Kyrsten Sinema describes Democrats as “old dudes eating Jell-O” and reveals why she stopped attending “stupid” luncheons where everyone talks about “how great they are”
- Sinema says weekly luncheons with Democrats are “ridiculous.”
- She stopped attending when she became independent
- She joked about the rich jello diets even though the oldest Republican is 89
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Senator Kyrsten Sinema makes old age jokes about some of her aging colleagues in the Senate — having left the Democratic Party to become independent, while perhaps even drifting towards the GOP.
Sinema, 46, gave up consulting with Democrats. Though she’s still aligned with them for organizational purposes, which hasn’t affected the size of the Democratic margin, and happens to keep her on four committees — including two that matter to business.
They are the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Houeing, and Urban Affairs. But there are no signs she misses the catered luncheons that take place each week with Senate Democrats.
“Old guys eat Jell-O, everyone talks about how great they are,” Sinema recently told a group of lobbyists. Politics reported.
Senator Kyrsten Sinema, 46, joked to lobbyists about the advanced age of her former associates during the Senate’s weekly Democratic luncheons. She stopped going when she became independent
‘I don’t really need to be there. That’s an hour and a half twice a week I can get back,” she joked.
She called the weekly luncheons, where party members meet separately in the ornate Senate chamber, both “ridiculous” and “stupid.”
She said she uses her time to “do productive work, which is why I’ve been able to lead every bipartisan vote that’s happened over the past two years” — after she harassed the White House over the Inflation Reduction Act, but then received critical support had granted after forcing changes.
The ironman runner who has taught a spin class kept up her routine with a regional twist.
“The Northerners and the Westerners put cool whip on their Jell-O, and the Southerners put cottage cheese,” she said.
She even “cutter” with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, with groups of Republican senators.
Democrats began the year fearing that Sinema would go all the way to the GOP, even though they would retain power with their 51-vote majority and the vice presidency.
Sinema has broken some senate traditions with her fashion choices. She says she’s glad to miss the luncheons where party members map out policy and strategy over fine dining
Retiring Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is 89. So is Republican Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), 81, has been courting Sinema
She wants to codify Roe v. Wade, so it’s not clear she’d find a better home with the Republican lunches.
There are also some aging Republicans, including fellow runner Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, who is 89. He is the same age as outgoing Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein — though Grassley has just been re-elected to a six-year term.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the minority leader who would like to win her over and who often talks to her on the floor, is 81 and recently suffered a concussion when he fell during a fundraiser at the former Trump hotel in D.C.
The jokes could alienate Democrats, though they are unable to do much about it. Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego challenges Sinema in the primary, wreaking havoc on party leaders.
However, the routine can be a hit with donors. Sinema started the year with $8 million in its fundraising account and raised $800,000 in the last quarter of 2022, boosted by donations from the energy and financial industries.
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