would you vote for a candidate who is currently taking Rx medication...

[© tweed]

would you vote for a candidate who is currently taking Rx antidepressants, axiolytics, or antipsychotics to treat an existing mental health disorder?

[The Other Castro]

If I was going to vote for the person before finding out about the meds, then they were probably working fine and I'd expect them to continue working. Therefore it wouldn't affect my decision.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Yes. Many, many people have such issues, often undiagnosed. Much better that they be on anti-depressants or similar medication than trying to self-medicate with alcohol.

[Vega]

Most likely, no. Obviously it would depend on the person, though.

[RFayette]

Most likely, no. Obviously it would depend on the person, though.

This.  For the same reason I think veterans make better presidents ...they can "tough it out" and stay sane in tough times due to their training.  There's nothing wrong with needing these drugs, but the Presidency is just at a different level.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

If I was going to vote for the person before finding out about the meds, then they were probably working fine and I'd expect them to continue working. Therefore it wouldn't affect my decision.

[dudeabides]

Yes.

But not recreational drug users like Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul

[Fuzzy Bear]

It's not the issue of the Rx meds; it's the issue of the underlying disorder.  Out-of-controlled depression could render the US with a paralyzed White House either unable to respond to crises, or unable to manage the day-to-day job of being President, which is a whole lot more stressful than my day-to-day and yours.  The other disorders are worse in that the meds in question are the seriously addictive meds and the disorders more serious.  A President with an unmitigated anxiety disorder may have to be carried out of the White House in panic if their condition debilitates; furthermore, knowledge of such a disorder could be used to the advantage of the President's political enemies, and to the advantage of our national enemies.  As for anti-psychotics, we would not allow such a person to serve as a private in the military; why would we want such a person to be Commander in Chief with incredible power at their disposal.

Have things become so much about "equality" and "non-discrimination" that we cannot discriminate in choosing a President based on the degree of their mental health?  Is a President with bi-polar disorder "just as good" as having a President with no mental health issue?  Is a President who recently had a psychotic break, but is not on Haldol and Cogentin and has not had a new episode of, say, Psychosis NOS, as desirable as a President who has not had a psychotic break?   I'm all for reducing the stigma of mental illness, but the current results of the poll are a bit much, eh?

[Famous Mortimer]

Depends on the disorder. OCD, ADD, depression: probably. Schizophrenic, BPD: no.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Yes.

But not recreational drug users like Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul

You only support teetotallers?

[Famous Mortimer]

I'm more likely to support someone if they've done drugs. Anyone who hasn't done drugs lacks intellectual curiosity.

[eric82oslo]

I'm more likely to support someone if they've done drugs. Anyone who hasn't done drugs lacks intellectual curiosity.

Agreed. Though they don't lack intellectual curiosity necessarily, it's more that they're probably extremely religiously indoctrinated like CountryClubSF or what his name is and the lunatic from Indiana.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Yes.

But not recreational drug users like Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul

[citation needed]

Isn't your username a Big Lebowski reference by the way? Shouldn't you be down for candidates who support the Dude's lifestyle?

[Indy Texas]

We had at least two presidents who were nearly always heavily medicated (Kennedy, Nixon).

[eric82oslo]

We had at least two presidents who were nearly always heavily medicated (Kennedy, Nixon).

That's true and Reagan didn't even know what he ate for breakfast the last few months of his presidency.