. Hoping to bridge that chasm, the Obama campaign and Democrats harped on comments McCain made on the Today show this morning, repeatedly calling the 71-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee “confused,” seeming to feed into concerns voters might have about the Arizonan’s age.
After McCain said this morning that it’s “not too important” when U.S. troops come home from Iraq, Obama aide Susan Rice said on a conference call that McCain’s comments reveal a “real confusion and lack of understanding of the situation in Iraq” and the larger region. She added that McCain’s series of errors of fact and judgment are “reflective of a pattern of lack of understanding and lack of strategic depth.”
Reporters, apparently having internalized McCain’s talking points, asked Rice if she was attacking McCain’s age by calling him “confused.” She responded, “[W]hat I meant by that is very simple — on critical, factual questions that are fundamental to understanding what’s going on in Iraq and the region, Sen. McCain has gotten it wrong. And not just once but repeatedly.”
This comes a month after Obama, responding to an ugly attack by McCain about Hamas, told CNN, “[F]or him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination.” McCain, Lieberman, and their GOP allies said this was a shot at McCain’s age.
Look, this is silly. Every criticism is not a veiled reference to McCain turning 72. “Losing his bearings” has nothing to do with age — it refers to someone who has lost their way. They’re off track. They’re moving in the wrong direction. Likewise, people of all ages get “confused.”
Maybe McCain and the media can draw up a list of acceptable adjectives that McCain critics can use?
The kicker is McCain really has been confused. Whether he’s 72 or 22 is irrelevant — he’s been consistently wrong about Iraq, demonstrating time and again that he just doesn’t understand the basics.
* McCain has been confused about how many U.S. troops are in Iraq.
* McCain has been confused about whether the U.S. can maintain a long-term presence in Iraq.
* McCain has been confused about the source of violence in Iraq.
* McCain has been confused about Iran’s relationship with al Qaeda.
* McCain has been confused about the difference between Sunni and Shi’ia.
* McCain has been confused about Gen. Petraeus’ responsibilities in Iraq.
* McCain has been confused about what transpired during the Maliki government’s recent offensive in Basra.
* McCain has been confused about Gen. Petraeus’ ability to travel around Baghdad “in a non-armed Humvee.”
* McCain has been so confused about Iraq, in November 2006, he couldn’t even do a live interview about the war without reading prepared notes on national television.
And we’re not supposed to say McCain’s “confused”? Why, because it might make him sound old?
Tell you what, reporters and McCain campaign, pick a better adjective for us. “Confused” sounds like an attack on his age? Fine. You tell me. Befuddled? Bewildered? Baffled?
The problem isn’t that McCain’s critics are picking loaded terms; the problem is McCain doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about when it comes to his signature issue.
Why we’re not supposed to mention this is a mystery. I guess I’m confused.
def. not this cup. this cup has been sitting, stagnant for a long time and there is mosquito larvae just waiting to burst...
But seriously, I need to do some more research, because so far even though I know he's chairing an armed services committee, I have seen no demonstration of a strong grasp of foreign policy or current affairs.
THE main problem with him is his ATTITUDE...War, war, war, regardless of the cost in human lives, trillions of dollars, etc. Obama is a bit of an arcane character, but I'd take a chance on him, rather than war-prone McCain. Electing imperfect human beings for our leadership is NEVER easy!!!
because it is totally funny, no matter how tragic. ... like seeing a man killed by an anvil dropping on his head in real life. **** like that only happens in cartoons, ya know?
I think to say he is "confused" about all those things is nothing more than an attack on his advanced age. It's not that he's confused at all. He's just wrong in most cases, as is Obama.
I wish people wouldn't go to some extremely biased blogger and post it like it had any hint of neutral news or included the judgment of anyone who we should give merit to.
What? Was the Huffington Post or WSJ not printing enough crap this week?
Agree with sean. This is one of the more ridiculous posts on the board and people trying make it come across as something important, or even partially true.
The only fact in that entire article is regarding his age.
Mccain is opposed to benefits for veterans, he said, and i quote, "they shouldn't have benefits, they should come back here and get a job." He wants to CUT benefits for those who have served for us. And he's against raising social security taxes for those who make over $200k, The current system sucks. Mccain only cares about the rich. Of course his statements were different the next day when he way talking to a different crowd so who really knows what he's thinks....HE doesn't even know what he thinks
Ahhhh i'm looking forward to the future of this country.
__________________ 2003 Super Black 350z/ 1991 Cherry Red Metallic 240sx Coupe KA-T _GO GATORS!
Mccain is opposed to benefits for veterans, he said, and i quote, "they shouldn't have benefits, they should come back here and get a job." He wants to CUT benefits for those who have served for us. And he's against raising social security taxes for those who make over $200k, The current system sucks. Mccain only cares about the rich. Of course his statements were different the next day when he way talking to a different crowd so who really knows what he's thinks....HE doesn't even know what he thinks
Ahhhh i'm looking forward to the future of this country.
What? You're complaining as if it's a bad thing, and this is probably the first good thing I've heard from McCain.
Something wrong with that sk26dett? Yes, they should have "retirement" benefits, as should anyone who has a job. But, unless they are disabled, they should not get a free ride for the rest of their life. Thank you for serving our country, but that doesn't mean you are off the hook forever.
Yeah, I sort of thought the point to joining the military was to get some experience you can apply to a job. Or at least earn a good reputation so you can get hired.
Agree with sean. This is one of the more ridiculous posts on the board and people trying make it come across as something important, or even partially true.
The only fact in that entire article is regarding his age.
This topic has a lot of significance for the upcoming election. Since it relates to one of McCain's main arguments over Obama, we will be seeing this more and more as the general election commences. Hear me out.
McCain uses his age/experience as both sword & shield.
Whenever you see someone using a sword & shield argument, there is always a question as to underlying hypocrisy.
For example, the McCain campaign uses his age/experience to attack Obama relentlessy. Personally, I happen to think this kind of attck is fair game in politics, so it's not like I'm complaining. Check out this typical example:
Quote:
CBN's Brody has a sitdown with McCain senior adviser Charlie Black. Check out how many times Black utters the word "experience" in this one answer: "Senator Obama for all his magnetism and appeal is not very experienced and the experience he has had is that of a sort of a conventional, liberal politician. It's hard to find incidents where he has taken political risks to work across party lines or get things done like Sen. McCain has, but it's most important in the area of national security. We've been debating about a Iran and Iraq with him, and Sen. McCain truly believes that if he had more experience and especially if he went to Iraq and got experience meeting with the generals and the troops and seeing what's going on in the ground maybe he would see we shouldn't pull out of Iraq. But as we say, experience informs judgment and it's hard to have good judgment on national security if you have no experience."
Despite using his age to damage Obama with good effect, McCain then uses age/experience as a shield. It is a rhetorical strategy designed to shut down any criticism that he perceives as age-related, even if it's not age-related in reality. That was the main idea of the essay in the OP.
If Obama calls McCain confused, forgetful, or something similiar, is that grounds for McCain to call a foul? Does Obama have to use a list of pre-approved words?
More broadly, is it fair game for anyone to question McCain's age? McCain is seeking the hardest job in the world, and he is the oldest candidate to date, so reasonable people may want to know whether he has the physical capacity to keep up with the job. If you were hiring someone for a difficult job, wouldn't you want to know if their health was adequate?
Please tell me how you see the issue. Is there a double standard or what?
I wish people wouldn't go to some extremely biased blogger and post it like it had any hint of neutral news or included the judgment of anyone who we should give merit to.
What? Was the Huffington Post or WSJ not printing enough crap this week?
If you read the essay, you may notice the author makes an effort to point out some strengths of McCain, such as polling favorably over Obama on national security, and avoids any name-calling or other below-the-belt attacks. Since we will be seeing this issue more and more as the general election begins, I thought it was also timely and relevant.
If I start posting articles by Ann Couter, or her analog, Ted Rall, then you would be justified in calling me a tool.
This topic has a lot of significance for the upcoming election. Since it relates to one of McCain's main arguments over Obama, we will be seeing this more and more as the general election commences. Hear me out.
McCain uses his age/experience as both sword & shield.
Whenever you see someone using a sword & shield argument, there is always a question as to underlying hypocrisy.
For example, the McCain campaign uses his age/experience to attack Obama relentlessy. Personally, I happen to think this kind of attck is fair game in politics, so it's not like I'm complaining. Check out this typical example:
Can we admit six times in 30 seconds is a lot?
Despite using his age to damage Obama with good effect, McCain then uses age/experience as a shield. It is a rhetorical strategy designed to shut down any criticism that he perceives as age-related, even if it's not age-related in reality. That was the main idea of the essay in the OP.
If Obama calls McCain confused, forgetful, or something similiar, is that grounds for McCain to call a foul? Does Obama have to use a list of pre-approved words?
More broadly, is it fair game for anyone to question McCain's age? McCain is seeking the hardest job in the world, and he is the oldest candidate to date, so reasonable people may want to know whether he has the physical capacity to keep up with the job. If you were hiring someone for a difficult job, wouldn't you want to know if their health was adequate?
Please tell me how you see the issue. Is there a double standard or what?
McCain's age is irrelevant. If he dies, who he chooses as VP is POTUS, with roughly the same ideology to follow. If Obama is elected, we have socialism.
This isn't hard, Mr. "the word 'experience' 6 times in 30 seconds ZOMG!"
McCain’s Confusion Has Nothing To Do With His Age
so who really knows what he's thinks....HE doesn't even know what he thinks 
