Vermont Senator and Democrat Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has just had the same surgery I had. After experiencing chest pain, he was examined and received two stents to open two blocked arteries.
Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser to Sanders’s campaign, said a medical evaluation of the Vermont senator discovered blockage in one of his arteries, and two stents were successfully inserted.
“Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits,” Weaver said. “He will be resting up over the next few days. We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates.”
We wish Senator Sanders well. And I’ve been there. But I was 54 when I had my heart attack, not in my late 70’s. He has already proven he can endure the abuse of a national campaign schedule.
But regardless of age, the question is, how much damage was done to the heart muscle before he got stents?
If he was treated promptly and there is minimal injury, he could be back at it in a few days or weeks. If it were more extensive, he’d be wise to drop out. There’s no conceivable way for someone who has suffered any severe damage to their heart muscle to maintain the grueling schedule of a presidential campaign.
His heart needs time to heal. If that is a choice, he needs to make, I hope he chooses life over politics. I don’t agree with anything this man stands for, but your health should come first, even for an aging, clueless, hypocritical, populist socialist.
Maybe he’s fine, in which case he goes back to campaigning. But there are plenty of socialists running now. And if he bows out, Warren gets most of his support (if I had to guess) making her the de facto nominee and object of all the abuse that goes with it.
Here’s to hoping Sen. Sanders is well and looking forward to a quick recovery.
| The Hill
