Saturday, July 26, 2008

The Age Debate Crap

Satchel Paige, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who because of his color was not allowed to play with the white guys in major league baseball. When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Satchel Paige got his opportunity. Right away his age became the next controversy as it seems no one, even Satchel, knew how old he was. Satchel supposedly commented that "Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter". He then went on to win a number of games because he could still pitch and that is what counted.

In 1964, Ronald Reagen is credited with saying, in a debate with 56 year old Democrat Presidential Candidate, Walter Mondale, "I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." Reagan who was 73 at the time went on to win the election and history is showing and will show, despite the growth of spending during his administration, that he will be one of our greatest presidents.

At the end of his second term, according to columnist George Will, "he said he sometimes wondered how presidents who have not been actors have been able to function,"

If charmistic and demagogue Barack Obama wins in November the answer to his statement (question) maybe become tragically true.

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