When Vice President Harris referred to President Trump as a “fascist,” and I knew, absolutely, we lost the plot at that point. I don’t know why, and I have always refused to say that.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA)
Those are not actual “liberals” attacking ICE agents, shutting down our nation’s government, or cheering Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Nope – they’re actually misanthropes, united in their hatred of a democracy that doesn’t go their way. They don’t respect their fellow Americans, exhibit common sense, or control their worst emotions – quite the contrast from Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, the last “liberal” standing in the Senate.
Because a true “liberal” is honest, Fetterman’s not attacked ICE agents for enforcing the laws of the land. And, unlike Gov. J.B Pritzker (D-IL) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), he can read the room. In January, 82% of Americans favored “deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of a violent crime” (source: AP/NORC). This month, 78% of registered voters still support “deporting criminal illegal aliens” (source: Harvard/Harris).
So why are Democrats harassing ICE agents by doxxing them? Why did Pritzker tell reporters that ICE agents “were running around the loop harassing people for not being white” (in spite of ICE’s multiracial workforce)? And, in spite of the “supremacy clause” in the constitution, why did Pelosi claim her state’s “authorities may arrest federal agents – and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them”? Simple: they are not honest.
A true “liberal” is kind and pragmatic, and Fetterman’s repeatedly voted to re-open the government: “I refuse to vote to suspend SNAP for millions of Pennsylvanians and across the nation…I can’t ever vote for that kind of mass food insecurity.” And he just voted “yes” to take up the House’s defense spending bill: “The men and women in our military put their lives at risk for our country (and) should not have to worry about their paycheck coming through.” In stark contrast, House minority whip Katherine Clark (D-CT) admitted to reporters that “shutdowns are terrible and, of course, families are going to suffer, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”
Fetterman refuses to play that kind of politics: “I am always going to vote country over my party and if I pay a price within my base, that’s something I am willing to do.” That checks every box in William Tyler Page’s definition of “Americans” in 1917; those who “love their country, support its Constitution, obey its laws, respect its flag, and defend it against all enemies.” To wit, Pennsylvania’s senator does not want Americans going hungry or blue-city mayors defying the supremacy of the federal government. He’s condemned flag-burning Palestinians in New York and applauded taking out nuclear weapons facilities in Iran
Most, if not all, Republicans believed Fetterman was wrong to run for senate after his stroke. However, politics is not a sprint, and the Pennsylvania Democrat has won the hearts and minds of many decent Americans by siding with everyday people, and exhibiting civility and common sense. He’s a “liberal” as evinced by the Kennedys in the 1960s; charitable, pragmatic, and smart, putting him at odds with the hateful extremes of his party.
For the record, Fetterman has not stormed an ICE facility, screamed “fascists!” at Turning Point USA rally-goers, screamed “Death To Israel” on Harvard’s campus, or joined those (paid) baby boomers protesting all things Trump. Not to suggest he’s a genius or saint…just saying he’s not an airhead like Kamala Harris or Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader who was embarrassed by CNBC’s anchors on Friday.
CNBC: “What you are asking the Republicans to do right now is effectively what Democrats could not do. The 3-year expiration of these (Obamacare) credits was intentionally put in when you controlled the White House, the House and Senate. You couldn’t get it passed for longer. This is a set-up of your own creation – you could not extend beyond that – and now you want Republicans to do something you did not do when you were in power.”
Jeffries: “It’s not a set-up beyond what we could do. We extended the Affordable Care Act tax credits in 2022 for three years, and it’s working. All across America, communities are being devastated by this Republican healthcare crisis.” Ahem…by inserting the sunset provision, Democrats created the crisis.
CNBC: “Republican Senator Lankford just said ACA subsidies are not helping bring down health costs. In Oklahoma, over six years, ACA premiums were up 200%, versus premiums for commercial plans being up only 29%. He says ACA needs to be fixed, starting with fraud. What do you say to that?”
Jeffries: “We’re fighting for the American people here. We have not shut the government down. Republicans have shut the government down.” Ahem…did not say why ACA premiums went up 200%.
Give him an “A” for sticking to his talking points, and an “F” for being honest or offering any hope for the 2 million Pennsylvanians losing their SNAP benefits this week. What CNBC exposed was (1) Democrats enacted a sunset provision in 2022, (2) Democrats now hate that provision, and (3) Jeffries expects the impossible from Republicans. Which is why “families are going to suffer” (Democrats’ words).
Fetterman was not in the Senate when Democrats did “what we could do” (their words) by extending the ACA tax credits only three years. But he’s in the Senate now and wants to open the government, and negotiate a bipartisan healthcare solution (which many Republicans, like Missouri senator Josh Hawley, want to do).
Last Wednesday, Fetterman told Fox News, “We’re forgetting that we need each other here. I refuse to be a part of it, comparing people to Hitler and those things. If that’s required to win, then I refuse to.” Honest. Kind. Pragmatic. Not an airhead. And THAT is why John Fetterman is the last (lonely) liberal in the Democrat Party.