Age Discrimination Joins Race Discrimination and Gender Bias as Issues in 2008 Election
The 2008 presidential election is extraordinary in many respects. It marks the first time that an African-American, overcoming racial discrimination, has secured the nomination of a major party. It also has had a woman, in spite of an unfair gender bias, advance far beyond anyone’s initial predictions. In addition to these two stereotypes, The New York Sun recently reported that another issue has permeated the race: age discrimination.
The Republican contender, John McCain, and Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, have begun to exchange barbs over McCain’s age. The McCain camp alludes to the fact that Obama may be too young, calling him inexperienced. In return, the Obama campaign has suggested that Mr. McCain may be “confused,” or “has lost his bearings.”
Schwartz & Perry LLP's Managing Partner, Murray Schwartz, commented on the issue of age discrimination in The New York Sun article stating that “Age discrimination is an insidious, egregious disease. Age should not be a factor in any employment decision that’s made. Not in hiring. Not in firing.”
Mr. Schwartz, while refraining from making any political observations said, “If someone is going to be ignored as a viable candidate because of age, besides it violating the law, it would be shameful. Experience is a major component of everything.”
