Dems can and should use McCain's cancer history

[cali]

It's perfectly reasonable to bring it up repeatedly in the context of healthcare coverage and the excellent care he got because he's a U.S. Senator and covered by a good plan, and that all Americans should have access to such care, and to that or a similar plan. I hope like hell that in a debate, the dem nominee brings that up. It focuses on the healthcare coverage issue, and if it reminds voters or informs them that McCain is old and has had serious health issues- oh well, isn't that just too bad.

[zanne]

1. I think we have to be careful with that cancer and old age thing...

The press would pounce on us immediately. It would have people standing up for McCain.

[cali]

3. It's completely acceptable to use it in the way I described

pushing for healthcare reform. It can be said nicely: "John, you and i are lucky we have such great coverage. When you needed treatment for cancer, the best resources were available to you.... yadayadayada"

[Alter Ego]

7. Remember what happened the time Kerry

brought up Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter?

Yeah.

We could probably expect some fireworks.

[MyNameGoesHere]

2. HELL YES! We should alienate the most reliable voting block

in the USA, and still preach about unity and doing politics differently. This is all in line with the Obama philosophy.

[cali]

4. for pity's sake. use your brain

this in no ;way is an attack. To say that McCain is fortunate that he was able to get such great treatment for his cancer and to say that dems want to extend that kind of coverage to all cancer victims and to all Americans- and to say it sympathetically, is just fine. And as I said if the unspoken subtext is a reminder of his health history and age, that's to our advantage too. And, genius, I'm not Obama or his proxy. duh. I believe that either candidate should use this- judiciously.

[nxylas]

12. It may not be an attack

But it would be spun as one. The M$M would be wailing for two weeks afterwards about those no-good Dems bringing up McCain's health and age as an issue, replaying a choice quote out of context over and over agian, just as they did with the Right Reverend Reverend Wright.

[cali]

14. nope. done right it certainly would not be.

it can and should be judiciously used.

[nxylas]

15. I'm sorry, but that seems a little naive

The media will spin it however they want to spin it. Remember "John Kerry thinks the troops are stupid"?

[MyNameGoesHere]

18. Sure i will use my brain.... Ok here it is

a older gentleman with cancer. Use that against him. Ok my brain just exploded. Now i cannot use it again.

[Mooney]

9. You nailed it.

We hear a lot about how many of Hillary Clinton's supporters are older voters, who are the ones who may defect to McCain if she doesn't get the nomination. Obama is going to have to work overtime to earn their votes. This would have the opposite effect. Not that it's such a hot idea if Hillary's the nominee either, mind you.

[Hugabear]

10. Bullshit - pointing out that McCain has excellent health coverage isn't a bad thing

Especially when you can make the point that there are MILLIONS of Americans with no health coverage at all.

[NDambi]

11. Agreed. He's covered many Americans fighting cancer or survivors didn't have coverage

Use it against him, especially the pr-existing condition part...and insurance.

[MyNameGoesHere]

19. I was raised differently than you Obama unity and changing the way politics

are ran uniter's I guess. We didn't make fun of older people with what could be a life threatening illness. It seemed to make those older folks call us assholes.

[Hugabear]

20. Do you think you could try making a little sense?

Your first sentence made absolutely no sense at all.

How is pointing out the fact that McCain has great health coverage through his Senate position "making fun of older people"?

[MyNameGoesHere]

24. Yes there you go. n/t

[MaineDem]

5. I'm sure it'll be an issue...maybe a subtle one

The man remembers when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

I know many 70+ year olds who know they wouldn't want the job and will take his age into consideration.

If the man has a medical problem we should all be aware of it.

[cali]

6. Exactly

it will be used by dems in the appropriate context. And the MSM will also focus on it.

[Mooney]

We shouldn't go anywhere near it. Or his age either.

Maybe it's just me but every time I hear or read some one referencing his age, I cringe a little bit. So I can't imagine that using his cancer history in the context of a political campaign will go over too well.

I don't see it as any different than making PMS jokes about Hillary Clinton. It's completely inappropriate in the context of a political campaign and it's the sort of observation that says a lot more about the person making the observation than the subject.

[Not the Only One]

8. We'd be trying to be too cute. No.

It would be obvious that the real point was to bring up his cancer history, not to talk about health care access.

The media will cover McCain's age/health. It will be brought up in at least one debate by the media.

[Ordr]

13. Bad idea.

[GodlessBiker]

16. Word should get out about the health care coverage Americans are paying the Congress to receive.

[MaineDem]

17. We should have been made aware of Reagan's dementia too

I think medical history is a valid issue.

[zulchzulu]

21. It would be a good way to make Johnny Songbird's head explode in a debate

Imagine bringing it up in a debate:

"As John McCain knows with the cancer health issues, we need to be able to protect Americans from....."

His head would explode.

[slinkerwink]

22. we should use it in talking about health care coverage. Elizabeth Edwards is great on this.

[DearAbby]

23. The GOP backed media

sure used Elizabeth Edwards cancer to try and knock out JRE of the race, if you recall. The GOP would use it...It is a valid concern. I believe a full medical check up, including mental evaluations and drug test on all candidates, should be made public. We have the right to know.