Martin O'Malley draws boos for offering a 'different generation's perspective' on foreign policy

Martin O&#039;Malley gets booed for generational dig

(Image credit: Twitter/@Politico)

published 20 December 2015

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Hillary Clinton were arguing over Syria during Saturday's Democratic debate when Martin O'Malley jumped in. "May I offer a different generation's perspective on this?" Perhaps he played the youth card a little too obviously, because that drew boos from the audience.

O'Malley mentioned the Cold War, and said the U.S. has to think beyond those divisions and coalitions to fight the Islamic State. Clinton, he said, was "gleeful" as secretary of state when Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi "was torn apart." Where in the Constitution, he asked, does it give the U.S. president the responsibility to topple dictators? Foreign policy is complicated, Clinton responded. "If the United States doesn't lead," there is a vacuum. The audience cheered that.

And for the record: Sanders is 74. Clinton is 68. O'Malley is 52.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.