PA Senate Race: WaPo Isn’t Falling for John Fetterman’s Excuses Not to Debate Dr. Oz
“The Fetterman campaign squandered credibility by concealing from the public for two days after his stroke that he had been hospitalized.”
The Washington Post Editorial Board is the latest outlet not to fall for Pennsylvania Democrat Senate candidate John Fetterman’s, the current state lieutenant governor, health excuses not to debate Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz.
“The race might well determine which party controls the Senate, and voters would benefit from seeing the two candidates exchange ideas and test each other,” the editorial board noted. “Mr. Fetterman has seemingly been reluctant to commit to firm debate dates, and that troubling stance has raised questions about whether he, still recovering from a serious stroke, is fit to serve in the Senate.”
Fetterman had a stroke in May. He went off the campaign trail but has managed to maintain a lead on Oz.
He returned to the campaign trail in early August.
That is when Oz applied pressure to hold debates starting in September.
Fetterman used his stroke as an excuse to turn down the debates, claiming Oz and his campaign made fun of his problems after the stroke. He insisted he is still trying to improve his “auditory processing and speech.”
After some grumblings, Fetterman said he is open to one debate but not until mid to late October. WaPo, like many other writers, noted that the debate would happen well after September 19, the first-day people can mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania.
WaPo doesn’t think Fetterman’s medical issues are a valid excuse to skip debates but considers it a valid reason to question if Fetterman is fit for office.
In fact, WaPo finds Fetterman’s campaign’s behavior since the stroke about his health “unsettling“:
Since returning to the campaign trail, Mr. Fetterman has been halting in his performances. He stammers, appears confused and keeps his remarks short. He has held no news conferences. Mr. Fetterman acknowledges his difficulties with auditory processing, which make it hard for him to respond quickly to what he’s hearing. He receives speech therapy — and we wish him a speedy, full recovery — but the lingering, unanswered questions about his health, underscored by his hesitation to debate, are unsettling.
The Fetterman campaign squandered credibility by concealing from the public for two days after his stroke that he had been hospitalized. It waited weeks longer to reveal a more complete picture of his medical history, including that he had been diagnosed in 2017 with cardiomyopathy. Mr. Fetterman had a pacemaker with a defibrillator implanted after the stroke. The campaign’s response to questions about Mr. Fetterman’s health is to point to a doctor’s note, released more than 14 weeks ago, which said “he should be able to campaign and serve in the U.S. Senate without a problem” if he takes his medications and exercises.
Did someone take away the Kool-Aid at WaPo? Man, the editorial board unloaded:
That’s not good enough. Mr. Fetterman is asking voters for a six-year contract without giving them enough information to make sound judgments about whether he’s up for such a demanding job. We have called for full disclosure of health records from candidates for federal office in both parties, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and we believe Mr. Fetterman should release his medical records for independent review.
And he should debate Mr. Oz before voters start casting their ballots. Mr. Oz, for his part, has not exactly conducted himself with glory. The campaign’s offer to fund “any additional medical personnel [Mr. Fetterman] might need to have on standby” during a debate and its mocking comment about Mr. Fetterman not eating enough vegetables were sophomoric and unseemly, made worse by the fact that Mr. Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon. Both candidates have something to prove to voters, and there is no better forum than a debate.
Fetterman’s pro-abortion rally on 9/11 didn’t help matters. I wonder if that was the last straw for WaPo.
John Fetterman spent his 9/11 by making a rare public appearance at an abortion rally.
It didn't go well. The man is mentally and physically incapacitated and incapable of serving as a senator for the Commonwealth. #PASen pic.twitter.com/YvlsLILNP9
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 12, 2022
Fetterman proclaimed his name as John FetterWoman as he struggled to make his way through the speech:
“My name is John FetterWoman!” he said as the crowd cheered.
During the rally, Fetterman reiterated his support for abortion, which includes his support for the deadly practice up until the moment of birth, and pledged that he would vote to codify Roe v. Wade in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Women are the reason we can win. Let me say that again: Women are the reason we win.” Fetterman told the crowd.
“Don’t piss women off,” he added.
Fetterman then pointed his attack at his opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, characterizing him as a pro-life extremist.
“This decision: should [it] be made up to Dr. Oz? Or to a woman and a real doctor, to choose?” Fetterman asked the crowd.
“Oz believes abortion is murder… No exceptions: rape or incest… If every abortion is a murder, that means Dr. Oz considers every woman who had to choose abortion is a killer,” Fetterman added.
If he can attend these rallies in front of many people and give speeches despite the challenges, then he should debate.
But, then again, the speech at the rally legitimatized the concerns of those who wonder if Fetterman is fit to hold office.
CRINGE: Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman introduces himself as “John Fetterwoman.” pic.twitter.com/4yNSih9hmy
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 12, 2022
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Comments
Didn’t he appear in Star Trek?
The Adam’s Family (original version)
“Festerman”
His next t- shirt should reveal his real identity – Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, a Communist who underwent a stroke.
That was Ted Cassidy as Ruk. He was also Lurch in the TV Adams family.
That said, I think Fetterwoman has bigger jug ears than Obama….
While I am not a really great fan of Dr. Oz [which since I do not live in Penn. will have no electoral effect] . I prefer him to Fetterman. However, as far as both the Democrats and the GOPe are concerned, Fetterman could make a public appearance and do nothing but exhibit Tourette’s Syndrome and drool, and both would support him just to keep the Senate in Democrat control.
Subotai Bahadur
Which one would you be happy about moving in next door?
If Fetterman moved next door, I would be expecting late night drug related activities.
This should be a cakewalk for Oz. The fact that he appears to be struggling is disconcerting.
Especially against a surly, braindead oaf like Fetterman.
The media determines elections for the most part; the fixes the voting count at the margains.
We do NOT have free elections anymore. Otherwise, the likes of this idiot, Princess of Whales Stacy Abrams, AOC, etc would not be in elected office.
He is also fighting McConnell who has been openly working to knee-cap all of Trump’s successful endorsements. THAT is the big problem and not only with Oz. AZ is ripe for a GOP takeover but….. McConnell is working with the outgoing McCain crowd. So it’s the GOPe that is doing the most harm for November.
And like McConnell, the media is doing its usual dirty work.
This guy gives me the willies.
Everything about him. The tats, the way he dresses, what he says (when he does talk), what he thinks (yikes!), and now that thingy on the neck.
https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.3291343927.0125/st,small,507×507-pad,600×600,f8f8f8.jpg
When you are a Dem, and you’ve lost the WaPo…….
Quite surprising, WaPo is usually all-in for the communists.
My tinfoil hat is screaming that Oz is a closet commie and WaPo is in on the joke. But I’m trying to ignore it.
Do you really think they could overcome their TDS and have that kind of clarity and stratergerie?
Given his religious beliefs, will he join The Squad?
Possibly, but at least someone “in the closet” will hide their intentions once in a while.
Fetterwoman will just take orders and a paycheck. Like Biden.
WaPo is worried about Fetterman blowing it, and they probably want him to drop out and be replaced by a generic Democrat.
They’ll change their tune closer to the election.
WTF is that thing on his chin?
The rest of his head?
At this point Fetterman is so brain dead he wouldn’t be able to debate his shadow.
“WaPo, like many other writers, noted that the debate would happen well after September 19, the first-day people can mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania.”
Which is precisely why there should be no early voting at all for any election.
If Fetterman bombs in the debate anyone who voted for him has no ability to change their vote if they’ve already voted. (same applies to Oz as well)
Wait until election day. For those who say absentee ballots those should only be for people who really won’t be in the area to vote. Early voting in person or mail in ballots should be stopped.
Edit: If Fetterman bombs in the debate anyone who voted for him has no ability to change their vote. (same applies to Oz as well)
There will be no debate.
At least one or two people who want to end this madness should vote for Fetterman early, then sue claiming they wanted to change their vote to Oz on election day in light of new information. The debate timing should give them an opportunity to claim standing.
Fetterman is a hard core Leftist and has to be stopped from becoming a Pa Senator. Can’t say happy having Dr Oz but that’s the choices I have.
At least we know up front where he stands. He’s not like a RINO.
More likely a Trans-Fetterwoman.
And would expect a debate if it occurred and not getting the “right” moderator it will come down to Dr Oz debating the Moderator and Fetterman getting a pass on the side line.
I strongly suspect that your typical white leftist woman will vote for this Uncle Fester not despite his health condition, but BECAUSE of it, to feel she’s “compassionate”. and “caring”.
The same typical AWFUL (affluent, white, female, ugly liberal) would probably hire a blind pilot for your plane, but not for hers.
Your typical white leftist woman will vote for Fetterman simply because he is a (D) vote, and will obey instructions from Chucko. She would vote for a dog or a parrot if it could perform that task.
“Here, wear this hoodie and turn your head to the right to hide the second head growing on the back of your neck.”
-Fetterman handlers.
“Fetterman handlers”
Anyone handling Fetterman is advised to wash their hands.
“This decision: should [it] be made up to Dr. Oz? Or to a woman and a real doctor, to choose?” Fetterman asked the crowd.
Real doctor? Someone needs to publicly pointed to this cognitively compromised Bolshevik that a Cardiothoracic surgeon is a very real doctor.
Forget about it. Fetterman will not debate Oz. He has too much to lose and little to gain. And for most voters, Fetterman’s incapacity does not matter. As long as he is able to obey instructions from Chucko Schmucko as how to vote on bills and motions, he is fit to be in the senate.
The Governor’s contest may actually be more important, since Fetterman is clearly very ill, and there are good odds he won’t last a senate term.
Fetterman failed to disclose 8 properties claiming “because they weren’t making a revenue”