Boxer Talk Spans Age and Youth

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) on Tuesday addressed Medicare spending and other issues important to older Americans before a receptive audience at Leisure World, but as a recent grandmother she also championed the causes of the young.

Boxer, 55, told the Leisure World residents that she could relate to them in a new way: as a grandmother. Her daughter, Nicole Rodham, and son-in-law Tony Rodham have a year-old son, Zachary.

Being a grandparent, she said, has reinvigorated her passion for causes that affect younger generations: education, the environment, crime and abortion rights.

“Now that I am a grandmother, it’s sort of starting all over again,” she said. “I have another reason to continue fighting.”

Boxer also said she has fought hard to maintain Medicare spending despite Republican threats to cut funds for that program and other government health services.

Leisure World residents, and a handful of others, packed the community clubhouse. Some welcomed the speech’s attention to senior citizen issues while addressing other concerns.

“Senior issues are just part of what we’re interested in,” said Paul Morse, 75, president of the Leisure World Democratic Club. “She didn’t dwell on them, and I am sure glad she didn’t.”

The Leisure World planned communities for older adults, here and in Laguna Hills, are frequent stops for politicians. Elizabeth Dole is among recent visitors to the Seal Beach location.

During her visit to Orange County, Boxer also stumped for President Clinton and Sally J. Alexander, a Democrat running for the 45th Congressional District seat occupied by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach). Boxer, who is up for reelection in 1998, had lunch with Alexander in Newport Beach earlier in the day.