Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman acknowledged that his party’s brand has become “toxic” due to years of “shaming and scolding” voters and questioned the possibility of turning it around.
During an appearance on the “Somebody’s Gotta Win” podcast on Thursday, host and journalist Tara Palmeri asked Fetterman about the Democratic Party’s damaged image following the 2024 election.
Fetterman reiterated his belief that the party is responsible for its own downfall by constantly attacking and insulting their opponents.
“Their main tactic was shaming, scolding, and belittling people, telling them ‘I know better than you,’ ‘you’re stupid,’ ‘you’re a bro,’ ‘you’re ignorant,’ or ‘how can you be so dumb? And on top of that, they’re fascists. How could you vote for that?” Fetterman stated.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to reporters before a Senate luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on December 12, 2023 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
FETTERMAN HITS PARTY’S LOSSES AMONG YOUNG MALE VOTERS: ‘IT’S UNDENIABLE THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE LOST A LOT’
He further added, “And you know, living in a state like Pennsylvania, I understand individuals who voted for Trump, and they are not fascists. They do not support insurrection or those actions. By taking an extreme stance and becoming exclusive, you lose the argument. And we have indeed done that.”
Fetterman described the 2024 election as a “gut-check vote” where voters focused on their perception of the American way of life rather than specific policies.
Reflecting on the recent DNC election, Fetterman expressed uncertainty about the possibility of winning back those voters, especially men.
Fetterman expressed concerns about whether the Democratic Party learned anything from their election losses. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“This erosion has been ongoing for some time. In conversations I’ve had, many people, though not publicly, feel that men are seen as the problem,” Fetterman noted. “Men are at fault. Their masculinity is deemed toxic. Unless you fit within our narrow definition of acceptable, people look for alternatives. This shift has been happening for years, and it was a prominent factor in the 2024 election,” he concluded.
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Since the election, Fetterman has criticized his party for neglecting important issues like reaching out to men or addressing the border crisis.
Fetterman has previously criticized his party on how they approached key issues. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“One area where we lost our way was on the border,” Fetterman expressed further on “Fox News Sunday” in November. “I’ve been on this network months ago, saying, ‘It shouldn’t be controversial for our party to support immigration while ensuring border security.’ By dismissing what’s evident and denying there’s an issue, we lose credibility.”
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