Why the focus on medical records for candidates for office?

[guillaumeb]

There is no legal requirement to release medical records, and I can see no real reason that any candidates should release their personal medical history.

Far more important, in my view, is that there should be a law mandating that any candidate for President must release comprehensive financial information prior to the first state contest.

And far more important than medical records is the actual policies and positions that a candidate holds.

I see the doctor once a year, at my wife's insistence, and have been in good health so far. Does that mean that I could not be diagnosed with a serious condition next week?

[CalFione]

1. Because four of them are over 70 and one of them had a heart attack 4 months ago

It is the most mentally and physically stressful job in the world. A candidate's ability to handle the rigors of the job matters.

[guillaumeb]

3. And many large businesses are run by older people as well.

This focus on age is relatively recent in the country.

[BeyondGeography]

9. So is soon-to-be octogenarian presidential candidates

Life expectancy is a thing.

[handmade34]

20. that's why we have a VP!

[ZenDem]

12. That's a business.

If the candidate is advanced in age it makes the choice of running mate even more critical. That's why the whole country went into a state of panic when McCain picked Palin. It wasn't that people didn't think he could do the job at his age, it was the very real possibility that he'd check out and leave us with the Palin brood and their Queen.

[guillaumeb]

13. Idiocy is no barrier for GOP candidates.

Welcome to DU.

[ZenDem]

17. Thanks!

Actually been here for a very long time...was WaitWut in a previous life.

And, no, it isn't. I'm guessing you see the point, though. It's not really the 'age' of the candidate, but the ability of the candidate to make it through a full term. It is a terribly stressful job (for most Presidents that don't sit on their asses in front of a TV all day). Look at the before/after pics of past Presidents. They all aged 10 years per term.

Whoever we pick will have a very talented field to choose from for their VP. I'm just glad we don't have to debate the VP picks at DU.

[greatauntoftriplets]

26. Corporate CEOs don't have the nuclear football codes.

Additionally, most companies have succession plans in place. The U.S. VP isn't always prepared to run the country.

Of course, some companies choose the wrong person. That happened at the company I worked for and it's barely still in business.

[guillaumeb]

27. Sarah Palin was McCain's choice.

And the US Constitution has a succession plan, but the founders never anticipated that one entire Party would be complicit with a criminal.

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. McCain's health was a concern in 2008 because he was 72 that summer.

That was one of the major objections to his choice of Palin, other than the obvious.

FDR mostly hid his condition, as did JFK.

[keithbvadu2]

32. Palin bumper sticker: If Obama is the answer, how stupid was the question?

Palin bumper sticker: If Obama is the answer, how stupid was the question?

The question: Do you want Sarah Palin one old man's heartbeat away from the WH?

[Moderateguy]

2. When the candidates are in their 70's

And running for one of the most stressful jobs in the world, there is a lot of concern. Added to the fact the one of them had a cardiac episode just a few short months ago.

[guillaumeb]

4. Welcome to DU.

More important to me are the positions of the candidates. Being younger than 70, 0r 60, or 50, does not mean that a person is immune from suffering an illness.

[Moderateguy]

5. Yes but the correct assumption is the older a person is

The more health related issues they face

[guillaumeb]

6. JFK had serious health issues.

So did FDR.

[Moderateguy]

7. Different time

A candidate in a wheelchair would stand no chance today

[handmade34]

23. Greg Abbott

I know, it's Texas, but...

[Moderateguy]

25. Please we'd elect Hitler

If he ran as a republican down here in Texas

[TreasonousBastard]

8. More symbolic than anything else. Opens up "what is he hiding" questions.

[guillaumeb]

10. Pointing out the importance of financial disclosure being mandatory.

[TreasonousBastard]

16. Absolutely. A fundamental principle of our democray is that our officials be squeaky clean...

although we know perfectly well that they too often aren't.

We have an order of succession if a President becomes unable to perform, and Wilson's health problems led to his wife effectively running the White House-- leading to and amendment clarifying succession.

What we don't have is a means of identifying or preventing Presidential corruption. In the past we didn't need it because we never had corruption at this level.

Corruption probably can never be eliminated, but it should be able to be exposed and limited.

[guillaumeb]

21. Agreed completely.

And Nancy Reagan ran the country, with Bush Sr.'s advice.

[MoonlitKnight]

11. That's why we have a VP

[guillaumeb]

14. Exactly. eom

[mainstreetonce]

15. I think every candidate should have to submit to random drug testing

That means you too, Mr Trump

[handmade34]

19. oh, I forgot drug testing when I made my list...

[guillaumeb]

22. Imagine that screening. eom

[handmade34]

18. "candidate...must release comprehensive financial information"

yes, and 6 bankruptcies should disqualify that candidate...

extensive medical records not so much... that's why we have a veep... in case the big guy dies

****although a psych evaluation might be a good idea

supposedly the primary, general and opposition research is supposed to cover it all but obviously, that's not been the case

when my daughter was hired for her Government job, I was drilled by the employer as were many people she knew and extensive backgrounds checks were done... trump would not have been able to get a government job, if he had been vetted like most people are in positions of security, safety, etc...

teachers go through more background checks than trump did... I've been fingerprinted about 14 times and I've never committed a crime... just for jobs

[guillaumeb]

24. I worked for the Federal Government for 37 years.

I understand, and agree.

Trump is unstable, and everyone around him, including the US corporate media, covered it up.

[onenote]

28. medical and financial disclosures are not mutually exclusive

There is no reason why we shouldn't be demanding both.

If I recall correctly, when McCain and Palin weren't releasing their medical records (I know he did eventually) and when Trump wouldn't, there were pretty loud complaints here.

[guillaumeb]

31. Understood, and this is my view.

But I feel that financial information is the critical piece that, if codified in law, would prevent another Trump.

Like Ivanka in 2028.

[seaglass]

30. Because some of the candidates are too old to be President and the least they could do for

voters is to provide assurances backed up by medical records that they are in good health.

I am voting for a President for 8 years, not 4.

I agree that financial info should also be required.

[keithbvadu2]

33. The medical records may not be legally required but once they give their word to release them, it be

The medical records may not be legally required but once they give their word to release them, it becomes a valid point of their honesty and what do they have to hide by holding them back.