By comparison with Clinton, McCain is wise and serene. As for his age, he is going strong despite the daily demands of the campaign trail, his war wounds and five and a half years in a North Vietnamese prison cell. In 1999, he released 1,500 pages of medical and psychiatric reports gathered since his release from that cell. No presidential candidate has ever allowed such scrutiny of his health record, and few would appear healthier. His mother is now 95 years old, vigorous and sharp as a tack. I have visited with her and like her. She could probably hit the campaign trail with him today. On the age issue, her son is right to boast of his DNA. When it comes to patriotism, public service and good citizenship, McCain is an exemplar who is hard to match.
I write all this because the media's mood of pessimism and dismissal is ignorant. The foul mood could deny voters what should be a stimulating presidential match-up, McCain against his Republican rivals and then maybe against the Democratic nominee. I have parted company with him on his campaign finance positions; I worry that when it comes to the salutary economic benefits of tax cuts, he needs constant reminders. But otherwise, he is a solid conservative. When he speaks from principle, he is as unflinching as Ronald Reagan. On Iraq, he has shown the wisdom of a seasoned military mind. He deserves our trust that he can get us through this war successfully with American national interests secured.
Call me a contrarian if you will, but the gloomy media mood shrouding the McCain candidacy is a reflection of the lack of seriousness inherent in the presidential campaign at this point in the news cycle. By historical standards, McCain is perfectly acceptable as a presidential candidate. His presence in the Oval Office would be no surprise to Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan. The Democratic frontrunners' would. Being once a first lady in the most scandal-plagued presidency of recent memory or being a United States senator with only three years of service in the Senate are not sufficient qualifications for the Oval Office. In fact, they are the most meager qualifications of any frontrunners in modern American history.