Part explanation, part confession, part book tour.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman appeared on ABC’s “The View” Tuesday morning to talk about his decision to vote to open the federal government, his stroke and battle with depression, and to promote his new book, “Unfettered.”
The state’s former lieutenant governor was one of eight Democrats who voted to allow the Senate to move forward on compromise legislation that would reopen the government. Their decision Sunday evening was described as a “betrayal” and “pathetic” by some of the Democratic Party’s most prominent voices.
Fetterman said he successfully led the charge to reopen the government, stating that “it’s just too risky and too much chaos” to sustain it. “We must be the party of order and logic,” he said. “I refuse to use weapons as part of SNAP benefits for the 42 million Americans who rely on them to feed themselves and their families. I refuse to not pay our military and all associated unions.”
He criticized his party, saying it was OK to agree to no agreement on some key issues, but shutting down the government was inappropriate.
“Nobody got anything,” he said. “There was no SNAP, there was no health care extension. It’s reasonable for Democrats to disagree on some issues, but I hope we can all agree that chaos is the wrong response.”
Fetterman was asked about his feelings toward the Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.), heavily criticized by Democrats for collapsing after a successful election cycle.
“It’s really not my concern right now,” he said. “This is not a leadership situation. We’re living with a backlash to an election. It’s actually been a year since America decided to put us in the minority. And now, when it comes to leadership, you know what defines leadership for me? I think it’s order and logic and describing the people exactly where we are. And now we were all excited about the election last week. And now I think it’s like, hey, let’s win this one.”
“We have to be able to disagree on these issues,” he continued. “It could be a bigger problem for our party when a committed Democrat from the toughest, purplest state in the country says, ‘I’m trying to play ball and hit shots in the middle of this chaos.’”
Fetterman said he didn’t need to be lectured Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) or Governor Gavin Newsom (D-California) on the consequences of his vote.
“They represent very deep blue populations. This is not a political game. The reality is that 42 million Americans right now are not sure where their next meal is coming from.”
The senior senator from the Keystone State also explained why he felt the need to write his memoir, which covers everything from his journey in public service, his Senate race Mehmet Ozand his stroke and ongoing battle with depression.
“I think it’s an important conversation,” he said. “I know that millions of Americans suffer from depression, and most of them are very counterintuitive. After winning the most critical election of my cycle, that’s when depression really took over my life. And then the really, really bad part of depression is the conversation you start having with yourself to get out of it.
“I’m begging people. Stay in this game for those struggling with depression, no matter what resources and support you have in your life. Sharing this story is an expression of gratitude that I have to be here. It’s like paying it forward.”
Fetterman said he’s “grateful he’s feeling great.”
“Three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and I started having the darkest conversation you can have about leaving the house,” he said. “So for me, that’s the main message of the book, and I really dedicated it to all the people who are dealing with these kinds of struggles. And yes, I know it may not be a huge political success to talk about these issues, but I think it’s important because a lot of people are hurting and may not be able to talk about it.”
