Not just offensive, but also ironic. As the New York Daily News reported on 11/9/07 of the junior Senator from Illinois:
"I think there's no doubt that we represent the kind of change that Sen. Clinton can't deliver on, and part of it is generational," Obama, 46, said on Fox News. "Sen. Clinton and others, they've been fighting some of the same fights since the '60s, and it makes it very difficult for them to bring the country together to get things done."
Inevitably and justifiably, there was prompt criticism of the statement. The newspaper reported:
Obama's older competitors agreed. "We think Iowa caucusgoers would reject the notion that anyone over the age of 50 should be disqualified from serving in elected office," said Phil Singer, a spokesman for the 60-year-old Clinton.
"It is an odd thing to say for someone who is looking for votes in a state where the average caucusgoer is in his or her 60s," said Hari Sevugan, an aide to silver-haired candidate Christopher Dodd.
Obama's remarks are not only offensive to people not fortunate enough to be as young as Obama, but bear a certain irony. "Never trust anyone over 30" became a (exagerrated) caricature of the 1960's. Now here the Senator comes along, simultaneously criticizing the 60's- and those unfortunate not to be as young as he. A two-fer, in a way.
1 comment:
Senator Obama should not depend on the majority of 18-28 year olds to come support him at the polls. Apathy seems to be the greatest political challenge to my generation (18-28)and new social media networks are not enough to make them actually vote on election day. Sen. Obama is alienating a fairly substantial group of voters--a substantial group that largely questions his crebilitity for the presidency because of a lack of experience. But hey, maybe Sen. Obama can organize a retirement community now (to build on his background as a community organizer) and possibly win them back...I doubt it.
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