Posted on 12/11/2023 9:28:32 PM PST by SeekAndFind
PITTSBURGH — Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., has emerged as one of the most reliable supporters of the Jewish community in his hometown, which is located a handful of miles from where the deadliest massacre of Jews happened in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh five years ago. This support is changing how many in the state see him.
David Knoll, a Pittsburgh-based businessman and Democrat who launched a last-minute quixotic challenge to local county councilwoman Bethany Hallam over her social media posts supporting antisemitism, said, “Fetterman has been better than anyone could have hoped, and honestly did not see that coming, but we welcome his support whole-heartedly.”
Knoll, who lives in Squirrel Hill, said what he especially loves is Fetterman’s refusal to cower to either the members of the media or members of their own party who are at odds with his staunch support of Israel.
Fetterman, in an interview with the Washington Examiner, said he is not concerned about falling in or out of some sort of political categorization. “I am not worried about labels or what people want to label me, I am about being clear where I stand, and I always have been,” he said in an emailed interview.
“I am on what I believe is the right side of this issue, I’m not concerned about a label. Israel is our key, closest ally, and we need to support them in this fight,” he said, adding, “if we want peace and we want a two-state solution, then Israel needs to be able to destroy Hamas.”
Fetterman said he fundamentally believes destroying Hamas is the only pathway to a real solution to this conflict, “And it’s not at all at odds with my other beliefs. Hamas has systematically used rape and murder as part of its war, brutalizing Israeli women. It’s horrifying. We cannot pretend that Hamas is a rational entity.”
Knoll said he and other members of the Jewish community here in Pittsburgh are deeply concerned by the recent antisemitic graffiti and vandalism that has happened in Squirrel Hill. Pro-Israel flags have even been burned in front of people’s houses.
Last week, there was an “unfounded” online threat made at an unnamed local synagogue that Pittsburgh police said they were still investigating.
Fetterman said he and his office unequivocally have their back. “We stand with you and support you. You have an ally in me, and please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if there is anything we can help you with,” he said.
One of the first things Fetterman did this past week was calling Michael Solomonov, a Pittsburgh native, chef and restaurateur, whose vegan falafel shop Goldie became the target of hundreds of agitated pro-Palestinian protesters who had gathered in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, then took their march down Sansom Street, chanting, “Goldie, Goldie you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide,” as they made their way toward Solomonov’s restaurant.
Organized by the Philadelphia Free Palestine Coalition, a Facebook post instructed supporters to “flood the streets” Sunday night, and they did, shouting antisemitic remarks and placing pro-Palestinian stickers on the doors of businesses along their route.
Fetterman said he talked with Michael to let him know he has his back. “The fact that an angry mob attacked a Jewish business is completely appalling and frankly shocking that this can even happen. Everyone needs to swiftly condemn what happened. I’ve spoken to a lot of different people from the Jewish community across Pennsylvania, and they are actually feeling?unsafe right now. And now, you have a mob?attacking a Jewish restaurant in downtown Philadelphia. It’s unacceptable.”
> the Dems USED TO BE for the working blue collar guys, I think Fetterman is starting to SEE just how corrupt government is <
I think you’ve nailed it there. Fetterman is a solid liberal. He’s also old-fashioned and traditional in that regard. And I’m not just guessing here. He’s from my old neck of the woods, and I’ve followed his career well before he became senator. I’ve even talked to him once, back in the day. I wasn’t impressed, to be honest.
Now here’s the thing. Fetterman is a first-termer. Will he continue to hold on to his core beliefs? Or will he be seduced by the money and the power? Time will tell.
I had a far-left uncle (hated Reagan, etc) who had a stroke in 2015 and it totally changed his personality, and his POLITICS. He even voted for Trump!
Oz would have been a complete disaster, like a President McCain.
Fetterman doesn’t seem to have fear as a part of his nature, he seems more of a Kid Rock type personality, an F U type personality, I think SEEING the utter corruption of DC up close and personal COULD BE a real eye opener!!
All that was missing was broken windows. Oh, and a calendar date of 1938. Go Fetterman.
I know! What the heck...? :-D
Wow.
“ But, hey. Oz was endorsed by both Hannity and Trump. That’s all that matters, right? Evidently not.”
**********************************************************
Trump made a mistake by listening to the goofy Hannity.
The former mayor of Braddock is a rocket surgeon, brain scientist.
GOP winning one statewide election in PA in the last 20yrs or something-
means Fetterman is a genius.t
Stupid question: is Fetterman a Jewish name?
I have friends in a rural southeast Pennsylvania town. When I visited them in 2016 and again in 2020, there were Trump signs everywhere. There were very few Democrat candidate signs. No surprise there.
But in 2022, the Fetterman signs outnumbered the Oz signs by maybe 4 to 1. Yes, I was surprised. And if the RNC had any sense at all, they would take a lesson from that.
Be argumentative, he’s considering a borderline invalid as some sort of genius-
he told us so-then and now.
Don’t believe your lyin’ eyes and if you do he’ll be back with this unbridled fanaticism to tell us yet again again.
He needs to be careful
There’s an unfortunate “accident” looming in his future.
> means Fetterman is a genius <
No. It means that the Republican Party is run by idiots. Fetterman’s ads successfully painted him as just another working-class guy. Oz’s ads were terrible. They had him wandering around Pennsylvania factories like he was lost.
Those Oz ads were both weird and pathetic at the same time.
Please see my post #31.
I don’t see Fetterman being seduced by money or perks JEEZE he runs around the halls of congress in shorts and a hoody with an FU attitude I can’t SEE ANYONE changing Fetterman into an elitist I don’t think he really gives a shit about being wealthy just my take on the guy from the outside!! NOW HIS WIFE is a whole different story BUT I get the feeling not even SHE could budge his CORE BELIEFS!! Fetterman is not a hypocrite like Bernie Sanders!!
Notch one for the big dumb looking guy.
Just watch how this turd votes. There’s all you need to know. The a-holes like to say all sorts of things that sound good, but when the roll call comes up for votes, there’s where the truth is at.
Lynn Swan was significantly worse and I’m certain that he is not alone in recent times.
Oil/gas Toomey was abt as easy to relate to as an marble counter top.
How far back do we have to go to find a statewide GOP winner that fits this imaginary perfect candidate?
it predates the teacher’s unions controlling PA election outcomes which predates the 50% mail ins or it was another lifetime ago.
Indeed, Oz was a terrible candidate for PA. He hadn’t even lived in PA for very long. When Fetterman was running, a few of us tried explaining why PA voters liked him. I heard PA voters say it again and again: They saw him as one of the guys. They could picture themselves having a beer with him. He never held a blue collar job in his life, but he connected with blue collar voters.
Republicans were right in many of their criticisms of him, but elections are all about image and connecting with the voters. Now, even PA Republican voters are beginning to like Fetterman.
I think SEEING the utter corruption of DC up close and personal COULD BE a real eye opener!!
According to Tulsi Gabbard, Congress is full of some of the scummiest people on earth.
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