Rep. John Murtha is three years older than Sen. John McCain. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
(CNN) – Rep. Jack Murtha, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, introduced the New York senator at a Washington appearance Wednesday with the observation that Sen. John McCain is too old to be president. “It’s no old man’s job,” said Murtha.
McCain is 71, three years younger than Murtha, a powerful Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania. Murtha said the demands of the office were too much for men of their age.
If he were elected, McCain would be the oldest first-term U.S. president in history.
"...[T]his one guy running is about as old as me," said Murtha. "And let me tell you something, it's not [an] old man's job. I mean the campaign, the stress, so forth."
McCain’s campaign immediately condemned Murtha’s remarks, saying trail activities like his late-night talk show appearances should eliminate any voter doubt about the Arizona senator’s stamina for the office, in a statement that did not mention Clinton, taking aim instead at Barack Obama.
"I think people will evaluate John McCain through the type of campaign he is running, whether it is through appearances on shows like Letterman and Leno, whether its through the fifteen hour days on the campaign trail,” McCain's senior advisor Steve Schmidt. “He’s a person who’s in great physical shape, who has outworked every other campaign on the Republican side, and you know, has a much tougher and demanding schedule than Senator Obama."
McCain himself laughed at Murtha’s remarks, telling CNN’s John King that the congressman is a friend, but should speak for himself - he feels great.
From CNN Politics
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McCain is too old... time for a new generation of leadership!
Obama '08!
The Clinton's are no spring chickens either!
Obama is our answer!!!
There goes the only supporters Clinton had left, the older folks. Good luck receiving the nomination now.
Is McCain too old? I don't think so. However, I find it repulsive that these comments have turned so hateful and negative.
I love how each of these poltical stories, regardless of topic, turn into the Obama-bots spamming the comment section with anti-hillary and anti-republican talking points. Its getting so repetitive that you could pretty much copy and paste any of the posts into another and not change 95% of the message. Words like "Mcbush" that are echoed hundreds of times are nice little brain-washing tools. Honestly, wouldn't it be nice to place your own well thought out opionion in here instead of the same stuff the Obama camp says over and over? Each time I post it seems that my comments aren't pro-democrat enough to make it through, so chances are no one but the "moderator" will read this anyway. What's so great about free throught anyway?
And I as McCain backer say Murtha is too dumb!
As a former constituent of Rep. Murtha, I can tell you he can probably work circles around McCain! And if he says age is an issue, you better believe it . . . that is experience talking.
Let's face it . . . we all see how a presidency ages ALL who enter into that office. It turns them gray and their faces show the wear and tear of the pressure that comes with being the most powerful person in the world.
Is McCain up to it? I seriously doubt it
McLater
First Bill insults folks under 50, now Murtha insults folks over 60... crazy Hillary Campaign strategy!
I can't believe what an ageist comment this is. A person is capable of doing whatever they want to do and being whatever they want to be, regardless of race, age, or gender. In the future, people will probably live to be 140 years old. Should we all just curl up and do nothing but rock in an old chair from the age of 70 to 140? COME ON!!
"How old was Einstein when he completed his theory — no young man for sure."
Albert Einstein was 26 when he came up with his theories on relativity.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Pretty irresponsible headline, even for CNN. Shouldn't it say "McCain said 71 too old to be Congressmen" or "McCain says 71 too old to make policy decisions"?
He is old and has had cancer 4 times. I am worried about this as well. We have seen some of the effects in the things he has said to the media. I am worried that this will carry over into our foreign relationships as well. I also think McCain's age is what puts him out of touch with the voters. He's 71, that means he was born during the Great Depression, he can't connect with the needs of our country today. I like him and always has, but he is not suited to be president. I wish Huckabee would of won.
MC is young at hearth, whereas Hillary sounds as an old smart ex-first lady whose source of energy to fight for the American people is still to be scrutinized.
McBush, McSame, they are all so lame. Enough already. John McCain could probably whip your stupid lefty butts.
Obama is an elitist idiot, and is the anti-christ
Hillary is a stinking liar
McCain is the only descent candidate out there.
I'm sure Hillary urged him to say it. Enough of this woman!
Uncle Sam, lets talk about mental health to too, is this guy stable ??
But do find it funny that the Clinton's are the ones using the age factor... but then on the other hand BO is to young in their view to too...
6 justices of the supreme court are over 70. Justice Kennedy is 70. Colin Powell is 70. Senator Feinstein is 74. 23 senators are older than McCain. CNN McCain is 71 not 72.
Obviously Murtha is aging poorly... His decision to endorse Hillary and not Barack is proof his critical thinking skills are diminished... Wasn't
it Murtha so outspoken about Iraq? Isn't Obama the consisitent candidate against the war.?
I think Murtha needs to eat some of Cindy Mc Cains Napa cabbage salad ! McCain is not too old just too hungry for war!
Murtha was commenting on McCain's previous statements. When Murtha was coming out against Iraq, McCain said Murtha was getting old and when you get old sentimentality gets involved and you can't make policy decisions that way.
Shame on you CNN for not telling the whole story.
(Disclaimer: I do not support Murtha or Clinton.)
Being a representative or even a Senator is a heck of a lot different than being president. Heck they have even rolled some of those guys into the chamber on hospital beds. Think Strom Thurmond. Even FDR wasn't in THAT bad of shape when he died. It sure would be cute to see McSame being rolled into a press conference in a wheel chair.
What an idiot (Murtha). He's playing politics. Is the Pope too old to be Pope?
Uncle Sam, lets talk about mental health to too, is this guy stable ??
But do find it funny that the Clinton's are the ones using the age factor... but then on the other hand BO is to young in their view to too...
Seems like it would be bigger news if someone opined that McCain was NOT too old.
McBush should fire back at whoever fires at him. Why include Obama in his statement? Well, you'll get whatever is coming at you MY FRIEND.
Sorry, but 72 is too old to become president . Remember the last few years of the Reagan presidency? There were no "live" press conferences (Reagan's people wouldn't "risk it"), Nancy stage wispering "answers" to Ronnie, etc., etc. Do we want to re-visit this? The world is a much too dangerous place to be taking chances like this.
Barack Obama often boasts he is "the only candidate who isn't taking a dime from Washington lobbyists," yet his fundraising team includes 38 members of law firms that were paid $138 million last year to lobby the federal government, records show.
Those lawyers, including 10 former federal lobbyists, have pledged to raise at least $3.5 million for the Illinois senator's presidential race. Employees of their firms have given Obama's campaign $2.26 million, a USA TODAY analysis of campaign finance data shows.