Latest news with #Inquirer
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fetterman called to ‘step aside' by Philadelphia Inquirer if disengaged or mental health issues too severe
The Philadelphia Inquirer called out Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., in an editorial on Sunday, demanding the senator "perform his job" or step aside, amid reports of concern about his mental health. "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," the Inquirer's editorial board wrote. "Being a U.S. senator is a serious job that requires full-time engagement," the editorial board continued. "If Fetterman wants to continue to serve, then he must take his position seriously." Fetterman, who suffered from a stroke in 2022, was the subject of an alarming New York Magazine article last month that cited anecdotes from several former staffers about his issues, which the senator said was a "hit piece." The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported on the ex-staffers' concerns, including one who said, "It's pretty impossible to overstate how disengaged he is." Knives Out For Fetterman: Maverick Senator Joins Long Line Of Dems Punished For Breaking From Left Fox News' Shannon Bream asked Fetterman during an installment of the Senate Project series, organized by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, about how the Democratic senator would respond to the Inquirer. Read On The Fox News App "Well, for me, it's very clear, which is part of like this weird smear, this thing," Fetterman said, pointing to his support for Israel, a strong border and his vote to avoid a government shutdown. "I've continued [to] get more and more kinds of incoming and those things, and all of those things. So, the more kinds of left kind of media continue to have these kinds of an attack, and it's just part of a smear, and it's just not accurate." The Philadelphia Inquirer argued that the senator hasn't had much time for Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C., pointing to multiple trips he's taken to Israel, and his January trip to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President Donald Trump. The Inquirer accused Fetterman of schmoozing Trump. John Fetterman Faces New Spotlight On Health, Family Drama, Sparking Online Uproar "It's time for Fetterman to serve Pennsylvanians, or step away," the Inquirer concluded. A staffer told New York Magazine that he received a message questioning how Fetterman was doing, as he was found sitting at a table alone, silently drinking a soda. The report went on to claim the lawmaker was "nearly struck by a car" and found "wandering" Capitol Hill. "Former and current staffers paint a picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for and whose mental-health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported," the article read. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Fetterman was hospitalized for clinical depression shortly after taking office in 2023. He spent about six weeks in treatment before being released. During his 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign, liberal media outlets aggressively defended Fetterman from concerns about his fitness for office after his stroke, but his pro-Israel stance and more moderate positions on some key issues have alienated some of his progressive supporters since then. Fetterman's office did not immediately respond to a request for article source: Fetterman called to 'step aside' by Philadelphia Inquirer if disengaged or mental health issues too severe
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Philadelphia paper warns Fetterman to take Senate job seriously – ‘or step away'
The Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board has issued a sharp rebuke of Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman in a new opinion piece, urging him to take his job 'seriously' and writing that 'it's time for Fetterman to serve Pennsylvanians, or step away.' In a strongly worded piece published on Sunday, the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer, which endorsed Fetterman during his 2022 Senate campaign, said the first-term 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'. The editorial board also wrote that six former Fetterman staffers told an Inquirer reporter that Fetterman was frequently absent or spent hours alone in his office, avoiding colleagues and meetings. 'Being an elected official comes with public scrutiny,' the board wrote. '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.' 'Being an elected representative is a privilege, not an entitlement,' it added. 'Being a US senator is a serious job that requires full-time engagement.' Fetterman responded to the piece and allegations on Monday during a Fox News debate with Republican senator David McCormick. 'For me, it's very clear, it's just part of like this weird – this weird smear,' Fetterman said. 'The more kinds of, left kind of media continues to have these kinds of an attack, and it's just part of a smear and that's just not … it's just not accurate.' He continued: 'I've always been there, and for me, if I miss some of those votes, I've made 90% 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 and … those are throwaway procedural votes that … they were never determined if they were important. That's a choice that I made.' Fetterman also reportedly claimed senators Bernie Sanders and Patty Murray had missed more votes than he has. 'Why aren't the left media yelling and demanding them and claiming they're not doing their job?' Fetterman said. In response, a spokesperson for Murray told Politico that most of her missed votes occurred during a vote-a-rama when her husband was hospitalized. A spokesperson for Sanders did not immediately respond to request for comment from Politico, but the outlet pointed out that according to data from a government transparency site, Sanders has missed 836 of 6,226 rollcall votes since 1991, or about 13.4%. Murray has missed 290 of 11,106 rollcall votes since 1993, or roughly 2.6%. By comparison, Politico reported that Fetterman has missed 174 of 961 rollcall votes, approximately 18.1%, in his first term, according to The editorial on Sunday comes as last month, New York magazine published an article on Fetterman which quoted several former and current Fetterman staffers who expressed concerns about the Senator's mental and physical health, and his behavior. In response, Fetterman dismissed the piece, calling it 'a one-source story, with a couple anonymous sources' and labeling it a 'hit piece from a very left publication'.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fetterman claims media trying to ‘smear' him over missed votes, absences
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) says the media is trying to 'smear' him over missing votes and committee hearings in the Senate, firing back at an editorial in The Philadelphia Inquirer that argued Fetterman needs to put more effort into his job or resign from Congress. Asked about the harsh op-ed during a debate in Boston on Monday, Fetterman called it a 'weird smear.' 'It's just part of like this weird — this weird smear,' Fetterman told 'Fox News Sunday' anchor Shannon Bream, who moderated a debate between the Pennsylvania Democrat and Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.) at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. 'The more kinds of — left kind of media continues to have these kinds of an attack,' Fetterman said. 'And it's just part of a smear and that's just not … it's just not accurate. 'And we've moved on and why we're still having this conversation — why at this point?' he asked. The debate was co-hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and aired on Fox Nation. The Inquirer noted in its critical appraisal of Fetterman's track record that he has missed more votes than nearly every other senator in the past two years and regularly skips committee hearings, cancels meetings and avoids Democratic caucus lunches. The editorial observed that six former Fetterman staffers told an Inquirer reporter that Fetterman was frequently absent or spent hours alone in his office, avoiding colleagues and meetings. '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,' the paper argued. 'Being an elected representative is a privilege, not an entitlement. Being a U.S. senator is a serious job that requires full-time engagement.' Fetterman defended his missed votes as the result of a conscious choice to spend more time with his family, and he previously dismissed Monday afternoon 'bed-check' votes as procedural minutia that don't necessarily require his participation. 'If I miss 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,' he said. 'And I have three young kids and … those are throwaway procedural votes that they were never determined if … they were important. That's a choice that I made,' he added. Fetterman pointed out that Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have also missed multiple Senate votes in recent months as Sanders has traveled the country rallying opposition to President Trump's agenda and Murray traveled home to care for her husband while he was in the hospital. 'If you want to attack me for that, go ahead,' he said of his attendance record. 'But I'd like to point out that, you know, Bernie and Sen. Murray missed more.' 'So why aren't the left media yelling and demanding them and claiming they're not doing their job and those kind of thing[s]? Just be genuine on that,' he said. A spokesperson for Murray said many of the Washington senator's 'missed votes were during a single evening of votes' when the Senate held a long vote-a-rama. 'Senator Murray was caring for her husband while he was in the hospital and was prepared to return to the floor if her vote might have been determinative,' the spokesperson said. She missed 32 votes in one week because of time spent caring for her husband. Fetterman has come under intense scrutiny since New York Magazine published a long article about his former staff members' concerns about what they viewed as erratic and potentially dangerous behavior. According to New York Magazine, the senator's former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, wrote a 1,600-word email to Fetterman's doctor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center warning that 'John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him.' The former staffer said he was concerned that Fetterman won't be 'with us for much longer.' Fetterman said last month that former employees who have expressed their concern about his behavior to the media have a 'bizarre grudge' against him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Fetterman claims media trying to ‘smear' him over missed votes, absences
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) says the media is trying to 'smear' him over missing votes and committee hearings in the Senate, firing back at an editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer that argued Fetterman needs to put more effort into his job or resign from Congress. Asked about the harsh op-ed during a debate in Boston Monday, Fetterman called it a 'weird smear.' 'It's just part of like this weird — this weird smear,' Fetterman told 'Fox News Sunday' anchor Shannon Bream, who moderated a debate between the Pennsylvania Democrat and Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.) at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. 'The more kinds of — left kind of media continues to have these kinds of an attack,' Fetterman said. 'And it's just part of a smear and that's just not accu — it's just not accurate. 'And we've moved on and why we're still having this conversation — why at this point?' he asked. The debate was co-hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and aired on Fox Nation. The Inquirer noted in its critical appraisal of Fetterman's track record that he has missed more votes than nearly every other senator in the past two years and regularly skips committee hearings, cancels meetings and avoids Democratic caucus lunches. The editorial observed that six former Fetterman staffers told an Inquirer reporter that Fetterman was frequently absent or spent hours alone in his office, avoiding colleagues and meetings. '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,' the paper argued. 'Being an elected representative is a privilege, not an entitlement. Being a U.S. senator is a serious job that requires full-time engagement.' Fetterman defended his missed votes as the result of a conscious choice to spend more time with his family, and he's previously dismissed Monday afternoon 'bed-check' votes as procedural minutia that doesn't necessarily require his participation. 'If I miss 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,' he said. 'And I have three young kids and … those are throwaway procedural votes that they were never determined if [sic] they were important. That's a choice that I made,' he added. Fetterman pointed out that Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have also missed a bunch of Senate votes in recent months as Sanders has traveled the country rallying opposition to President Trump's agenda and Murray has often traveled to home to care for her husband. 'If you want to attack me for that, go ahead,' he said of his attendance record. 'But I'd like to point out that, you know, Bernie and Sen. Murray missed more.' 'So why aren't the left media yelling and demanding them and claiming they're not doing their job and those kind of thing[s]? Just be genuine on that,' he said. Fetterman has come under intense scrutiny since New York Magazine published a long article about his former staff members' concern about what they viewed as erratic and potentially dangerous behavior. According to New York Magazine, the senator's former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, wrote a 1,600-word email to Fetterman's doctor at Walter Reed hospital warning that 'John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him.' The former staffer said he was concerned that Fetterman won't be with us for much longer.' Fetterman said last month that former employees who have expressed their concern about his behavior to the media have a 'bizarre grudge' against him.
Int'l Business Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Democratic Senator Berated by Newspaper From His Own State for Missing Votes, Avoiding His Colleagues: 'Serve or Step Away'
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is facing blistering criticism from one of the major newspapers in his home state, which accused him of neglecting his Senate duties and called on him to "serve or step away." In an editorial, The Philadelphia Inquirer slammed Fetterman for missing more votes than almost any other senator over the last two years and for isolating himself from colleagues and the public. Multiple former staffers have raised red flags about his disengagement and mental fitness, citing erratic behavior, a string of senior staff resignations and minimal in-person interaction on Capitol Hill. While Fetterman has defended his absences as time spent with family and criticized the scrutiny as an attack on his mental health, the newspaper emphasized that public service comes with accountability—especially during a time of political volatility. Fetterman, who was elected to the Senate in 2022, previously suffered a stroke while on the campaign trail, and has discussed his battles with clinical depression. The senator now faces mounting pressure not only from media outlets but also from within political circles to either step up his level of engagement or resign. The editorial called out his international travel and TV appearances as signs that he is selectively prioritizing visibility over governance. "Other senators travel overseas but also show up for work in Washington and meet with constituents in their home state. Public service is not about serving yourself," the Inquirer's editorial board wrote. "It's time for Fetterman to serve Pennsylvanians, or step away." Fetterman's continued resistance to holding town halls or engaging directly with constituents is fueling public frustration. As the 2026 midterms approach, questions around Fetterman's ability and willingness to perform the full scope of his role could become a flashpoint in Pennsylvania politics. Originally published on Latin Times
