Fetterman rejects ‘extremes and socialism’ in address to GOP convention
Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, made a surprise virtual appearance at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, delivering a pre-recorded video address supporting Republican Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania.
Fetterman recorded the message outside the Mon Valley Works, a processing plant operated by US Steel in Pittsburgh. He called McCormick his “great friend” and said he would work with McCormick and Donald Trump “to fight and defend the steel way of life.”
“Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because well, I’m a commonsense Democrat. 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. Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania.”
The Guardian described Fetterman as increasingly breaking with his party since his election in 2022. The outlet characterized his rejection of “extremes and socialism” as a frequently used Republican criticism of the Democratic Party’s increasingly popular left wing.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta responded with a sharply critical statement: “John Fetterman is the laziest Benedict Arnold America has ever seen. He didn’t even have it in him to get off his couch in his million-dollar penthouse to kiss Donald Trump’s ring in person. He phoned it in, just as he has every day as our senator. John should do his job or resign.”
The appearance also came as Fetterman faced reports from current and former staff that he was avoiding constituent events, behaving erratically and cozying up to conservative media, according to The Guardian.
The Guardian reported that Fetterman had attempted to defend himself in the past week after an account on X gained traction. The account claims to be run by former staffers.
At the convention, Tracy Smith of Maryland responded favorably to Fetterman’s appearance. “I actually think it’s really awesome that he’s come around,” Smith said. “He’s more common sense, and even though he’s a Democrat, he can see both sides. You have to get along. It’s like a seesaw. You know, not right or left, but in the middle. And I think he realized that, and it’s actually amazing.”
Asked whether Fetterman could switch to the Republican Party, Smith said: “I actually do. I think he’s leaning that way right here. It would be great. I think it would be awesome.”
Eric Torrison, who traveled from Arizona to attend the convention, also praised Fetterman. “There is no way on God’s green Earth that I would have supported Fetterman when he ran for the Senate, and [was] aghast when he got elected,” Torrison said.
“But it’s really interesting. He seems to have held to his beliefs, and not run to the left, and he seems to be, from a conservative standpoint, from a Republican standpoint, the only sensible Democrat there,” Torrison said.