First lady Jill Biden has joined the ranks of elderly politicians speaking out against the idea of mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over age 75.
In February, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley attempted to differentiate herself from the pack by calling for mandatory mental competency tests during a rally to kick off her campaign.
“In the America I see, the permanent politician will finally retire,” she said. “We’ll have term limits for Congress and mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old.”
Haley, currently 51, is over 25 years younger than current President Joe Biden (80) and former President Donald Trump (76).
Her proposal has not been received kindly by older politicians in Congress, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who declared it “absurd”.
“We are fighting racism. We’re fighting sexism. We’re fighting homophobia. I think we should also be fighting ageism,” Sanders said in response last month.
First lady Jill Biden will also chime in during an interview with CNN set to air tonight as part of “CNN Primetime: Jill Biden Abroad“.
In a preview, she called Haley’s competency test “ridiculous”.
Asked if her husband, who would be 82 if reelected, would consider taking a mental competency test, Jill Biden said, “We would never even discuss something like that.”
She went on to suggest his recent travel schedule proved his mental competency.
“How many 30-year-olds could travel to Poland, get on the train? Go nine more hours, go to Ukraine, meet with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky?” she said. “So, look at the man. Look what he’s doing. Look what he continues to do each and every day.”
Jill has previously said she’s “all for” Biden running for a second term, but she also left an out for the president should he ultimately decide not to run.
“It’s Joe’s decision,” she said. “And we support whatever he wants to do. If he’s in, we’re there. If he wants to do something else, we’re there too.”
How many 30-year-olds could travel to Poland, etc.? About 99.9% of them. They also could have a discussion without cue cards or a teleprompter, and wouldn’t keep stumbling while climbing up stairs. And they wouldn’t need a wife to point him which direction to go.
Jill, as well, should take a competency test!!
I would suggest that those in congress who are against a competency test or the ones that would fail it. Unfortunately it is no longer a government by the people. Congress self governs themselves without oversight by those who elected them.
Jilly Bean, more than anyone in this world, your husband needs a competency test. Joe Biden has put our country to shame.
Jill knows he’ll fail & she’ll be castigated for elder abuse, both of which are true.