In an in-person interview this week, Democrat U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman used a giant computer screen to translate what the interviewer was saying.
In recent weeks, polls have shown Fetterman’s race against Republican challenger Dr Mehmet Oz tightening as a result of issues ranging from Fetterman’s health to his softer stances on crime to questions about his authenticity, with critics saying he portrays a fake blue-collar image.
As early voting has already begun in the state, Fetterman has not yet debated Oz, despite significant pressure from the Left.
It was noted in NBC News’ report that Fetterman had difficulty speaking and “failed to find words.”
Here’s Fetterman during the interview when pressed on his condition and if voters deserve to see his medical records or not.
Several critics and pundits noted online that Fetterman’s condition is serious and that the media’s narrative about him has already shifted.
“Look at Fetterman glancing over at his computer to read the reporter’s Qs he can’t process audibly and then get the answers,” tweeted Steven Law, CEO of the Senate Leadership Fund. “This guy’s in bad shape.”
David Harsanyi, senior editor at The Federalist, wrote: “It went from ‘there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Fetterman’ to ‘how dare you attack the disabled’ in a few hours. It’s amazing how quickly a talking point coalesces.”
“He’s not ‘disabled,’ he has an ailment. It’s impaired his cognitive abilities. If the guy was in a coma, dems would still come up with some bs reason to vote for him, b/c, just like republicans, they care a lot more about winning than the competency of candidates,” he continued. “In many ways, Fetterman’s stroke has actually help divert attention from his incompetence and fringe positions. He’s basically been in hiding for months.”
However, according to FOX News, Liberal journalists who’ve interviewed Fetterman in the past were quick to attempt to debunk the notion that the candidate was difficult to communicate with.
“Sorry to say but I talked to @JohnFetterman for over an hour without stop or any aides and this is just nonsense. Maybe this reporter is just bad at small talk,” Vox’s Kara Swisher knocked the NBC reporter.
“I interviewed @JohnFetterman here, he understood everything I was saying and he was funny,” podcast host Molly Jong-Fast said.
“As someone who has recently interviewed him: Fetterman’s comprehension is not at all impaired. He understands everything, it’s just that he reads it (which requires extra acuity, I’d argue) and responds in real time. It’s a hearing/auditory processing challenge,” New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister defended Fetterman.
Other liberals also attacked the NBC reporter, with some even accusing her of “ableism”
“What’s next? Going after the seeing and hearing impaired? Revolting. You should all be ashamed of yourselves,” TV producer Steven DeKnight shamed Burns.
“I’m not comfortable with reporters who think people who need closed captions aren’t capable of being senators,” Vulture editor Josef Adalian wrote.
