Fetterman Lashes Out at Media ‘Smear’ After Philadelphia Paper Calls Out His ‘Erratic Behavior’
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D) is back on the defensive after a scathing Philadelphia Inquirer editorial urged him to step aside while calling out his “erratic behavior” and claiming he spends hours alone in his office to avoid doing his job.
Fetterman responded to the explosive claims during a live Fox Nation debate Monday morning with Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA).
At one point in the debate, moderator Shannon Bream asked Fetterman about Sunday’s Inquirer editorial, which implored the senator to resign while reporting that he has repeatedly “checked out” from his Senate duties.
“Oh, well, now, for me, it’s very clear, it’s just part of like this weird — this weird smear, this thing,” Fetterman said in response to Bream. “And now, the — you know, the things more, I started to kind of — you know, be following Israel or the border, and now, really refusing to vote to shut the government down, I’ve continued to get more and more kinds of incoming and those things, and all of those things.”
He went on: “So the more kinds of — left kind of media continues to have these kinds of an attack, and it’s just part of a smear and that’s just not an accu — it’s just not accurate. And we’ve moved on and why we’re still having this conversation — why at this point?”
The debate was streamed exclusively on Fox Nation as part of its Senate Project Series.
Read Fetterman’s full remarks here:
SHANNON BREAM: Well, you all have built a friendship outside of what you’re doing professionally, personally, as well. Senator McCormick, you’ve come to Senator Fetterman’s defense in a number of recent articles that have had questions about how he’s doing about how he’s doing his job. The Philadelphia Inquirer had a piece this weekend not questioning your ability, Senator Fetterman, to do the job but your desire or willingness to do it.
I covered your campaign. I saw how hard you fought to win this position. How do you answer these calls by The Philadelphia Inquirer for you to be more engaged in showing up to represent your constituents in Pennsylvania and questioning whether you have the desire to continue doing so.
SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN: Oh, well, now, for me, it’s very clear, it’s just part of like this weird — this weird smear, this thing. And now, the — you know, the things more, I started to kind of — you know, be following Israel or the border, and now, really refusing to vote to shut the government down, I’ve continued to get more and more kinds of incoming and those things, and all of those things.
So the more kinds of — left kind of media continues to have these kinds of an attack, and it’s just part of a smear and that’s just not an accu — it’s just not accurate. And we’ve moved on and why we’re still having this conversation — why at this point?
I’m here. I’m doing that job. I’m defending on all those things and all of those important votes. I’ve always been there.
And for me, if I miss some of those quotes — I mean, some of those votes, I’ve made 90 percent of them, and we all know those votes that I’ve missed were on Monday. Those are travel days.
And I have three young kids and I — those are throwaway procedural votes that they were never determined if they were important. That’s a choice that I made.
And if you want to attack me for that, go ahead. But I’d like to point out that, you know, Bernie and Senator Murray missed more — missed more. So why aren’t the left media yelling and demanding them and claiming they’re not doing their job and those kind of a thing? Just be genuine on that.
And, you know, of course, he did defend me through that, and he actually asked me. It’s like, is it okay to defend you? I don’t want that to create more political problems.
Fetterman, the hoodie-clad freshman senator, has been the subject of numerous news articles — most notably from The Intercept, which reported on the departure of several high-level staffers and raised concerns about his health and mental well-being.
Watch above via Fox Nation.
