A 30-second spot airing on MSNBC and funded by two liberal PACs are choosing John McCain's historic bouts with skin cancer as the face of worries about the candidate's health. The ad shows his scars following skin cancer procedures with the text, "John McCain is 72 years old and had cancer 4 times. Why won't McCain release his medical records?"
One of the PACs behind the spot is helmed by DNC Chairman Howard Dean's brother, a connection the RNC calls "despicable." The spot highlights the groups' efforts to gain more access to McCain's medical records. So far 2,500 doctors have signed a petition put forth by one of the PACs calling for the documents to be released. A total of 1,173 pages of medical records were made available to reporters in May.
The records showed that the last bout with melanoma was six years ago, and described him as having a strong heart and good health. He receives a thorough cancer check every few months. Barack Obama's health records have not been similarly made available. With the black-and-white closeups of the aftermath of McCain's procedures and doctors intoning, "Another bout of cancer for John McCain while he's president of the United States would profoundly affect his ability to lead," combined with the tie to the DNC — is this ad fair? Where are Obama's records? Is it just an age thing or the ugliest of politics?
Converse
Avon
Bloch
That's pretty ugly
1Disgusting.
2Totally ugly.
3I don't like it. Terrible.
4Completely disagree with this tactic. Very shameful to run an ad like that.
5I do think his health history matters when you're looking at whether he'll make it through his term and who his VP will be but I think the commercial is total crap and really low.
6It's a legitimate concern but a very ugly tactic.
7You'd think the ad-makers wouldn't stoop this low if they really wanted people to consider what they have to say.
8I saw this on Bill O'Reilly. Not cool.
9wtf and why. What is this election coming to. He survived, move on. How many people in the US, has had cancer more than once and survived and continue to thrive, there are many. Can we get real on issues.
10Ugly tactics big time.
11Isnt we's all gonna die at some point, prob unexpectedly?
12It is is a fair subject for concerned voters to discuss and there for fair game for any means of discussion. However that doesn't make the means by which it is discussed tasteful or enlightening. In this case IMO it's just down right disturbing and disgusting how they chose to convey their message.
13Independent groups shouldn't be censored in voicing their concerns. It's not funded or approved by his competitor. There are independent conservative groups that have the right to put out their view on the matter. I mean, it's a part of our first amendment right not to be censored when you have something to say... whether it portrays someone accurately is beside the point.
14what hypno said.
15Ewww. It would be a good ad without the extreme close ups. Yuck.
16I totally agree hypnoticmix. While I believe it to be a reasonable concern, I think this type of ad sends the wrong message and will hurt the democratic party because of its' poor taste.
17yeah what jude and hypno said. ugh.
18I also believe that the real target of the ad is not Sen. Mccain ironically enough but our confidence in Gov. Palin. If we had full confidence in Gov. Palin I'll bet that add would be different.
19Ugly tactic but I hope this get's addressed in a public forum, 3 hours to review all of his medical records and that's it? That's shady. That's shadier then giving the media 29 seconds to photograph you with foreign dignitaries where no questions can be asked. We should know everything there is about both candidates, one of them will be in charge of the most powerful Country in the World.
20I really don't think it would be acceptable to force candidates to release their private medical records. It's unethical.
21I work for the state of Florida, and have to go through extensive training on how to release medical information and how not to. HIPAA( Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)
I don't think its right or necessary for the candidates to release medical information.
22I've had three bouts with skin cancer and am thriving. Should I not hold any sort of responsibility? Should I be just relinquished to the, Might drop at any minute, column?
23No, but you should have a good back up plan (as we all should) in place to care for your family, your business, and any other responsibilities.
24True, I think most people who have actually dealt with serious illness do. I know you are implying Palin isn't but half this country thinks she is.
25I'm not even a McCain supporter and I know that this is ugly politics! McCain's medical records were made public so I think it's really unnecessary to actually put his scars on display it's disrespectful to him as a human being as well as all other cancer survivors! SHAME!
26if half of this country thinks she's prepared, we are in deep doo doo. she's an idiot.
27nice argument.
28I don't think thank anyone is questioning the rights on independant groups to make ads....but as the viewers of ads we have a right to find them offensive!
29GS, it's a good point, but you're not 72. You wouldn't be the oldest first-term president in US history.
There is a lot at stake should, God forbid, something happen to him that leaves Palin in charge.
30Agree with everything Hypno said. Spot-on.
31Distasteful ad.
32I can't imagine if they run an ad criticizing/bashing someone based on race or illness or gender or stereotype or whatever. But it is a free speech country as much as I dislike the ad.
No one should be able to question our leaders. Off limits.
33Just for the sake of argument...
"New poll from NBC suggests 40 percent of registered voters believe Sarah Palin has what it takes to be commander in chief -- 64 percent say the same of Biden.
On the flip side, 49 percent say Palin is NOT qualified -- 21 say the same of Biden."
34There you go again GS with "half this country thinks...."
35Ugggghhhh, don't call people 'idiots'! It just makes you look uninformed. I know you have a better argument than that, right?
36See now I disagree that Gov. Palin is an idiot, she's actually quite smart. However, the smarts she has doesn't align with what this country needs right now.
37>Nice argument.
Huh?
38I'll be surprised if after seeing the Katie Couric interview 5/10 random people think she's qualified to be VP.
39Right now the election is about 50/50. It isn't a stretch to say "half". It's not like she's using the stats to support a thesis or something. Geesh.
40...a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 53% now have a favorable opinion of Palin while just 26% offer a less flattering assessment.
...By way of comparison, on the day he was selected as Barack Obama's running mate, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden was viewed favorably by 43% of voters.
When Biden was selected, just over half (52%) of Democrats believed he was the right choice. Sixty-three percent (63%) of Republicans say McCain picked the right running mate in Palin, and 40% of unaffiliated voters agree. A week ago, 31% of unaffiliateds said the same about Obama's selection.
41McCain is roughly even in the polls, not Palin.
42Who said she's an idiot?
43Further, for the sake of argument:
"Couric: You met yesterday with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is for direct diplomacy with both Iran and Syria. Do you believe the U.S. should negotiate with leaders like President Assad and Ahmadinejad?
Palin: I think, with Ahmadinejad, personally, he is not one to negotiate with. You can't just sit down with him with no preconditions being met. Barack Obama is so off-base in his proclamation that he would meet with some of these leaders around our world who would seek to destroy America and that, and without preconditions being met. That's beyond naïve. And it's beyond bad judgment.
Couric: Are you saying Henry Kissinger ... is naïve for supporting that?"
I'd like to think that my judgment isn't clouded by my leftist views when I say that this does not sound like someone who's ready to be the potential leader of the free world.
44Read the comments wade!
45Oh YY, I didn't see that.
46I don't think having a favorable opinion is the same as thinking she's a good back up plan, but I realize I may be splitting hairs. It's interesting to see polling, though, where they do ask separately about ability to lead the country and the number is very different from the percentage of general support or favorability.
47yesteryear did, but that's just yesteryear being flippant as always.
48Oh no! I had skin cancer last year, there go my dreams of being president in 2016. I'm obviously not qualified.
Ads like this are just embarrassing to side it's trying to help.
And seriously, something needs to be done to limit campaigning. This crap has gone on TOO LONG. The election cannot get her fast enough.
49As for Palin, I know that some of you call her an idiot, but I actually appreciate her appeal to many people.
50To my circle who are mostly blue-collar middle class circle, she appeals to them very much (my fiancee even thinks she's awesome although he doesn't like McCain) although half of them democrats (who are voting for Obama, by the way), and half are undecided. I actually don't know anyone in my family or friends who are Republican
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