Dementia: McCain’s Most Difficult Medical Question

Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate for the Presidency has been on a taxpayer funded fact finding trip to the Middle East, with photo-op side trips to London and Paris. Four times during this trip Senator McCain has confused the Shia and Sunni. He has claimed that Shia Iran was supporting, training and arming Sunni Al Qaeda operating in Iraq. Fortunately he was accompanied by Senator Joe Lieberman who quickly corrected him on the nuances of tribal politics in the Middle East.

In London, where McCain stopped for a fund raiser on his way home, Lieberman had to repeat a question from a reporter that McCain had forgotten.

In a March 8, 2008, article the New York Times reported that few mentions had been made during the primary season regarding McCain’s health. Continuing the Times said that his complete medical records had not been released nor had his physicians been made available for questioning. Concern surrounding McCain’s health has centered on his bout with melanoma. While it is believed he has received a clean bill of health, there has been, logically, interest and concern regarding the status of his cancer, which is presumed to be in remission.

That, however, should not be our greatest concern. While ailments which cause physical impairments are important for voters to know about and understand, they are not of a type that typically impairs an ability to fully function as President. Roosevelt’s paralysis and Kennedy’s Addison’s disease are two examples. In those two cases, the men where not fully disclosing, but there is no suggestion that their decision-making abilities were impaired by their physical infirmities.

When the ailment is one that can affect judgment the bar is raised much higher and our right as voters to know is profound. We now know that Reagan may have been suffering the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease before he left the White House. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are on the rise. The rate of incidence is increasing and there is much more awareness of their debilitating impact. Many of us, aging baby boomers, have recently lived through our parents’ demented decline. Consequently, we are alert to the early signs and symptoms.

When Senator John McCain made the same mistake four times, our intuitive antenna were alerted. I have mentioned the issue to four friends and they have all confirmed that they noticed the mistake and wondered whether Senator McCain had a larger problem than jet lag.

When will we see McCain's medical records? Does McCain suffer dementia? What confirmation can we have that John McCain is not suffering the early stages of dementia? Is it a fair concern? It is a fair question? Of course it is.

Unfortunately, it is similar to the classic question, “Are you still beating your wife?” Once you ask the dementia question, you have raised doubt. But, the public has an absolute right to know.