Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 6:10:39 AM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Revenge of the Geezers?

Posted Apr 12, 08 1:52 PM CDT in Politics 

(Newser) – Once, Frank Lautenberg was a 58-year-old hopeful who implied that his opponent, at 72, was too old. Now, Lautenberg is running for re-election in New Jersey at the spry age of 84. “Age is not a factor,” he says. “The question is effectiveness.” But as John McCain seeks to become the oldest first-term president ever, age has become an issue, writes Gail Collins in the New York Times.

A case in point: Hillary Clinton was miffed when Bill defended her Bosnia gaffe by saying of her critics, “When they’re 60, they’ll forget something when they’re tired at 11 at night, too.” Did he forget that her ads claim she can answer the red phone "at 3 a.m."? But Collins writes that boomers in their 60s are ready to forgive a few geriatrics. Senator Robert Byrd, re-elected 2 years ago at age 88, concurs: “I’m told 90 is the new 80,” he said.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Munificent Obama Empties Coffers on Staff

    Nov 14, 08 3:18 PM CST
    Munificent Obama Empties Coffers on Staff Barack Obama’s campaign is redistributing the wealth to the staff, the New York Daily News reports. The loaded campaign will give its troops a bonus equivalent to a month’s pay and allow employees to keep campaign-issued phones and computers, provided they pay the taxes. “It's a very nice gesture for people who slaved away and sacrificed for the past year,” one said. More »

  • Election Predictors Who Got It Wrong

    Nov 6, 08 1:22 PM CST
    Election Predictors Who Got It Wrong With the election over, what's more fun than calling out all those whose predictions were off—way off. Der Spiegel lists some highlights:

    • "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win." Hillary Clinton, on Barack Obama
    • "We'll win Florida." Rudy Giuliani
    • "Virginians are really getting fired up for this ticket of McCain and Palin." George Allen
    • "Romney for the Republicans, Hillary for the Democrats." Ann Coulter, on the nominees

    More »

  • Candidates Keep Punching

    Nov 3, 08 3:11 AM CST
    Candidates Keep Punching Both presidential candidates are bucking tradition and remaining on the offensive in the last days of the election—a time when campaigns usually back off and focus on positive messages, the Washington Post reports. Barack Obama is spinning Dick Cheney’s endorsement of John McCain as a troubling indication of a possible Bush redux, and McCain’s newest robocalls feature Hillary Clinton’s primary season attacks on Obama.
    More »

  • 'Clinton Wins!' And Other Might Have Beens

    Nov 1, 08 10:08 AM CDT
    'Clinton Wins!' And Other Might Have Beens Reporters are already writing up advance analyses of how each of the two presidential candidates achieved victory next Tuesday—to be ready for either outcome. Slate has a little fun imagining some of the other scenarios that might have played out:

    • Hillary Clinton claimed a historic win after John McCain's oft-used phrase, "lipstick on a pig," insulted voters—and his VP pick, a black police lieutenant form small-town Maryland, backfired on him.
    More »

  • Campaigns Call in Big Guns for Final Fireworks Shows

    Oct 31, 08 5:35 PM CDT
    Campaigns Call in Big Guns for Final Fireworks Shows In the final days of the presidential campaign, the candidates are ramping up their schedules and bringing in their parties’ big names to motivate voters, the New York Times reports. John McCain, in addition to sending running mate Sarah Palin on a grueling two-day sprint across the country, has enlisted the help of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rudolph Giuliani. More »

Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, answers a question as he is surrounded by reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2008.   (AP Photo)
New Jersey Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, announces his canidacy for re-election - at age 84.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
If elected, John McCain would be the oldest first-term President ever.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 6)

Tags

Election 2008 • John McCain • Hillary Clinton • old age • baby boomers • age discrimination


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Politics Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »