Like It Or Not, Age Is An Issue

While we can all agree that John McCain is a hero with a compelling life story, his age is an issue in this campaign whether McCain-Palin likes it or not.
The GOP Convention showcased the senator's mother, Roberta, a spry and nimble woman in her 90's, as evidence of John McCain's potential longevity, and that display is certainly a valid one.
But there is another equally valid display with regard to longevity that McCain-Palin would rather not highlight.
John McCain just turned 72 years old.
His father, a U.S. Navy Admiral, died at the age of 70, two years younger than the senator is right now.
His grandfather, also a U.S. Navy Admiral, died at the age of 61, eleven years younger than the senator is right now.
The life expectancy of the American male currently stands at 75.4 years old, a mere three years older than the senator's current age.
One presidential term is, of course, a four year commitment.
The Republican Party can try to distract the nation all it wants from the age issue with patriotism, heroism, flags, beautiful family images, and a Vice-Presidential newcomer to the national and international stage all it wants. And those images are certainly relevant ones.
But the 800 pound gorilla issue in the room is that John McCain wants to be awarded the most powerful elective office in the world at an age when corporations, universities, and even some churches have long since relegated their most senior members to at best, supporting roles in their organizations. It is precisely at the advanced age of 72, when many other organizations have long since promoted younger professionals whose mental acuity, open-mindedness, and psychological reflexes are sharper and better suited for the advancement and prosperity of their organizations, that John McCain asks to be given control of the nuclear launchcodes.
Experience is fine, but the physical and mental weakening that is an inevitable consequence of aging cannot, and should not, be overlooked in this campaign.