How Old is too Old for Office? Don't Ask GOP-Rightwingers

Mittens is Actually 7 Months Older than Hill (oops)
(both were born in 1947: Romney in March and Clinton in October)

Age - relative some say and so do I, so does the GOP have different rules or standards about age for women seeking office vs. men seeking the same office?

The short answer and Palin will love this: "You betcha'..." The story that caught my attention is posted here - a few highlights:

Conservative Ed Rogers in the Washington Post mocked Hillary Clinton for being stuck in a cultural “time warp” circa the “tie-dye” 1960’s.  More here:

1. A recent Boston Globe article actually positioned Romney's age as a plus for the Republican: “Supporters have also noted that Romney would be 69 years old in 2016 – the same age as Ronald Reagan when he was sworn into his first term.” 

2. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) compared Clinton to a cast member from “The Golden Girls.” 

3. Rick Santorum called her “old.” 

4. Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) claimed that Clinton “embodies that old, tired top-down approach from the government.” 

5. Former FOX host Mike Huckabee wondered if the former secretary of state who traveled nearly one million miles while in office would have the stamina for a national campaign adding: “She's going to be at an age where it's going to be a challenge for her.” 

6. FOX contributor Erick Erickson said, “Hillary Clinton is going to be old in 2016 and I don't know how far back they can pull her face.” 

7. The GOP flurry and coverage Mitt Romney signaled that he's seriously considering running again (a third run), that the topic of his age has not been a hot one. 

8. The top louse, Rush Limbaugh (as expected) on his website asked: “Do the American people want to observe the aging of this woman in office?”    

So, will age be the subject as a National Journal column last year by Charlie Cook said in part: “Hillary Clinton Too Old to Run?” In it, Cook wondered if Clinton was “physically up to the rigors of running and serving in office.” (Note: He did follow that up with a column about Vice President Joe Biden's age and his political future).

Last Example: Last year when it was announced that Chelsea Clinton was pregnant the issue quickly became a topic for political commentary with questions like “if Hillary Clinton's pending grandmother-hood represented bad political news for her.”

One grandchild and Hillary is cooked goose, um. BTW: Willard Mitt Romney has 22 grandchildren … as Rick Perry might say: Oops.

FYI summary: Thirty-nine million Americans (about 13 percent) are currently age 65 and older.