The Unspoken Issue.....

[kentuck]

From talkingpointsmemo.com

<snip>

Next up, age.

39% of Americans said they'd be uncomfortable with president who enters office at age 72, as McCain would, whereas only 16% think same about a female president and only 12% say so about a black president.

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More than 3-1 think age is more of an issue than race?

[mmonk]

1. Yes, age based thinking is real.

[uponit7771]

2. Yes, it's VERY VERY real. Obama not going down in the dumps against McSame about his age

[Triana]

3. Age and age-related illnesses can directly affect a person's ability to perform the job...

...(think Reagan and alzheimer's, Cheney and his health issues, etc.).

Being black or female won't physically prevent a person from performing their job of President as age and age-related illnesses can. Therefore age is definitely something to consider for the job of President. McSame at 72 - is too old, IMO. It's time for him to retire.

[mmonk]

4. Where once in society, age was considered as bringing wisdom,

the opposite seems to be true today. Then there is age discrimination on the job, health care, and pensions. Pretty pervasive. Then later, people are warehoused in our society for a sort of ghoulish death watch.

[kentuck]

6. We should not discard wisdom so readily...

in my opinion. Age has experience, if nothing else. Experience is knowledge. We should glean the knowledge from our old folks.

[mmonk]

7. I agree.

If we followed other cultures more and the aging stayed with the families as long as possible, I think America could become as sensitive and caring as other societies.

[BlooInBloo]

5. McCain on his age: "I am older than dirt"

http://edition.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/12/mccain-im-older-than-dirt.html

[CatsDogsBabies]

8. I think age can be a legitimate issue because

for many people it has a direct bearing on health, stamina, mental acuity and so on. Generally in hiring when they are making sure there is no age discrimination, the age that is used is 40. Now at 40 most people are still in good health and have all their faculties. 40 year olds are still young, but not youthful. What is the life expectancy for a male, 76 years old. I don't know all the details about McCains health, but it is reasonable to consider age/health, especially if you think these two factors may keep the person from serving the full term.

I would also consider health issues for a younger candidate, if there were any serious conditions that would keep the person from performing the job. And, if an older person was in good physical health and was showing no signs of age related dementia, I would rule that candidate out just because of age.

But age is different than sex/gender or race.