Rep. Rush: ‘Egotistical’ for Sanders to continue presidential bid if heart attack compromised health

Rush, who chairs the Illinois Kamala Harris campaign, told the Sun-Times he is not calling for Sanders to drop out. ‘I am just saying that it is pretty arrogant, self-centered and, to me, unsound … for the American people to elect him president.’

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Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., met Tuesday with the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board.

Lynn Sweet/Sun-Times

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., said Tuesday it is “egotistical” and “self-centered” for Bernie Sanders to push ahead with his presidential campaign if the heart attack he suffered last week compromised his health.

Rush said if Sanders’ health is eroded, “Don’t be so egotistical, so self-centered, that you want to put the American people and your family into that position where day by day they don’t know whether you are going to have another heart attack.

“You don’t want to do that. The demands, the rigors of campaigning, the rigors of that office is too great, too important.”

Rush, 72, who chairs the Illinois Kamala Harris campaign, was asked if Sanders, 78, should quit the race.

“I am not saying that he should drop out. No, I would not say that. I am just saying that it is pretty arrogant, self-centered and, to me, unsound … for the American people to elect him president.”

He commented during a discussion about the Democratic primary battle at a meeting with the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board.

Sanders remains off the campaign trail since he spent more than two days in a Nevada hospital last week. Doctors inserted two stents to address an arterial blockage with his campaign waiting until Friday to confirm the heart attack diagnosis.

The heart attack is prompting questions about Sanders’ health and throws a spotlight on the ages of the three Democratic frontrunners: Sanders, the Vermont senator; former Vice President Joe Biden, 76; and Elizabeth Warren, 70, the Massachusetts senator.

Age itself is a consideration only “up to a point,” Rush said with his concerns depending on “how serious the impairment is.” He said the health of a presidential candidate is a factor no matter the age.

The 2020 Democrats meet for another debate Oct. 15 co-hosted by CNN and the New York Times from the campus of Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. MSNBC and the Washington Post co-host the fifth Democratic debate in Georgia on Nov. 20.

Sanders challenge is to appear robust. It also remains to be seen if he will release detailed medical records before the October or November debates — and if he has another health-related episode.

Rush is not insensitive to aging issues.  He was operated on for cancer of the salivary gland in 2008 and said he now is cancer free.  He’s had a knee replacement. At times he gets more tired, he said. That does not add up to retirement. Rush plans to run for another term in 2020 and will soon make an official announcement.

Rush said Warren, if the election were held tomorrow, would “probably dominate. Why? Because she brings more energy and more focus to the table” and gains if Sanders’ health issues have traction.

Harris, the California senator, has stalled. Though she is on the cover of the latest issue of Time magazine, the headline said she now “fights for a path forward.”

Rush said, “my candidate, she’s not out of the race, but she’s got to be more energetic, more engaging, all right?”

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