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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) slammed Republican former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s proposal to require mental competency testing for politicians over the age of 75. Sanders made the comments on “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan on Sunday.
“I think that’s absurd,” Sanders said when asked if he agreed with or was offended by Haley’s proposal.
Sanders initially pretended not to understand Brennan’s question as a joke. “What exactly did she mean? What I don’t understand…”
“We are fighting racism, sexism, and homophobia, to name a few issues. I believe we should also fight ageism “Sanders told Brennan, expounding on his objection to Haley’s proposal and implying that it was due to age bias.
“Believe people, look at people, and say, you know, this person is competent, this person is not competent,” Sanders added.
“There are many 40-year-olds who aren’t particularly competent. You know, older people, you look at the individual, I don’t think you make a blanket statement, “The senator came to a conclusion.
Sanders, 81, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007 and in the United States Senate since 2007. He describes himself as a democratic socialist and has repeatedly and unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination.
The week before Sanders’ announcement, Haley, 51, announced her intention to run in the Republican presidential primary. In her speech, she advocated for the mental competency of politicians over the age of 75 to be tested.
“The permanent politician will eventually retire in America, as I see it. Term limits for Congress will be implemented, as will a mandatory mental competency test for politicians over the age of 75 “Last Wednesday, Haley said to the applause of the crowd gathered to hear her official announcement.
President Joe Biden, 80, is the presumed Democratic nominee for the 2024 election. On November 15, 2022, former President Donald Trump, 76, announced his bid for the presidency in 2024. Haley’s remark could have been directed at either, both, or neither of the men.
The mental competency of both Biden and Trump has been questioned on numerous occasions by those both inside and outside their respective parties.
Nikki Haley, a Republican, was the governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017. During former President Trump’s administration, she served as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a Cabinet member.