Democrats and the liberal media rushed to defend Democratic Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman following his sub-par performance in Tuesday’s Senate debate with Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May, repeatedly stumbled over his words and said “goodnight” to the audience during his opening statement. The candidate has consistently slurred his words and struggled with auditory processing issues since the stroke.
Journalists with outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and MSNBC immediately jumped to Fetterman’s defense by accusing Oz of mocking someone with a disability.
“Dr Oz just gave a masterclass on how to bully people with disabilities,” MSNBC columnist Liz Plank said.
Dr Oz just gave a masterclass on how to bully people with disabilities https://t.co/FA4AlG1rRa
— Liz Plank (@feministabulous) October 26, 2022
What’s our learning opportunity after tonight’s #PASenateDebate? How can we design a society that is truly open to people with disabilities? https://t.co/pFVBU53wTq
— Liz Plank (@feministabulous) October 26, 2022
The New York Times claimed that the format of the debate favored Oz since he has more experience of being on television.
the new york times agrees that if Oz seems strong, it’s because of the format of this debate. the question we should be asking: will voters remember that Fetterman doesn’t have as much tv experience? pic.twitter.com/UfZCYoTzsE
— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) October 26, 2022
A reminder of Herschel Walker, sans stroke:
“If you have an able-bodied job, you’re gonna have healthcare. But everyone else have healthcare is the type of healthcare you’re gonna get. And I think that is the problem.”https://t.co/wubymzEZ2N
— Steve Morris (@stevemorris__) October 26, 2022
for example https://t.co/K2F8bHFTQM
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) October 26, 2022
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 26, 2022
Fetterman’s aware he has auditory & processing issues as a result of stroke.
He could’ve refused to debate like some candidates have. Instead, he went out there and let voters see his challenges and healing process.
Support him or not, that takes courage, humility and honesty.
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) October 26, 2022
Being an “unbiased” “journalist” does not mean treating two candidates as being on the same level when they’re very obviously not
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) October 26, 2022
New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister also covered for Fetterman on MSNBC’s “Alex Wagner Tonight” Tuesday evening, arguing that Oz and everyone else stumbles on television and that voters have responded “warmly” to Fetterman’s public appearances. (RELATED: NBC Reporter Doubles Down On Her Fetterman Observation As Liberals Rush To Defend Him)
“There were moments where he was really strong, including that Bernie Sanders clip, including his fluid and very direct response on raising the minimum wage, which was a really strong work moment for him,” she said. “He had some really, really strong comebacks, and his opponent, Oz, was — first of all, he also fumbled. Right? I fumble on television, so Oz was nervous and hesitant at first too.”
The editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette questioned Fetterman’s ability to serve in the Senate, while The Washington Post’s editorial board urged him to agree to more than one debate with Oz. NBC News correspondent Dasha Burns said on Oct. 11 that Fetterman had difficulty understanding her questions during pre-interview small talk and had to read off a monitor to participate in the interview.
Fetterman narrowly led Oz by 2.3 percentage points in the latest FiveThirtyEight polling average.