Trevor Noah used the Wednesday installment of The Daily Show on Comedy Central to defend Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman from criticism he is not healthy enough to serve by comparing him to disabled war veterans Dan Crenshaw and Tammy Duckworth.
Noah reported that, “This race has hinged on a number of issues like crime, abortion, and the fact that Dr. Oz has only lived in Pennsylvania for less than two years, which -- is that even a real Pennsylvanian? Has this dude even been in a fist fight in a Wawa parking lot yet? But now another question has begun to take center stage in the race, John Fetterman's health. Back in May, Fetterman suffered a stroke and even though he's been back on the campaign trail, he still hasn't fully recovered and now his first major interview since the stroke has everyone talking.”
After playing a clip from the NBC interview, Noah joked that Fetterman’s speech problems make him not that different than Presidents Trump and Biden, but why the country should want a third bumbler was not answered.
Still, Noah insisted, “I’m not vouching for Fetterman over Dr. Oz or anything like that but I do think this whole debate is veering into the territory of saying that people with disabilities cannot be lawmakers, which is trash, alright. Especially since America already has disabled lawmakers serving right now.”
To back up his claim, Noah continued, “It shouldn't be disqualifying, right? Dan Crenshaw is missing an eye. Tammy Duckworth lost both her legs, alright? And Mitch McConnell, he's literally melting all the time. But has he let that hold him back? No! He gets up every day and he vows to keep on working until the moment his face slides right off of his skull. ‘That's right, every night I tie my skin into a ponytail.’”
Those are physical disability that has not impacted those two’s ability to do their jobs. A stroke is a different matter. In 2016 when Duckworth was running against Mark Kirk, the Chicago Tribune wrote in its endorsement of Duckworth:
While a stroke by no means disqualifies anyone from public office, we cannot tiptoe around the issue of Kirk's recovery and readiness. His health is a fundamental component of this race — a hotly contested matchup that could return control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats.
We aren't physicians; Kirk's doctor attests to his good cognitive health.
But we are voters. And our reluctant judgment is that, due to forces beyond his control, Kirk no longer can perform to the fullest the job of a U.S. senator. We are unable to endorse him for another six-year term.
Funny that Noah didn’t mention that part.
This segment was sponsored by Volkswagen.
Here is a transcript for the October 12 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
10/12/2022
11:05 PM ET
TREVOR NOAH: And few races are closer right now than the one in Pennsylvania. On the Republican side you have Dr. Oz, famous TV doctor and proof that even Oprah makes mistakes. And on the Democratic side you have John Fetterman, former lieutenant governor and dude who's just going off in the mosh pits.
This race has hinged on a number of issues like crime, abortion, and the fact that Dr. Oz has only lived in Pennsylvania for less than two years, which -- is that even a real Pennsylvanian? Has this dude even been in a fist fight in a Wawa parking lot yet? But now another question has begun to take center stage in the race, John Fetterman's health. Back in May, Fetterman suffered a stroke and even though he's been back on the campaign trail, he still hasn't fully recovered and now his first major interview since the stroke has everyone talking.
…
11:09 PM ET
So look, so look, I'm not-- I'm not-- vouching for Fetterman over Dr. Oz or anything like that but I do think this whole debate is veering into the territory of saying that people with disabilities cannot be lawmakers, which is trash, alright. Especially since America already has disabled lawmakers serving right now.
It shouldn't be disqualifying, right? Dan Crenshaw is missing an eye. Tammy Duckworth lost both her legs, alright? And Mitch McConnell, he's literally melting all the time. But has he let that hold him back? No! He gets up every day and he vows to keep on working until the moment his face slides right off of his skull. "That's right, every night I tie my skin into a ponytail."
