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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFettermen appears to be going maga
Philadelphia Inquirer @inquirer.com
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3m
Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa) joined Truth Social, DonaldTrumps social media platform, and called for a pardon for Trump in his NY hush money case.
The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both b-, and pardons are appropriate, Fetterman wrote.
https://bsky.app/profile/inquirer.com/post/3ld2dt3gors2m
paywall to Philadelphia Inquirer article: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-trump-biden-pardons-20241211.html
This is quite disappointing.
brush
(57,939 posts)AkFemDem
(2,189 posts)That was the folk hero status progressives not from the rust belt gave him after he came under attack by republicans post-stroke. That was never John Fetterman's claim! He's not getting voted out, he represents his district exactly as they want him to- blue collar, moderate, and unafraid.
brush
(57,939 posts)AkFemDem
(2,189 posts)There never was a mask. Y'all made it up. Are any of you actually from PA (I am.) Outsiders built him up to be something he never was and are mad at him now for not being the man they invented.
brush
(57,939 posts)Sold a right-leaning Dem as a progressive. We'll see if the real him gets reelected.
I think he'll get primaried.
AkFemDem
(2,189 posts)He's vehemently pro-life, strong supporter of LGBTQ rights, big Union man, very strong on universal healthcare, affordable education for all, and legalizing cannabis. These are all democrat platforms. He scores an 85 on the progressive scale, which makes him marginally more progressive than Mark Warner, Maggie Hassan, John Tester, etc (the usual "conservative" democrats) Progressivepunch.org who tallies all their votes, gives him a score of A.
He's also a guy who doesn't bend on Israel, thinks the border's fucked up, is strong against crime and pro-LE, and wants tax cuts. Issues many republicans land on. But you know who else likes these issues? Moderate and middle America democrats. You know who really likes these issues? Pennsylvanians.
Is he perfect? No. Did he falsely represent who and what he is? Also no. Will he be reelected? We have no idea, but I wouldn't bet against him.
choie
(4,640 posts)advocating for trump to be pardoned is the political death knell for me. How dare he think its ok for an insurrectionist and criminal to be pardoned. Its despicable and he can go fuck himself.
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(2,340 posts)I want another Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders. Along with being true progressives, they have enough respect for Congress and for their position to dress decently. Fetterman better learn how to go full MAGA because his big sloppy ass will getting primaried when his time for re-election comes.
brush
(57,939 posts)Last edited Wed Dec 11, 2024, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)
cause it sure looks like he's seeking trump''s approval. Can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Look out, he's listing right, right, right. Joining trump's truth social when most Dems are getting off X/twitter and going to Blue Sky?
Nah, keep a side eye on this guy.
Celerity
(46,541 posts)John Fetterman is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, one of the most expensive races in the country. He wants to know when the political revolution starts.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/04/john-fettermans-senate-campaign-needs-bernie-sanders-help.html
April 19, 2016
John Fetterman, the populist mayor and long-shot Democratic Senate candidate, was one of the first elected officials in the country to endorse Bernie Sanders for president. He is, like Sanders, a political outsider. A tattooed giant6-foot-8, more than 300 poundshes spent the past 11 years presiding over Braddock, Pennsylvania, a largely black town outside Pittsburgh that was wrecked by the collapse of the local steel industry. Income inequality is at the center of his campaign. I think theres a great deal of overlap between Sanders platform and his own, he tells me, whether its a $15-an-hour living wage or health care, trade deals, a rigged economy. Ideologically, the only real difference between the two men is that Fetterman is more in favor of gun control. He has the date of every homicide in Braddock since his electionnine in allinked on his right arm.
In February, the New Republic described Fetterman as part of Bernies army, a generation of Democratic candidates creating a progressive revolution from within. Like Sanders, Fetterman has raised most of the money for his primary online, from small-dollar donors. Hes in a three-way primary race against Joe Sestak, the defeated Democratic Senate candidate in 2010, and Katie McGinty, who has the backing of much of the national Democratic establishment. Fettermans criticism of McGinty echoes Sanders case against Hillary Clinton. When she ran less than two years ago, she was for $9 an hour instead of $15, he says, referring to the minimum wage. She brought fracking to Pennsylvania, and she also supported NAFTA. She has a massive financial advantage in what is currently the most expensive Senate race in the country, with more than $17 million already spent.
Given the money and political power stacked against him, Fetterman says he needs Sanders help to have any chance next Tuesday, the same day as the Pennsylvania presidential primary. So far, however, it has not been forthcoming. Theres been no endorsement, no fundraising support, no joint appearances. Fettermans campaign finds this confounding. On the ground, he says, theres enormous overlap between his supporters and the Sanders grassroots. (The crowd at the Fishtown brewpub is young, liberal, urban. They rave about Sandersand Fetterman, says a recent Philadelphia Inquirer story.) In a three-way race, he believes, Sanders backing could be decisive; Fetterman estimates that hell win if he gets 60 or 70 percent of Sanders voters.
Right now, that seems unlikely; a poll from early April had him at 9 percent of the vote, with 66 percent saying they havent recently seen, read, or heard anything about him, and 63 percent saying they didnt know what his ideology was. The only ray of hope: When people had heard about him, what they heard made them like him more. Lacking the resources to get on the airwaves, hes doing as much retail campaigning as he can, including going to Sanders rallies to talk to voters one on one. (The Sanders campaign didnt respond to a request for comment.) To me, Pennsylvania represents the perfectly framed battle within the party war of 2016, Fetterman tells me. Untold millions in outside money and establishment endorsements versus the will of Sanders grassroots supporters who could, quite literally, pick the next nominee in this state. That nominee, badly outspent, represents a decimated steel town on societys economic fringe.
snip
John Fetterman Endorses Bernie Sanders
Brenda
(1,342 posts)God damn he is a fucking asshole.
kelly1mm
(5,354 posts)of a dying inner ring suburb of Pittsburgh.
SunImp
(2,359 posts)BeerBarrelPolka
(1,406 posts)I would say he's deathly afraid of trump. He is a 100%, bonafide, dyed in the wool, coward.
rampartd
(637 posts)BeerBarrelPolka
(1,406 posts)Or it could be even more sinister
0rganism
(24,717 posts)You're probably correct about the "not getting voted out" thing though, he can easily win as a Republican next time.
Bettie
(17,272 posts)and going full worshipful MAGAt?
berksdem
(709 posts)not getting my vote.
yardwork
(64,622 posts)Given how the 2024 elections went in PA, Fetterman sees that conservative populism is the blue plate special today. He wants to be able to negotiate with the incoming administration. He's part of the minority party in the senate.
He can go one if two ways: double down on the populism and make nice to Trump and the GOP, which might help him bring home some pork to his state and help him get reelected.
Or he could stand to the side and complain about Trump. That will net him nothing. Fetterman doesn't have the luxury of being from a blue state. He's got to appeal to his voters.
I don't get the complaints about him on DU. He's been very consistent, overall.
underpants
(186,984 posts)tenderfoot
(8,866 posts)Hoodie Gabbard
Celerity
(46,541 posts)Voltaire2
(14,795 posts)I'm just trying to understand your point.
WhiskeyGrinder
(24,018 posts)Dennis Donovan
(26,772 posts)I thought he was for real...
Celerity
(46,541 posts)Bettie
(17,272 posts)people will do anything for power, even pretend to be whatever works at any given moment.
BeerBarrelPolka
(1,406 posts)a phoney!
maxsolomon
(35,222 posts)Dude did actual time for it.
There are distinctions between the cases, and Fetterman knows it. Or he should.
Can't see Hochul pardoning MFer, or any NY Gov, ever.
W_HAMILTON
(8,535 posts)republianmushroom
(17,943 posts)46 month and counting, Fettermen
thebigidea
(13,286 posts)It's not like he ever pulled Manchin/Sinema shit.
republianmushroom
(17,943 posts)was convicted for in a court of law.
Initech
(102,260 posts)Prairie Gates
(3,413 posts)It's going to be a devastating two-five years
awesomerwb1
(4,585 posts)Trenzalore
(2,522 posts)Unfortunately his marketing was very good.
Regardless I don't see him getting reelected
Kid Berwyn
(18,182 posts)Convcitions for Treason with Violence and Treason with Espionage might help Sen. Fetterman see the problem.
JohnSJ
(96,757 posts)yardwork
(64,622 posts)It's kind of amusing to watch. Most of it stems from his support of Israel, full stop.
JohnSJ
(96,757 posts)RobinA
(10,175 posts)never quite believed in the progressive label, because he has a lot of the correct stances on issues. I can handle some of his trips to the right. However, I won't hang around if he continues to make obvious and gratuitous moves that hurt the opposition to Trump. Or that lead me to believe he really doesn't get the Trump danger.
Dem4life1234
(1,941 posts)MAGAts in sheep's clothing.
moniss
(6,052 posts)to flip parties. Zero faith that Fetterman would resist.
Bleacher Creature
(11,450 posts)Zambero
(9,775 posts)Hoping that this would be Fetterman's motivation, as opposed to altering his political course rightward.
onenote
(44,772 posts)and he also has recommended Biden pardon Trump.
Personally, I would be most unhappy if Biden pardoned Trump and I hope he doesn't consider it no matter who recommends it.
BeerBarrelPolka
(1,406 posts)I attacked Clyburn proudly. He's every bit as worthless as Fetterman.
Mike 03
(17,125 posts)right after we've finally purged both her and Machin.
MattBaggins
(7,943 posts)He wants to get reelected and he has to appeal to the magats in Pennsylvania.
I don't think it will work. He's probably going to lose next time.
BeerBarrelPolka
(1,406 posts)No remorse for trump supporters.
Iggo
(48,373 posts)Festivito
(13,563 posts)John Fetterman
@JohnFetterman
My first truth 👇
The Trump hush money and Hunter Biden cases were both bullshit, and pardons are appropriate.
Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division.
yardwork
(64,622 posts)Let's calm down.
Paladin
(28,897 posts)There's no retrieving him, he's only going to get worse. Democrats have overwhelming problems at the moment---we don't need the additional burden of Fetterman's trump-friendly self-destruction.
yardwork
(64,622 posts)If you're in PA, vote against him in a primary. Otherwise, MYOB.
Paladin
(28,897 posts)The next 100 times my beloved, flawed, home state of Texas and all of its residents are savaged here at DU, by a bunch of self-satisfied Blue State dwellers.
Guess that covers it; gotta run and MYOB, now.
Voltaire2
(14,795 posts)AkFemDem
(2,189 posts)Is on Truth Social, how can we expect others not to be?
Afrocat
(2,793 posts)yup
Brenda
(1,342 posts)I never liked the flip-flop hoodie man. Something was always off about his words and ways from the very beginning, so not a stroke thing.
yaesu
(8,305 posts)Think. Again.
(18,574 posts)...the two cases are not in any way the same "B.S.", Hunter Biden is not a politician.
no_hypocrisy
(49,038 posts)my default is "Wonder what's in the file that Trump compiled on him . . . . . "
Lovie777
(15,133 posts)Not federal. Doesnt Fetterman know this?
sakabatou
(43,195 posts)Thrill
(19,309 posts)Another one thats been purchased. Whats new?
Rebl2
(14,870 posts)And a big disappointment.
msfiddlestix
(7,839 posts)seems pretty much the theme of the day.
RoeVWade
(264 posts)That would be a gift with the current upcoming cast of unwelcome characters in the new administration.