Sen. John Fetterman, who overcame a rough debate performance due to a stroke, says Democrats should not panic about President Biden's performance, as it does not reflect his overall record or fitness for office.
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has urged panicked Democrats to "chill the f--- out" about President Biden's widely criticized debate performance, arguing that a rough debate does not disqualify a political candidate.
Fetterman made the comments after the CNN Presidential Debate, where Biden's performance sparked concerns among liberals about his cognitive abilities and suitability for a second term. Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May 2022 that impacted his speaking abilities, experienced similar criticism during his own debate against Republican Mehmet Oz.
Fetterman Defends Biden's Debate Performance, Urges Democrats to "Chill the F--- Out
Despite his jarring debate performance, Fetterman defeated Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate race by a historic margin. He believes that Biden can overcome similar criticism, drawing upon his own experience as proof that a rough debate is not a reliable indicator of a candidate's overall fitness for office.
"I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Biden's shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record," Fetterman posted on Twitter alongside a politically headline about Democrats panicking over Biden's debate struggles.
Fetterman Defends Biden's Debate Performance, Urges Democrats to "Chill the F--- Out
Fetterman pointed out that despite predictions of his loss, he flipped a seat and won by a significant margin, demonstrating that a single debate performance should not overshadow a candidate's entire record.
During his debate against Oz, Fetterman relied on closed captioning due to his auditory processing issues, but still struggled to deliver his responses. However, he refused to release his medical records to the public, despite concerns about his health.
Fetterman Defends Biden's Debate Performance, Urges Democrats to "Chill the F--- Out
In the wake of Biden's debate performance, various liberal pundits and commentators have questioned his ability to serve another term, citing concerns about his age and cognitive abilities. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a close friend of Biden, called the debate "heartbreaking" and suggested that Biden should not run for re-election.
CNN commentator Van Jones, who had expressed joy at Biden's 2020 election victory, urged the president to step aside, stating that he "failed to restore confidence" in the country and the party.
Despite these calls for Biden to withdraw, Fetterman believes that Democrats should remain calm and avoid overreacting to a single debate performance. He emphasized that there is still time for the party to consider other options, but that Biden's overall record and fitness for office should be taken into account.
Fetterman's comments highlight the importance of not making hasty judgments based on a single debate performance and the need for Democrats to remain united in支持ing Biden as the party's leader.
