Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has undergone a notable political shift, moving from a staunch progressive stance to a more moderate, center-left position within the Democratic Party. He attributes this transformation to his near-death experience following a stroke.
Insights Shared on “Real Time with Bill Maher”
Fetterman shared these insights during his guest appearance on Bill Maher’s HBO show “Real Time” on Friday. Maher praised Fetterman’s candidness, comparing it to the honesty often seen in politicians after they leave office.
Maher’s Observations
Maher commented, “You speak like what politicians who I get on this show who aren’t in politics anymore… and that’s the way you speak now and it’s a beautiful thing.” He noted that Fetterman seemed to echo the sentiments of many Democrats who may be hesitant to express them publicly.
John Fetterman describes how October 7th was the moment he abandoned the label ‘progressive’:
Bill Maher: “You said ‘I’m not a progressive, I’m a democrat.’ What does that mean?”
JF: “I didn’t leave the label, it left me. After it happened on October 7th I really knew that… pic.twitter.com/iHx5GkJK2T— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) June 8, 2024
The Impact of His Stroke
Fetterman confirmed that his stroke was a major factor in his political evolution. He quoted the Joker from the first ‘Batman’ movie, saying, “I’ve been dead once already. It’s very liberating.” He expressed his desire to speak his truth without fear of backlash.
The Shift Away from Progressivism
He explained that it wasn’t him who abandoned the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, but rather that the movement had left him behind. This feeling was amplified after certain recent events.
Recent Events and Criticisms
“After what happened on October 7, I really knew that whole progressive stack would be blasted apart…” he said. Fetterman also criticized some extreme elements within the progressive movement and mentioned an incident where Queers for Palestine blocked a Pride Parade in Philadelphia.
Source: Red Right Daily