(RepublicanJournal.org) – Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) is stepping down from his co-chair position in the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, citing differences with the majority of the progressive caucus. He’s been vocal about concerns over the Left clinging to President Joe Biden as their frontrunner, even considering jumping into the race himself, but the Minnesota representative has apparently run into roadblocks every step of the way.
Phillips is among the few Democrats who have openly opposed promoting Biden for another four years. He believes the president’s age is a serious issue, one officials on the Left have felt the need to ignore, insisting he’s perfectly fit to serve. Still, Axios points out that many Democrats are actually with Phillips, according to recent polls, and they want their party to choose someone younger before the primaries close.
Criticism has continued to rise over several lawmakers refusing to step aside despite their advancing age. The recent death of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D), after months of stubbornly holding on to her seat despite her very public and dramatic decline, has only added fuel to that fire. The liberal senator never fully recovered after a bout of shingles, which sent her to the hospital and left her with visible neurological damage. The 90-year-old had to resort to using a wheelchair to get around toward the end and also began missing votes.
Aging lawmakers have become such an issue that some politicians are calling for action. GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has suggested testing the mental competency of anyone over 75 years old. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) recently demanded that 81-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell step down over age-related concerns. She tweeted in August that he, along with Biden, Feinstein, and Fetterman all needed to step aside for the good of the country.
Despite criticism many older lawmakers are receiving for staying in office, 77-year-old Republican primary frontrunner, Donald Trump, has managed to maintain much of his support base.
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