Gingrich: Dean's Panic Attacks Probably Not an Issue

NewsMax.com ^ | 1/17/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Friday that presidential front-runner Howard Dean's history of panic attacks and past treatment for an anxiety disorder probably should not be a campaign issue.

Asked if Dean's account to People magazine this week detailing his problem was something voters should be concerned about, Gingrich told radio host Sean Hannity, "I think if what you're dealing with is the process of somebody learning how to deal with stress or those kind of normal things - I don't think so."

On the other hand, said Gingrich, "If it turned out that [Dean] had the kind of mental illness which involves wild swings in mood or uncontrollable behavior, that would be a different issue."

"That might medically disqualify him," he added.

In an exchange buried in a lengthy interview with People, the Democratic presidential front-runner revealed that when he was lieutenant governor of Vermont, he had a panic attack upon hearing that Gov. Richard Snelling had died, thereby making him governor.

"I hyperventilated and I started hyperventilating and I thought, You better stop that or you won't be much good to anybody," Dean recalled.

He explained his reaction to the news of Snelling's death by saying, "To suddenly get told that you have responsibility for 600,000 people — it provokes a little anxiety."

Dean's history of anxiety attacks goes back to the early 1980's, when he said he sought counseling for the problem.

"I was just anxious and I didn't know why," the Democratic front-runner explained.

"[The counseling] wasn't easy," Dean said. "You've got to work and you've got to uncover things that matter to you. And of course, we talked a lot about my father and all that other stuff."

Dean also told People that he still sometimes needs sleeping pills to sleep at night.

Ruth Ann Dwyer, who twice challenged Dean for the governor's seat, said Thursday that she remembered her opponent as "pretty tightly wound" and "paranoid."

"I always felt he was paranoid," she told "Hannity & Colmes." "He's always got a chip on his shoulder. And he can't take any kind of criticism, even if it's legitimate."

[kattracks]

"To suddenly get told that you have responsibility for 600,000 people — it provokes a little anxiety."

Makes you wonder what he would do in a 9/11 situation.

[Richard Kimball]

I don't think Dean is stable enough to be President from what I'm seeing of him on the campaign trail. But people go through stuff. Sam Houston spent a couple of years drunk hanging around an Indian tribe.

[blackbart.223]

"Makes you wonder what he would do in a 9/11 situation."

Worse than that, it makes me scared to death he might have his finger on "The Button". If you get my drift.

[Howlin]

I think you're right about the stablity, but who the heck cares what Newt Gingrich says about this?

[freebilly]

"...And of course, we talked a lot about my father and all that other stuff."

What a fruitcake. And he was talking about Bush having psychological issues surrounding his father.

[blackbart.223]

"In an exchange buried in a lengthy interview with People, the Democratic presidential front-runner revealed that when he was lieutenant governor of Vermont, he had a panic attack upon hearing that Gov. Richard Snelling had died, thereby making him governor."

Now there is a man we need in charge.

[kattracks]

Worse than that, it makes me scared to death he might have his finger on "The Button".

He'd probably nuke some US city.

[Tax Government]

From the same article: "And he can't take any kind of criticism, even if it's legitimate."

God save us from candidates like Howard Dean.

[freebilly]

Dean also told People that he still sometimes needs sleeping pills to sleep

Hey, when I can't sleep, I freep. When I want to go back to sleep I open up Li(e)ving History by Shrillery.

Works like a charm....

[Lancey Howard]

"To suddenly get told that you have responsibility for 600,000 people — it provokes a little anxiety."

This guy thought that he had "responsibility" for 600,000 people? Like he was their mother or something?? I know if I lived in Vermont, this pathetic megalomaniac would not be "responsible" for me in any way, shape, manner, or form. As a matter of fact, if he ever came near me I'd tell him to go play in the street.

Dean is ABSOLUTELY unqualified for ANY office.
The fellow is clearly a mental case.

[kattracks]

When I want to go back to sleep I open up Li(e)ving History by Shrillery.

Listening to an Algore speech would do it for me.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[DaiHuy]

"Sam Houston spent a couple of years drunk hanging around an Indian tribe."

I didn't know they had casinos back then.

[ambrose]

Dean is ABSOLUTELY unqualified for ANY office. The fellow is clearly a mental case.

He's got NOTHING on Wesley Clark. Now there's a guy who isn't firing on all cylinders. I can just see him saying "Hallelujiah, gentlemen, the missiles are flying!"

[kattracks]

All joking aside, it really is frightening that someone like Dean could even remotely be considered as a presidential candidate.

[blackbart.223]

"He'd probably nuke some US city."

No doubt. Dean is a loose cannon at best. A nut job at worst.

[Lancey Howard]

He's got NOTHING on Wesley Clark.

Yeah, he'd be the perfect "yes" man to Peter Sellers' Dr. Strangelove. I can just see him in that bunker command center, giving orders (shudder). No matter. When the time is ripe, the stuff General Shelton (and others) know about Clark's "character issues" will come down on him like a ton of bricks.

[blackbart.223]

"Sam Houston spent a couple of years drunk hanging around an Indian tribe."

I didn't know they had casinos back then."

Nice shot. You might piss off a few Texans with that one though.

[CurlyDave]

President of the United States is not subject to "affirmative action", "diversity" or "hire the handicapped" rules.

[Salamander]

It's worse than that.
During a panic attack you are PARALYZED by unidentifiable fear and mind-crippling dread.
You do not feel "real" (disassociation and depersonalization effect) and you're pretty much useless as far as "big important decisions" go until long after the attack subsides. ( there is a sort of "hangover" effect )
They also tend to come in clusters with little "normal" time in between, so he could conceivably be "useless" for days or even weeks at a stretch.
God forbid he'd start having one if somebody *else* puts their finger on "The Button".
(He'd better pick a d*mn good second-in-command)
Interestingly enough, panic attacks are -not- a "mental illness".
They are often caused by unacknowledged and deeply suppressed emotions such as rage, anger, guilt or grief.
The sufferer redirects the "unacceptable" emotions into "anxiety" as a way of avoiding coping with the real issues deep within.
( not that this would remotely apply to Mr Dean in any way, shape or form )....:)
If he does have true panic attacks then he would do his country a great service by bugging out right now.

[blackbart.223]

"I'd tell him to go play in the street."

The freeway would be better.