Whoopie Goldberg accused Nikki Haley of being too old to be part of a ‘new generation’ of politicians, echoing controversial comments from CNN’s Don Lemon that the GOP presidential candidate was ‘past her prime’ as a woman.
During Monday’s episode of The View, Goldberg played a clip of Haley pushing for younger people to come to fore when it comes to leadership roles.
‘The Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again. It’s time for a new generation of leadership,’ Haley states in a campaign advert.
But Goldberg, who is the past U.S. retirement age at 67, took umbrage at Haley’s position in which she showcased herself as being part of the next generation of politicians.
‘You’re not a new generation. You’re 51. What are you talking about?’ Goldberg asked to cheers and applause from the audience.
Whoopie Goldberg accused 51-year-old Nikki Haley of being too old to be part of a ‘new generation’ of politicians. Goldberg is 67 – past retirement age
Nikki Haley is calling for term limits on those in Congress and for those over 75 to undergo mental competency tests
‘It’s not a new generation. She may be younger than most of those people, but her rhetoric is the same. She’s saying the same B.S. I love the young kid, but the only way you get younger people to run, dude, is if you’re out there talking to people saying ‘run’. We’re not going to vote for people who don’t have our best interests at heart,’ Goldberg went on.
‘I’m sick of people talking about age. If you can do the job, I don’t care about the age. You can be as old as dirt if you’re getting stuff done for America. That’s how I feel. If you get a lot of young people put in there, you’re still going to have to sit at the feet of older people because you don’t know as much. You think you do, and relax. Relax. You think you’re going to live forever, you’re not.
‘It’s not my fault young people are not running. I’m asking folks to run. It’s up to the young folks who are there to say, listen, come do what I’m trying to do. That’s your job, and your job.
Goldbergs comments were similar to those expressed by CNN host Don Lemon when during a discussion on Thursday’s edition of CNN This Morning about the ages of politicians he said that the 51-year-old Haley was not ‘in her prime.’
Don Lemon said a woman was considered in her prime ‘in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.’
Lemon’s co-hosts appears irked at his comments about women’s ages
Lemon argued that discussing the merits of age in politics was ‘the wrong road to go down.’
‘She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime,’ Lemon said.
A woman, he said, was considered in her prime ‘in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.’
Challenged by co-host Poppy Harlow, Lemon added: ‘Dont shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are.’
Harlow chimed in asking, ‘What are you talking about? Prime for what?’
‘That’s not according to me,’ Lemon, who is five years older than Haley, then insisted.
‘It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google “What is a woman in her prime” it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s,’ he said. ‘I’m not saying I agree with that. So, I think she has to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime.’
Harlow continued to prod Lemon.
‘Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?’ she asked.
Lemon has since apologized, but he has been widely condemned, including by CNN CEO Chris Licht.
CNN’s Chairman Chris Licht slammed Lemon’s remarks as ‘upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization’
Lemon has been absent from his morning show for two days straight following his comments
According to The New York Times, Licht chastised Lemon during an editorial call on Friday, saying his remarks were ‘upsetting, unacceptable and unfair’ and a ‘huge distraction.’
Lemon said on a phone call with staff: ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I did not mean to offend anyone.’
Monday’s show was anchored by Harlow and Sara Sidner in New York with Kaitlan Collins in Poland for President Joe Biden’s visit. But Lemon’s future at CNN seems to be hanging on by a thread.
‘There are ongoing conversations about Don’s future,’ a person familiar with the matter told Confider. ‘He is a constant distraction.’
According to RadarOnline.com, Lemon’s co-workers have slammed him for having a ‘colossal ego’ and believe he’s plotting to jump ship.
‘He has a colossal ego and he’s the kind of person who goes around saying he’s not going to take the fall for his show flopping, it’s not his fault and the network’s tanking, and they shouldn’t have pushed him out of his primetime slot,’ an inside told RadarOnline.
‘The ratings are way down, the new boss is implementing tough new rules, and no one is happy. All these people were pampered with perks and pats on the back until now and all of a sudden Don, Wolf Blitzer and others are at a point of ‘yikes, we’re in trouble,’ the insider added.
Tensions at the network have continued to rise since Licht arrived and insiders believe Lemon – and other top anchors – know they could be ousted if ratings don’t improve.
‘Don still thinks very highly of himself and he’s continuing to put feelers out elsewhere, though it’s going to be a tough sell,’ the insider said. ‘Nobody’s going to want Don or any of his miserable co-workers with those bad ratings trailing after them.’
Last week, insiders told DailyMail.com that Lemon is ‘rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist’, adding that ‘his apology meant nothing.’
They said: ‘Don has been skating on thin ice for so long and many wanted him fired in December when he freaked out on Kaitlin Collins for no reason. She was in tears and it was so inappropriate.
Lemon apologized for his comments on Thursdays show in a tweet
Regardless of his political affiliation, his comments that Nikki Haley being past her prime were disgusting. Poppy was fuming, as she should be, and still is.
‘He is rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist. Nikki did the right thing by calling him out.
‘His apology meant nothing and there is so much pressure for him to be canned. It would be a shock if he wasn’t.’
Haley herself responded to Lemon’s comments, saying: ‘It’s always the liberals who are the most sexist’ in a tweet with a clip of the video segment.
Lemon apologized for his comments on Thursdays show, and tweeted: ‘The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it.
‘A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.’
