Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended Senator Dianne Feinstein for remaining in office despite facing health issues, dismissing the criticism as a sexist double standard.
In an article published by Politico, Pelosi reassured that Feinstein was “doing OK” and downplayed her recent fall and hospitalization as a minor incident.
Pelosi suggested that the scrutiny and pressure on Feinstein to retire were influenced by her gender.
She pointed out the different treatment that male elected officials facing age-related health concerns receive compared to their female counterparts, emphasizing that as long as senators can vote, it should be enough.
(Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa have also faced scrutiny regarding their age and health issues.)
Recent incidents involving older politicians have sparked a debate about the appropriate age to continue serving in public office.
One incident involved Feinstein appearing confused during a committee vote, which followed a serious illness that kept her away from Washington for over two months.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, has also faced moments of freezing in his speeches. While Republicans have mostly supported McConnell, some expressed concerns, highlighting the inconsistency in attacking President Biden’s fitness while defending McConnell. Biden, however, offered support to McConnell.
A spokesman for Pelosi declined to provide further comments.
Feinstein, who has faced calls to retire from her own party, plans to serve out her term but will not seek re-election in 2024. There is already a competitive race to fill her seat.
Pelosi has served in the House for nearly four decades and stepped down as the leader of House Democrats after almost 20 years. However, she continues to remain in office.
When asked about running for her congressional seat again, Pelosi stated that she hasn’t thought about it much yet but will consider it in the future. She also mentioned receiving continuous encouragement to run again.
Pelosi has also defended Biden against Republican attacks on his age and competency. Despite concerns from Democratic voters about Biden’s age, polls consistently show that it is not a major issue. Former President Donald J. Trump, the front-runner in the Republican primary, is 77.
During an interview with BBC’s Stephen Sackur, Pelosi dismissed concerns about Biden’s age and praised his strategic thinking and successful domestic presidency.