Barack Obama's birthday spotlights age gap with John McCain

Undeterred by the much-discussed John McCain ad that depicted Barack Obama as little more than an example -- along with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears -- of a celebrity-drenched culture, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is celebrating his special day tonight at a gala fundraiser in Boston where Harry Connick Jr. (below) will croon "Happy Birthday" to him (a better choice than a latter-day Marilyn Monroe, we'll give his campaign credit for that).

Obama turned 47 today; later this month (on the Aug. 29), McCain will be 72.

Ever since McCain locked down the Republican presidential nomination, it has been frequently noted that if he triumphs in November, he will be the older than any other president elected to a first term.

Less notice has been paid to another of this campaign's precedent-setting aspects: the largest age difference ever -- 24 years, 11 months and 6 days -- between the two leading White House candidates.

Oddly, what for more than a century had been the biggest gap in ages between candidates -- the 21 years, 8 months and 29 days that separated Democrat James Buchanan (who was the older one) and Republican John Fremont in the 1856 election -- has been shattered twice before in recent cycles.

Bill Clinton was giving away 22 years, 2 months and 7 days to President George H.W. Bush when they squared off in 1992. Four years later, the gap between Clinton and Republican Bob Dole was 23 years, 28 days -- the record that the Obama/McCain contest is surpassing.

One other bit of trivia: The shared August birthdays of Obama and McCain mean that when one of them takes office on Jan. 20, the month will tie November for second place -- with five -- in the producing-presidents department. The other August babies who grew up to become commander in chief were Benjamin Harrison, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson and Clinton.

The month during which the largest number of presidents have been born? October, with six.

-- Don Frederick

Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[John]

Today is my birthday also, and Sen. Obama, like me, is also left handed. And though I enjoy Harry Connick Jr., I'll spend dinner tonight with my two children talking about the importance of this election and some real issues...like the future they will inherit.

[Raymond Micheals]

John McCain is too old to be President, he forgets his own policies, thinks chekoslovakia still exists, believes Iran and Pakistan shares boarders, cant use the internet nor does he even understand the economy.

Why are Americans voting for John McCain?????

[victor knopp]

age equeals sage,sorry to say there is no obama just a coat rack wearing the suit of the most desperate and courupt corporations in america,watch em sweat,,,buy the way what ever happend to his wife,did he send her off to some unknown place where nobody can here her racist rant,this is the most blatent electionjack i have wittnesed in all my time,maybe he shoud chose ludicris as his vp,just as ludicris as his populist campain,he will fade faster than the pet rock,thats what you get for hanging hillary and bill clintons legacy out to dry

[Russell4America]

McCain's Voting Record: He Does Not Support Our Troops and Veterans

September 2007: McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments. At the time, nearly 65% of people polled in a CNN poll indicted that "things are going either moderately badly or very badly in Iraq.

July 2007: McCain voted against a plan to drawdown troop levels in Iraq. At the time, an ABC poll found that 63% thought the invasion was not worth it, and a CBS News poll found that 72% of respondents wanted troops out within 2 years.

March 2007: McCain was too busy to vote on a bill that would require the start of a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days with a goal of withdrawing nearly all combat troops within one year. Around this time, an NBC News poll found that 55% of respondents indicated that the US goal of achieving victory in Iraq is not possible. This number has not moved significantly since then.

February 2007: For such a strong supporter of the escalation, McCain didn’t even bother to show up and vote against a resolution condemning it. However, at the time a CNN poll found that only 16% of respondents wanted to send more troops to Iraq (that number has since declined to around 10%), while 60% said that some or all should be withdrawn. This number has since gone up to around 70%.

June 2006: McCain voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops but with no timeline to do so.

May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.

April 2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.

March 2006: McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.

March 2004: McCain once again voted for abusive tax loopholes over veterans when he voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes. Jeez, McCain really loves those tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over our veterans' needs.

October 2003: McCain voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000.

April 2003: McCain urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.

August 2001: McCain voted against increasing the amount available for medical care for veterans by $650,000,000. To his credit, he also voted against the 2001 Bush tax cuts, which he now supports making permanent, despite the dire financial condition this country is in, and despite the fact that he indicated in 2001 that these tax cuts unfairly benefited the very wealthy at the expense of the middle class.

So there it is. John McCain is yet another republican former military veteran who likes to talk a big game when it comes to having the support of the military. Yet, time and time again, he has gone out of his way to vote against the needs of those who are serving in our military. If he can’t even see his way to actually doing what the troops want, or what the veterans need, and he doesn’t have the support of veterans, then how can he be a credible commander in chief?

[anonymous]

"The month during which the largest number of presidents have been born? October, with six."

fascinating!

[pennwood]

And even John McCain acknowledges that Paris Hilton is a bigger celebrity than he is ! I love it ...

[Giulianna]

Today is also, coincidentally, my birthday (22nd) and like John, I'm left-handed too! It's kind of cool to share my birthday with Obama.

Interestingly enough, I recall reading somewhere that August is the most common birth month.

[Michael Philip]

Correct me if necessary please, but is Harry Connick Jnr (don't want to confuse him with the more famous Senior do we?) sporting a hair club piece?

[Lucas Gilmore]

John McCain has no real answers for any critical issues facing Americans.

If you want a real glimse into his mind, please watch the video of him appearing on the David Letterman show just five weeks after 9/11= October 18, 2001

He is already acting as a stoodge for the Bush/Cheney plan to invade Iraq. He is using the Anthrax scare to beat the drums of war.

McCain is either a very gullible individual or someone who doesn't hesitate to tell an obvious lie in order to convince his audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlAUj4s6sT0

Not this time.

Viet-Nam Veteran
United States Air Force 1963-1968

[Ben]

I can't believe the time you had to research all the McCain facts. Too bad you weren't putting that time into supporting the troops. It is my birthday as well and I am writing this from Iraq. I am serving and would serve under Senator McCain any day.
A draw-down of troops doesn't mean he is not supporting us. On the contrary, it means that he understands the sacrifices that have to be made for Iraq and honestly, most of the people are thankful for the changes it's brought about. It may be hard for them to rebuild, but better to rebuild with freedom and a sense of national pride (America has nearly lost her's) than under some tyrannical ruler.
I'm not talking about Saddam, just any ruler who cares more for themselves than for the greater good of the people they serve. That's what being in the military is about; doing what is necessary for the greater good of the American people and those who we fight to support. Senator McCain knows this first hand and while at the hands of Vietnamese Militants in POW camps.
USMC

[Joe]

I suspect the McCane camp will now complain that Obama is playing the "age card"... Happy Birthday and keep up the good work Barack. America needs you.

[Odell Benton]

I'd rather have John McCain any day with his war experience and personal sacrifice and I might add "a true hero", any day compared to a relative unknown Obama with very little experience. You liberal democrats think you can demean him by mentioning his age, so what if he is 72, his mother is 90! wouldn't it be great for you arrogant liberals that he is elected. Wouldn't that be great!

[Nando]

Since McCain is having so much fun with the Paris Hilton commercial, maybe the Obama campaign should start to have some fun at the expense of McCain. How about a little cartoon highlighting the fact that McCain is so old he is a dinosaur called "McCainosaurus Rex " and this dinosaur is so out of touch it can't even use the Internet. Or how about McCain depicted as TutankMcCain advising Pharaoh to go after Moses and the departing Israelite s with a surge of troops. Why should McCain have all the fun

[NinaK]

age equeals sage,sorry to say there is no obama just a coat rack wearing the suit of the most desperate and courupt corporations in america,watch em sweat,,,buy the way what ever happend to his wife,did he send her off to some unknown place where nobody can here her racist rant,this is the most blatent electionjack i have wittnesed in all my time,maybe he shoud chose ludicris as his vp,just as ludicris as his populist campain,he will fade faster than the pet rock,thats what you get for hanging hillary and bill clintons legacy out to dry

Posted by: victor knopp |
------------------------------
Wow, Victor Knopp, I hope your raw bitterness toward, and deep hatred of, Senator Obama does not give you a heart attack. Why the raw bitterness, why the deep hatred?? You believe he hung Hill and Bill's legacy out to dry? Sorry, bud, they did it to themselves with their low-road campaign tactics and Bill's rage and diarrhea of the mouth. I know it is much easer to lie to yourselves and not face the facts because you "LOVE" the Clintons so much and as far as you are concerned, they are lily white and can do NO wrong. Senator Obama ran a very clean campaign and he did very well staying above the fray of the dirty and corrupt slash-and-burn tactics Hillary, Bill, and her campaign chose to play. Hilliary came into the contest with a 49% dislikability rate; by the time the contest ended her dislikability rated had increased to 63-65%. Please, NOBODY did a damned thing to Hilliary or to Bill Clinton; Hillairy not only ran a slash-and-burn campaign, she also ran a very disorganized and unprofessional campaign. She was also unable to handle her campaign finances. These ARE THE FACTS. YOU want to do something good for Hillliary? Write a check out to her to help her pay her $23+ Million debt. Your deep hatred raw bitterness are bound to destroy you and they are not worth it. Do YOU truely believe Hilliairy and Bill care about YOU? Think again bud; the Clintons are concerned ONLY about themselves, they have always been that way! I say kudos to Senator Obama for toppling the "formidable, mighty Clintonian Machine". I know, you don't agree with this, sobeit. Most of America was and is thrilled this happened.

[NinaK]

I can hardly wait until the debates when the two men will be standing/sitting close to each other. The differences in their styles, their personalties, their self-confidence or lack of self-confidence, and their personas as a whole will lay bear for everyone to see. There will be NO hiding behind a podium for John McCain!! There will be no Liberman to "whisper" the correct reesponses in McCain's ear, his Rove Clone advisor will not be directing McCain on what to say. McCain recently said something of which his campaign lead advisors did not approve. When the advisor was asked about that particular incident during an interview, the advisor responded: "JOHN McCAIN DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE CAMPAIGN"!! Really?? So, ROVE CLONE ADVISOR creates, writes, and prints WHAT HE WANTS McCain to say; if McCain goes of track and tries to make something up, he is NOT SPEAKING FOR THE CAMPAIGN.! Looks like McCain has become one of those puppets used by ventriloquists with ROVE CLONE and his other lead advisors pulling the strings. McCain is NOT speaking for himself, ROVE CLONE is doing it for him by writing EVERYTHING John McPuppet MUST say, otherwise the poor old buzzard is not speaking for the campaign. Isn't John the one running for president? Doesn't he have any REAL ideas of his own?? Can't he express himself? As we can all see, his OWN campaign doesn't seem to think so!! Why should the rest of us?? PLEASE, NO McPUPPET and ROVE CLONES IN THE WHITE HOUSE!! Isn't ROVE Original being investigated for conspiracy regarding all those judges that were fired? Isn't he being charged for refusing to testify on this case?? McCain is keeping company with some pretty shady people, isn't he?

[Jake]

Obama will be the president. His is the coming of Messiah. The religious Americans must remember that a vote for Obama is a vote for the Holy Father in heavens, avoiding damnation and Purgatory with Carl Rove. Those who make less than 1/4 of a Million should look forward to the presidency of Obama who will enrich their lives but those who make more and hide it in Cayman to avoid taxes, beware of the wrath of the Holy Father.

[Anne]

"'m not talking about Saddam, just any ruler who cares more for themselves than for the greater good of the people they serve."
Really, Ben-sounds ALOT like our own departing leader, W.W. Shrub Jr.!

[reason]

It's just more propaganda from the Obama media love fest. The left is so infantile with their tactics. Grow up guys, the rest of the country did and we don't fall for your BS anymore. You only fool children and the terminally stupid with your corrupt tactics.

[dave]

'an error does not become a mistake, until you refuse to correct it...i'm confident that with your help, man will be what he was born to be - free and independent.'
- jfk

there exists enough solid incriminating evidence to inform the public of the illegal, criminal and nefarious character of the ongoing electoral events. even with the media refusing to do their duty, and actively collaborating instead with the treasonous activities of the hijackers of government, that control both major political parties, people can know that the candidates selected and supported by these interested groups in powerful positions, acting on behalf of a despotic international plutocracy, do not meet the legal and ethical qualifications, nor even the basic requirements of psychiatric health and intellectual capacity, to be up for election to any public office, let alone that of president. and the people could know with little effort, and many do, that the legitimate and qualified candidates in these elections have been, and are still being, forcefully muted and suppressed, by continued censorship, fraudulent reporting, slander and violent intimidation (eg RON PAUL). and the people could assume their constitutional obligation and responsibility, and refuse to accept what is, transparently veiled as democratic choice, a treasonous putsch against the republic of america, and against the rights, and civil liberties of the people as guaranteed by their constitution.

[DrBanks]

Now that it is out that Obama compared himself to Paris Hilton in 2005, quoted in the "Washington Post" and "Time", does that mean he was "juvenile" or "foolish" or "raicst" in 2005? If so it is good to see him reformed, but more likely he is merely "dealing the race card from the bottom of the deck" as Pres. Clinton suggested.

[Frank]

From John: "Today is my birthday also, and Sen. Obama, like me, is also left handed. And though I enjoy Harry Connick Jr., I'll spend dinner tonight with my two children talking about the importance of this election and some real issues...like the future they will inherit."

Feed them soup tonight, with spoons. No knives or sharp instruments. God man, let them enjoy their childhood one more day at least.

[John]

And like Guilianna, I'm also Italian!

[Iris]

McCain may be older in years, but Obama is far more mature, as McCain's adolescent refusal to take the election seriously shows. This is the most important election of our age, yet MCain sneers about trivia . Only one grown-up is running, and you can tell which one by who is taller, more intelligent, and more effectively leading, yes, crowds.

[Null and Void to Ninak]

The point of this article is to blast McCain for his age and
intimidate voters by suggesting Obama's election is due
to the younger generation. Just another angle at exploiting guilt.But in your case NinaK, you seem only
interested in bringing back the days of the goulag and the
Stalinist blood baths.....an unmistakeble sign of mental
senility.Eat more fish and avoid trans fats.

[Jake]

No matter what your politics, Britney and Paris brought music and joy to your lives and the lives of your children. Catch yourselves smiling when you view them or hear their music. In contrast mccain speaks of death and war, the obsession of his tortured memory. Judge for yourselves how this unsteady and angered mind can bring joy and prosperity to you?