Frank Lautenberg: Competency and Integrity, Not Age, Will Determine His Future

In recent weeks, a good deal of mainstream media ink has been spilled discussing Senator Lautenberg's age and whether it makes him vulnerable to defeat in November 2008. During the same time, polling reveals that New Jersey residents are concerned about his age, but not enough to toss him out of office. Conventional wisdom remains that he will run unopposed in the Democratic Party and win in the general election in 2008. The Senator’s age is not the issue; it is his competence and his integrity. Under either test, he currently passes with flying colors making his age immaterial.

To date, Senator Lautenberg has exhibited a firm grasp of the troubling issues confronting our nation and has been a steady and powerful voice for the residents of our State. He has introduced common sense legislation to provide the Attorney General with the power to deny a suspected terrorist the ability to purchase firearms. Whether it is working to improve the environment or fighting the deceptive practices formerly engaged in by the tobacco industry, Senator Lautenberg has been a champion of the consumer and of our residents.

As an elected official who is unbossed, he brings a level of integrity to New Jersey and federal politics that is too often lacking. Yes, he has his faults: his questioning of Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick’s fitness for office when she was 72 and ran against him in 1982 was a blemish on his otherwise nearly spotless political record. It gives rise to a charge of hypocrisy now that he is running for re-election at the ripe old age of 83. However, throughout his service as a United States Senator, Lautenberg has been able to avoid the ethical pitfalls that have befallen many politicians in our State and has established a solid reputation for honesty and forthrightness.

That said, Lautenberg's competency and integrity will be tested in the months ahead. As long as he demonstrates that his age has not impacted either of these qualities and he does not falter with regard to these characteristics, he will likely be re-elected in a romp However, should he falter in either category, it is his competence or integrity that will impact his candidacy, not his age.

Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Chairman of the New Providence Democratic Party and as Editor of The Alternative Press, Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com