Curt Flewelling, FISM News
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In an apparent foreshadowing of things to come, PA Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman eerily started out his debate performance by saying, “Hi, goodnight everybody,” words typically used to end an evening rather than start it.
Post-debate commentary ranged from praise to ridicule, but the majority of those polled saw the debate as a major win for Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz, as Fetterman often appeared lost and struggled to vocalize his thoughts coherently. Fetterman suffered a stroke five months ago, and the debate highlighted concerns about his fitness to serve in office.
Despite his many fumbles, Fetterman’s campaign team praised his performance saying, “We are thrilled with John’s performance, he did remarkably well tonight – especially when you consider that he’s still recovering from a stroke and was working off delayed captions filled with errors.”
Other comments were less deferential. Conservative talk radio host Clay Travis called Fetterman’s debate performance a “disgrace” and said he was “not well.” He went on to say, “I can’t impress upon you how much of a disaster this debate is for Fetterman. I’ve never seen anything like it, this race is completely and totally over.”
Obfuscation from the left and gratuitous hyperbole from the right seemed to be tempered by many commentators who felt that the whole thing was just sad. The Hill reporter Al Weaver tweeted, “Democrats are asking the same thing post-debate: Why did Fetterman’s team allow him to take the stage tonight? No one I’m talking to on the left has a good thing to say about what just took place.”
Democrats are asking the same thing post-debate: Why did Fetterman's team allow him to take the stage tonight? No one I'm talking to on the left has a good thing to say about what just took place.
— Al Weaver (@alweaver22) October 26, 2022
Although the usual kitchen table issues of crime, health care, and inflation were debated, they took a back seat to Fetterman’s ability to process and respond to the moderator’s questions. Even though the Democrat was afforded the accommodation of a closed captioning device to help understand questions, he still bumbled and fumbled through the majority of his responses.
When asked directly if he would release his medical records to help calm fears of his abilities, Fetterman dodged the question, instead stating that his personal doctor – “the real doctors that [he] believes” – has told him he is fit to serve.
Although the evening had no shortage of breath-holding moments for John Fetterman supporters, his deer-in-the-headlights response when challenged on his view of fracking was likely the most talked-about moment following the debate.
Moderator Lisa Sylvester challenged the Senate hopeful on his apparent inconsistent statements on fracking.
In a 2018 interview, he said, “I don’t support fracking at all.” The moderator asked Fetterman, “How do you square the two?” after Fetterman claimed he was a proponent of the important oil production process.
Fetterman aimlessly rambled, “I’ve always supported fracking. I do support fracking and I don’t, I don’t. I support fracking and I stand. And I do support fracking.”
What just happened? #PASen pic.twitter.com/aJRDZVFU2x
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 26, 2022
Another head-scratching moment came at the end of the debate, when Fetterman interrupted Oz’s closing statement.
Both candidates were afforded the customary 90 seconds to provide a closing statement. Just 20 seconds into Oz’s remarks, Fetterman uncontrollably blurted out, “You wanna cut social security!”
Fetterman yells "YOU WANT TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY" during Dr. Oz's closing statement. pic.twitter.com/8QLPlbo6ZO
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 26, 2022
Although candidates talking over one another in debates is fairly common, interrupting an opponent’s closing statement is unheard of. The moderator admonished the Democrat by saying, “It’s his turn for his closing.”
Pennsylvania is one of the key states that will determine which direction the Senate shifts at midterms. Fetterman has largely been out of the public eye in the lead-up to the elections due to health concerns.