AARP chides Weiner over 'grandpa' remark

A prominent advocate for older Americans has criticized comments made by mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner after he called an elder rival "grandpa" -- during a forum sponsored by her organization.

Weiner, 48, a Democrat, made the remark during a confrontation Tuesday with long-shot Republican candidate George McDonald, 69, after the two exchanged words at a forum sponsored by the group AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.

The group's New York State director, Beth Finkel, said in a statement yesterday that AARP considered the "comments regarding age unfortunate," especially since a quarter of New York voters 50 and older say they've experienced unwanted comments about their age. "A person's age should not be a factor in politics, or anything else," Finkel said in the statement, which did not mention Weiner by name.

In the incident Tuesday, Weiner reportedly put his hand on McDonald's shoulder to greet him, prompting McDonald to say, "Don't put your hands on me ever again."

Weiner replied that McDonald had "anger issues."

After McDonald disagreed, Weiner said, "Yes, you do, grandpa."

McDonald has publicly ripped into Weiner since Weiner admitted that he continued sexting with women after he quit Congress in 2011 for similar misbehavior. McDonald at one point referred to Weiner as "this self-pleasuring freak."

On Twitter, McDonald's spokesman, David Catalfamo, has referred to the comment as "#GrandpaGate."

Such comments by McDonald have prompted boos from some in campaign crowds. Weiner dodged reporters' repeated queries on the matter Wednesday, saying voters care about political policies more than personal issues before scolding the questioners.

"You're treating this as if it's newsworthy, but that doesn't mean that I have to," Weiner said at an event in Kew Gardens, Queens.

The McDonald comment was the second flap for Weiner's mayoral campaign in a week over unkind words. Last week, his spokeswoman had to apologize for a spectacularly profane rant that used vulgar terms offensive to women against a disgruntled female intern.