Bernie and the "he is too old" meme

[emsimon33]

I just heard this meme from a politically illiterate friend yesterday who claims to be a Democrat (at least that is how she always votes because she asks me who to vote for when completing her absentee ballot each election cycle).

My response was, "Guess you voted for Meg Whitman for governor, then, because Jerry Brown was also 73 this last time he became governor." That shut her up.

However, it got me thinking. I am old enough to remember that those against JFK as president said he was too young.

As a nation that reveres the cult of youth, we too often value the glib over the wise. However, I don't think this is what the "Bernie is too old" meme is about. Those who have the power and wealth fear Bernie because he has never wavered in his fight for social justice, the underdog, the working people of this country, the very values that our republic was built on. He can not be bought like every other candidate in the races. These people who fear Bernie, through the corporate media they control, are trying to undermine Bernie, and the conservative mind (which lacks the ability to overcome its innate propensity to fear and to react, not from logic but from emotion) is easily manipulated and any critical thought is diminished (if that brain has the capacity for critical thought).

So, let's start building a list of powerful men and women who are 73 or older so we can counter this meme:

Pope Francis was 76 when elected pope and he has done more in 2 years than the last pope in ... years! And he has re-energized the faithful.

I already mentioned that Jerry Brown, who was elected at 73, has turned the state of California around. I may not agree with him on every issue but his age is not hindering his success as governor.

Scalia and Kennedy on the "Supreme" Court are 79 years old (and Scalia is a conservative favorite; however, I am not sure how mentally stable he is after some of his last opinions); and Ginsburg is 82.

In the corporate world, there are many examples of people who are still powerful thinkers and movers and shakers well into their 80s. Warren Buffett (84) comes to mind.

Who are some other examples?

[djean111]

1. My grandson, Redditor to the max, is 20. He says Bernie's age is not even a consideration

for his supporters on Reddit (61,016 subscribers to the sub-reddit Bernie for president, 1,324 in that sub-reddit right now).
Reddit skews pretty young. They just like what Bernie says. All they care about, not really interested in Party Politics. May just drop out, for better or worse, from interest in the election if Bernie does not win the primary. Good to get some counter arguments, of course, but I don't think age will be an issue until Bernie wins the Primary. HRC is not that much younger than Bernie, and has had some health problems, so I don't really see her campaign going there.

[jwirr]

2. That is what my young voters say also. And for people my age - make sure our VP is younger.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. 70 is the new 50

Look at Ringo, Paul McCartney. Hillary is 6 years younger than Bernie. Bernie is not old.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. And let's not forget HRC's fainting spell

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/25/the-medical-issue-that-closeup-pictures-of-hillarys-glass-may-reveal/

It was caused by a blood clot on her brain. Doctors decided it wasn't that big a deal and left it there. So it's still there.

To me, the thing that matters is not the candidate's age, but their overall health. Bernie looks pretty fit to me. He used to be a long distance runner, so I'm guessing he has pretty healthy habits. At 73, not obese and a non-smoker, his life expectancy is around 85 or 86, and that's just average life expectancy. McCain was 71when he ran, but had had melanoma. Bernie can choose a younger VP, like Elizabeth Warren (fingers crossed).