The mainstream media ask Obama why he doesn't wear a flag pin, but they aren't asking McCain why he doesn't release his medical records. McCain, who would be the oldest man ever elected president, had surgery for melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer, eight years ago - the scar is still prominent on his face. He has promised several times to release the records, but each release has been postponed.

It makes you wonder: is there something in McCain's medical records that he doesn't want you to know?

The McCain campaign's explanation: his doctors are too busy. "The reason for the delay is because they want to gather all his doctors for a press conference to answer reporters' questions," CNN reported, "and May is the soonest that can be done." Three doctors are expected to answer questions, according to the Arizona Republic.

You'd think that it wouldn't be that hard to get three doctors together to say that the Republican candidate for president was in good health.

The last news about McCain's medical records came in a short item on CNN.com on April 3: "The McCain campaign said Wednesday the Arizona senator's medical records will no longer be released by April 15. They now say the new timetable is 'sometime in May.'" That was the fourth time this year that the promised release of medical records has been postponed.

In March the New York Times ran a page one story about McCain's cancer and the chances that it might return. The reporter, Leonard K. Altman, who is also a physician, spoke not with McCain's physicians, but rather with melanoma experts who had not treated the senator. Those experts told the Times that "his prospects appear favorable," because he has survived this long without a recurrence of the disease.

But "with melanoma, a patient is never completely clear," said Dr. Richard L. Shapiro, a melanoma surgeon at NYU. "If melanomas do recur," the Times reported, "standard treatment options are limited for many to surgery and a difficult form of chemotherapy. The chances of long-term survival diminish."

McCain's surgery in 2000 lasted five and a half hours - a long time. The official explanation from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, where the surgery was performed, was that his surgeons were looking to see whether the cancer had spread from the skin on his temple to "a key lymph node in his neck." They concluded that it had not.

But, according to the Times, "Since the 2008 campaign began, doctors not connected with Mr. McCain's case have expressed intense interest in the extent of the face and neck surgery he underwent." Those doctors told the Times that "the surgery appeared to be so extensive that they were surprised his melanoma was not more serious -- perhaps Stage III, which would give him a bleaker prognosis. These doctors said they would be surprised to learn that such an operation would be performed without evidence that the melanoma had spread."

Other doctors interviewed by the Times disagreed. Release of the records would resolve this question.

If McCain is free of cancer and otherwise healthy, why doesn't he release the medical records that document those facts?

And why hasn't the mainstream media been asking for the records? The key Times piece ran on March 9, more than six weeks ago. That same day, McCain was asked on "60 Minutes" about the records, and he replied, "we'll be doing the medical records thing with the media sometime in the next month or two."

Since then the Times has mentioned McCain's medical records only once - in an opinion piece by Frank Rich on Sunday -- one sentence in paragraph 20 of a 21-paragraph column.

Comments (21)

1. A Scots-Irish guy who spent a lot of time in the Arizona sun?

   Gotta be melanomas...and that means "skin cancer" and if the "C"-word gets out there, it plays to thw worst characteristic of "Bush-44"...his age and possible health issues.

   AND really plays up who he picks for Veep. And if he accidentially picks an "Eagleton"...and it becomes "McCain put HIM just a 'heartbeat away from the Presidency' when he was _______....what kind of judgement is that???"

   Posted by Mask at 04/20/2008 @ 8:14pm

2. Posted by HAPPY2 04/20/2008 @ 9:45pm

   Was wondering who on the Right (here) was going to be the first....kind of thought it might be you, HAPP.

   The first to drop the "assassination" "hint".

   Posted by Mask at 04/20/2008 @ 9:58pm

3. on the other hand, JFK was the youngest and didn't last one term

   Embarrassingly Posted by HAPPY2 04/20/2008 @ 9:45pm

   Posted by frosted zoom at 04/20/2008 @ 10:37pm

4. And HAPPY spouts nonsense ad infinitum....

   Grandpa doesn't need to release his medical records yet because quite simply he doesn't have to. The focus is on the Democratic side so he can sit back and cruise and duck any serious scrutiny until the general fight comes around, which by then they only get a few short months to explain to the public why Grandpa is a bad idea. In the meantime he can keep his name in the spotlight just enough to remind folks that the race isn't Clinton vs Obama for President. He can't duck it forever, and the longer he stalls the worse it will be when he finally does.

   This also keeps the spotlight off his VP choice, which I'm certain he's made and he's just being coy about at this point. But it begs the question: will the American public elect a President whose life clock is very close to running out?

   Posted by yutsano at 04/20/2008 @ 10:45pm

5. Posted by HAPPY2 04/20/2008 @ 9:45pm

   Crass Happy.....Just Crass, I'm sure it wouldn't bother you too much though. Only good Demoncrat is a dead one right Happ?

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/20/2008 @ 11:44pm

6. Posted by YUTSANO 04/20/2008 @ 10:45pm

   But it begs the question: will the American public elect a President whose life clock is very close to running out?

   Given the lack of acceptable alternatives...I would say yes.

   Posted by pontificus at 04/20/2008 @ 11:55pm

7. Happy is in a mood I can tell. Ah well, at least he chose JFK instead of RFK. I wonder how the modern response would be should (Allah forbid) Obama be killed before he became the nominee.

   Posted by yutsano at 04/21/2008 @ 12:14am

8. Given the lack of acceptable alternatives...I would say yes.

   Posted by PONTIFICUS 04/20/2008 @ 11:55pm

   i hear mccain's picking cheney as prime minister.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 04/21/2008 @ 01:56am

9. Posted by HAPPY2 04/20/2008 @ 10:16pm

   HAPP now desperately trying to extricate himself from his obvious faux pas (or Freudian slip, maybe?).

   Posted by Mask at 04/21/2008 @ 08:52am

10. Posted by MASK 04/21/2008 @ 08:52am

    Happy doesn't care.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/21/2008 @ 12:43pm

11. Mitt has veto power over those medical reports. He's paid good money for them.

    Posted by sloper at 04/21/2008 @ 2:13pm

12. Posted by CCCOMFO1 04/21/2008 @ 12:43pm

    No, but we should. Look for MORE of those "subtle" hints at a "possible Kennedy outcome that might befall Obama if he gets elected"...as the Right gets desperate to throw any and everything at him.

    The implication being .."We can't elect a black guy, he'll get shot"...first as a kind of "reverse compassion" to spare Obama AND ourselves as a nation that kind of "obvious" outcome...and second to hammer home the idea that McCain would be "safe" from such an attack by simple virtue of being white.

    HAPP warned me (and us) long ago with his 'Wait til the 527s get started on Obama'...it's going to get ugly.

    And the reason is simple...McCain demoralizes the GOP with his veers into moderation....and more importantly...they CAN'T win on the major issues (war, economy, energy)!

    Posted by Mask at 04/21/2008 @ 2:43pm

13. The NY Times has requested his records 3 times. McCain had lymph nodes removed, force him TO RELEASE A PATHOLOGY REPORT! And not a "scrubbbed" one.They wouldn't have removed more than one lymph node if it hadn't spread, this is DEADLY! Metastasis through the nodes would mean he should have had a PET scan, FOR HIS OWN HEALTH! That's the only way to know it it has spread distantly in his body, he HAD to have one. He would have been recommended chemo & radiation.. Has he had either? Are the doctors going to protect him? AMERICA HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!!

    Posted by irenderit at 04/21/2008 @ 6:56pm

14. Also, bear in mind, the Bushs,(Geb works for Romney?), Cheneys(Lynne works for Romney?), Rove, the Carlyle Group, ALL SUPPORT ROMNEY for VP. Are they setting up a chronically-ill McCain to not finish his term?

    Posted by irenderit at 04/21/2008 @ 6:59pm

15. This is the kind of issue free speculation that you would expect form the Drudge report. The Nation ought to be embarrased that this even made the internet. This guy is a foreign policy nightmare and knows less about economics than your average social studies teacher. And the most read journal of opinion in America is wondering what is in his medical reports. Pathetic.

    DP

    Posted by Poppolphil at 04/21/2008 @ 11:30pm

16. Well, what exactly what Obama, who knows about foreign countries just by one night he stayed in London. ? Well, he would appoint Jimmy Carter (dear Jimi, are you still around), and George W. Bush as his spcial convoys. ------------

    McCain hits Obama on diplomacy over North Korea By Jeff Mason Thu Apr 24, 8:00 PM ET

    CHICAGO (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain challenged Democrat Barack Obama's approach to diplomacy on Thursday, saying U.S. charges that North Korea gave nuclear assistance to Syria showed the folly of unconditional talks with foreign adversaries.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 04/25/2008 @ 03:34am

17. Just listen to Him an dhow many things he can't remember- He's either had a stroke or is having problems with his memory - another alzheimers victim for Cheney & co to use as a Frontman- jsut like Ronny. He is not th esame Mac of '00- because he has suffered some medical condition. His latest episode- 'tear down the 9th ward in NOLA' then said he didn't remeber saying it - I sure he doesn't!

    Posted by Purple girl at 04/25/2008 @ 9:51pm

18. Proof this man has either senility or ahs suffered a stroke came yesterday when he said he did not remeber stating that the 9th Ward could be torn down. I knew Reagan had mental issues when he was running the first time- re confirmed when he said he couldn't remember what he had for breakfast (iran contra Scandal). Mac is revealing his Medical condition. I have a degree In Gerontology , worked w/ elderly & alzheimers Patients- He has suffered a CVA or has been slipping into Alzheimers. Know why this is not th esame Mac we knew in '00- because such conditions change a persons personality. Little old sweet ladies start swearing like sailors and swinging t like Prize fighters. Just watch his body mechanics- they appear to me to be Rehab enhanced. This is not 'selective' Political memory on His part- he really doe not remember. but it is the same Group who propped up and Hid Ronny's mental health. Cheney & co. are using Mac to stay in power (Elder Abuse). and if they doesn't fly they have theri other Horse in the Race Hillary (Co conspirator, Fully indoctrinated- a Win/Win for the Inc's). Listen to them- they are more alike in their platforms- Attacking Iran,Mandatory private health cae Insurance. both been in this Corrupt Political arena for Decades and both werre supposed to provide oversight while sitting on th eArmed Services Com(con). Hillary has far more to answer for then just her Vote for the War- independent contractors, Torture and 'Stop Loss"

    Posted by Purple girl at 04/26/2008 @ 09:42am

19. the reason is that he's dead, and he doesn't want us to find out until after election day.

    why not, it worked with Reagan.

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/26/2008 @ 11:22pm

20. Forgive me if I'm missing something BUT the MDs have been pre-vetted. The general possibility of needing to go public was/is certainly part of screening for the right doctors. Now they're just honing the message. It will be one very carefully planned outing! There will be no surprises (for McCain). Whatever bad information there is will be watered down and spun on high. McCain's already floated a piece: "I don't have cancer" - weeks ago.

    Posted by winyahn at 04/26/2008 @ 11:47pm

21. AND count on big media to care about as much about thus as say... they do right now.

    Posted by winyahn at 04/26/2008 @ 11:50pm