In the face of a declining health situation, a key Democrat senator returns to the Capitol, sparking a fierce debate over the ethics of power politics.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California returned to the Senate this Wednesday, apparently disoriented and needing assistance. At 89 years old, Feinstein has been absent from the Senate for more than two months due to complications from her shingles diagnosis, but her frail entrance into the Capitol in a wheelchair raised serious questions about her ability to perform her duties.
Upon her arrival, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in an interaction reported by the Huffington Post, greeted her. Feinstein, visibly trembling and seemingly disoriented, had to ask, “Where am I going?” This episode raises significant concerns about the state of her health and her capacity to serve the constituents who elected her.
In a video shared by the Huffington Post, Feinstein can be seen slowly maneuvering into a wheelchair, a stark contrast to the vibrant and sharp senator she once was. Her condition is reportedly so severe that three individuals familiar with her situation have stated that her illness has significantly impacted her, according to an April report by Politico.
Despite these clear signs of her deteriorating health, Democrats seem desperate to have her back on the Senate floor. Their motive? Her crucial vote is needed to confirm judicial nominees appointed by President Joe Biden. On her return, Democrats on the Judiciary Committee managed to approve six Biden nominees, three of whom passed on a party-line vote, according to a CNN report. This occurred even though her ability to serve out her term from the Senate chamber in Washington remains uncertain, according to two unnamed sources who reportedly spoke with her.
It seems that Democrats are more concerned with pushing their agenda than ensuring the health and well-being of one of their own. The nominees who passed the party-line vote were Charnelle Bjelkengren, nominated for the U.S. court in the Eastern District of Washington; S. Kato Crews for Colorado’s U.S. district court and Marian F. Gaston for the U.S. district court in the Southern District of California, according to CNN.
Feinstein, on her return to the Senate, assured a reporter that she was feeling “much better,” despite being wheeled into the building alongside Schumer. However, a May 10 press release from Feinstein’s office revealed that she is still grappling with “vision and balance impairments” from her illness, and her doctor recommended she “maintain a lighter schedule.”
Feinstein’s return to the Senate has been marked by inconsistency, as she missed another round of votes early Wednesday, according to HuffPost. She was initially diagnosed with shingles in February and subsequently hospitalized until March 6. During her absence, she missed a total of 91-floor votes, sparking calls from some members of her own party for her resignation. Notably, Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vof New York and Ro Khanna of California have urged Feinstein to resign, allowing Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint her replacement.
WATCH:
Dianne Feinstein, 89, returns to the Senate after being absent since February and recovering from shingles pic.twitter.com/FcMJr7ddni
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) May 10, 2023
Feinstein’s recent health issues and questionable ability to perform her duties raise serious concerns about her continuing service in the Senate. Yet, despite these concerns, she announced in February her intention to retire only at the end of the 118th Congress. This raises a question we must all consider: Are the Democrats more interested in pushing their partisan agenda than ensuring the health and well-being of their own members?
Sources: DailyCaller, HuffingtonPost, Politico
