John Fetterman slams critics asking him to quit over mental health issues: 'It's part of this weird smear'

John Fetterman slams critics asking him to quit over mental health issues: 'It's part of this weird smear'
Senator John Fetterman hit back at critics who have been asking him to quit over his mental health concerns (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman hit back at critics asking him to leave his job as he faces ongoing questions about his mental health and job performance.

The Democrat appeared alongside his fellow Pennsylvania Senator David McCormick on Monday, May 2, and rejected accusations that he is not engaged in his job, The Daily Beast reported.



 

John Fetterman hits back at critics asking him to leave his job

Fetterman said on Monday, "For me, it’s very clear, it’s just part of this weird, this weird smear."

He added that he’s been getting "incoming" over his stance on Israel, the border, and not voting to shut the government down, per the outlet.

Moreover, Fetterman pushed for the conversation to move during his appearance in Boston at 'The Senate Project', which aired on Fox Nation.

WALLINGFORD, PA - OCTOBER 15:  Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate John Fetterman holds a rally at
 John Fetterman holds a rally at Nether Providence Elementary School on October 15, 2022, in Wallingford, Pennsylvania (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

"I’m here. I’m doing my job. I’m defending on all those things, and all of those important votes, I’ve always been there," the senator said.

He added, "And for me, if I miss some of those votes, I mean some of those votes, I’ve made 90 percent of them, and we all know those votes that I’ve missed were on Monday. Those are travel days, and I have three young kids."

He also dismissed counts he had missed as “throwaway procedural votes,” which were not important, according to the Daily Beast.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 23: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) walks to the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol on April 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Senate is taking up a $95 billion foreign aid package today for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
John Fetterman walks to the Senate chamber at the US Capitol on April 23, 2024, in Washington, DC (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Fetterman said this after a scathing op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday, June 1, where the outlet's editorial board wrote he "must take his position seriously".

Philadelphia paper warns John Fetterman to take job seriously 'or step away'

The Philadelphia paper wrote, "It’s time for Fetterman to serve Pennsylvanians, or step away."

In a strongly worded piece, the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the Democrat "has missed more votes than nearly every other senator in the past two years" and "regularly skips committee hearings, cancels meetings, avoids the daily caucus lunches with colleagues, and rarely goes on the Senate floor," according to The Guardian.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) takes the stage during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harris ended weeks of speculation about who her running mate would be, selecting the 60 year old midwestern governor over other candidates. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
John Fetterman takes the stage during a campaign rally for Kamala Harris, and Tim Walz on August 6, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The editorial board also mentioned that six former Fetterman staffers told an Inquirer reporter that the senator was regularly absent or spent hours alone in his office, and avoided colleagues and meetings, per the outlet.

The board wrote, "Being an elected official comes with public scrutiny. If Fetterman can’t handle the attention or perform his job, then in the best interest of the country and the nearly 13 million residents of Pennsylvania he represents, he should step aside."

It further added, "Being an elected representative is a privilege, not an entitlement. Being a US senator is a serious job that requires full-time engagement."

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