Two aging, decades-long members of the U.S. House of Representatives are having to duke it out in a New York Democratic primary thanks to the state’s redistricting, and with 151 years between them, it’s no surprise that cognitive decline is fair game on the campaign trail — especially when both candidates keep committing notable gaffes along the way.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, 76, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, 75, were forced to face off after New York combined the Upper West Side district with the Upper East Side, and things are getting ugly.
Maloney cited a recent New York Post editorial that highlighted a series of faux pas from Nadler and took a snarky swing at her opponent’s mental state.
“They call him senile,” Maloney told reporters in Manhattan on Saturday. “They cite his performance at the debate where he couldn’t even remember who he impeached. He said he impeached Bush.”
“I think that you should read the editorial in the NY Post today. They call him senile. They cite his performance at the debate where he couldn’t even remember who he impeached. He said he impeached Bush.” – Rep. Carolyn Maloney on Rep. Jerry Nadler, ahead of Tuesday’s primary pic.twitter.com/NSD0EyzoFp
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) August 21, 2022
Indeed, the Post did use the “S” word in describing Nadler’s performance.
“In NY-12, combining Manhattan’s Upper East and West sides, Rep. Jerry Nadler exposed himself as this close to senile in that epic NY1 debate, though his bungling of Trump impeachment hearings (Speaker Nancy Pelosi eventually steered later proceedings away from his Judiciary Committee as a result) provided earlier signs,” wrote the Editorial Board.
“And don’t forget his Acela phone call where he got recorded discussing his secret-oops impeachment plans!” the editors continued. “Fact is, this is his first real race in decades: He may have been losing it for years.”
And, yes, Nadler did mistakenly say, “I impeached Bush twice.”
https://twitter.com/durant_cd/status/1555032873714954241?s=20&t=CkBrBGXkgpi9WXWHwH-4FQ
But as Mediaite points out, Maloney hasn’t exactly been having a smooth time of things in recent weeks.
In an interview with The New York Times editorial board, Maloney was asked whether she thought President Joe Biden — the king of embarrassing gaffes — should run again in 2024.
“Off the record, he’s not running again,” she stated.
Unfortunately (for her), she blurted it out before the Times reporters had agreed that it would be “off the record,” and they printed her remark.
Then there was Maloney’s bizarre appearance on CNN in which she bounced like a ping-pong ball between apologizing, gushing with praise for Biden, saying she still didn’t think he’d run, and promising she’s totally vote for him if he did.
The segment turned the awkward cringe up to eleven.
“Mr. President, I apologize,” she said. “I want you to run. I happen to think you won’t be running, but when you run or if you run, I will be there 100%. You have deserved it. You are a great president, and thank you for everything you’ve done for my state and all the states and all the cities in America. Thank you, Mr. President.”
(Video: YouTube)
Meanwhile, Rep. Nadler is banking on his unrelenting pursuit of Trump to pull him to victory. His campaign has, for the most part, centered on his dislike for the former President.
At an Upper West Side rally, Nadler warned the roughly 150 attendees that Trump and his “insurrectionists” have placed America in great danger.
“Our democracy is in peril,” he stated, according to the Washington Examiner. “We have a Republican Party that is openly and proudly insurrectionist. The Supreme Court has been packed by McConnell and Trump and is doing all it can to roll back Americans’ fundamental rights.”
He boasted about twice dragging the American people through impeachment hearings, and this time he remembered whom he had targeted.
“I’m incredibly proud of my record fighting for New Yorkers in Washington, whether I’m impeaching Trump — twice — fighting to codify Roe, or standing up to the gun lobby,” he said.
He even earned an eye-roll-inducing nickname from State Sen. Brad Hoylman, who endorsed Nadler, and called him the “general counsel of the Resistance.”
New York’s primary will take place on August 23. Early voting ended on Sunday.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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