Post removed

[JI7]

1. He is a liberal Democrat like most of the Democratic Party

the so called "progressives" he doesn't want to be associated have little interest in actual progress and they hate the democratic party.

I think it will help the party to listen to him. Democrats need to take control of the immigration issue .

[brooklynite]

3. Did he ever say he was?

Or did people project that image on him?

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

10. Apparently he did multiple times...

“My dude, I’m a progressive democrat,” Fetterman said in a 2020 tweet directed at former Republican Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

In 2016, he shared a silhouetted image of himself and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with a caption that described the pair as “progressive champions.”

“If I’m lucky enough to be elected, I’m able to be a solid progressive backstop for [Pennsylvania], for Gov. Wolf. It provides a statewide platform to advocate for the issues I care about – a living wage, marijuana legalization, immigration, & community policing,” he tweeted in 2017, during his campaign for lieutenant governor.

[walkingman]

7. Agree - if Biden could get a immigration bill passed it would be great for

the party and America. It is long overdue and worth compromise.

[RandomNumbers]

22. +1000 - "Democrats need to take control of the immigration issue ."

Damned straight.

There is a humane and decent way to approach it - at the very least, in comparison to the rethugs' approach.

Immigration IS a problem and lots of Dems see it. There are many aspects to it. If Dems win at least we can approach it in a better way than republicans will.

"open borders" is about as stupid a slogan as "defund the police" -- and let's be clear, neither has ever been the mainstream Democratic position.

[NowISeetheLight]

26. Labels

Yes about the slogans. But the RepubQcans have done a good job painting Democrats with them.

[Oopsie Daisy]

29. I'm glad he's distancing himself. *

>> the so called "progressives" he doesn't want to be associated have little interest in actual progress and they hate the democratic party.
You are correct. That type of extremism and disloyalty are not needed. I'm glad he's distancing himself.

[DFW]

2. So, the guy thinks for himself, and sticks to it. I may not agree with all of his stances

But I applaud him for saying he is his own man, and will not let his positions on everything be spoon-fed to him like every Republican does.

[ColinC]

4. He's not going to be right on everything

And that’s okay. But he isn’t going to be another Manchin or Sinema either, which is key.

[a kennedy]

11. Right, and the Dems should be glad they do have him.

[ColinC]

20. Indeed

I sure am

[RandomNumbers]

25. Yes. And remember he represents Pennsylvania - not California. nt

[Autumn]

5. He said during his campaign he wasn't a progressive.

[Ocelot II]

6. If he chooses not to call himself a "progressive" that's fine with me.

What matters is what he does. Democrats don't have to be in lockstep - there will always be disagreements within the party; that's politics - and they don't have to call themselves "progressives." The so-called "progressive" contingent isn't right about everything all the time, either. I like Fetterman.

[Lonestarblue]

8. Pushing Menendez out is a stupid move for Democrats.

All it would take to change committee leadership roles and control of the Senate to flip to Republicans is for Manchin and Senima to switch parties. They already favor Republicans, and Manchin might flip if they promised him the Senate Majority Leader position.

[brooklynite]

16. Manchin and Sinema switching parties is a fantasy.

And Manchin as Majority Leader is an even bigger one.

[RandomNumbers]

28. Manchin has already announced he isn't running again. WV will be R.

The Dems have a candidate or two but it is a pipe dream. They need to run the best candidate they have and try to get some enthusiasm to at least help down ballot races. But reality is Manchin was the closest to a "democrat" they were going to get. If they get a Manchin-lite and they win the election, trust me they will be even less house-broken than Manchin is.

[JI7]

9. Actually Bernie Sanders was also pretty anti immigration including legal immigration

[RandomNumbers]

31. Because illegal immigration is the red flag Republicans wave

so people won't pay attention to the huge problem with certain legal immigration programs, that actually DO hurt American workers.

Seasonal workers and low skilled laborers aren't the problem for the American labor force, and Bernie's constituency. Not that most of his supporters that I know recognize it, but apparently Bernie does - it is the H-1B and related visas, that are specifically set up to reduce labor costs ( = pay people less ) in the technology sector. As currently constructed, H-1B isn't even merit based, and plenty of people come through it - perfectly legal and proper in their actions - who can only be considered "high-skilled" by clueless bean counters.

Edit to add- to be clear, the massive flow of immigrants at the southern border needs to be dealt with, for broad humanitarian reasons if nothing else. Democrats will have more humane solutions than Republicans. We need to own it and recognize that it is indeed an issue. I stand by the point that with a 3.7% unemployment rate, the issue with southern border immigration is NOT about "taking American jobs". But it is still a problem.

[Ace Rothstein]

12. What's wrong with not being a progressive?

[JohnnyRingo]

13. Fetterman is a working class warrior.

It's like if your uncle quit the steel mill and ran for office.
He's a piece that is not going to fit into the jigsaw puzzle of college liberalism.

[duckworth969]

17. Exactly right

[pwb]

14. It is still O K to be a Democrat isn't it?

I always saw progressives as a wing. Not the rulers.

[dutch777]

15. Maybe a new line of thinking is not the worst thing. He is our senator and don't agree with him on Israel but...

...sure beats anything Repug and I think he is right that we as a party need to do something bold on immigration to take the issue away from the Repugs. We can be humanitarian and not be separating kids from families and still control the flow. I wish he would couple his support for Israel with requirements for a timeline for a two state solution and be REALLY bold and note that the two state solution should not just involve Israel and the Palestinians, but Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Syria as well. There is no lack of land, the problem is the borders that were imposed by the British et. al. after WW1 and domestic security and politics in those other countries as well. Syria may be a lost cause under the present dictatorship and it's Russian and Iranian backers but I think a broader look back by the UN and the US that can help the Palestinians develop a homeland and secure all including Israel could be accomplished. Most of those countries and regimes survive due to Western trade, tourism and foreign aid so we have collectively significant leverage. We need to be bold and be willing to use it and be in for the long term.

[Liberal In Texas]

18. He's close enough for me. Just consider the alternative.

No candidate is going to be "just perfect."

[Beastly Boy]

19. "Progressive" is no longer the designation true progressives want to be associated with.

[a kennedy]

23. Really?? What's the term or name they'd like then???

[Beastly Boy]

32. "Not progressive"? That, apparently, is what Fetterman prefers.

[yardwork]

21. His voting record is what counts.

I agree with his tweet about antisemitism. He is a senator for Pennsylvania, which has been a hot spot for antisemitic scenes lately, including the disgraceful bullying of a Jewish deli in Philly, and the problems at the University of Pennsylvania. So it made sense that he spoke out about that.

I also fully support his statement that we Democrats need to address the humanitarian crisis on our southern border. A lot of Democratic voters are worried about this. We can't pretend it's ok.

Finally, as a lifelong liberal Democrat, I have had it up to here with the effing purists who run around nagging people for not being pure enough. Just give it a rest. I'm looking at you Justice Democrats, DSA, and various other shrill judgmental annoying hypocritical "progressives." Blocking highways doesn't win elections.

Fetterman is fine.

[Ritabert]

24. He's right on immigration

Something needs to be done or Dems are going to get trounced in 2024. There must be a process and ignoring it isn't helping anybody.

[3Hotdogs]

27. I know I ain't supposed ta talk bad about no Democrats. BUT

I agree with Fetterman. Melendez should go.

[LakeArenal]

30. Well if there is anyone who refuses to be labeled, it's Fetterman.

I can disagree with him on an issue and happy to agree with him on the rest.