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What's the Difference Between Ageism and Other Forms of Bias? Depends.
October 12, 2008 12:38 PM
And if you laughed at that cheap adult diaper joke (and really, is incontinence actually amusing?), the odds are you’re not at all put off by any suggestions by opponents of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that his advanced 72 years mean he’s not up to the job.
But the McCain campaign doesn’t share that bemusement.
And while we’re on the subject of some of the uglier insinuations coming out of the anti-Obama camp these days, it might be worth taking a look at what McCain backers say is nothing less than complete and utter ageism.
"Barack Obama and his very top campaign officials are clearly engaged in a coordinated effort to stoke fears about John McCain’s age," says McCain spox Brian Rogers. "It’s obvious, unfortunate, and offensive."
What are they talking about?
Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs on MSNBC last month saying, "Just yesterday, John McCain said we shouldn't fix blame. He took a breath and then fixed blame. He said the fundamentals of our economy are strong, and he flip-flopped. He opposed the bail-out of AIG, and then he supported it. This guy zig-zags. Look, if he's driving a car, get off the sidewalk."
Or Gibbs on Fox News the month before that, saying of McCain, "somebody's got to talk about how many houses John McCain has, because he either forgot how many he has, misplaced the keys to those houses, or he just wasn't being truthful with those reporters."
In May, of course, Obama reacted to McCain’s attack on him as being backed by Hamas, telling CNN, "this is offensive. And I think it’s disappointing, because John McCain always says, well, I’m not going to run that kind of politics. And then to engage in that kind of smear, I think, is unfortunate, particularly since my policy towards Hamas has been no different than his. I have said that they are a terrorist organization, that we should not negotiate with them unless they recognize Israel, renounce violence and unless they’re willing to abide by previous accords between the Palestinians and the Israelis. And, so, for him to toss out comments like that, I think, is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination."
This came after the 47-year-old (then just 46) in February saying "I admire John McCain’s half a century of service to this country."
More recently, Obama has hit "the kind of erratic behavior we’ve been seeing out of Senator McCain" in his response to the economic crisis.
"You remember the first day of this crisis, he came out and said, ‘the economy was fundamentally sound,’" Obama said in Dayton, Ohio, this month. "Then two hours later he said we were in a crisis. I don’t think we can afford that kind of erratic and uncertain leadership in these uncertain times. We need steady leadership in the White House. We need a President we can trust in times of crisis."
At a fundraiser in Miami, Florida, last month, Obama said, "John McCain saying just yesterday that he would not meet with the prime minister of Spain!"
Someone in the audience shouted back, "He didn’t know who he was?"
Obama continued, "I thought it was because he was confused or because he bought into this notion that we don’t meet with people that we don’t agree with."
Then, of course, there’s the Obama TV ad with retro fonts and a disco ball, saying: "In 1982, John McCain goes to Washington. Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't. He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail, still doesn't understand the economy..."
Another ad, saying McCain has been "erratic in a crisis" (quoting from a newspaper editorial) and "out of touch," features video of McCain in a golf cart with former President George H.W. Bush.
If he’s driving a car, get off the sidewalk. Misplaced the keys to his houses. Losing his bears. A half century of service. Erratic. Uncertain. Confused. First came to Washington in 1982.
You get the picture.
The Obama campaign denies that there’s anything there, I should point out.
Now, for a lot of reasons there are many folks who don’t think ageism can even compare to, say, sexism, racism or xenophobia. All of us pretty much aspire to be old some day. That’s not the same dynamic with gender, race and national origin. And the fears stoked by race may be uglier than the more mocking ones related to age. There’s a difference between racist animus and ageist condescension. Lots of comedians would agree that crowds will laugh at ageist jokes but sexist, racist, and xenophobic ones are just less acceptable.
But here’s the fundamental question: Even if ageism is more acceptable than other forms of bias, does that mean it’s acceptable?
-- jpt
October 12, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (151)
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I have the pleasure of working with older adults. Many of whom are in their 70's, very bright and active. They refuse to vote for McCain and do not mince words that the number one reason is his age.
Posted by: Paige | Oct 12, 2008 3:42:47 PM
Where does this CHAIN SMOKER thing come from?
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:40:50 PM
Thank God for Karma
You just don't get it do you these are questions that need to be answered by both campaigns. I want to know the health of all the candidates. There is a link between age and health and there is a link between race and health. Any other question about age or race does NOT matter.
By the way your name doesn't make any sense. Christians do not believe in karma.
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:38:26 PM
McCain with his active 96 years young mother HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF LIVING LONGER than Obama whose parents died young and he is a chain smoker.
- A McCain Democrat
Posted by: vs | Oct 12, 2008 3:36:55 PM
McCain was exonerated (of his part in the S and L debacle and $500 billion bailout), and it was the three Dems that were guilty.
1. exonerated? NO. He was said to have exercised bad judgement.
2. The three Dems who were co-conspirators with McCain are no longer in the Congress.
Posted by: Bruce Becker | Oct 12, 2008 3:30:48 PM
, neither is an expert in the economy and THERE IS NO MONEY! So economy is not THE issue I will vote on.....it will be character, judgement, track record and PATRIOTISM!
NEVER OBAMA, THE FRAUD AND SUIT
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN!!!!!!!
Posted by: Hope, Change, Hate, Nobama '08 | Oct 12, 2008 2:55:59 PM
====================================
I'M WITH YOU.........
I AGREE 100%.........
I'M AN EX-DEMOCRAT TOO.....
BEST CHOICE IS:
McCAIN/PALIN '08
Posted by: Nicholas | Oct 12, 2008 3:29:48 PM
To our shamelessly biased (not you, Jake) mainstream media, anything that helps theone get elected is acceptable, and anything that doesn't help theone get elected is unacceptable. Any other questions?
Posted by: Thank God for Karma | Oct 12, 2008 3:28:33 PM
occasional smoker and chain smoker are 2 different things. Where did you hear that he is a chain smoker? I have never heard that. Everything I have heard is he has the occasional cigarette.
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:26:35 PM
I am so sick of flip flopping being a bad thing is it really a bad thing to change your opinion if you are proven wrong and don't agree with your former opinion or is it a bad thing to stick by an opinion to no end even when your opinion is proven to be wrong. Don't humans have the right to change their mind. I for one would never say that my opinion are always right and if given evidence that I am wrong I will change my opinion.
Does that make me a bad person or untrustworthy somehow?
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:23:10 PM
Obama is a chain smoker, he is probably more unhealthy than McCain.
Posted by: David | Oct 12, 2008 3:17:25 PM
Exonerated means to declare or prove blameless and in order to be blameless he would have had not be involved therefore he was not exonerated he was found not guilty of any wrong doing which not guilty does not equal innocent and I REPEAT HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE SHOWN POOR JUDGEMENT!!!!
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:16:36 PM
The biggest joke of all are the Hillary supporters (real or fake) on here. You do realize most Republicans can't stand Hillary? What exactly do you think the GOP campaign ads would be if she were the Democratic nominee? Nothing kind, let me guarantee you that.
Posted by: 1percenter | Oct 12, 2008 3:12:27 PM
josh....McCain was exhonerated and it was the three Dems that were guilty. McCain has fought corruption tooth and nail since that time in his life and he has my vote. He is a man of his word....now Obama...not so much....like how he told Sen. McCain he would take public financing and then DIDN'T!
He fips and flops whenever he has to because HE IS POLITICS AS USUAL.
GIVE ME CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN....
McCAIN/PALIN ALL THE WAY.
Posted by: Hope, Change, Hate, Nobama '08 | Oct 12, 2008 3:10:48 PM
People keep claiming sexism but never offer any proof that the Obam's campaign is being sexist. Is it secist to ask a woman the same question you would ask a man in the same situation? I personally don't think so I think it would be sexist not to ask her these questions. In fact I would agree that the media has been sexist in their questioning of Gov. Palin for the exact opposite reason that you are probably saying they are sexist (but then I don't know that because you don't give any reason for your accusations of sexism in the media) because all the media has done so far is ask her easy soft-ball question like what newspapers she reads which she couldn't answer for three days. I for one am afraid of the idea that she could possibly become our president if anything were to happen to McCain because if it takes three days to respond to an easy question like that how long would it take her to respond to a national emergency? It took her just as long to respond to what she reads as it took Bush to respond to Katrina.
So what is your reasoning for crying sexism? I'm sure a lot of people would like to know.
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:10:48 PM
Again, it is McCain that brings up his age whenever he brings up Obama's inexperience. And in those debates against Obama, unfortunately for McCain he just looks even older.
Since when does age not matter? If it didn't, there wouldn't be an age minimum for running for President. The point is less McCain's age but rather the mixed message campaign he has been running.
Even on here you guys can't keep your talking points straight. One moment you have to brand Obama as a terrorist muslim, while the next McCain is saying 'whoops, sorry, he's an okay dude'. It's hard to argue against people who don't know where they stand.
Posted by: MIguy | Oct 12, 2008 3:07:58 PM
McCain didn't defeat death three times to not serve this country in it's highest office. This guy IS THE ENERGIZER BUNNY and was down and out back in the beginning of the primaries, carrying his lugguge through the airports to go from State to State. Just finished watching a pathetic bio on Obama, with NO CHARCTER WITNESSES or history of any sort deserving of the WH.
McCAINS FAMILY HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY FOR OVER 100 YEARS, AND AS FAR BACK AS GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Obama doesn't deserve it with 143 days in Senate, 130 Present votes, dubious upbringing by two Muslim dads and Atheist mom, radical ties, names too many to mention here. HE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I wish he were white, as he wouldn't even be in this race with his background, .....lib media looks the other way and shoves him down our throats. This is like Flight 93 and some good 'ol Americans will have to rush the cockpit and take down this plane (Obama campaign) before it hits the Capitol!
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN!
Posted by: Hope, Change, Hate, Nobama '08 | Oct 12, 2008 3:07:40 PM
Obama accuses others of bigotry when he is the biggest bigot of all.
Posted by: mike | Oct 12, 2008 3:07:36 PM
people say they are voting on judgement and moderat convieniently glossed over the fact the McCain was not exonerated from Keating5 he was found to have shown POOR JUDGEMNET. And he/she didn't answer my question about sexism.
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 3:05:59 PM
"Patriot"-- I keep trying to get out of here, but I just could not let your comment pass. McCain is NOT a criminal, as you probably know perfectly well. Yes, he was one of the Keating Five, but he was exonerated of any wrong doing. When Bennett investigated the case, he recommended dropping McCain and John Glenn from the group entirely, as they had done nothing wrong. However, since McCain was the ONLY REPUBLICAN accused (a fact Democrats conveniently gloss over), the politicians looking into the matter were of course unwilling to drop him. But McCain was open with investigators and the public, has written extensively about what he learned from the incident, and was NEVER charged with any crime, let along convicted of one. You should be ashamed of yourself, "patriot," but I'm sure you won't be.
Posted by: moderate | Oct 12, 2008 3:01:17 PM
Both Obama and his wife said that the comment "that one" was NOT racist but it was disrespectful
Posted by: Josh | Oct 12, 2008 2:58:27 PM
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