This video is somewhat self-explanatory. When asked by a reporter whether he thought it was fair that some health insurance companies cover Viagra, but not birth control, McCain stammered awkwardly for about a minute, then refused to answer the question.
There are a few parts about this that are worth noting. One is McCain's initial response: "I certainly don't want to discuss that issue." Why? Why not discuss that issue? It's certainly a relevant one, and the voters have every right to know what your stance is on it. "I certainly don't want to discuss that issue?" That's not the kind of thing a serious candidate should ever say when asked an earnest question regarding his or her policy.
Another noteworthy sound-bite is his statement: "I don't know enough about it to give you a [sic] informed answer." I'm unsure on what else Senator McCain would have needed to know in order to give an informed answer. The specific policies of the insurance companies, perhaps? Okay, fair enough. But still, given the fact the reporter didn't give him those specifics, the overall issue is clear enough: is it fair that health insurance covers Viagra but not birth control. Simple. The fact that he was unable to even give any sort of general standpoint on the issue is somewhat worrisome.
The last thing I want to point out is how incredibly awkward he became upon hearing the question. Admittedly, this isn't really terrifically relevant in regards to his viability as a candidate, but it's curious nonetheless. The woeful lack of tact that he displayed as soon as the word "Viagra" was mentioned is somewhat baffline.
I'll be honest; when you look at what he actually says in this clip, it's nothing particularly damning. He was asked about a fringe issue on which he hadn't yet formulated his views, and was unable to provide and answer. Fine. What's important to observe about it, in my eyes, is his overall demeanor. I'm not saying a presidential candidate needs to be a smooth-talker in order to run a country. I do, however, believe that they should be clear-headed and capable of coherent thought. When you combine this clip with all of the other easily-avoidable mistakes that McCain has made, he just comes off as senile, and a president should not be senile. This is a trend that we'll see much more of, as I continue to post more backlogged stories on McCain's screw-ups.
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