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Ellison's Must Read of the Day

November 14, 2014

My must read of the day is "Pelosi Suggests Questions About Her Future Are Sexist," in the National Journal:

Nancy Pelosi on Thursday suggested that sexism plays a role in questions over whether she should remain House Minority Leader after her party's election shellacking last week.

"As a woman, is there a message here?" asked Pelosi, 74, at a Capitol news conference.

Pelosi challenged how many times reporters had asked that of soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 72, as his party failed previously to capture the Senate majority over three elections.

"When was the day that any of you said to Mitch McConnell, when they lost the Senate three times in a row … aren't you getting a little old Mitch? Shouldn't you step aside?" asked Pelosi.

"Have any of you ever asked him that question?"

"So, I don't understand why that question should even come up," Pelosi said.

Plenty of politicians are asked about their age, whether it was Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, or John McCain. The question is not inherently sexist, and it can be an appropriate question, but most politicians are asked about it when they’re running for president—not when they’re a leader in Congress.

From what I can tell, Pelosi is right. McConnell actually hasn’t been asked a question like the one she received, even though he’s also over seventy. It might be a valid question—but it is problematic when Pelosi is the only one asked about it.

The Senate is filled with people over the age of seventy and many of them are obviously capable of still working. The question for Pelosi was, intentionally or not, sexist, but more than that it was lazy. The age debate is a bit tired, and when at least 25 current senators are over the age of seventy it doesn’t seem like a worthwhile question. There are many other questions voters would rather have answered before we harp on everyone’s age, and I’m confident they pertain to the actual work they’re doing (or not doing).

Published under: Nancy Pelosi