Following his treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has returned to Capitol Hill, following his March 31 discharge from the hospital. The fact that he’s progressed with his mental health issues is a good thing, however, we haven’t forgotten about his lingering cognitive impairments, as anyone could see that he wasn’t fit to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Fetterman was lucky to survive a stroke in May 2022 that left him incapacitated for weeks. In spite of this, he continued campaigning, which those closest to him believe could have resulted in permanent brain damage. From watching him chair the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, it’s abundantly clear that he hasn’t improved in his recovery from a stroke despite his prolonged absence from the Senate.
This was obvious enough for even the Washington Post to admit. “Though his voice stumbled at times while reading from prepared notes, Fetterman appeared in good spirits as he gaveled in a hearing focused on the benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,” the paper reported. “Republicans have proposed increasing the number of people who must meet work requirements to qualify for SNAP.”
It is difficult to watch the video from the hearing. It’s no secret that most hearings are scripted, but Fetterman’s remarks sound as if he’s reading them for the first time and doesn’t seem to understand what he’s saying…ironically, much like America sees from our president on the rare occasion his handlers allow him to speak. If it wasn’t his fault that he was in this situation, I would feel sorry for him.
John Fetterman chaired a subcommittee hearing today.
Here is his opening statement. pic.twitter.com/Y6EHYkhkBZ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 19, 2023
John Fetterman has a staffer holding up his iPad as he talks to people after the hearing ended.
CSPAN cut away from that pretty quickly. pic.twitter.com/ujhOxIZuDk
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 19, 2023
To Fetterman’s credit, it’s nice to see that he was wearing professional attire for the hearing rather than his typical garb of shorts and an oversized hoodie sweatshirt. Nevertheless, the man has clearly proven himself unfit to serve a full six-year term, and he is now nothing more than a puppet senator.
Despite the fact that Fetterman can rightfully resign and be appointed a replacement by Governor Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.), a special election would then be held in next year’s statewide election. This is a risk the left doesn’t want to take, given that it would take place at a time likely to be in Republicans’ favor. As such, Democrats are seemingly assisting Fetterman as a placeholder for their party’s benefit, while he maintains the illusion of being a senator until after the 2024 elections.
It’s a tragic abuse of an individual who probably doesn’t even want to be there, if his extended stay in a mental health medical facility proves the reality of the situation. In the meantime, Fetterman’s defenders will boast about how brave Fetterman is, and gaslight those who question his fitness for office.
