Democratic Sen. John Fetterman spoke to the Republican midterm convention via video Wednesday, an extraordinary escalation of the growing rupture between the Pennsylvanian and his party.
Fetterman’s decision is certain to stoke fears, already simmering among Democrats, that he will switch parties. Democrats need to pick up four GOP-held Senate seats in November to regain the majority. If Fetterman were to join the Republican Party, Democrats would need to pick up another seat to have control of the chamber.
Fetterman spoke for just over one minute in a recorded video introducing his fellow Pennsylvania senator, Republican Dave McCormick, whom Fetterman called “a great American.”
He didn’t criticize anyone by name but suggested Democrats are extremists, underscoring the message that Republicans are trying to drive home during their two-day rally in Dallas. The convention is meant to fire up the conservative base ahead of midterm elections, when the president’s party has historically lost seats.
“I’m always going to stand with America,” Fetterman said. “I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life.”
Standing in front of a steel mill, Fetterman said he “will work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life.”
Fetterman has grown increasingly isolated from his party as he maintains staunch support of Israel’s war in Gaza and criticizes left-wing candidates who are members of the Democratic Socialists of America. He’s often gone his own way in the Senate, voting with Republicans to end last year’s shutdown, supporting several of President Donald Trump’s nominees and opposing efforts to end the war in Iran.
Fetterman has repeatedly said he wouldn’t switch parties because of his support for labor unions, LGBTQ rights and other issues held dear by the left.
Whats to fear, he is already voting with them. Fuck him, let him go lay in that bed he is making.
And what’s telling is that the DNC is doing not a damn thing about this guy. They’re still keeping him in the ranks, still giving him support.
Why fear it. We all already know he is a POS GOP.
If he switched parties, how could you tell?
The only difference would be an idiot wearing a red hoodie.
He’s already on the Republicans side. Had been for awhile.
The main reason it would be better if he stays as a D is, that’s how it’s determined which party has the majority and thus gets power over what bills are allowed to come to the floor, power on the committees. etc etc. So even if he votes with R’s most of the time on bills, it’s still important.
It’s not. America is fucked. Time to choose sides.
Fears? He basically already did it when he got brain damage.
I hope he does…mostly because I don’t think he can win as a republican.
He has no chance of winning reelection. The trouble is that he is in office for several more years :(
Just two more
The second he’s one of them he becomes the left most Republican instead of the furthest right dem…
That’s a huge difference and if it wasn’t for his brain damage he could see that coming.
The danger is if the Senate is 51/49 blue, Fetterman switching would make it 50/50 and defacto R with Vance as tiebreaker. And if Fettermen isn’t 100% with them on votes, he’ll get accused of being a double secret antifa.
He won’t handle that rationally either, and Id fully expect him to resign
The only good thing about him staying a democrat is it counting toward the majority. His vote isn’t going to be in our favor… But right now his seat counts toward the majority.
It doesn’t matter this congress…
Next congress which starts in January it might…
I’m saying if Fetterman alone is what gets a D majority. That is the only time he would switch to R.
And if he does, he would immediately regret it because Republicans would treat him differently as a Republican.
I understand I basically just repeated myself, but does it make sense now?
No, makes total sense. Probably me having a case of the morning daftness. ;-)
What would be the functional difference if he wears the R jersey other than the D jersey?
Other than him having basically no shot at getting elected as an R. Dudes dead man walking. It doesn’t matter which parties flag he flies.
It’s a Catch-22 for both parties. If he stays on as a Democrat he sows discord in the party and will likely vote against the party line at times, but it will help them keep the majority after the midterms. If he switches parties, he upsets the Dem majority but his fellow Republicans will shun him and make him their scapegoat, and as you said he’ll never get elected again.
What’s the point of being part of the majority if he votes against them anyway?
Nah, Republicans except anybody who’s willing to be in on the grift.
Just a handful of years ago any of them would have admonished Nicki Minaj for being what she has, and now that she’s proved herself Worthy she’s actually speaking on behalf of the party.
Hes been a Republican, this isn’t news.
I just want to be unfettered.
Not bulletproof.
fear? relief he gone
What a shithead
