Too Old For Congress?

[Alan Grayson]

Next Tuesday, civil rights legend Congressman John Lewis faces a primary. His opponent is attacking Lewis for being too old to serve in Congress. Lewis is 72 years old.

Ronald Reagan was one year older than that when he said in 1984, jokingly, “I’m not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” John Lewis could say the same.

For the record, the Constitution establishes a minimum age for Congressman – 25 – but not a maximum age. It’s actually against the law to discriminate on the basis of old age, and it has been since 1967.

Strom Thurmond made it all the way to age 100. John Lewis has 28 years left to get there – only 14 elections to go!

Someone named Mitt Romney – you may have heard of him -- tried the same tactic against Ted Kennedy in 1994, when Kennedy was a young lad of 62 (and Romney was 15 years younger). Mitt Romney criticized Kennedy for “old-style politics.” When they debated, Kennedy brushed aside Romney’s “age-ist” attacks, and hit Romney hard on the issues: “I’m pro-choice; my opponent [Romney] is multiple choice.”

Attempting to disparage John Lewis’s civil rights accomplishments, Lewis’s African-American opponent said recently: “This election is not about where we were 45 or 50 years ago in the past.” Lewis replied: “If it hadn’t been for what I and others did 45 and 50 years ago, he wouldn’t be able to run.”

Having served with John Lewis, I can attest that he is a very effective Member of Congress, both inside and outside the Capitol Building. In 2009, Lewis was arrested for protesting genocide in Darfur. That protest made national news, because John Lewis was there. How many 69-year-olds – or people of any age -- would put themselves on the line that way?

What it comes down to is this: If all you’ve got to say in a political campaign is: “I came out of my mother’s womb after the other guy did,” that ain’t much. Especially against John Lewis’s heroic, lifelong record of enormous accomplishments. There is no statute of limitations on heroism.

Please help John Lewis return to Congress. As my grandmother used to say, “Biz hundert un tsvantsig.” (“May he live to 120.”)

Courage,

Alan Grayson

[demwing]

1. And how are you doing sir?

You're a favorite on DU, and rightly so, but I have not seen any polling data letting us know how your return is working out. How goes it?

[Omaha Steve]

2. Marta and I are kicking in

We are proud owners of an autographed photo of Congressman John Lewis!



K&R!

[annabanana]

3. k&r . . . .n/t

[nashville_brook]

4. k and r

[freshwest]

5. This man was a hero when I was a teenager. Here he is shutting down a Repuke in May 2012:

John Lewis speaking on the floor said:

It is hard and difficult and almost unbelievable that any member, especially a member from the state of georgia, would come and offer such amendment. there's a long history in our country, especially in the 11 states that are -- of the old confederacy from virginia to texas, a discrim -- of discrimination based on race. on color. maybe some of us need to study a little contemporary history dealing with the question of voting rights. just think, before the voting rights act of 1965, it was almost impossible for many people in the state of georgia, in alabama new york virginia, in texas, to register to vote, to participate in the democratic process. the state of mississippi, for example, had a black voting aged population of more than 450,000 and only about 16,000 were registered to vote. one county in alabama was more than 80% but not more than -- but not a single registered african-american voter, people had to pass a literacy test. one man was asked to count the jelly beans in a jar. it's shameful to come here tonight and say to the department of justice you must not use one penny, one cent, one dime, one dollar to carry out the mandate of section 5 of the voting rights act. we should be opening up the political process and letting all our citizens come in and participate. people died for the right to vote. friends of mine. colleagues of mine. speak out against this amendment. it doesn't have a place. i yield to the chairman. this is -- i agree with the chairman. this is not the place. i will not yield. i urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment.

[sabrina 1]

6. With age comes wisdom, well it should and in the case of Rep. Lewis, he had wisdom

from the time he was a very young man, and only grows wiser each year.

I think his age is an advantage. Sounds like his opponent is someone who is very unwise, unable to appreciate the value of the wisdom acquired by living a long and purposeful life as Rep. Lewis has.

That disqualifies him as a Representative of the people imo, to be so shallow, to alienate half the electorate with yet another prejudice as if we don't have enough of that stupidity to begin with.

Thank you for all you do Rep. Grayson and we are all looking forward to having both you and Rep. Lewis in Congress in November.

[spanone]

7. k&r...

[scarletwoman]

8. K&R - Long life to John Lewis!

Thank you for posting this!

[SoutherDem]

9. John Lewis is an American Hero!

I think he is just getting warmed up. He has many more years of service to give. As far as I am concerned he is one of the few with the wisdom to serve in congress.

By the way Alan Grayson is another American Hero. They both need our support. I only wish my district had a person like one of those two men.

[calimary]

10. KICK!

I love Alan Grayson! And John Lewis is a tower of strength and nobility. Assholes trash-talking him.

[Tx4obama]

11. Lewis is young compared to many others.

Robert Byrd: Was 92 when he died and was still in Congress.
Teddy Kennedy: Was 77 when he died and was still in Congress.


There are currently 27 U.S. Senators that are OVER the age of seventy. List here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators_by_age

And TONS of U.S. House of representatives over the age of seventy. List here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_by_age
(Click on the little arrow in the 'Current Age' column)

[Jennicut]

15. Yeah, 72 is nothing.

My father is 65 and has more energy then I do some days. I am in my thirties and see nothing wrong with serving in Congress until your health no longer allows you to do your job well. John Lewis has more intelligence and wisdom then any Repub that would try and challenge him.

[CBHagman]

12. There's no virtue or fault being born one year or another...

...but it's perspective that's valuable, and Mr. L. of course has that.

[Ikonoklast]

13. A man who to this day bears the visible scars of being beaten by police.

We need MORE Representatives like Congressman Lewis.

[spanone]

14. this should be posted in GD

[grilled onions]

16. It's Not The Age

There are some older congressmen who have ideas as bright as spring but then we have others that seem locked into racism,against women progressing beyond kitchen and cribs,and thinking war is the answer to a healthy economy as we rid ourselves of "enemies" that may have been a big deal fifty years ago but today seems a waste of life,money and resources.
When we elect we have to look beyond the gray hair and wrinkled skin. AT the same time young does not mean ideas that move forward either. We must listen, listen to what they say, what they don't say and vote accordingly.