Murtha: McCain’s Age Makes It ‘Very Difficult For Him To Become A Good Commander-In-Chief’
Murtha: McCain’s Age Makes It ‘Very Difficult For Him To Become A Good Commander-In-Chief’
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) recently said Sen. John McCain may be too old to be President. “It’s no old man’s job,” Murtha said of the presidency. McCain’s campaign responded that such comments were “nonsense attacks.”
In an interview with ThinkProgress today, Murtha explained that his concern over McCain’s age has to do specifically with leading the nation in a time of war. “With the rigors of today — with the news media the way it is — one slip of the tongue, one mistake can cause a worldwide impact,” Murtha said. (Indeed, McCain has had many recent “slips” of the tongue.) Murtha continued:
I know myself. I have to pace myself. I’m the same age he is. He said I was senile a couple of years ago. Well, that’s beside the point — whether I’m senile. But I just believe that his age is going to be very difficult for him to become a good Commander-in-Chief because the decisions are so difficult.
Watch it:
“Some of the things he’s been saying worry me because he’s going to carry on the Bush tradition,” Murtha said, arguing that McCain doesn’t seem to understand that the American people are “rejecting his policies.”
Transcript:
Let me tell you, I’ve seen seven presidents. I’ve seen the wear and tear on a president. I’ve seen the difficulties — there’s never a day that goes by that you don’t have a problem. The problem that comes to the president can’t be solved by anybody else.
So, the older you get, the more difficult it is to have the energy to confront these things. Reagan had a good staff. He was able to get by. But with the rigors of today — with the news media the way it is — one slip of the tongue, one mistake can cause a worldwide impact.
I know myself. I have to pace myself. I’m the same age he is. He said I was senile a couple of years ago. Well, that’s beside the point — whether I’m senile. But I just believe that his age is going to be very difficult for him to become a good Commander-in-Chief because the decisions are so difficult.
And some of the things he’s been saying worry me because he’s going to carry on the Bush tradition. I mean, if he doesn’t understand that the country — the people — are rejecting his policies, then he’s making a real mistake. The public itself has rejected it.
And there’s going to be a Democratic President because this candidate is endorsing his policies of continuing the tax cuts, people are hurting at home, and yet the war is going to continue also. We can’t afford to have him as president.
All of us realize and appreciate his heroic duties as an officer in the Navy.
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I agree.
Get rid of Grandpa McSenile.
Let him go spend his Budweiser millions on Viagra…
May 1st, 2008 at 2:03 pmI wish people would get off the ‘age’ thing when it comes to McCain. Age has nothing to do with why I can’t and won’t support McCain… his policies have everything to do with my decision.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm“It’s no old man’s job,” Murtha said of the presidency.
And it’s no idiot man’s job either, but look who we’ve had for the last 7 years!!!
May 1st, 2008 at 2:06 pmraynman Says:
I wish people would get off the ‘age’ thing when it comes to McCain. Age has nothing to do with why I can’t and won’t support McCain… his policies have everything to do with my decision.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
_____
True. It’s so ageist. I’d much rather talk about McCain’s angry white preacher.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:08 pmLet Murtha and McSame wrestle it out! They should get a room, “my friends.”
May 1st, 2008 at 2:13 pmWar is McAncient’s Viagara
May 1st, 2008 at 2:16 pmIt’s not simply his age I worry about; it’s the signs of Alzheimers, i.e., the faulty memory, his hot temper, the grudges, etc.
He’s neither physically nor mentally fit to be C-I-C.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:17 pmI’m more worried about who he might select as veep. There would be a good chance that person would become president if John Sidney McCain III became president and the actual work killed him.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:20 pmL. Hussein Annie Says:
It’s not simply his age I worry about; it’s the signs of Alzheimers, i.e., the faulty memory, his hot temper, the grudges, etc.
He’s neither physically nor mentally fit to be C-I-C.
I agree.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pmOT but CNN is reporting that the DC Madame killed herself in Tarpon Springs.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:25 pmO.K. Can we dump this obsession every day about mccrazy..Counting the think fast thread it’s 4 seperate articles on this peice of shit today…Starting to look like TP is pramoting mcinsane…Blessings
May 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
Boy, is the Vitter family relieved.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:32 pmI bet there are a lot of people that are relieved robbez.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:35 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
OT but CNN is reporting that the DC Madame killed herself in Tarpon Springs.
Suicide, right.
The plain brown envelope is probably making it’s way thru the mail to the news media as we speak.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pmSomone over at C&L said that a woman came on right after it was reported and said that if she (DC Madame) was ever found dead that someone killed her because she said that she would never kill herself.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:37 pmRUCerious Says:
Boy, that’s sure one conspiracy theory I’d love to see play out. I think it’s much more likely that she couldn’t face jail, and couldn’t play the Scooter Libby card.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pmleftwrong Spews:
“We were corrupt a couple of years ago.” Rep. Any Republican (R)
Well, that sums up the Republican Party!
What’s YOUR excuse, leftturd.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:40 pmNotice leftright on post #12. Typical troll, takes quote of of context.
He said I was senile a couple of years ago…
NEXT!
May 1st, 2008 at 2:40 pmleftright, that’s funny. The republican party in my state couldn’t defend Hastert’s old seat and can’t even find candidates to run in the Nov. election. They can’t even mount an offensive against an offensive Gov. But your joke was funny.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pmgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
OT but CNN is reporting that the DC Madame killed herself in Tarpon Springs.
I suspect she was murdered for knowing too much.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pmAs already posted, She is know to have said previously if she turned up dead, she didn’t kill herself
Who knows. Guess we will have to wait for the ME’s report.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pmFiscally responsible (echo)
Small govt. (choking on that)
Family Values (Adam’s family values maybe)
The republican party is in shambles. They don’t stand for anything but fear.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:42 pmHellina ~
May 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pmDidn’t you get the RNC memo? That wasn’t small government, it was SMALL MINDID government! Mission Accomplished!
I agree it has nothing to do with his age. But with age comes many physical and mental issues that could greatly diminish his capacity while in office. A good example of this is ex-President Reagan. He was being supported and shielded by everyone around him during his remaining days in the White House. There are a great many people that have a sharp mind and body until they are in their late 90’s.
John McCain, however, has policies and ideas that are counterproductive. They are not going to relieve the burdens of the majority of people. Instead, increase the already widening gap between the middle class and the top 10% who don’t need any more help. Plus, he wants this never ending War that is crippling our economy. The longer we stay, the more we are in debt to China. It is robbing us of family members who have died for this craving to impose our will on other countries and greed. That is why he will never make a good Commander-In-Chief.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pmRIP GOP
May 1st, 2008 at 2:46 pmI think age will be a big elephant in the room for McCain. It is something that will be difficult for him to address, but will be a real cause of concern for many voters. We’ll see flashes of concern about the issue when he releases his medical report and when he selects his VP candidate. The VP in particular will be touted as someone who is able to take over the reigns should something unforeseen happen.
We have recently experienced what its like to have a president go senile while in office. Reagan’s last several years saw a big decline. Although he was apparently able to stand up and read a speed from a teleprompter, it is doubtful that he was leading the country in any meaningful way. Since the Washington insiders close ranks so effectively it is difficult to know how big an impact this had, but given how terrible Reagan’s presidency was to the financial well being of this nation, I don’t think it something we want to go through again.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:49 pmRUCerious Says:
I’m more worried about who he might select as veep. There would be a good chance that person would become president if John Sidney McCain III became president and the actual work killed him.
Or if the neocons heart-attacked him.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:55 pmAge is an issue. A bigger issue will be his flip flopping. The republicans tore Kerry apart with this and now it’s a weapon against anyone. McCain has too many flips and flops to ignore. He was hated by the far right while trying to walk the fine line and now he’ll be exposed by the middle for pandering to the far right.
He’ll do and say anything because he wants to be president. Not the qualities needed for the job.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pmCall me a conspiratist, but I think the VP chosen will be President by late ‘09, assuming McCain wins. Regardless, I’ll watch with interest who that turns out to be. We well know how much influence Corporate entities have today. They also know that Obama would change the profit / greed machine now destroying America. They need a young, charismatic Yes Man in place for ‘unforeseen circumstances’. They haven’t decided yet who best fits that bill, but I’ll bet my bottom dollar that person will be adamant about continuing the Third Right’s mission.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pmZimzone Says:
Call me a conspiratist, but I think the VP chosen will be President by late ‘09, assuming McCain wins.
I agree 100%. As I’ve posted before, I think who is chosen will give us a good idea whether or not the GOOPs think they have a real shot. They won’t taint an up-and-coming star if they think it’s a total loss. If they choose one of “their own”, I agree that McDumDum will go down via unnatural “natural causes”.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:18 pmAge only???????!!!!!!!!!!! It is a presidencial race and people are talking about AGE, Character, Personallity… what about polocies??!!! Why Iraq is out of the debate from Obama and Clinton????? Why TORTURE issue is out of the campaign? Age, personallity… it is like you are voting for the best TV ad about a car. IRAQ, 4062 dead servicemen, two million iraqi civilian dead. Two illegal wars, and possibly another coming up! Secret prisons, Torture, domestic spying, should be all on Obama and Clinton’s mouth!
May 1st, 2008 at 3:20 pmI believe McCain’s actual response was, “Applesauce! Murtha may think he’s still the bees knees, but I don’t care how much his zoot suit was. Won’t stop that dewdropper from casting a kitten, is what I say! He can dry up. I got the scratch in this town an’ he’s just off on a toot! 23 skidoo!”
May 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pmI’m shocked that the debate seems to be limited to what McCain will be like in 4 years. If he serves 2 terms, what will he be like 8 years from now ???
May 1st, 2008 at 4:13 pmI don’t have anything to add beyond what President Dwight D. Eisenhower said:
May 1st, 2008 at 4:36 pm“No one should ever sit in this office over 70 years old, and that I know.”