John Fetterman’s challenge to voting for the lesser of two evils
Fetterman ran as a progressive and beat Mehmet Oz to become Pennsylvania’s Junior Senator. His statements on Israel-Palestine and immigration demonstrate that he’s abandoned that platform.
When Doug Mastriano opposed Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race and Mehmet Oz opposed John Fetterman in the state’s Senatorial race, it felt like the sky was falling. Pennsylvania voters rallied behind the Democratic candidates in an effort to ward off creeping fascism in the Republican Party. One thing that motivated our vote was that John Fetterman identified himself as a progressive.
As Will Bunch reported, Fetterman proudly stated in April 2016, “We have started a progressive movement here in Pennsylvania. It’s not going away. This isn’t over. This is not how our story ends.” But last week he told NBC News he was not a progressive. The Senator didn’t really to need to state that fact, because it was already apparent. From his inflammatory statements on Israel-Palestine to his regressive positions on immigration, Fetterman has made his politics clear. He made immigration a primary issue in his campaign, and even connected it to Gisele, his immigrant wife. But he has turned his back on all of that.
Fetterman was never a classic progressive. He made it clear even on the campaign trail that he didn’t oppose fracking in Pennsylvania. We voted for him despite that. Fetterman showed integrity when he broke from his party to call for the resignation of indicted Senator Bob Menendez. However, he’s made an about-face on other issues. He’s not just a moderate, but a liar. And, frankly, because these issues—immigration and Palestine—are close to my heart, I feel ashamed that I believed him.
The issue isn’t that Fetterman isn’t better than many of his moderate colleagues in the Senate, it’s that he purported to be different. Moreover, he isn’t just toeing the party line; he’s vocally supporting it. Moreover, he’s becoming hostile to the progressives who helped get him elected. His opportunism is what makes people sick of politics, cynical about Washington, and disinclined to vote at all.
In our bipartisan system, we’re often forced to vote between the lesser of two evils, and I think Fetterman is making it clear why that’s the case. The choice to vote becomes harder when Fetterman is acting like his Republican colleagues on issues that matter to voters. If he, and members of his party, are our final cry for hope against evil, it would behoove them to act like that.
When we show up to the polls next year or when Fetterman is up for election, we are making a practical choice to ward off fascism and put someone better in office. But I have to admit, I do not want to be the moral center for a political party and I wish Fetterman led the way to defeating fascism, instead of simply compelling us to vote for him because he’s not Trump. Those who don’t vote, whether they are principled about their posture or whether they just don’t care at all, are not at fault for not engaging. In one way or another, they are simply saying that the choices before them are too inconsequential to engage in. I wish Fetterman held positions that made them feel better about voting, but I also believe that we need to continue to engage in the political process in ways beyond voting.
At the core of Anabaptist’s nonparticipation is a trust in the reign of God through the person of Jesus Christ. No matter what powers of hell or darkness threaten us, Christians are assured that Jesus will be victorious in the age to come. We can engage in that very work today in many more ways than simply voting for one politician or another. Voting is a small action that tries to tip the scales of justice—it’s not a love letter, it’s a strategic move.
On top of voting, we can continue to protest, call our representatives, write letters, and actively engage in other work besides offering our endorsement, to politicians that have abandoned us. It’s OK to feel disillusioned and cynical and no one is entitled to your vote. I have to admit, though, I see the looming threat of the GOP and will hold my breath and vote for their opponent.
Progressives want a change to how this country works. Fetterman’s positions don’t exhibit such a change; and worse, they show that he will say something and do another. That hypocrisy is enough to make anyone cynical about the entire system. I hope that cynicism doesn’t prevail, and that we can see that even voting for the lesser of two evils can make the world better. I do wish that Fetterman would help us make that choice, instead of making it harder, though.