Still Waiting for Those Medical Records

October 19th, 2008 By: Michael Merritt | Tags: , ,
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I figured the time was ripe to say it again.  Biden. Palin.  Medical records please.

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  1. Interested
    October 19th, 2008 at 07:55
    Reply | Quote | #1

    aren’t we still waiting for Kerry’s military records to disprove swiftboat?

  2. C Stanley
    October 19th, 2008 at 15:05
    Reply | Quote | #2

    Personally I don’t think all candidates should be required to release all medical records- though it is obviously a politically motivated decision whether to do so. For instance, in the case of McCain and Biden, there are legitimate questions in the minds of voters, and each candidate should decide whether or not they’re more likely to gain public trust (and votes) by giving out more detailed information. The decision should still be their own though- sometimes there are details in medical records which really are private and could be humiliating to have broadcast through the media- but these aren’t examples of serving the public’s need to know (for men of the age of McCain and Biden, for example, there are all kinds of potential embarrassments, from prostate enlargement and resultant urinary problems to sexual problems, which the public has no right to know but could be part of full medical record disclosure.

    Obama and Palin are both of an age where health tends to be less of an issue; in their cases, it’s only their known individual health risks that should raise any questions for voters. For Obama, that would include his mother’s early death from cancer and his own history of smoking. I believe the latter was addressed in the summary provided by his physician, but the report also stressed all of his positive health attributes and habits. I don’t know of any similar health risks for Gov. Palin- and certainly what is in the public record attests to a pretty fit woman who runs daily and who carried and delivered a baby without missing a beat in her job duties.

  3. Michael Merritt
    October 19th, 2008 at 16:55
    Reply | Quote | #3

    You’re on the mark, Christine.  But I figure fair is fair.  It would go a long way to settling any concerns people may have about their health, particularly for Biden.

    Perhaps the two could do a written summary like with Obama?  That way, some embarrassing things could be left out?

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