The age issue
Local voters split on impact of being olderBy Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
Most every morning Walter Brothers and several neighborhood friends walk the historic streets of downtown Marietta for exercise and camaraderie.
Among a myriad of topics that surface, the group sometimes talks politics and chats about the upcoming presidential election, Brothers said. A recent topic was the age of the candidates.
"Of the people I walk with - all in about the same age group - we all agree that McCain is too old," said Brothers, 69. "We are all older, and I'm not alone in my opinion."
Republican nominee John McCain is 71 years old.
Democratic nominee Barack Obama recently turned 47 years old.
It isn't the norm that one presidential candidate could, in terms of age, be his opponent's father. The last time was the 1996 race between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole.
Local voters have mixed feelings on the age question.
"Age isn't an issue for me. Experience, knowledge of the job, and views on issues are what is important," said Connie Grimes, 56, of Marietta. "At my age, 71 is not old. There's nothing wrong with that."
Brothers, who worked in Washington, D.C., a number of years said most people who are elected to national office - or who work in government - have excellent experience, integrity and character, along with "wonderful" resumes.
This is not the issue, he said. For Brothers, age is an issue.
"We have a lot of problems in this country right now, and the vast number of people are unhappy with the state of affairs," he said. "We need someone who is young and vibrant with new ideas.
"In McCain's case, his opponents killed one another off and he was the last man standing," Brothers said. "I see McCain somewhat like Dole in the age issue."
Obama's relative youth and lack of the overall experience of McCain are not considered important by Brothers.
"He (Obama) is a seasoned politician who ran an excellent campaign and didn't make a lot of mistakes," he said. "He is not a novice, not by any means."
For Grimes, on the other hand, Obama lacks the experience to be president.
"That lack of experience probably has most to do with his age," she said. "Age is all in the concept of your mind and (your perception) often depends on how old you are. I don't think of McCain as old.
"With a younger candidate I tend to go back to the idea of experience," she said. "With the younger one, I'm a little more hesitant."
Janice McGregor, 73, of Vincent said the age of a candidate does not matter to her.
"But for certain candidates, age may be a plus," she said. "I am more comfortable with someone who has been around the military and around Washington for many years. There is no comparison."
John F. Kennedy was 43 years old when he was elected the 35th U.S. president in 1961.
"Kennedy was different," McGregor said. "He'd been around quite some time. His family had always been in politics. I didn't see Kennedy as lacking in experience."
Cindy Davis, 54, of Marietta is a longtime voter who does not base her choice on the age of the candidate.
"But if everything else is equal, I would vote for the younger candidate," she said. "We're all getting older ourselves. I understand that, but if I am looking for change, then definitely I would vote for the younger person."
Davis said she believes a young candidate is more apt to initiate change and introduce new ideas.
"Sometimes you find that older people don't want change," Davis said.
As a pastor and youth minister, Sean Brakey, 24, of Marietta, looks at the upcoming presidential election through a somewhat different perspective.
"I don't look at age or even experience. I look at character and values," Brakey said.
November's election holds little excitement for him.
"It's hard for me to vote anytime. Sometimes when the candidate is a really good (career) politician, that deters me even more," Brakey said. "I am not really excited about the November election, not really."
As youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Marietta and at Marietta College, Brakey said he looks for candidates for election who are authentic and "real."
"It's easy for a Christian to deal with issues of abortion and homosexuality (within the framework of politics), but it has to go way deeper for me," he said of a choice of candidates. "As a youth minister and Christian, for me it has to involve social issues, justice and caring for the poor."
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kittie
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08-08-08 2:28 AM
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my opinion, McCain is just like cheese and fine wine he has improved with age. But what does age have to do with his qualifications. Has my kids decided what age they are going to put me in a home. I sure hope not because I may have to whoooooop some ---. Now, at what age will I no longer be the parent? Give the best man for the job a break and if you can't find anything else wrong besides his age yourself you better cast your vote his way.
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MttaOpin
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08-08-08 12:35 AM
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I'm atheist too. A candidates religion or age isn't really much of an issue to me though. But I do think McCain is old school. I haven't liked the way the white house has operated for the last 8 years or the direction our country is going. Will McCain really be enough of a change? I think its time for an outsider or some new blood.
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teaglass97
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08-08-08 12:28 AM
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Oops forgot. Newsweek is probably a right wing/left wing/conservative/democratic/muslim/arab/american/McCain controlled/Obama controlled/Hilton owned source of journalistic misleads and accusations and undeveloped theories according to the Wizard of Oz committe on here.
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teaglass97
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08-08-08 12:23 AM
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I think Paris Hilton has it all right in her ad. Even Newsweek says so. Don't believe me? Go check it out. Newsweek dot com under politics. Now what's everyone going to argue about? Such a shame....lol.
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Harleyrider
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08-08-08 12:15 AM
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Parrothead, you are nuts. I am not on here constantly pumping up McCain. And you see Parrothead, you opened the door with the heiriss comment. Did I say that I had something agains Heize-Kerry? Did I say she was a horrible person or ridicule Kerry for marrying her? I thik that you should grab a dictionary and look up what it is to be a hypocrit. Evidently you don't understand the word. Oh Please try some annalogies that are not routienly shredded for their lack of logic as well.
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OneAmongThem
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08-07-08 11:44 PM
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pjwb1978, God doesn't believe in Atheists, therefore you do not exist. ;~) Parrothead, there are alot of ways to access the video recordings of Jeremiah Wright and his sermons. Try an internet search if you hadn't already seen them before.
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teaglass97
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08-07-08 10:59 PM
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So it appears there are alot of knowledgable about religion and the muslim faith on this message board. It appears all of the slandering of race and nationality might make you wonder when the last time these people have been to a mosque. If you can't fit the shoes, put them back on the shelf. Oh by the way pjwb1978. "There are no atheists in a foxhole."
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TXBuckeye
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08-07-08 10:27 PM
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Parrot, you expected tapes & DVD's for sale from the McCain house like they were available from the Jeremiah Wright house of worship?? I can see his ex-wife now; "I don't say God Bless you John McCain, I say God*****you John McCain". And then there is always the classic; "John McCain distributed cancer throughout the female population just to get me" (farce on the US govt. spreading AID's charge from Wright). This can be fun.....
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Parrothead
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08-07-08 10:11 PM
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Also HarleyRider I am not showing hypocrisy because I, unlike you I wasn’t on this board stating that John Kerry was a man of great character which you regularly say about McCain.
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Parrothead
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08-07-08 10:06 PM
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I respect that you, nor I, lived in John McCain’s house and do not know what went on there. You, nor I, attended Obama’s church either, so stop talking about things you know nothing about as though you are speaking the gospel. YOUR hypocrisy is shining through!
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Harleyrider
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08-07-08 9:24 PM
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Parrothead, I won't duck a question like you. Let me say this, I did not live in John McCains house with his previous wife. I do not know what all about their relationship. So it is very difficult for me to speak with any kind of knowledge on this. I will say that John McCain refused to be released from a POW camp because of who he was related to. He suffered dearly for this. So your statement hold little water unless McCain had a crystal ball and was looking at his bravery helping him out. As to marrying an heiress, your hypocricy is showing once more. I bet you voted for John Kerry. I wonder what his wife got when her husband died? lol
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OneAmongThem
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08-07-08 8:51 PM
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Bill Clinton had nothing to do with the balanced budget, it was the congress which was a Republican majority. I remember getting the proposal in the TV Guide at the time, so that everyone had the opportunity to understand what was at hand.
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Harleyrider
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08-07-08 8:48 PM
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Respect*
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Harleyrider
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08-07-08 8:48 PM
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Zero repect for you Parrothead.
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Parrothead
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08-07-08 8:23 PM
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Did anyone else see the interview of Condolezza Rice when she stated that if Obama is elected that the country will be just fine? Sorry HarleyRider – I guess you CAN love your country and vote for Obama. (I need to tell you that I was wearing my flag lapel pin and had my hand over my heart as I typed this!
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ladynoogs
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08-07-08 8:07 PM
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let the mudd slinging begin (and i'm not talking about the politicians) you guys are a hoot to read! BTW anyone else hear that although Hillary is saying she's backing Obama, she is also encouraging her followers... um.. i mean supporters to write in her name for nomination.. or at least thats what the NBC nightly news reported at 6:30
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pjwb1978
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08-07-08 7:41 PM
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Harleyrider-- I am an athiest so it doesn't bother me in the least.
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Harleyrider
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08-07-08 7:27 PM
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TXBuckeye. I will vote for McCain because I love my country more than I hate John McCain.
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Harleyrider
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08-07-08 7:18 PM
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pjwb1978, yes Obama left his church after sitting there for 20 years listening to the spew he claims he did not know about. Then when the heat got to much to take, he left. Pretty sad if you ask me. I would have more respect for him if he actually stood behind his "Mentor and spiritual guide". Goes to character, and if that is the kind of character you prize, may God help you.
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Harleyrider
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08-07-08 7:14 PM
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Parrothead, I really could care less what you think of me. I have zero respect for you. Every time you get into trouble in a debate you resort to name calling and personal attacks. I have never called you names. And for your info, I have put over 4000 miles on my bike this season.
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TXBuckeye
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08-07-08 6:53 PM
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Harley, I'm there with you. I'm not sure how Parrot gets from the natural thought of "Afghanistan says thanks for helping us throw the Soviets out" to "9-11 is our own fault because Ronnie didn't give enough love to post-Soviet Afghanistan". You have no doubt deduced by now that Parrothead is one of those who always looks for blame in the USA first. Let's hope there are enough of us who will vote for an older RINO over a younger junior senator with the most liberal record in the Senate. (for those that haven't heard it, RINO = Republican In Name Only)
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Francia
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08-07-08 5:42 PM
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Oops, I forgot to say that Obama and the President voted for the Big Oil folks, and McCain voted against it. It is on record for those who disbelieve.
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pjwb1978
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08-07-08 5:42 PM
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African American- African American. See it is ok ! It is not a BAD word. And by the way-- I think McCain is too old. I am voting for Obama. Who cares if he has some Arabic in him. We are all more than we seem. Irish, German,Italian etc. they are in everyones past family history. Just because someone has German heritage doesn't mean they liked Hitler. Same goes for the Arabs.
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Francia
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08-07-08 5:41 PM
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He said that perhaps his age caused his confusion over Sen. Obama's statement yesterday that McCain stood for Big Oil and he (Obama) was against it. He (McCain) always thought that if you vote FOR a bill, that meant you supported it, and if you vote AGAINST a bill, that you did not support it. I guess my age confirms what he thinks, too? Those of us in our late 60's are not all ready for the old folks home or the grave. Some of us really have those gray hairs that show our experiences may age us, but we can certainly learn from them, too.
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Francia
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08-07-08 5:37 PM
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I just came from a Town Hall Meeting with Senator McCain. I will admit I had a lot of doubts about his qualifications, before I met and heard him and watched him answer questions from the audience that were strictly "off the wall" (not previewed for the speaker). His wife and one of his daughters was there. I sat about 10 feet away and was most impressed with his calmness (comes with age, my friends), his wisdom (again, comes with age), and his very frank and honest responses. Bottom line, he believes in upholding our Constitution. He does not believe in following "party lines", but rather representing our country. That is why he "crosses" the line when necessary. He also stated that he has made mistakes and probably will (he is human), but that he will readily correct his opinions if they are not what the people want. He voted against the big oil bill that our President and Sen. Obama voted for. (Running out of room) will continue in next post.
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