Few Democrats Want a President In Their 70s

[DonViejo]

June 20, 2019, at 9:22 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

A new Pew Research poll finds just 3% of Democratic or likely Democratic voters think the optimal age for a president is someone in their 70s.

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https://politicalwire.com/2019/06/20/few-democrats-want-a-president-in-their-70s/

[zipplewrath]

1. Last election not withstanding

The leading candidates in the last democratic presidential primaries would both have been "in their 70's" while being president.

[Nuggets]

8. Yes but we need another

purposely divisive ageism article posted to get ppl riled. /s

[greymattermom]

2. I'm the same age as Donald Trump.

I work out and eat well, but no longer want an intense job. He's definitely hiding something. Is it illegal to secretly weigh someone? There are stand on scales for livestock. Maybe one could be put under a mat by his podium. He could be told that the mat is there to make him look taller. The digital output could be projected to the audience. Just my fantasy.

[marylandblue]

4. IMO he really does snort Adderall, which makes him seem energized on camera.

And also makes you feel smarter than you actually are.

[walkingman]

3. I would prefer a younger POTUS but....

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need!!

[emulatorloo]

5. Yet a lot of Democrats like Biden. Probably because his physical age is lower than his chronological

age. He appears healthier both physically and mentally than a lot of guys in their late 40’s and mid 50’s I know. He certainly makes Trump look like a 90 year old.

[Nuggets]

6. So I guess can we expect these Dems to

force Ginsburg’s retirement? She’s way over 70 and should allow Trump to replace her, after all she’s way too old to get it. AmIrite?

[George II]

7. There's a big difference between "Few Democrats Want a President In Their 70s" (the headline)....

....and them thinking the "optimal age" is in their 70s. And singling out one factor of many as the criteria isn't logical.

[TwilightZone]

13. Agreed.

The headline clearly doesn't match the content, though that seems someone typical of that particular blog.

[DonViejo]

17. Do you somewhat prefer this headline from the actual poll:

Only 3 percent of Democratic voters want a president in their 70s, survey finds

https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/voters-dont-prefer-presidents-well-aged

[TwilightZone]

19. Same problem.

Optimal age and "don't want" aren't the same thing.

This isn't complicated.

[customerserviceguy]

20. Thank you

that's what I thought. It would be like taking a poll that asked, "Ice Cream: Favorite flavor among the big three, Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry?" and interpreting the results of 34% vanilla, 33% chocolate and 33% strawberry and concluding, "Most people don't like vanilla ice cream."

[KPN]

9. Well, the track record isn't so great so far for Presidents in their 70s. Only three:

Reagan (70-77), tRump (71-73) and Ike (63-70) whose second term expired just after he turned 70 -- so he really doesn't count.

With a record like that, I'm 100% with the 97%.

[highplainsdem]

10. IF that were really true, then the top 3 candidates (Warren will be 70 Saturday) would NOT

be leading all the other candidates.

The 70s aren't usually an optimal age for anyone.

OTOH, we don't have any candidates out there with the background and experience of Biden, or even Sanders and Warren, who are substantially younger than those three are.

[still_one]

11. Well I guess that leaves Elizabeth Warren out

[TwilightZone]

12. "optimal" and "don't want" are not the same thing.

As is sometimes typical of that blog, the headline doesn't match the content.

[SouthernProgressive]

14. I'm one of them.

I'm also seriously considering Biden for my primary vote. Interesting how things work like that.

[George II]

15. The more the lesser candidates nibble around the edges of his campaign, the more I support Biden.

[LanternWaste]

16. Few Democrats get every damned thing we want.

Few people ever get that as well.

We rationally weigh one concern against another concern and reach a conclusion that rarely, if ever, possesses everything we want... unless of course, we're simplistic purists worshiping a sacred cow.

[jaysunb]

18. I'm 76 and can't imagine trying to actually work all day doing ANYTHING. n/t

[BannonsLiver]

21. And yet more seem to want that more than they do a nominee who is 37.

[Politicub]

22. There's a difference between what someone's opinion is and their behavior.

The vast majority of democrats will fully and enthusiastically accept the democratic nominee, no matter his or her age.

Since I would prefer newer thinking in government, I would probably answer the question in a similar fashion. When it comes to voting, however, I won't wring my hands about age and will work my butt off to get people to the polls.

[treestar]

23. "don't want" does not mean the same thing as

"not optimal."