A former Democrat lawmaker in South Carolina, who has donated thousands of dollars to President Biden’s re-election campaign, has sparked controversy by defending Biden’s age despite previously raising concerns about it. Bakari Sellers, a CNN political analyst, had expressed his worries about Biden’s age in 2019 while supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’s failed presidential campaign.
Sellers, who served in South Carolina’s House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014, drew comparisons between Biden and his own father, who served as the president of Voorhees College, a historically black college. He pointed out that his father, despite being a “great man and a great leader,” had to step down from his position at the age of 75 due to lacking the “energy and strength to lead that campus anymore.” Sellers extended this sentiment to Biden, who is currently 80 years old, calling the discussion of his age “a justifiable conversation.”
Furthermore, Sellers targeted presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during the 2019 Democratic presidential primary, highlighting their advanced age as a point of concern. “The three front-runners are all older than Ronald Reagan was when he took over,” Sellers stated, emphasizing that “Democrats are afraid of criticism.”
However, Sellers’ stance on Biden’s age has drastically shifted in recent weeks. He has become a vocal defender of the president, dismissing concerns as “patently absurd.” Sellers, who has donated $10,000 to the Biden Victory Fund and $6,600 to Biden’s re-election campaign, stands as a maxed-out donor.
Sellers’ defense of Biden has been particularly evident following the recent CNN debate between Biden and former President Trump. Sellers dismissed criticisms of Biden’s performance, arguing that “Biden ain’t going nowhere.” He further dismissed the idea of replacing Biden with other potential candidates like Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom, or Wes Moore.
Sellers’ change in perspective has generated questions about his motivations and whether his previous concerns about Biden’s age were genuine. His shift in stance, coupled with his significant financial contributions to Biden’s campaign, raises eyebrows regarding the potential for personal gain influencing his public commentary.
