Monday, May 14, 2007



And Now For The Rest of The Story

So what does a 70-year-old presidential candidate facing questions about his age do on Mother's Day?

Why, he shows off his 95-year-old mom, of course.

Perhaps trying to say you're never too old to run for the White House or to listen to your mother, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, brought along his mother Roberta Sunday to an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

She was at his side as he talked to reporters outside NBC's Washington bureau following the GOP presidential candidate's interview.


McCain's dad couldn't make it to the photo op. He is currently dead.

John Sidney McCain, Jr. (January 17, 1911–March 22, 1981) was a four star admiral in the United States Navy. His father John S. McCain, Sr. was also a four star admiral in the Navy, and his son John S. McCain III is a US Senator representing Arizona and former Naval aviator Captain. Grandson John S. McCain IV is currently attending the United States Naval Academy. John S. McCain Sr. and Jr. are the only father-son group to have both achieved the rank of full Admiral.

There is a significant correlation between a father’s age of death and his sons’ expected longevity only when a father dies after the age of 65.


McCain's father lived to be two months past 70. McCain right now is nine months past 70. McCain might live to be a spright crazy 95 year old, telling reporters the things they want to hear in the Russert/Stephanopholous Senior Citizen Center for old Washingtonians. But the best predictor of longevity in a man is when his father kicked the bucket even though it's accuracy is far from absolute.

The "straight talker" dragging his poor mother around is not only unseemly, but also doesn't address the fact that McCain is old, his father died at his age, and he has a history of skin cancer which isn't typically fatal, but is chronic in his case.

Sorry to spoil the bogus meme. Happy Mother's day to Mrs. McCain too.