"Good Morning America" reporter John Berman turned a Tuesday segment that was supposed to be about Senator John McCain's age, and how much it concerns voters, and instead filled it with clip after clip of comedians mocking the Republican presidential candidate for being "crazy old." Berman featured no less than six snippets of comics such as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jon Stewart and others mercilessly hammering the senator as too elderly to be president.
In an introduction to the piece, Berman asserted, "...His age is a non-stop punch line for the late night comedians" and then added, "It's safe to say his age may be an issue that McCain will never outgrow." You could argue that one way to make that claim come true is by highlighting comics who mock McCain for something he has no control over. If it some how became politically correct to joke about Barack Obama's race or Hillary Clinton's gender, would "Good Morning America" so gleefully feature the punch lines?
The issue of McCain's age is certainly a legitimate topic for discussion. It could inform a number of debates, including the senator's vice president pick (Berman did briefly mention that point in passing). But endlessly playing jokes about age hardly examines the matter. Towards the end of the segment, Berman did feature an ABC News/Washington Post poll that said that more Americans are bothered by McCain's age than they are Obama's race or Clinton's gender. However, after highlighting an endless number of comedic clips, Berman simply wondered, "But is America laughing?" and led into the segment's close.
A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:17am on April 15, follows:
DIANE SAWYER: And there are a lot of potential firsts, as we know, in the race for '08. Could it be the first African American, the first woman or the oldest American ever in the White House? John McCain will be 72 on inauguration day. And his age is a non-stop punch line for the late night comedians. How do you feel about that? How does he feel about it? John Berman is here with more. John?
JOHN BERMAN: Good morning, Diane. Well, John McCain would be three years older than Ronald Reagan was when he was first sworn in. That's seven years older than the average retirement age in the U.S. It's safe to say his age may be an issue that McCain will never outgrow.
["Daily Show" clip]
JOHN STEWART: You're saying he's old?
SAMANTHA BEE: No, no, no, John. Absolutely not. I'm saying that he has a proud record of service, which included giving water to Lincoln.
BERMAN: For legions of late night comics, it seems the old jokes never get old.
[Clip of Stephen Colbert on "The Larry King Show"]
STEPHEN COLBERT: He's old! He's old, Larry. That's what I'm trying to tell you, not as old as you are, but very, very old.
SNL ACTOR: John McCain is crazy old.
JAY LENO: He's now crisscrossing the United States campaigning, or as they're calling it, antique road show.
BERMAN: This was the latest question from a reporter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE AP REPORTER: Voters may reject you because they feel you're too old to be president.
[McCain doesn't move for a second, pretending to be asleep.]
VOICE FROM OFF-CAMERA: Wake up, sir.
BERMAN: McCain is clearly trying to get in on the joke.
KEN DUBERSTEIN (Former Chief of Staff, Reagan White House): The only way to defuse it is A, stay healthy. And B, make-- poke fun of yourself. America loves self deprecation.
["Late Show with David Letterman" clip]
JOHN MCCAIN: You think that stuff is pretty funny, don't you?
BERMAN: But is America laughing? In a recent ABC News Washington Post poll, a small percentage admitted that Senator Obama's race and Senator Clinton's gender turned them off, but a much bigger margin said McCain's age dampened their enthusiasm. McCain says he will prove the naysayers wrong with his energy, his experience and--
MCCAIN: If anyone has any further doubts come and meet my 96-year-old mother.
BERMAN: But even that draw a wise crack.
[SNL clip]
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE JOHN MCCAIN IMPERSONATOR: She's 95 and she's fit as a fiddle.
SNL "REPORTER:" Fit as a fiddle? Is that another one of those senior expressions?
BERMAN: The McCain campaign is planning to release all of the senator's medical records next month. And they will be very carefully scrutinized. And of course, McCain has acknowledged that because of his age, his vice presidential choice may be seen more important than ever. Diane?
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Because it's true, I'm detecting another NB dud.
April 15, 2008 - 15:32 ET by sarcasmoFor bias, this one's looking like a zero with me. Age just isn't the same, comedy wise, as anything about race or (to a lesser extent) a candidate's sex, and that fact has little or nothing to do with media bias.
However, the post does become a good compilation of McCain age-humor. I'd say the hands-down winner from the submissions above is Colbert's joke, because Steven shoehorned-in the fact that Larry's ancient, too; but Leno's "Antiques Road Show" crack is a close second.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
How dare you make sense.
April 15, 2008 - 15:39 ET by balboaHow dare you make sense.
Yeah, I'm laughing to
April 15, 2008 - 15:49 ET by bigtimerYeah, I'm laughing to myself with some of the jokes here...McCain is funny too when it comes to his own jokes on this subject....you got to laugh in this life and at yourself now and then, no matter the topic.
...some people say with ages comes wisdom, for me that is debatable, just listen to some in congress that are older than them thar hills on a daily basis when they are in session....spooky.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Naah,it is the regular MSM bias.
April 15, 2008 - 16:11 ET by kdizzydazeThey are tired of having to defend/ignore Barry O's issues all the while beating up on Hillary to ensure their man gets the democrat party nod. This McCain thing helps them. Not to mention that some of those lines are weeks old. Hell, the SNL line came out back when Tina Fey's buddy Tracy Morgan told us that "Bitch may be the new black, but Black is the new president, bitch".
Of course, whether or not anyone believes it, the MSM is falling right into the trap where McCain will get to use Reagan's infamous line in one of his debates against Mondale during the campaign of '84.
"I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Barry O just might walk into this one somewhere down the road. That is, if McCain doesn't fall asleep during the debates or forget to wear pants.
C'mon, I'm just kidding!!!!!
kdd... Good one... I'm
April 15, 2008 - 16:24 ET by bigtimerkdd...
Good one... I'm laughing with your post!
So there....
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Senators older than McCain
April 15, 2008 - 16:00 ET by Prester JohnRobert Byrd (D-WV)
November 20, 1917 (1917-11-20) (age 90)
Ted Stevens (R-AK)
November 18, 1923 (1923-11-18) (age 84)
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
January 23, 1924 (1924-01-23) (age 84)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
September 7, 1924 (1924-09-07) (age 83)
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
September 11, 1924 (1924-09-11) (age 83)
John Warner (R-VA)
February 18, 1927 (1927-02-18) (age 81)
Arlen Specter (R-PA)
February 12, 1930 (1930-02-12) (age 78)
Jim Bunning (R-KY)
October 23, 1931 (1931-10-23) (age 76)
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
February 22, 1932 (1932-02-22) (age 76)
Dick Lugar (R-IN)
April 4, 1932 (1932-04-04) (age 76)
Pete Domenici (R-NM)
May 7, 1932 (1932-05-07) (age 75)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
June 22, 1933 (1933-06-22) (age 74)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
September 17, 1933 (1933-09-17) (age 74)
Robert Foster Bennett (R-UT)
September 18, 1933 (1933-09-18) (age 74)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
March 22, 1934 (1934-03-22) (age 74)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
May 6, 1934 (1934-05-06) (age 73)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
June 28, 1934 (1934-06-28) (age 73)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
November 17, 1934 (1934-11-17) (age 73)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
February 7, 1935 (1935-02-07) (age 73)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
April 20, 1936 (1936-04-20) (age 71)
George Voinovich (R-OH)
July 15, 1936 (1936-07-15) (age 71)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
July 20, 1936 (1936-07-20) (age 71)
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
July 29, 1936 (1936-07-29) (age 71)
Hey
April 15, 2008 - 16:04 ET by bigtimerHey Prester....
Excellent.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Yes, but none of them are
April 15, 2008 - 16:14 ET by motherbeltYes, but none of them are running for President.
And Scott, as for your question:
If it some how became politically correct to joke about Barack Obama's
race or Hillary Clinton's gender, would "Good Morning America" so
gleefully feature the punch lines?
Surely you jest.
Afternoon mb... I'm glad
April 15, 2008 - 16:28 ET by bigtimerAfternoon mb... I'm glad Prester put that list and link in here only because I was talking in a post earlier above that some people ought to listen to some of these older Senators on the floor and how spooky it can be at times....if ya know what I mean..lol.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
That's the point.
April 15, 2008 - 19:07 ET by Prester JohnThese Senators, most of whom are now "Senator for Life", run committees, control what gets out of committee, vote for judges etc., can have as much influence, if not more, than a president who is term limited.
Presidents come and go, a senate seat is (almost always) for ever.
Not long to wait . . .
April 15, 2008 - 16:06 ET by DocAgeism, the bigotry against older folks, is an acceptable form of prejudice in America. It leads to discrimination against senior citizens in many forms. Race and gender discrimination is taboo, but, anything goes against seniors.
It is only a matter of time, if the ageism bigots reach the proper age, do they experience the discrimination. Until then they promote ageism and have a good laugh.
Ageism is especially true in the old media. How many seniors, other than Bob Schieffer, are on broadcast TV news. It won't be long before John Berman is shown the door because he is too "old". Wonder if he will be laughing then?
I couldn't agree more, Doc.
April 15, 2008 - 22:14 ET by mwfsu84But here's the good news: older people agree with you. And they're reliable for coming out in large numbers to vote.
That's why age is different
April 16, 2008 - 00:49 ET by Lacus OdiiThat's why age is different from other categories and why it doesn't matter. Everyone gets old. When I was a kid I complained about a lot of "injustices" that happened to me, and my father pretty much said "everyone was a kid and went through it." I suppose same with senior citizens, when you get old you get irritated at old jokes. I bet you laughed at them when you were a kid, now it's your turn.
Anyway, I don't think anything goes against seniors, for the most part extremely careful consideration is made for them. I haven't seen any laws being proposed to ban senior discounts or close down over-50 retirement communities. If anything it's the opposite. The increasingly aging population is doing things like cracking down on youth behavior and cutting school spending.
Poll
April 15, 2008 - 16:12 ET by Jerry Mack"a bigger margin said that McCains age dampened their enthusiasm". Poll did not sat that people were not going to vote for him because of his age. Dims are trying to convince people that he is too old to become president. People like Berman are proof that you do not have to be old to appear stupid.
Jerry and doc We have to
April 15, 2008 - 16:16 ET by motherbeltJerry and doc
We have to be honest here. After the conjecture that Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's may have begun while he was still President, I believe this is a valid concern.
It should not be fodder for comedy, late night or otherwise, but it is a valid concern.
It also underscores the need for a younger VP, as there is good chance that he would not seek a second term. So anyone who was thinking Liddy Dole needs to have second thoughts, IMO.
Motherbelt
April 15, 2008 - 16:31 ET by Jerry MackThe segment presented by Berman was to create doubt in voters that John McCain was too old to be elected president. A veiled message to vote for the democrat candidate. If anyone thinks he is to old to be president, do not vote for him.
Jerry, I have said that in
April 15, 2008 - 18:57 ET by motherbeltJerry, I have said that in spite of it being a valid concern, I did not think it was a subject for comedy and ridicule.
What more do you want me to say?
Was Berman's segment both biased and in poor taste? Definitely.
Is John McCain's age a valid topic for serious (as in non-comedic) consideration? Also definitely.
Manufactured by the media . . .
April 15, 2008 - 16:32 ET by DocThe fact that Reagan had alzheimers, while he was in office, was manufactured by the left-wing media.
They will do anything to slam a conservative/moderate politician.
Doc, I said "conjecture."
April 15, 2008 - 18:51 ET by motherbeltDoc, I said "conjecture." The initial sympotms are not specific, and can be attributed to many other things. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is usually made by elimination of all other possibilities.
Whether or not it was true, the question was out there, because it is
known that Alzheimer's is a disease that develops slowly, over years. And because it is out there, I think that McCain's age is a valid concern.
One for the Ages
April 15, 2008 - 16:18 ET by MidAmericaOK people, we have to be careful here. As voters we are the 'employers' filling the position of President. The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 says in part:
PROHIBITION OF AGE DISCRIMINATION
SEC. 623. [Section 4]
(a) It shall be unlawful for an employer-
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or
otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his
compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of
such individual's age;
Towards the end of the
April 15, 2008 - 16:25 ET by MidAmericaTowards the end of the segment, Berman did feature an ABC News/Washington Post poll that said that more Americans are bothered by McCain's age than they are Obama's race or Clinton's gender.
Well yeah.... how many people are going to admit to a pollster that they are racist or sexist?
You hit the nail on the head
April 15, 2008 - 18:58 ET by motherbeltYou hit the nail on the head with that, MidAmerica!
Maybe McCain can give a
April 15, 2008 - 19:32 ET by MidAmericaMaybe McCain can give a 'major' speech on ageism. He can start a dialogue on the divisive culture of age discrimination and how as a person of mixed age (good health yet a definite senior) he can bring us all together to heal the wounds between generations. If he needs to he can even throw his mother under the bus by declaring her a typical old person.
McCain can be President at his age...
April 15, 2008 - 17:02 ET by EvilCon555I just don't want him driving in my neighborhood....
"All great change in America begins at the dinner table" Ronald Reagan, Jan 21, 1981
News?
April 15, 2008 - 18:45 ET by catnamedjakeWas that piece on ABC supposed to be news? Anyway, McCain seems fine, for now . He better be. For better or worse he's the next POTUS. I'd be more worried about his liberal stances on "climate change" and illegal immigration.
Identity politics,
April 15, 2008 - 19:30 ET by wiwfIdentity politics, anyone?
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
McCain's opportunity?
April 15, 2008 - 21:04 ET by BodiniIf McCain is astute, he will seize the MSM atack on his age as an opportunity to show that the DemWits (MSM/Dems et. al.) don't really care about seniors, but simply try to exploit their votes by scaring them into voting the liberal agenda or ... face the certain rath of the Republicans "who only want to take away their social security."
This is an opportunity to put another crack in the mighty "we care about everyone facade" of the Democrap party. They have successfully divided big segments of their base by pitting blacks against women, so their ability to alienate old folks should be helped along by the "pseudo Republican-in-waiting."
Simply hoping to see additional exposure of the chinks in the liberal party's toilet tissue armor!
I agree.
April 15, 2008 - 22:18 ET by mwfsu84As a side note, he can also point out that the likely Democrat nominee hasn't even finished his first term in the Senate.