Published: April 16, 2008 11:29 pm            

Age not an issue in election, area senior citizens say

Wisdom trumps beauty, according to most local seniors when asked about comments from Johnstown congressman John Murtha that Sen. John McCain is too old to be president.

Murtha – at 75, four years older than McCain – said Wednesday that the rigors and stress of running the country would be too much for someone their age.

That’s contrary to what local seniors said in an informal survey.

Taking a break from a pinochle game at the Senior Activities Center, 550 Main St., Johnstown, three of the four players said age is not in the cards when picking a commander-in-chief.

“Look at Reagan,” said Victor Bukovich, 76, of Johnstown and a Vietnam veteran. “If he (McCain) wants to run, let him run.”

Clyde Keiper, 88, of Oakland, said age does not mean much.

“If you are a good man and in decent shape, what difference does it make,” said the Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

“As far as I’m concerned, McCain is the best candidate. He served his country and that means a lot to me because I’m a veteran.”

Harry Chenerys, 85, disagreed with his friends, saying McCain is too old to serve as president.

Michael Makuhan, Johnstown, 75, said age does not matter.

“McCain is the best candidate running.”

At Specialty Lifecare Services, 429 Napoleon Place, Johnstown, age also is just a number.

Norman Gochnour, an Army veteran, said McCain is the only one who currently is making any sense.

“The other two (Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton) don’t know what the other is doing,” said Gochnour, 68.

Billie Varmecky, 93, said McCain is not too old but believes that either Obama or Clinton will be the next president.

Barb Penrod, 71, likewise doesn’t believe McCain is too old. “I think an older person has the experience and more common sense than a younger person,” she said.

        

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