Republican Senator and physician Bill Cassidy says senility tests should be mandated for ALL federal government leaders including Biden, 78, and Supreme Court justices before the 'rapid decline' in your 80s
Bill Cassidy, a U.S. senator and physician, said all leaders in the federal executive, legislative and judiciary should be subject to cognitive tests as they age, claiming they should undergo this evaluation before the 'rapid decline' in their 80s.
The 64-year-old Republican from Louisiana told Axios on HBO in an on-camera interview that he wasn't calling out any government leaders in particular.
'It's usually noticeable,' the gastroenterologist said. 'So anybody in a position of responsibility who may potentially be on that slope, that is of concern. And I'm saying this as a doctor.'
Cassidy added: 'I'm told that there have been senators in the past who, at the end of their Senate terms were senile.'
'I'm told that was true of senators of both parties.'
Many leaders are approaching or are already in their 80s, which Cassidy says is the time-frame for when these cognitive tests should be administered.
Some of the highest leaders in U.S. government right now are elderly – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 81, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, 70, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 79.
President Joe Biden who is 78, has faced increasing questions from conservatives over his mental fitness to serve in the highest position of government.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician, said leaders in all three branches of government should be subject to cognitive tests before the 'rapid decline' in their 80s
'It's usually noticeable... and I'm saying this as a doctor,' the gastroenterologist said in an Axios on HBO interview with Mike Allen (left). 'I'm told that there have been senators in the past who, at the end of their Senate terms were senile'
Cassidy said he was not talking about anyone in particular or calling out one party – but gaffe-prone President Joe Biden has faced criticism from conservatives over his mental fitness
The three highest leaders in Congress are elderly. L-R: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, 70, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 81, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 79
Cassidy said 'of course' it's reasonable to require Supreme Court justices, members of Congress and executive branch leaders to submit an annual cognitive evaluation.
'We each have a sacred responsibility to the people of the United States,' Cassidy said Axios' Mike Allen.
'It is not about me,' he continued. It is about my ability to serve the people.'
When it comes to the Supreme Court, senior-most Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative who was sworn into his post in 1991, is 73 and senior-most member by age is liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, 83.
Since the Supreme Court is a life-time appointment, justices can remain on the court until their death if they wish.
This was the case with liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on the court in September 2020 at the age of 87. This caused much controversy because the GOP-majority Senate was able to confirm a third Supreme Court pick for then-President Donald Trump before he was replaced by Biden.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Trump's third and final pick, replaced the oldest member of the court to become the youngest at 49-years-old.
Conservatives have questioned Biden's mental capacity and have raised concerns over conspiracies that the president is being kept out of the public eye and avoiding reporters because he is being controlled by his handlers.
The oldest Supreme Court Justice is liberal Stephen Breyer, 83, (left). On right is the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on the court in September 2020 at the age of 87
Since taking office on January 20, 2021, Biden has only given 10 one-on-one interviews with the media. This is in stark contrast to the 113 interviews Barack Obama completed in his first year as president and the 50 done by Trump.
Former President Trump, now 75, has repeatedly boasted that he 'aced' a mental cognitive test administered in the second year of his presidency.
While campaigning against Biden in the summer of 2020, Trump started bringing the gaffe-prone candidate's mental fitness into question – suggesting he also take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
The 10-minute test is meant to detect mild cognitive impairments, like early onset dementia.
No comments