Mike Pouraryan
How Old is Too Old to be President of the United States?
How old is too old to be President of the United States? The mental and physical demands of this position would way on anyone, even someone who is relatively young and healthy. This is an issue plaguing John McCain in the general election. He will have to convince the American people that he not only has experience, that he is exuberant and healthy enough to meet these demands in order to bring our country out its status. Although his doctor says he is in excellent health, one cannot help but wonder if 71-year-old John McCain has the exuberance to take on all the new challenges the President of the United States would take on. According to CNN, McCain has had four malignant melanomas removed. Three of them -- on his left shoulder, left arm, and left nasal wall -- were limited to the top skin layer and were not invasive. They were removed in 1993, 2000 and 2002, and all were declared Stage 0, of little long-term concern.
However, a fourth melanoma proved to be invasive and was removed from his left lower temple in 2000, Eckstein said.
The surgery on McCain's temple was carried out in August 2000 by Dr. Michael Hinni, who described the melanoma as 2.2 mm thick at the thickest point and 2 cm across.
Hinni said that, in order to leave a 2 cm margin that would minimize the risk of leaving some of the cancer intact, he had to remove a patch of skin roughly 6 cm in diameter, as well as an underlying carotid salivary gland from McCain's face.
Dissection of dozens of lymph nodes showed no evidence that the cancer had spread, he said.
According to the American Cancer Society, such a melanoma would be classified as Stage IIA, which is associated with a five-year survival rate of about 78 percent and a 10-year survival rate of about 66 percent.
The wound required major reconstruction and has left the senator with a mass of scar tissue on his face. His left jaw appears prominent because there was an absence of soft tissue on the face in front of his ear, Hinni said.
With that being said, how concerned should we be about his ability to stay healthy during a term as President of the United States?
I believe we should be very concerned. We are talking about the leader of the free world here. Lets face it folks, perception is everything. The President of the United States should not be walking around as if someone is propping him up with a stick in his back. It may sound harsh, even discriminatory, but this is a fact. If John McCain went to apply for an executive position in corporate America, no one would hire him, yet we are suppose feel comfortable casting our votes for him. Clearly, the “Maverick” is not what he used to be. The McCain campaign is well aware of this perception, which is why they show military pictures of him from 40 years ago. So, if they do not believe it why should we?
The surgery on McCain's temple was carried out in August 2000 by Dr. Michael Hinni, who described the melanoma as 2.2 mm thick at the thickest point and 2 cm across.
Hinni said that, in order to leave a 2 cm margin that would minimize the risk of leaving some of the cancer intact, he had to remove a patch of skin roughly 6 cm in diameter, as well as an underlying carotid salivary gland from McCain's face.
Dissection of dozens of lymph nodes showed no evidence that the cancer had spread, he said.
Maybe I will retire. No, I know, maybe I will be President
According to the American Cancer Society, such a melanoma would be classified as Stage IIA, which is associated with a five-year survival rate of about 78 percent and a 10-year survival rate of about 66 percent.
The wound required major reconstruction and has left the senator with a mass of scar tissue on his face. His left jaw appears prominent because there was an absence of soft tissue on the face in front of his ear, Hinni said.
With that being said, how concerned should we be about his ability to stay healthy during a term as President of the United States?
I believe we should be very concerned. We are talking about the leader of the free world here. Lets face it folks, perception is everything. The President of the United States should not be walking around as if someone is propping him up with a stick in his back. It may sound harsh, even discriminatory, but this is a fact. If John McCain went to apply for an executive position in corporate America, no one would hire him, yet we are suppose feel comfortable casting our votes for him. Clearly, the “Maverick” is not what he used to be. The McCain campaign is well aware of this perception, which is why they show military pictures of him from 40 years ago. So, if they do not believe it why should we?
