Social and news media commenters seize on senatorās gaffe, with some characterizing it as a Freudian slip
With speculation about whether he may defect from the Democratic party swirling around him, US senator John Fetterman described himself seemingly unintentionally as a ālifelong Republicanā during a fireside chat in Texas over the weekend.
Fetterman made the comment when someone listening to him speak with CBS News political correspondent Major Garrett at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday asked the Pennsylvania senator why he had not become an independent.
āBecause Iām a lifelong Republican,ā Fetterman replied. Garrett promptly corrected him by saying, āDemocrat,ā as Fetterman raised a hand and shook his head in disbelief.



Yeah dog. Welcome to representative politics. The primary was never even close. Stroke was a few days beforehand. His campaign talked up his recovery. Feel free to look up quotes about just needing surgery for a pacemaker and how heād be fine. All the messaging stayed progressive; campaigns are run by staffers, so him being absent meant nothing for outward appearances. And who would progressives have voted for after he won the primaryāDoctor Oz? Or should everyone have banded together to call the Fetrerman campaign liars and form a write in push for one of the primary losers? And risk losing Pennsylvania to DOCTOR OZ?!
Pennsylvanians were lied to and they have no true representation. But thereās no mechanism to fix that. Youāre supposed to wait a couple years and just take what you get, because itās more important that you follow the rules than it is to be heard. And thatās called democracy.
Between Oz, McCormick and Fetterman, at least Fetterman lives in Pennsylvania. Thatās how shitty the choices for that election ended up being.