Is the health of a presidential candidate something that should be considered when supporting said

[madinmaryland]

candidate?

Granted no one can predict how long anyone live, but would underlying symptoms that could affect the candidate's ability to fulfill his duties and obligations? I look back at Reagan, and see a man who was probably already exhibiting signs of Alzheimer's in 1984. Regardless of the campaign Mondale ran, shouldn't we have known if there were signs of it? What about Paul Tsongas in 1988 who said he was cancer-free and died five years later of cancer?

[rpannier]

1. Yes we should know and it should be a consideration

If I'm voting for someone I want to know if they're mentally and physically able to do the job.

[bbinacan]

2. Tough question

think about FDR and JFK.

[Jamastiene]

3. That depends.

Do you include physical disabilities in that question? If so, we could never had had FDR as president. Think how horrible things would be today had we not had him as our president back then.

On the other hand, I would want a president to live long enough to finish their term and be able to do the job. So, in some ways, yes, to your question. In some ways, no.

[madinmaryland]

4. As to physical disabilities, I would not include that as a consideration, unless

It would actually impact their decision making as CiC.

As for FDR, it might have been a consideration in 1944, when he was obviously in very poor health.

[Bucky]

7. The party bosses who picked Truman over Wallace for VP in 1944 did consider that.

And their decision probably kept the White House in Democratic hands through 1952.

[rfranklin]

5. Christie could start riding in a wheelchair and claim the mantle of FDR...

the way he's going it's only a matter of time before his knees give out.

[CTyankee]

6. I hate to say this but he would be the "poster boy" for America with his excess weight.

People around the world look on us as if we are strange because of our weight issues. It's an image problem, I realize. But we should at least take into consideration that it is a fact of our image around the world.

[Bucky]

8. do you even think he would fit on a poster?

I'm a terrible person for making that joke.

[loyalsister]

9. It should be disclosed

Then it's up to voters. I would give it some consideration, but for it to be a deal breaker it would have to be something that I would think could potentially interfere with the ability to perform.

[Raine]

10. More attention should be paid to the V. Pres pick

than what is. Especially important when you have a president that isn't a perfect physical speciman (and very few are).