Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., compared the House’s bickering to the worst of The Jerry Springer Show on Thursday.
Self-declared socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Fetterman a “bully” for his statements.
Fetterman hit back at his fellow Democrat during a Sunday interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Tapper said, “Ocasio-Cortez seems to be suggesting that you’re a bully.”
“That’s absurd,” Fetterman said.
“I was just simply responding to the kind of chaos and everything that Rep. [Marjorie Taylor Green, R-G.A.] started, as well. And if everyone on the committee was proud of what they’ve produced, they’re entitled their opinion. Of if they feel that this is the kind of a video that you want to send to a classroom of eighth-grade civics students across America, that’s their choice.”
“If I’m going to push back against anything, it’s going to be pushing back against Hamas — and not vote against Israel,” Fetterman added.
“And I’m going to push back against Putin. I’m not voting against the aid for Ukraine, as Rep. Greene has done. And then I’m also going to push back against the TikTok vote as well, now that TikTok is essentially a Chinese Communist Government asset.”
During the CNN interview, Fetterman also addressed President Joe Biden’s chance of winning Pennsylvania in 2024, the corruption trial for Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, and a recent scandal involving Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
More than anything else, Fetterman talked about the problem with the pro-Hamas faction inside the Democratic Party.
“I think it’d be unfortunate if it’s being infamous to support Israel,” Fetterman said. “I’ve been very supportive of Israel from the beginning of all that.”
Fetterman declined to say whether he’d support Israel’s potential invasion of Rafah, a Gaza town home to displaced persons.
Some far-Left Democrats, like New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman, have distanced themselves from the anti-Semitic messages from groups like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). By Oct. 7, Bowman had already allowed his DSA membership to expire, he said.
Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, has yet to say whether she’ll leave the DSA.
Take a look at Fetterman’s remarks —
“That's absurd.”
Sen. @JohnFetterman fires back at Rep. @AOC after she suggests he is a bully for his tweet about House Oversight Committee members after their clash on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/vT36eK7s7i
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) May 19, 2024
Fetterman began feuding with Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday after the House of Representatives devolved into bedlam.
During a committee hearing, Greene, R-Ga., took a shot at Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s “fake eyelashes.” Crockett, a Texas Democrat, slammed Greene’s “bleach-blonde, bad-built butch body.”
Fetterman compared the scene to The Jerry Springer Show. In response, Ocasio-Cortez called Fetterman a racist, sexist bully.
Take a look —
I understand you likely would not have stood up for your colleague and seem to be confused about racism and misogyny being a “both sides” issue.
But I stand up to bullies, instead of becoming one.
And to the women of Pennsylvania: I’d stand up for you too.
Enjoy your Friday. https://t.co/cInF4YXO2y
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 17, 2024