Democrats' struggles could be partly because they're just too old, says Obama - Politico

[justaprogressive]

Former President Barack Obama is urging the Democratic Party to invest in younger candidates if it wants to come out victorious in the 2026 midterm elections and, eventually, the 2028 presidential election.

In an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen that was published Saturday, the 64-year-old said part of the reason his own elections were so successful was because he was young at the time.

“I’m a pretty healthy 64, feel great, but the truth is, half of the references that my daughters make about social media, TikTok and such, I don’t know who they’re talking about,” he said. “There is an element of, at some point, you age out. You’re not connected directly to the immediate struggles that folks are going through.”

Former President Joe Biden, who was Obama’s vice president, was the oldest man to assume the presidency at the age of 78 in 2021. His decision to seek reelection in 2024 repeatedly drew concerns from voters who wondered how the octogenarian would be able to handle a second term in the White House. The fears were only amplified after a disastrous debate performance full of gaffes and losing his trains of thought. Obama, who had originally supported Biden in the election, went on to campaign for Biden’s younger replacement atop the ticket, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, after Biden ended his campaign.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/15/obama-democrats-problems-too-old-00782719

[mountain grammy]

1. Biden in his 80's.. no evidence of Alzheimers or dementia..

Just a little slower walkng and talking. He could be bedridden and babbling and he'd be a better president.

but wow, Jake Tapper got to sell his book!

[Srkdqltr]

2. Yes. There should not be so many old folks in government. The younger ones cant move up.

No one should run after 70. Or be reelected. Should have to retire at the end of term if over 70. Maybe set up a consultation group for those who want to stay with government.
There also should be limits to how many years anyone can serve. We need younger folks in government.

[Buckeyeblue]

11. My question is why would anyone over 70 want to continue to hold office

These so called leaders if our country should be developing younger leaders. I know there is ego involved. And they don't want to give up their power.

[bigtree]

12. why would anyone desire a junior member over one with seniority

...who is doing the job well?

For example:

Members with seniority are allowed to choose their own offices and committee assignments. The latter is one of the most important privileges a member of Congress can earn because committees are where most of the important legislative work actually happens, not on the floor of the House and Senate.

Members with a longer term of service on a committee are also assumed to be senior, and therefore they have more power within the committee. Seniority is also usually, but not always, considered when each party awards committee chairmanships, the most powerful position on a committee.

The seniority system enhances the power of the committee chairs (limited to six years since 1995) because they are no longer beholden to the interests of party leaders. Because of the nature of the terms of office, seniority is more important in the Senate (where the terms are for six years), than in the House of Representatives (where the terms are for only two years).

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-seniority-system-3368073

[usonian]

3. Young people are attracted by progressive and even revolutionary ideas. Think back, people. We all did.

You're as old as you think.

The youngest minds in the Democratic Party (or not in it) are Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They are attracting young and old. Compromise and string-pulling by the rich got us into this mess.

A "Revolutionary" Democratic Party will get us out of it and propel us to a free and prosperous future, rather than a return to a nazi state and death camps.

And nothing else.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. As the kids used to say...

Well, duh

[BeyondGeography]

5. Anyone going to alert on Obama?

K&R

[bigtree]

10. why?

...can't we just disagree with him?

[leftstreet]

6. Are many politicians connected to any of us?

You’re not connected directly to the immediate struggles that folks are going through

Politicians only seem to "get" us when they're campaigning.

At the very least, the aging pols certainly have the money to hire young consultants and advisers

[GoCubsGo]

7. He's kind of right, but...

the other side ain't exactly spring chickens, either. In fact, they're probably older on the whole. That being said, getting younger, while the GOP keeps putting up their geezers, is a wise move for the Dems.

[yorkster]

8. Love Obama, but the "zeitgeist" after November

and especially after 2028 is going to be one of a huge need for rebuilding, repairing and reconstructing after the massive damage done by the Trump regime. We'll need institutional knowledge and reforms across government in addition to congressional hearings and a very active AG/DOJ.
By all means encourage participation in politics and government, but please no across the board declarations of a default age by which electeds should throw in the towel or be automatically replaced. (The exceptions should be obvious.)

I realize the Politico title is misleading.

[bigtree]

9. this is fantasy politics

...good candidates come in all age groups.

Moreover, this denigrates older, experienced pols who may well be vulnerable to this ageist claptrap that's dubiously passing for political wisdom since the ageists carped Biden out of the race and the presidency, but are responsible for fighting for and enacting the majority of the progressive change of any political generation.

Some people are thrashing around looking for some pat answer to the lost presidential election, and it's essentially apathetic people in that age group the olders like Obama are patronizing who couldn't be bothered to defend their own prerogatives in that election.

It galls me, because it reminds me of childraising.

Fact is, the Democratic party, with all of it's aged members, EXCELS in the majority. They just do, even with the sorry asses like Manchin and Sinema, because we are the ONLY party that set our agenda based on what the people need.

The republican party has always been as they've revealed themselves in this solid majority rule, and THAT"S what our focus should be on; not this navelgazing backbiting against elected Dems who may not be able to wow the kids on the internet, but know how to legislate when those kids give them them the numbers to carry out those ideals.

Time would be better spent here explaining the process of advancing legislation through Congress to that age group, but I'm certain they'll just tell me they know better than the people who've already fought and WON elections against actual republicans, going on to advance landmark legislation - even legislation that bears the younger president's name.

[BannonsLiver]

13. lol

And as always:

[BannonsLiver]

14. He's right, as usual.

Moreover the pushback from the 75+ demo confirms it.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

15. Except he didn't say that

He's talking about "...social media, TikTok and such..."

Paraphrasing and ad libbing what someone has said, especially a former Democratic president, is so disingenuous.

Wonder what the motivation could be. Hm.

[gulliver]

16. Young, but smart and mature

The "young" restriction by itself would be catastrophic. I have zero faith that such an obvious thing goes without saying. We don't need young opportunists or opportunists of any identity whatsoever. They can take a hike.

We need to be discriminating in who we accept as our leaders. Think Obama in his heydey. I'm all for young. Don't get me wrong. We need to identify "passionate fighters" among the young, so we'll know who not to let into leadership. We need mature, educated, smart leaders. Pretty faces need not apply.