When will the U.S. be ready for a disabled President?

[MichiDem]

What did you think when you read that? Did you think that 'Yes,we're ready, I'd vote for a disabled person for President'?

Or did you think about FDR immediately?

FDR was of course disabled. And not just a little disability he was a paraplegic, brought on by polio at age 39. OTOH we can't say that the U.S. was ready for a disable President in 1932 because of the great lengths that were gone to keep his disability concealed.

For lots of interesting info about FDR and how polio affected his like go to: http://www.feri.org/archives/polio/default.cfm

Also interesting is the HBO movie that is airing now about his life.

[Deja Q]

1. They already have one. A mentally disabled one. BUT,

our corporate media has put image before ability - and NEVER MIND that FDR's little secret came out long after he was President, during which time the media often had him posed that didn't suggest he had been stricken with it...

[iconoclastic cat]

3. Do you consider substance abuse/addiction and ignorance a disability?

[tsuki]

5. I consider the effects of long term usage a disability, and Dubya

has it. The "cutsey" gaffes he constantly makes are proof to me that his brain is mushing up. "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?" (What ever happened to that commercial?)

[iconoclastic cat]

6. He should get some long-term inpatient care, then.

In a padded room.

[3waygeek]

14. * doesn't deserve the luxury

of padding; he should spend the rest of his life at Ft. Leavenworth, preferably at hard labor.

[tsuki]

17. I wondered about Nancy and Laura visiting together. I mean

HW was rammed down Reagan's throat. He (Reagan) absolutely did not like HW, and now Nancy and Laura are being evacuated together while Bicycle Boy is touring Maryland?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. You kidding?! He's at the Crawford ranch right now.

How much more mentally disabled can a human be and still be living in the White House.

[Shipwack]

4. FDR was my first thought, Reagan my second

Though in both cases their disabilities (complications from polio and Alzheimer's)were kept secret, so a president has never been knowingly elected/re-elected.

It depends if one could be elected even today. Better chance now than before, probably depends on the 'unsightliness' (for lack of a better word)of the disability. It wasn't an issue with Dole, but then again if he was a Democratic I have no doubt that the right wing pundits would be full of hateful snide remarks.

[CrispyQ]

7. Depends how visible the disability is.

I doubt someone in a wheelchair would be elected. I think too many people associate disability with weakness - & not just physical weakness. Of course, these are the same morans who only perceive physical disabilities, not mental ones like our current pResident has.

[Dr.Phool]

8. Max Cleland for President.

Great guy!

[snowbear]

18. Max Cleland is awesome!

I got to give him a huge hug when he came to Anchorage this past summer! :hug: :patriot: :hug:

[madrchsod]

9. jfk

he had disabling diseases all his adult life.

[MichiDem]

16. Similar to FDR

JFK's disabilities weren't known to the general public.

[bobthedrummer]

10. Some of us had hopes for Paul Wellstone as POTUS.

Yes, I thought of FDR too.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. can we say FDR?

[cestpaspossible]

12. FDR was my first thought

but yeah, since most Americans did not know he was disabled, it's a bit different...

[AP]

13. 1932

[carpetbagger]

15. We've been ready for some time.

It wasn't even any particular issue when Dole ran in the general elections in 1976 and 1996 on the ticket. I think we've been ready for some time for people with missing or damaged arms and legs.

In my opinion, FDR's decision to hide his disability spoke as much to FDR and the particular time than it did to any overriding theme of American history. I think people still remembered the last year of the Wilson administration. Also, FDR had a little bit of a "elite northeasterner" problem. If he were from Iowa or Ohio, or if he had been a farmer or factory worker at one point, it might have been seen in a different light.

[zann725]

19. I really wish "West Wing" would've allowed Bartlett to remain Prez WITH

wheel-chair bound MS, and STILL able to function as Prez. The possibilities for that fictional image would've fostered the public's desire for another "FDR" type. It wold've also made Disability more acceptible in the real life work place.

[NMMNG]

20. I automatically thought FDR,

But I'm not sure that the US is ready to accept a President that they know has a disability. Unfortunately, even as far as we have come, disabilities are still too stigmatized in our society be they physical or mental. People hear of them or see them and automatically assume that the person is, or will be, incapable of performing the job.