On Tuesday, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes criticized Democrats for their failure to seriously address age-related concerns, particularly after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) lost to Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) in the contest for ranking member on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee for the upcoming Congress.
During his program, “All In,” Hayes pointed out several instances where older Democrats or progressive figures have retained important roles instead of allowing younger leaders to rise.
Connolly’s victory over Ocasio-Cortez sparks criticism of the age dynamics in Congress
He mentioned President Biden’s intention to seek a second term, former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s decision to remain on the court until her death, and Connolly, who is 74, defeating the 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez for the ranking member position on the Oversight panel.
Commenting on Biden’s reelection campaign and subsequent withdrawal, Hayes remarked, “You would think that would have been enough for Democrats to start taking the age issue seriously, but it was not,” highlighting this in a clip shared by Mediaite.
He added, “Gerry Connolly won that vote today, and he did so thanks in part to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi whipping votes for him.” Hayes described Connolly’s win as a moment of “genuine madness.”
He emphasized, “Now, Pelosi whipped votes to ensure that Connolly secured the Oversight role over the young star in the party, even as the 84-year-old Pelosi is recovering from hip surgery after suffering a fall.”
Ocasio-Cortez has advocated for the Democratic Party to embrace a newer generation of leaders, a sentiment that has gained traction following Biden’s unsuccessful campaign and appeared to assist in unseating other senior Democrats from committee chairs this week.
However, this shift did not apply to the high-profile Oversight panel, where the caucus voted 131-84 in favor of Connolly. The Hill has reached out for comments from Connolly and Pelosi’s offices.
