Why has there been no discussion on the additional health risks Obama faces as a black man? ?

Black Male Health Statistics:

Black men live 7.1 years less than other racial groups
They have higher death rates than women for all leading causes of death
They experience disproportionately higher death rates in all the leading causes of death
40% of black men die prematurely from cardiovascular disease as compared to 21% of white men
They have a higher incidence and a higher rate of death from oral cancer
Black men are 5 times more likely to die of HIV/AIDS.
http://menshealth.about.com/od/blackheal...

Thanks for the reminder.. Obama's still a smoker.. so that ups his risks even more.
A few good answers out there.. Amber and Kathy are the best two yet.
Didn't take long for someone to throw in the R word did it? It's fine to endlessly bring up Macs age (age-ism) but not ok to discuss the added health risks that Obama faces? Really.

Because there is one set of rules in covering Obama and another set of rules in covering McCain.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/100...

Because most people would agree that this is a racist question and you are realllllllllllllllly stretching here.

Even if he lives 7.1 years less than other 'racial' groups, he will still outlive McCain by a longggg shot and if the unfortunate were to happen, we would still have an intellegent leader, not a celebrity wanna be corrupt politician like Palin as 2nd in command.

Mostly because he's too young to really worry about these effects and he is half white... let's face it, mixed race people are usually very healthy because of the genetic differences. I think Obama will live a long life, if it is not cut short by a wacko. So we may have up to 8 years with this guy if the polls are right... though one of the most popular presidents of all times (George W. Bush over 80% after 9/11) is now one of the least. No pressure on Obama, but he will not have that high a rating entering the white house and he needs to keep it high, or suffer the same fate. Personally I think he will crash and burn in his first term.... whihc is why I am voting for McCain, he may be old, but he's not a socialist.

even with your grossly distorted "statistics' obama has a minimum of 30 years of longeveity compared to mcCains 2 years!!! Where are your facts on 72 yr. old men with 4 bouts of an aggressive form of cancer? You are grasping at straws trying to make a case that Obama has some random chance of dying in 30 years when old man john is teetering around on his last legs!!

Yes?

So...Obama is more likely to die at 70 than 77?

You're factoring in black men from all socio-economic groups, right? So essentially you're admitting that black people are generationally poorer and as a result live shorter lives.

Hmmm...can you see the problem in your argument?

Why this may all be true..Let's not forget OBAMA IS HALF WHITE..dun dun dun dunn!!!! So these statistics are cut in half! (lol/jk)

Look McCain looks like he will croak over..with the help of Palin i'm sure that will be sooner than we think...

Obama is 47. the term is 4 years or possibly 8. So he has plenty of time. In 4 years Mc cain will be 76 in 8 years ...maybe not here...My great grand pop (who lived in poverty) died at 99...99!!

Well, if all that is true let's wish Barack success. Then someone will actually care about providing everyone health care in this country. And then, my racist 'friend', Barack Obama and the rest of us will live long enough to enjoy a few more Presidents of color!!

It is a non-issue only a moron would bring up. President Obama is a healthy young man. Unlike McCain who is at 72+ year old cancer patient.


Obama Biden

Black health is strongly correlated to income poverty level and lifestyle.



Considering Obama grew up in a white neighborhood and has not experienced poverty.. he does not fit that category.

The odds of Obama dieing from natural causes in office is far less than those of McCain who has had numerous bouts with skin cancer.

did you know that mccain is far more likely to acquire malaria because he is white?

honestly - dumb question

edit
lol
obama is a racial hybrid, look up "hybrid vigor"

Black men live 7.1 years less than other racial groups? That still gives Obama an 18 year advantage over McCain

You're joking, right? Sen. Obama is as much WHITE as he is BLACK! This type of post does not make you look to bright, sweetie. And I'm a McCain/Palin supporter!

You forgot to list possible illnesses stemming from his white side.
This is ridiculous.

He's 47 and healthy. That's why. Presidential terms are just 4 years long. What difference does it make if he's likely to die at 70?

Frank Marshall Davis Jr also could have the sickle cells.

hahaha......wow is that seriously all you have?

FYI: Maybe you should pay attention to Mccain's health, that might be a little more interesting!

Because it is irrelevant, either on of them could be hit by a bus tomorrow.

Because that would be a really stupid conversation.

Its official


Your an idiot

Now, that really reaching!

Do you sell health insurance?

Doesn't it seem odd that a man supposedly strong enough to lead the country isn't strong enough to quit smoking? hmmm

OK what is your point?

shhhh.... they're going to call you racist.

he is still 50 years younger than Mccain

lets get them out of every job! Jeez, what a drag to be a black man, hope they can live past age 30!

This would be a silly question IF it weren't for the CONSTANT, NEVER-ENDING comments about McCain's seemingly inevitable demise if he becomes President.

PS: And don't forget Obama smokes... or at least did... we don't know for sure that he has given it up yet. That increases his risk factor even more.

If we discuss the "health risks" or being old, we should discuss the health risks of being black.

And perhaps we could throw in the health risks of being friends with terrorists...