Age a bigger factor in election than race, gender?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
While the Democrats sweat it out over how voters perceive race and gender in this election, maybe it's time for the Republicans to take a look at how Americans feel about electing a 71-year-old man.
If John McCain wins, he will be the oldest person ever to serve a first term as president. And a new survey out suggests that the public might have more doubts about voting for someone of McCain's age for president than they would for an African-American or a woman.
The NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows 72% of those surveyed say voters are ready to elect a qualified black candidate, 18% say they're not. Meanwhile, 71% say Americans are ready to vote for a woman, 20% say they're not. But only 61% say the voters are prepared to vote for a person over 70, while 29% say they're not. Not exactly encouraging numbers for McCain and the Republicans.
Besides his age, McCain has had his share of health issues. He survived 5½ years as a POW in Vietnam, where he was badly mistreated. He's also been treated for melanoma – a potentially deadly form of skin cancer – four times in the last 15 years. But the Arizona senator is active and keeps up as tough a work schedule as any of the candidates out on the campaign trail.
Doctors say there's no reason McCain wouldn't be able to serve as president, although they point out that certain health risks – like heart disease and cancer – a can become bigger factors for people in their 70s.
McCain’s campaign plans to release details of his medical history next month.
Here’s my question to you: When it comes to electability, is John McCain’s age a bigger factor than the Democratic candidates’ race or gender?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
E-mail addiction a sign of mental illness?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Before you sit down to write in to the Cafferty File, think about this: sending excessive e-mails and text messages could be a sign of mental illness – and some of you are on the margin. An editorial in The American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that these obsessive-compulsive symptoms are now so common that they should be included in an industry manual on mental disorders.
Here's how to tell if you need help:
– Excessive use, which often goes along with a loss of any sense of time when you're online.
– Withdrawal, which includes feelings of anger, tension or depression when you can't get to a computer.
– The need for a better computer, more software and even more hours of use.
– And, negative repercussions, which can include arguments, lies, and social isolation all due to your time spent online.
In South Korea, which has the highest use of broadband internet worldwide, internet addiction is considered one of the most serious public health issues. The government estimates that more 210,000 children are affected and need treatment, and another 1.2 million are believed to be at risk for addiction. In China, it's believed that nearly 14% of adolescent internet users are addicted... that's 10 million Chinese youngsters.
So it comes as no surprise that there are now internet addiction clinics around the world. Experts say it's also become a more significant legal issue in criminal, divorce and employment cases.
Here’s my question to you: Is sending excessive e-mails and text messages a sign of mental illness?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Can Pennsylvania Sen. Casey’s backing help Obama with working-class voters?
Sen. Bob Casey announced his endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama at the Soldiers and Sailors Museum and Memorial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, today.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Jerry Reed had a big hit record a few years ago called, "When You're Hot, You're Hot." These days Barack Obama is hot, especially on Fridays.
Last Friday, just as the Reverend Wright story was threatening to engulf him, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson rode to the rescue with an endorsement of Obama that took Reverend Wright right off the front page. That was followed closely by the news that Hillary Clinton failed to tell the truth about her visit to Bosnia in 1996, portraying herself as someone in a James Bond movie ducking bullets and running for her life. All false.
Now as we approach the Pennsylvania primary in a few weeks, Senator Clinton had locked up all the endorsements that mattered in that state... until today.
Suddenly Senator Bob Casey who had vowed to remain neutral said, "I have changed my mind. I want you to vote for Barack Obama." Casey is just what the doctor ordered for Obama. His constituency is working-class Pennsylvania families – Clinton's strength and Obama's weakness.
'Tis the season of March madness, and every year it seems there is a Cinderella team that comes out of nowhere to make a real run at the national title. So far this year, Cinderella's name is Barack Obama.
Here’s my question to you: Can Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey’s endorsement help Barack Obama among working-class voters?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Recent Comments