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Going After McCain’s Health

I read this morning that this ad was coming (helped along by DNC Chairman Howard Dean’s brother, who runs Democracy for America, one of the groups behind the spot). Here it is, via Ben Smith:

It’s the kind of thing that Democrats always say Republicans would do if the shoe were on the other foot—and then don’t do themselves. But now it’s being done.

As for the substance, the ad, it seems to me, makes a pretty legitimate point. (In it’s own partisan, scary-picture-showing way of course.) As Andrew Sullivan says: Release all the candidate’s medical records. There are basic things Americans deserve to know about the health of all of these characters.

Comments (18)

1

Slimey and sleezy politics. Don't go there. Dude is done either way.

Posted by Medina | September 25, 2008 11:00 AM
2

Nope; laying out the facts is necessary. McCain is worse than a pig in a poke.

Posted by eliza | September 25, 2008 11:03 AM
3

Next ad:

"John McCain: He's got that old man smell. You know what we're talking about, America. Yuck."

Posted by Juris | September 25, 2008 11:04 AM
4

Medina, dude may be done in Seattle, but outside our sweet bubble of reason you can't count him out. They're not hitting him on his health so much as his secrecy surrounding his records. Go for it.

Posted by sara | September 25, 2008 11:07 AM
5

You know, though. . . it's relevant. Particularly because he has chosen a totally unqualified VP. Knowing the status of his very malignant cancer seems like a reasonable expectation.

Posted by violet_dagrinder | September 25, 2008 11:10 AM
6

I love the stethoscope-around-the-neck look. Very convincing.

Posted by DOUG. | September 25, 2008 11:14 AM
7

Folks, I've had cancer (10 years ago, clean bill of health since). My mom has cancer. Many people close to me in the last decade have had cancer, several have died.

And I still think this ad is entirely reasonable. If I were running for office, and refused to release medical records relating to my cancer, its treatment, and my prognosis, I would be doing a disservice.

Perhaps current and former cancer sufferers should form CrabPAC to raise money to push McCain to talk about his health history.

Posted by Glenn Fleishman | September 25, 2008 11:15 AM
8

Making some sleazy, ad hominem attack ad about his age would be one thing, but questioning why he won't release his medical records is perfectly legitimate.

Posted by Hernandez | September 25, 2008 11:16 AM
9

I was going to say that this ad was a little too sleazy in the vein of the Bill Ayers attack ad against Obama. But then I realized that every single thing state or implied in this ad is true. He is 72. He's had cancer 4 times. And he won't release his medical records. Hard to argue with that...

Posted by Julie in Chicago | September 25, 2008 11:22 AM
10

A long time ago, James Carville said ... "When your opponent is drowning, throw the asshole an anvil."

That's all this is ... it's nothing personal, John.

Posted by superyeadon | September 25, 2008 11:28 AM
11

One word on why he's withholding the records:

Viagra. Shitloads of Viagra.

Posted by dwight moody | September 25, 2008 11:32 AM
12

What about that penis enlargment surgery he had in South America in the mid 80's-you'd think it would be a issue...

Posted by randy beaver | September 25, 2008 11:32 AM
13

Seriously, JMC's most important health issue is whether or not he can think straight. He seems to have trouble saying much without mixing up a word or two. Is that the person we want representing us?

Posted by Betsy Ross | September 25, 2008 11:41 AM
14

He might have always been like this. But regardless, I really doubt a guy that age is up to the job. My apologies to all the old people who read this. Nothing personal. You probably weren't going to be president, anyways.

Posted by superyeadon | September 25, 2008 11:46 AM
15

How do we give these guys money to run this most effective ad?

Posted by Mr, X | September 25, 2008 12:08 PM
16

I want to give these people money and lots of it NOW!!!

I want these sort of ads all over the place NOW!!

Posted by Andrew | September 25, 2008 12:09 PM
17

It's extremely relevant. Simply think about Palin being a heartbeat away.

Posted by artistdogboy | September 25, 2008 1:10 PM
18

Didn't he already release his medical records? Yeah, there was a time limit and a lot of nonsense going on - but they were released, right?

Posted by wench | September 25, 2008 1:12 PM

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