Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman stated he will not support Abdul El-Sayed, the newly named Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, following the state’s primary election.
Policy Differences and Past Comments
Speaking during an interview on CNN with anchor Wolf Blitzer, the Pennsylvania senator pointed to policy differences and past comments, explicitly raising concerns over foreign policy and views on the Middle East.
“I can’t come together with someone if you are willing to embrace people that love Hamas, or that think America deserved 9/11,” Fetterman said during the broadcast. “I think that’s reasonable. And I think that’s the reasonable view, being able to kind of be like, well, maybe in pride, ignore those things. That’s not a big tent situation. There are things that are unacceptable to have these views as a Democrat, I think.”
International Relations and Support for Israel
Addressing the broader context of international relations and support for Israel, Fetterman added, “Are we willing to turn our back on Israel? You know, history has demonstrated that if a nation or people will turn their back on the Jewish community, that has some very tragic outcomes.”
The remarks came after Blitzer noted calls from within the Democratic Party for unity heading into the general election, citing comments from Rep. Haley Stevens following the primary race. When asked directly whether he was willing to unify with El-Sayed, Fetterman brought up personal insults exchanged during the campaign and criticized El-Sayed’s approach.
“Oh, yeah, yeah, the tough guy, he called me ugly, and then I should be on a pike. And I’m like, chief, I own mirrors. I know I’m an ugly guy,” Fetterman said. “But if you want to put me on a pike, I mean, he has like a really, like, a little man syndrome kind of energy. And now he was really arrogant in that race. And now he has just found out that, you know, less than a majority of Democrats want him.”
Fetterman cautioned that the open Senate seat in Michigan remains vulnerable ahead of November’s general election, where the Democratic nominee is expected to face Republican candidate Mike Rogers.
“He has a serious responsibility between now and November to hold that seat,” Fetterman said.
When asked by Blitzer if he believed El-Sayed could lose the matchup to Rogers, Fetterman replied, “Oh, 100 percent, that’s possible. Without a doubt. I mean, the polling seems to indicate that.”
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
