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John Fetterman Video Is Perfect Metaphor For Democrats In Midterms

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


Pennsylvania Democrat Senate candidate John Fetterman has had a rough time as the campaign draws to a close.

He was at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Oakland, Pennsylvania, on Saturday when the wind knocked over the American flags that were behind them, in what some thought was a perfect metaphor of his campaign.

“John Fetterman’s rally is off to a great start…,” The Republican National Committee said.

“The perfect metaphor for Fetterman’s campaign,” Donald Trump Jr. said.

“The start of Fetterman’s rally is pure art,” Robby Starbuck said.

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“What kind of American ignores a fallen American Flag? Totally disgraceful,” Rep. Anthony Sabatini said.

“Everyone was blown over by his charisma,” radio host Michael Berry said.

“After listening to @JohnFetterman it might make more sense to fly the American flag upside down,” former Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said.

“Metaphor for all Democrat candidates in 2022,” Benny Johnson.

“A perfect metaphor for Democrats’ control of Congress,” Republican Party chair Ronna McDaniel said.

Fetterman is watching his campaign crash and burn, and a new video has done more damage. His fitness to be a senator has ben questioned since his abysmal debate performance against Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz, but now a new video is raising more concerns.

“What is John Fetterman talking about?” the Republican National Committee said in a tweet.

This is our best translation of whatever it is he was saying.

“Summer of 1986, I, uh, I think everyone that ever plays how football in, in high school was, you know, at a, kinda like a trade, a trade out kind of, uh, football camp. And, uh, wasn’t, wasn’t there wasn’t any interest. I come play here. You know.”

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No John, we do not know.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the hometown newspaper of Democrat Senate candidate John Fetterman, has endorsed Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz. The newspaper said that Oz was the “better bet for Pennsylvania” and cast doubts on Fetterman’s ability to serve as senator due to his recent stroke and his debate performance.

“During Tuesday’s debate, after hundreds of thousands of votes had already been cast, voters finally learned something about where the candidates stood. They learned, among other things, that Mr. Oz opposes federal intervention in abortion rights, and Mr. Fetterman supports the broader Constitutional guarantees provided by the overturned Roe v. Wade decision. They learned Mr. Fetterman supports a federally mandated $15-an-hour minimum wage, and Mr. Oz wants market forces to raise wages. They learned both candidates support fracking. They also learned both men are politicians, as they ducked and dodged questions about why they had changed their minds on fracking,” the editorial board said.

“Neither candidate has experience as a U.S. senator. Given the lack of substance during the campaign, many voters will have to make a leap of faith on Nov. 8.

“We believe Mr. Oz is the better bet for Pennsylvania,” it said.

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The board cited significant concerns about Fetterman.

Mr. Fetterman’s health — he suffered a serious stroke in May — is not the issue. His lack of transparency, however,  in refusing to release his medical records is troubling. It suggests an impulse to conceal and a mistrust of the people. All candidates for a major elected office should release their medical records, as did Mr. Oz. If you want privacy, don’t run for public office.  

Mr. Fetterman’s life experience and maturity are also concerns. He has lived off his family’s money for much of his life. That has allowed him to do some good things, including mentoring disadvantaged young people and working to improve community policing and economic development in Braddock. That work, along with his six-foot-eight frame, shaved head, and tattoos, attracted national media attention. Still, Mr. Fetterman, despite his hoodies and shorts, has little experience in holding real jobs or facing the problems of working people.

In 2013, as the mayor of Braddock, Mr. Fetterman, after hearing gunshots, pulled a shotgun on an unarmed Black jogger. It was, we believe, an honest mistake. Still, it’s troubling that Mr. Fetterman never apologized for it. And during Tuesday’s debate, confronted with his 2018 statement that he didn’t support fracking, Mr. Fetterman still said, with a straight face, that he always supported fracking.   

Fetterman had difficulty speaking during the debate and his campaign blamed the closed-captioning system provided for him as being “delayed” and “filled with errors.” Nexstar’s communications chief said both candidates were given a chance to test the system twice — but Fetterman chose to only do one rehearsal. Fetterman is still recovering from a stroke he suffered in May.

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