Reuters: Politics: NYC mayoral candidate Weiner calls opponent 'grandpa'

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NYC mayoral candidate Weiner calls opponent 'grandpa' Aug 7th 2013, 15:49 New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner attends a campaign event in the Rockaways section in the Queens borough of New York July 31, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer By Francesca Trianni NEW YORK | Wed Aug 7, 2013 11:49am EDT NEW YORK (Reuters) - In the latest sideshow in Anthony Weiner's bid for mayor of New York City, the former congressman called a rival "grandpa" during a confrontation at a forum sponsored by AARP, the lobby group for older Americans. A representative for AARP, which fights discrimination against older people, called Weiner's remark "unfortunate." George McDonald, 69, a long-shot Republican candidate for mayor, has repeatedly bashed the former congressman over his "sexting" habits. Weiner resigned from Congress in 2011 for sending lewd pictures of himself to women. Tensions between the two had been building since McDonald called Weiner a "self-pleasuring freak" last week during a debate, then erupted when Weiner tapped his opponent on the chest to greet him at a candidates' forum on Tuesday "Don't put your hands on me ever again," McDonald said. Weiner, 48, responded by telling McDonald he has "anger issues." "I don't have any anger issues," McDonald replied. "Yes, you do, grandpa," Weiner said. NY1 television caught the exchange on camera. Weiner, married to a top advisor to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is trying to resurrect his political career after resigning from Congress, hoping enough voters will overlook his proclivity for sending revealing pictures of himself to women online. Weiner had surged into the lead in polls for the Democratic Party primary before revelations in July that he had sent more sexually explicit messages to at least one woman after he resigned and had promised to change his behavior. Weiner refused to apologize for his remark about McDonald. "He talks about his granddaughter in every answer to questions on the campaign trail, so I was making a reference to that," Weiner said on WWRL radio on Wednesday. AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel criticized Weiner's comment, especially in light of AARP surveys that reveal age discrimination in society. "Nearly one quarter of New York's 50-plus voters say they have experienced unwelcome comments about their age and nearly half are concerned about age discrimination," Finkel said in a statement on Wednesday. "A person's age should not be a factor in politics, or anything else." McDonald did not immediately respond to a call for comment. The party primary elections are set for September 10. The general election is November 5. (Reporting by Francesca Trianni; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Chris Reese) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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