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| -Land of the Free |
| Fetterman wins over some conservative critics after taking on 'Squad' and progressives on Israel, migration |
| 2024-01-13 |
| [NewsFinale] In an unlikely transformation since he took office more than a year ago, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is receiving praise from some conservatives and criticism from those within his own party for his position on a variety of issues that have dominated news headlines. Fetterman, whose 2022 campaign to serve as a senator for the Keystone State rattled a majority of conservatives, appears to be making inroads with those of different political beliefs around the country by bucking a handful of the ideas espoused by his colleagues who sit on the same side of the aisle. His opposition to some efforts pushed by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which has become increasingly visible since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, has led some conservatives to question how he went from a candidate they despised to a senator they can relate to. On Israel, for instance, the senator has made his position very clear amid the war-torn country’s battle with Hamas terrorists. He will support Israel at all costs, even when other members of his party won’t. Fetterman has also made heads spin within his own party when it comes to the issue of immigration and his criticism of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who faces federal charges for allegedly acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a senator. The senator’s position on Israel differs greatly from that of several progressive Democrats in the House and Senate and was reaffirmed earlier this week when Fetterman spoke at a leadership luncheon hosted by the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C. He questioned why those who targeted Israel through demonstrations around the United States and the world are not “protesting Hamas.” “They’re blocking tunnels, they’re blocking roads,” Fetterman said. “Why? Why aren’t they protesting, ‘When will we get the hostages back home?’ Why aren’t they protesting Hamas? Why aren’t they protesting systemic rape and torture of Israeli women and children? “I don’t get it.” The senator also criticized South Africa for bringing a genocide case against Israel in the United Nations’ International Court of Justice, saying the African nation should focus on quelling unrest on its own continent and “sit this one out.” Fetterman’s position on the war differs greatly from that of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who urged his colleagues this month to reject the more than $10 billion in military funding for Israel that is being considered amid what he considers to be Israeli forces’ “grossly disproportionate” and “immoral” response to Hamas terrorists. Referring to the rapes and atrocities committed against Israel, Fetterman said Wednesday, “I have a 12-year-old daughter. If someone did that to my daughter, would you want me to sit down at a table and negotiate with them? Never. I would never ask for Israel to do that as well.” Taking his support for Israel further, Fetterman said the country has the right to fully take on Hamas and noted that every Hamas terrorist that is killed is “one more step” toward peace. Recognizing the “blowback” he has received from some members of his party for his support for Israel, Fetterman said, “Great. I welcome the smoke then.” During an interview with NBC News last month, Fetterman said, “I’m not a progressive. I just think I’m a Democrat that is very committed to choice and other things. But with Israel, I’m going to be on the right side of that. And immigration is something near and dear to me, and I think we do have to effectively address it as well.” Though he’s pro-immigration, Fetterman has recently distanced himself from those within his party who oppose policies — like reforms on asylum — that would significantly reduce the increasing number of migrants arriving at the southern border each day. “It’s a reasonable conversation — until somebody can say there’s an explanation on what we can do when 270,000 people are being encountered on the border, not including the ones, of course, that we don’t know about,” Fetterman told the outlet. “To put that in reference, that is essentially the size of Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania.” |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #2 Hoody-n- shorts isn’t such a bad look, after all. And it’s acceptable Senate attire. Free the ‘nads, free the mind. Let a hundred Senators bloom. |
| Posted by: Ululating Platypus 2024-01-13 16:51 |
| #1 Maybe more congresscritters need a spell in the psych ward. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2024-01-13 10:50 |