Any thoughts from fair-minded people on the Obama anti-McCain skin cancer commercial?

I thought it was in very poor taste. I only learned yesterday that it was produced by the brother of Howard Dean, also on the DNC, which may be in conflict of PAC rules. I think the commercial may backfire on the Obama campaign in that it appeared to be ageist (by stating that McCain was too old to be president) and offended cancer survivors.

The ad appeared on NBC and MS-NBC; it was reaired on Fox. what more of a link can I provide. You have to have seen it or see it if in bad taste it is repeated. Only NBC would accept the ad.

Yes. Very distasteful and offensive, I think. I mean, Obama keeps playing the race card saying that he is being discriminated against because he is black....yet he is discriminating against McCain because of his age? That is called Ageism, and it's just as bad as racism, sexism, etc.

It is impossible to blame Obama for the content of the ad. Thanks to the asinine campaign laws we have in place (which he is partly at fault for) campaigns cannot communicate with their backers in any form. This allows groups like these to produce ads in poor taste, and for the candidate to claim they had nothing to do with them.

Obama should condemn the ads and tell the world he doesn't approve (if is he really loves it). But, I don't think his political handlers have done a single thing correctly since he beat Clinton, so why would they start now?

As for the content of the ad- it is a total farce. McCain is protected by the same privacy laws as each of us. It is illegal for my employer to demand to see my medical records, it is illegal for my doctor to release my records without my consent. The same holds true for Senator McCain. He did make his records available for media review several months ago, so we know anything bad in them would have been the topic of conversation on MSNBC for at least two weeks.

And Palin doesn't make it any more urgent. Since she is the only one of the big four with executive experience we should all feel comfortable knowing there is at least one person in the race with some experience and know-how.

I can agree that a campaign ad, if it specifically mentions Senator McCain's cancers might be somewhat tacky. I can't say that I believe Obama to be responsible for this particular independent organization.

As a health care provider, I do, however, believe that McCain's age, 72 years, is fair game, and the fact that he's had 4 recurrences of Melanoma, (5 total). Melanoma is a very aggressive cancer and this is pertinent to the fact that he is running for President.

With McCain's age and very serious medical problems, it would not be surprising if he were unable to complete his term. Also, you can't rule out the obvious issue of his bone problems that occurred when he was a POW. He can't lift his arms above his head. These types of problems tend to become worse as one ages.

I appreciate his service to our country but I also believe that the person in this office should at least be healthy enough that his health status is not an issue upon taking office.

Also, a potential problem is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many vets who have been in hostile encounters return home with this mental health disorder. If Senator McCain showed evidence of a mental health evaluation and treatment, I would feel more comfortable with him holding the highest position in the land. As it is, I've heard of his somewhat explosive temper and it concerns me.

Add to all of this, if unable to complete his term, his running mate would then step into the White House as acting president. I could not responsibly support this as my future and the future of my children would then be in the hands of someone I consider inexperienced and inept.

Again, I appreciate his service to our country but I don't believe it automatically translates into his ability to lead this country.

McCain's health is a genuine issue with Sarah Palin standing behind him. If he had a running mate with substantive experience it would not be an issue to most I think. That's why no one brought it up before Palin turned out to be such a bag of nothing. But I saw her interviewed by Couric. Palin is a moron, and that's putting it with all the gallantry I can muster. It's an insult to all the intelligent women in the GOP to assert that hairdo Palin is qualified in any way to be vice president, let alone president.

I believe any lies in campaigning are wrong. That apparently isn't an issue for McCain because his commercials are packed with blatant lies.

However, people should know that McCain has had MELANOMA. We're not talking carcinoma....MELANOMA is deadly. He is seriously at risk. Do we really want Palin as president? Look at McCain's face, he's all cut up with scars thanks to his various cancers. We need someone who will be 100%, that's not McCain.

http://www.melanomacenter.org/basics/sta...

It raises a very good question. Is McCain healthy enough to serve as our President considering he's had a very serious form of cancer four times?
That's not really the issue though, the real issue is, is Sarah Palin ready to lead our country in the event McCain does die while in office? Recent interviews suggest she is nowhere near ready.

Thanks for making me aware of that. I had not seen the ad before but looked it up because of your question.

I knew McCain had had skin cancer but I had no idea he had it 4 times!

That makes the idea of Sarah Palin as VP all the more scary. Thanks for the warning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHvJPGnkQ...

The smart Republicans and Independent cannot be fooled by the Democratic game playing.

The Union backed Democrats cannot be proud of their party that has acted like thugs,have been false witnesses, lied, cheated and are hiding thier past and current involvement.

The media goes along with them because the Democrats want a one party system- communism.

I think it's disgusting! They say the DNC is not to blame! If Obama has any dignity left, he would have the ad removed! Just in case you didn't know, NBC is the only network airing this foul ad. Go figure!

McCain/Palin 2008!

Obama didn't produce the commercial. Can't ask for fair-minded responses when your question is not fair-minded.

It's not Obama's ad. Notice that at the end of the ad it doesn't say, "I'm Barack Obama and I approve of this message." It's an ad from a 527. If you're going to post, stop lying.

They commercial was not done by Obama's campaign and I do think it was in poor taste.

However, the commercial does present a point that should not be ignored.

Has Obama come out to speak against it? He won't. He knows only socialist, communists and democrats watch MSNBC.

What? You are surprised at these tactics? They backfire most of the time because liberals can't identify with the American people.

Obama's name is not attached to that commercial in any way. It was payed for by another group. Get your facts straight.

democrats have no class...they'll do anything to get power so they can destroy this country they hate so much

John McCain IS a cancer.

If BO will stoop this low, and he DID know about the ad, he will stoop to anything. He sucks!

So you think that John McCain ads, full of lies, is ok though!

No surprise on how low the dems. will stoop.

I haven't seen it yet, do you have a link?

I think there is a difference in being a cancer survivor and being a 72 year old cancer survivor and the kind of cancer he had, makes the chances of it coming back or spreading, greater than other forms of cancer.

Melanoma: How It Returns, Where It Spreads

Melanoma is known as "the most lethal form of skin cancer" because it accounts for 77% of all deaths from skin cancer. Melanoma can spread rapidly - and with the exception of some rare forms of skin cancer 鈥?it is the skin cancer most likely to spread to lymph nodes and internal organs. Melanoma also may recur (return after treatment).

For these reasons, everyone treated for melanoma should continue a lifetime of regular:

Examinations by a dermatologist

Self-examinations of their skin

About Recurrence
Should melanoma return, it will recur in one of these ways:

Local recurrence. Melanoma that develops in or near the site where the primary melanoma was completely removed is called "local recurrence." Recurrence is often an indication that the tumor has metastasized. Patients who have locally recurrent melanoma after the primary tumor has been removed have a low rate of survival. Local recurrence can occur months to years after surgical removal of the primary tumor.

Second primary. A "second primary" is defined as a new melanoma that develops at another site on the patient鈥檚 body either simultaneously or after complete removal of the primary tumor. All patients who have had melanoma are at risk of developing a second primary. This risk increases if you have atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) or a family history of melanoma.

It is vital that anyone who has had melanoma continue self-examinations and see a dermatologist for regular full-body skin examinations as often as prescribed. Early detection increases the likelihood that the second primary will be detected when it is in an early and curable stage.

Recurrence at a distant site. Recurrence at a distant site is known as "metastatic melanoma," which means the cancer has spread.

He may very well be to old to be President. There are some 72 year olds that should not be driving. It's reality!

Link please.