John McCain’s search for a Veep candidate has several unarticulated challenges.
The biggest one has to do with this week’s news that McCain released his medical records. No sign of cancer (cancer would be for the fourth time). But McCain said he would not release his psychological medical records, which is problematic. Cliff Schecter and others have documented the real achilles heel in McCain’s campaign: his questionable mental status.
The problem isn’t that he has had skin cancer, nor is it his age. hey his mother seems in fine shape; he likely comes from solid genetic stock.
The real question, aside from his policy positions has to do with the fact that he was a POW for five years an in solitary confinement in the hanoi Hilton for 2 years. No shame here. Quite the opposite. McCain has been heralded for his valor, which seems the defining issue to his candidacy. The problem is that anyone who has been locked in a box for 2 years is likely to have suffered mental damage. No cuts. No sarcasm. But yes, some judgment here. I would like to know more about this guy’s mental condition before even imagining his hand near the button, let alone in the same room with foreign leaders that he might deign to meet.
So, while the MSM reports or not on his failure to release mental records, it is exceedingly important that any potential VEEP candidate for John McCain be vetted as to his/her sanity. This isn’t a matter of political correctness; it has everything to do potentially with securing the well being of the planet.
Along the way, the debate over McCain’s and his potential Veep’s mental health might have the benefit of opening a long closed door about mental health. Such teachable moments are rare in presidential campaigns, but when they occur, they usually help advance the dialogue. Were this to occur and were McCain to open his own post Hanoi Hilton case study for public scrutiny, the act would be deserving of praise and commendation.
