Guess who will run as a write-in candidate against Florida's Republican Representative Vern Buchanan? A 101-year-old great-grandfather!
Joe Newman, a Sarasota native decided to fight the elections to improve society.
"If people are saying, who is this fool at 101 and running? Call me a fool. I'm sorry, but I've got to get out and convince John and convince Jim, hey think!" he told NBC affiliateWFLA-TV. "What is the best thing our society can do and what is the responsibility of our society?"
The centenarian launched his campaign for the midterm assembly elections last November. He mentions on his blog that at 101, his 'fruit of experience' is beyond everyone else running for the congressional race.
"At 101 years of age, a natural term limit exists and I have no designs on a lengthy political career that requires me to sell out my ideals, my values, or my constituents for a potential future payoff," he writes on his campaign website.
Newman does not wish to run as either a Democrat or a Republican. He said that the poor way Congress was operating currently made him enter politics, reports Fox News.
Furthermore, Buchanan's nod to continuing the tax cuts introduced by George Bush and ObamaCare were also the other reasons why he decided to run for the post, reports The Telegraph.
In his younger days, Newman worked to raise awareness about Social Security, then a new federal program, reports msnbc. He has seen through at least 17 presidents and was a teen during the Great Depression.
"At what age does a person become too old to think and reason? At what age does a person no longer have a concern for society? At what age does a person no longer have a responsibility to act when acting may help?" Newman asks on his website.
The Notre Dame graduate says he knows he has less chances of winning. But he maintains that he wants to inspire people of all ages and walks of life to involve themselves in politics and become active patriot leaders, reports CBS News.
To run for Congress in the U.S. one needs to be at least 25 years of age. However, the constitution does not set any maximum age limit for the candidature.
