Michele Bachman's Migraines- Presidential Disqualifier or Sexism?

[PeppyGPhiB]

It's offensive that anyone, including the media, would treat this as an issue. Someone worthy of the presidency is worthy of scrutiny on issues such as the economy, foreign policy, blah blah blah, and her opponents have plenty of fire power in that arena. Why is MB getting questioned about her migraines instead of her plans for a country with her in charge?

I'm in no way a supporter of MB, but I live with migraines, and it's totally treatable. Most of the women I know get them on occasion, and women are three times more likely to get them, because of hormones. So I definitely think this is veiled sexism. Maybe MB's campaign should point out to the media that more men get prostate cancer than women get breast cancer?!

FDR was in a wheelchair. Kennedy had back problems. Taft was so overweight they had to put a new (bigger) bathtub in the White House. And as pointed out, Obama is a smoker. Those are all health issues that could/may have impacted America, but I don't think we should expect anyone in the Baby Boomer generation (likely the generation of whomever will be our next president) to have absolutely no health issues. If anyone in this country gets good medical care, it's the president.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

It's offensive that anyone, including the media, would treat this as an issue. Someone worthy of the presidency is worthy of scrutiny on issues such as the economy, foreign policy, blah blah blah, and her opponents have plenty of fire power in that arena. Why is MB getting questioned about her migraines instead of her plans for a country with her in charge?

I'm in no way a supporter of MB, but I live with migraines, and it's totally treatable. Most of the women I know get them on occasion, and women are three times more likely to get them, because of hormones. So I definitely think this is veiled sexism. Maybe MB's campaign should point out to the media that more men get prostate cancer than women get breast cancer?!

FDR was in a wheelchair. Kennedy had back problems. Taft was so overweight they had to put a new (bigger) bathtub in the White House. And as pointed out, Obama is a smoker. Those are all health issues that could/may have impacted America, but I don't think we should expect anyone in the Baby Boomer generation (likely the generation of whomever will be our next president) to have absolutely no health issues. If anyone in this country gets good medical care, it's the president.

I really hope not. I'm so over the boomers. Obama is just on the youngest edge of the group, or out of it entirely depending on the measure. We do not need to put a previous generation back in charge. I seriously believe it would harm equality, healthcare, and war policies in a way I'd really hate to see. Not that there's no baby boomers who wouldn't, but that both statistically the trend bears out and individualistic the candidates Suck.

This isn't really about anyone here, so I hope no one takes it that way, but I'm sure someone will.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I really hope not. I'm so over the boomers. Obama is just on the youngest edge of the group, or out of it entirely depending on the measure. We do not need to put a previous generation back in charge. I seriously believe it would harm equality, healthcare, and war policies in a way I'd really hate to see. Not that there's no baby boomers who wouldn't, but that both statistically the trend bears out and individualistic the candidates Suck.

This isn't really about anyone here, so I hope no one takes it that way, but I'm sure someone will.

Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. So, roughly ages 65-47 now. Not many people with the experience and public notability to make it to President at age 46 and under.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I really hope not. I'm so over the boomers. Obama is just on the youngest edge of the group, or out of it entirely depending on the measure. We do not need to put a previous generation back in charge. I seriously believe it would harm equality, healthcare, and war policies in a way I'd really hate to see. Not that there's no baby boomers who wouldn't, but that both statistically the trend bears out and individualistic the candidates Suck.

This isn't really about anyone here, so I hope no one takes it that way, but I'm sure someone will.

What, you want someone from the (current) internet generation to become president in 2012? Hate to burst your bubble but they wouldn't be able to meet that pesky 35 years of age requirement.

Back on topic-

Bachmann's past and general kookiness gives her adversaries more than enough ammo to take her on so to make an issue of her "woman problems" just comes across as just completely unnecessary (to me at least). I feel that when a male politician says something crazy it often goes relatively unnoticed but when a female says something off it becomes front page news and fodder for the pundits and comedians. Jimmy Carter and Reagan had both said during their presidential campaigns that they had seen UFO's as well as (more recently) Dennis Kucinich during the last democratic primaries. The only reason I know that fact about those three men is because I listen to Coast to Coast AM, I don't really recall the mainstream making much noise about it. Granted Reagan and Carter is pre-PiKA but Dennis K was just a few years ago. Could you imagine the lampooning Palin or Bachmann would receive if they said that the same?

Like I was telling one of my friends, I'm sure if we were to sit down and actually look into it we could probably find a sitting male politician who has said/done crazier things than any Bachmann, Palin, Sharon Angle, or Nancy Pelosi yet has never faced anything near the level of scrutiny that those ladies have.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. So, roughly ages 65-47 now. Not many people with the experience and public notability to make it to President at age 46 and under.

Some people make the cut off 1960 hence my comment about Obama being in or out depending on the cut off used. And I would rather have a 47 year old than another boomer if I were picking totally blind. Since I'm not picking blind, and seeing the options, I really don't want another boomer.

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

What, you want someone from the (current) internet generation to become president in 2012? Hate to burst your bubble but they wouldn't be able to meet that pesky 35 years of age requirement.

Back on topic-

Bachmann's past and general kookiness gives her adversaries more than enough ammo to take her on so to make an issue of her "woman problems" just comes across as just completely unnecessary (to me at least). I feel that when a male politician says something crazy it often goes relatively unnoticed but when a female says something off it becomes front page news and fodder for the pundits and comedians. Jimmy Carter and Reagan had both said during their presidential campaigns that they had seen UFO's as well as (more recently) Dennis Kucinich during the last democratic primaries. The only reason I know that fact about those three men is because I listen to Coast to Coast AM, I don't really recall the mainstream making much noise about it. Granted Reagan and Carter is pre-PiKA but Dennis K was just a few years ago. Could you imagine the lampooning Palin or Bachmann would receive if they said that the same?

Like I was telling one of my friends, I'm sure if we were to sit down and actually look into it we could probably find a sitting male politician who has said/done crazier things than any Bachmann, Palin, Sharon Angle, or Nancy Pelosi yet has never faced anything near the level of scrutiny that those ladies have.

You mean my options are boomers or millenials? There's no one in between? What world do you live in again and was no one born in the sixties or seventies there?

Personally, Bachmann deserves the scrutiny, as she's not claiming UFOs but lying about facts, there's a difference. Santorum used to pull that crap but got voted out, thank gods, and now thinks he's still relevant.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Some people make the cut off 1960 hence my comment about Obama being in or out depending on the cut off used. And I would rather have a 47 year old than another boomer if I were picking totally blind. Since I'm not picking blind, and seeing the options, I really don't want another boomer.

I know people born in 1964 (dated a few, LOL) and for the most part, they definitely ARE NOT boomers in mindset. The cutoff is 1960. I know we've talked about this on here before, but it makes a lot more sense to cut things off by dates of presidential elections.

I'm not cutting a woman slack just because she's a woman. Would a woman president be a nice thing? Yes. Would a president who's bonkers be a nice thing? No. The bonkers part overrides the woman part.