Claim: "Nikki Haley isn't in her prime. I'm sorry. When a woman is considered to be in her prime [is] in her 20s and 30s, and maybe 40s."
Who said it: Don Lemon, the recently demoted CNN cohost, during a bizarre and ill-advised diatribe on his poorly rated morning show. He was referring to comments Haley made Wednesday in a speech announcing her candidacy for president. "America is not past our prime," said the former governor of South Carolina, who turned 51 last month. "It's just that our politicians are past theirs."
Context: President Joe Biden turned 80 in November, and is widely expected to run for reelection. The first octogenarian president in American history, Biden would be 86 by the end of his second term.
Analysis: Lemon's remarks reek of projection and self-loathing. Alas, the casual misogyny is typical of the condescending manner in which mainstream journalists discuss female politicians who aren't Democrats. They're also just plain wrong. (Update: Lemon finally admitted as much in a statement of "regret.")
Margaret Thatcher was 53 years old when she became prime minister of the United Kingdom. She is arguably the most successful and understatedly sexy female politician in modern history. She defeated Argentina, the Soviet Union, and the belligerent trade unions standing in the way of economic progress.
A Washington Free Beacon analysis has determined that women of all ages are smart, talented, beautiful, and worthy of respect. In addition to Baroness Thatcher, we found numerous examples of women in their 50s and older who are still in their prime and probably will be for the rest of their lives.
Sofia Vergara, 50
Padma Lakshmi, 52
Jennifer Lopez, 53
Halle Berry, 56
Salma Hayek, 56
Elizabeth Hurley, 57
Helen Mirren, 77
Nancy Pelosi, 82
Verdict: We rate this claim 4 Flaming Clintons.
