14 DAY TRIAL // A 101-year-old man from Sarasota, Florida, thinks age is not an obstacle when it comes to politics and says he has enough experience to run for Congress.
Joe Newman has recently announced a bid for the Congressional Office and hopes his initiative will inspire people of all ages to get involved in politics.
He describes himself as an “activist, a great-great grandfather, and an anthropological progressive,” and says he's ready to fight for issues he believes in, like increasing minimum wage to eliminate poverty and offering healthcare for all, through the expansion of Medicare. His goals also include ensuring the government can fund Social Security.
Newman doesn't care about the criticism he may receive for running at his age, and he affirms being both physically and mentally fit for the job. Moreover, he says he feels called to help the country cope with its current problems.
“You learn through life you have certain responsibilities. And if you don't fulfill them, how can you look in the mirror?” he said, as reported by Opposing Views.
“My hope is that we get a chance to speak out and make people reflect on what you want from your society,” Newman added.
The centenarian has entered the race to unseat Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan as a write-in candidate. Newman sees Buchanan as a powerful opponent, but he disagrees with him so strongly that he feels the urge to intervene.
Although this is Newman's first run for public office, this isn’t his first incursion into politics. In the 1930s, he was employed by the Social Security Administration to explain the new federal entitlement program to the interested people.
Later on, he advocated on behalf of the mentally disabled, as he also had a daughter who was born with disabilities.
Currently, the oldest member of Congress is 90-year-old Rep. Ralph Hall, of R-Texas, who is also the oldest person to ever serve in the House, according to the Congressional Research Service.