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- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema privately trashed her Democratic colleagues to GOP lobbyists.
- Sinema said she stopped attending party lunches because "old dudes are eating Jell-O" and it's a waste of time.
- Earlier this year, Sinema formally left the Democratic Party.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema privately tore into Senate Democrats, regalling Republicans and GOP lobbyists with tales about why she stop attending party lunches because it "old dudes ... eating Jell-O."
"Old dudes are eating Jell-O, everyone is talking about how great they are," Sinema told a reception for Republican lobbyists earlier this year, per Politico's Jonathan Martin. "I don't really need to be there for that. That's an hour and a half twice a week that I can get back."
Sinema went even further, describing how "The Northerners and the Westerners put cool whip on their Jell-O ... and the Southerners put cottage cheese."
According to Politico, Sinema has a reputation for sharing savage takedowns of about Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in particular. Earlier this year, Sinema formally left the Democratic Party and became an independent, though she still caucuses with Democrats.
Party lunches are a staple of the Senate and are where lawmakers discuss pending legislation and often sort out their differences behind closed doors. As for her dig about age, Sinema is right that the Senate is dominated by older lawmakers, though per the Pew Research Center there is very little difference between both parties. Insider did months-long investigation called "Red, White, and Gray" that explored how the US effectively became geronotocracy.
Sinema is also reportedly known to brag about herself and her role in the Senate passing major bipartisan legislation.
"I spend my days doing productive work, which is why I've been able to lead every bipartisan vote that's happened the last two years," she reportedly said.
Senate Democrats have long be weary of the Arizonian. Sinema along with Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, was a main obstacle to President Joe Biden's sweeping "Build Back Better Agenda." In the end, the party passed some of its original goals through the "Inflation Reduction Act" but not before Sinema reportedly struck a deal that protected a tax break primarily used by the wealthy.
An unnamed Senate Democrat once told Martin earlier this year that Sinema is "the biggest egomaniac in the Senate."
For now, it remains unclear whether Sinema will seek reelection. Democratic Rep. Ruben Ruben Gallego is running for his party's nomination and takes every opportunity to blast Sinema.
A spokesperson for Sinema did not immediately respond to a request for comment.