Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) made a surprising declaration in an interview with NBC News on Friday, declaring in the interview published that “I’m not a progressive,” which left his left-leaning supporters shocked. This surprising announcement comes amid his public battle following the apparent successful treatment of his clinical depression and a debilitating stroke he suffered last year.
Fetterman has emerged as a vocal, moderate Democrat on issues such as border security, supporting Israel, and calling on Sen. Bob Menendez (NJ) to resign. In the interview, he declared, “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.”
The senator went on to explain his stance on immigration, expressing support for the idea of effectively addressing the issue while also favoring policies to restrict migration to manageable levels. Fetterman disagreed with progressives who oppose new limits on asylum and criticized some of the ideas in the negotiations as cruel, emphasizing the need for a reasonable conversation about the issue.
Reaction to Fetterman’s statements was mixed, with some on the left expressing disappointment and even betrayal due to Fetterman’s previous alignment with progressive ideals. However, some on the right voiced pleasant surprise and support for Fetterman’s recent positions on various political issues, including Israel, farmland policies, and border security.
Despite the mixed reaction, Fetterman stood firm in his stance, asserting that it was still vital to address certain policies, particularly in connection with an aid package for Israel and Ukraine. He emphasized the critical importance of delivering aid to these nations and the need for a reasonable conversation about asylum and parole policy in connection with the supplemental bill.
While Fetterman’s statements have sparked controversy and criticism among some of his former supporters, they have also garnered support and agreement from unexpected quarters. His recent shift in political stance has raised eyebrows and ignited discussions about where he stands within the Democratic party and his future political prospects.
