Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman on Wednesday, he drew the line at his continued participation in the Democratic Party.
“If our party ever becomes – and only officially becomes – an anti-Israel party, then I will leave because it will provide moral clarity for me,” he said during an interview at the Hill Nation summit in Washington.
Fetterman, who has previously made clear he has no plans to leave the Democratic Party, warned that if Democrats completely turn away from U.S. support for Israel, it would cross a red line that could push him out of the party.
The Pennsylvania Democrat expresses solemn “concern” about the trajectory of many Democrats who have become increasingly critical of U.S. aid to Israel amid growing pressure from the party’s progressive base.
“My long-term concern for the Democratic Party, of which I am a member, is that our party will withdraw and turn its back on Israel,” he said.
Fetterman cited Democratic support for the amendment sponsored by Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to cut $3.3 billion in annual security aid to Israel and the success of progressive candidates who sharply criticize Israel in the Democratic primaries. The vote failed but had the support of 103 Democrats, including Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and six of Pennsylvania’s seven D-Representatives.
Fetterman said Clark’s support for the amendment reflects a trend in the broader party.
“Look at what individuals are winning our last primary election,” he said. “It’s becoming more and more anti-, anti-Israel and hostile towards people” who are pro-Israel.
He criticized other Democrats who are “trying to appeal to that part of our voters that is very, very anti-Israel.”
And not mincing his words, the former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania called the progressives who caused confusion in the last election the winners of the “left bag of garbage.”
“Yes, no, I mean these are the people they’re trying to get out of office. They’re just good, traditional Democrats that you would expect to see in New York right now,” Fetterman told Fox News Sean Hannity.
“And now this is what happened – really, these were just the dancing years left for this piece of trash. You know, some of these candidates are outraged. You have candidates, they will ‘abolish ICE,’ ‘abolish the police,’ ‘abolish the border.’
The term “leftist garbage” refers to left-wing political critics who generally support progressive and democratic socialist causes and are openly critical of mainstream Democrats. Writer Amber A’Lee FrostOne of the co-hosts of the “dirtbag left” podcast “Chapo Trap House” is credited with coining this term.
Rep. Chris Rabb (Philadelphia), a democratic socialist and recent winner of the Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District, criticized Fetterman, calling him a “sellout.”
“He betrayed the people of Pennsylvania,” Rabb said. “He betrayed all the people who thought he was different and better. The reality was only slightly different and much worse. Unfortunately, he appeared in a populist costume and hurt many people. It is very easy to troll people who are considered despicable. It is much more difficult to govern and govern with integrity and morality.”
Former New York City Comptroller Brad Landerwho defeated Rep. And Goldman in the Democratic primary for New York’s 10th congressional district, he told CNN Kaitlan Collins “Honestly, he wasn’t sure Fetterman was in our party anymore.”
“Democrats are holding primaries to determine what kind of candidates we want to put on the field, and they will be diverse candidates because they reflect and represent diverse districts,” said Lander, another candidate supported by Mamdani. “The primaries are a time to end these fights. And then, as we get closer to falling, it is a time for unity. I will try to be a force of unity.”
