The Friday edition of ABC’s The View brought with it one of the more highly anticipated interviews for the show, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman. If you predicted it would be a cakewalk for him, you’d be correct. They refused to grill him pretty much on anything and instead repeatedly teed him up to go after critics and his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and downplayed his obviously strained health condition.
Wasting her first question asking about his endorsement from Oprah, co-host Joy Behar didn’t push for him to release his medical records but rather for him just to explain what his doctors told him:
So, today, I understand, you're using closed captioning to read questions. So let's just ask you directly. What are your doctors telling you? Are they telling you that you'll make a full recovery, a substantial recovery, or a full recovery? What are they saying?
The only information Fetterman has released on his health has come from letters written by one of his doctors, who just so happens to be one of his donors and biggest supporters. Of course, this truth was omitted by the cast. “You've only released two letters from your doctor and said you will not release your full medical records,” noted Ana Navarro.
Asking: “Do you feel you owe voters full transparency, or have you been transparent enough? In that, you can get the job done.”
For her part, Sara Haines said she was “happy” Fetterman “released an updated letter” from his doctor (who's a campaign donor) and proclaimed, without evidence, “its clear your post-stroke troubles are not cognitive and would not hinder you as a senator. So, I’m just going to go ahead and move on and treat you like a regular candidate.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin kept up the charade of pretending everything about Fetterman was normal by declaring: “you look and sound great.”
Bringing things back to the debate last week, Hostin suggested “it was an incredibly courageous and brave thing for you to show what healing from a stroke looks like. That's incredibly brave.” She then doubled down on her past assertion that Oz was a “bully” during the debate.
“Does any of this surprise you? A man with a Harvard master's degree, do you think the people of Pennsylvania saw what they needed to see from you to gain their vote?” she teed him up.
Hostin has repeatedly tried to portray Oz as a quack, he too has a degree from Harvard, and while she touts Fetterman’s, he did not receive his post-stroke.
Hostin was also very worried and confused by how the close poll numbers:
Well, um – you know, you've been in politics for almost two decades longer than your opponent, Dr. Oz, who was on television selling supplements. And while you lead your race, your race is still extremely close, according to the polls, which is shocking to many of us. With the midterms just days away, what is your message to Pennsylvanians? Why should they vote John Fetterman?
Faux conservative Alyssa Farah Griffin was her typically weak self. Her first question was used to just set him up to go after critics of Democrats:
Lieutenant governor, polls show consistently the economy is the number one concern of voters. What do you say to Pennsylvania voters right now who say, you know, Democrats have held all branches of power for the last two years and their policies have led to record high inflation, expensive gas, and skyrocketing food prices?
Making their allegiance clear, Behar closed out the interview by noting Fetterman was “in a very important race” since “Pennsylvania is a crucial state for the Senate,” adding: “We wish you the best of luck.”
This softball interview divorced from reality was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Leaf Filter and Macy’s. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s The View
November 4, 2022
11:17:59 a.m. Eastern(…)
JOY BEHAR: So, back in May, Sir, you suffered a stroke which almost took your life and has left you with lingering issues with hearing and interpreting spoken words. So, today, I understand, you're using closed captioning to read questions. So let's just ask you directly. What are your doctors telling you? Are they telling you that you'll make a full recovery, a substantial recovery or full recovery? What are they saying?
(…)
11:18:54 a.m. Eastern
ANA NAVARRO: Mr. Fetterman, several senators faced serious health challenges in office. Just in the last year, Senator Lujan, Senator van Hollen, Senator Tim Johnson all had strokes. Senator Specter from Pennsylvania suffered cancer while serving. But none have had these serious issues, health issues, before being elected. Since your stroke, you've only released two letters from your doctor and said you will not release your full medical records.
Do you feel you owe voters full transparency, or have you been transparent enough? In that you can get the job done.
LT. GOV. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): I really feel that we have been leaving the same medical equivalent – information that Dr. Oz did. And , you know, we've been running a campaign, and I think we have been very transparent in all our doctors' beliefs, both from June and also in October. All agree that I am fit to serve.
(…)
11:20:14 a.m. Eastern
SUNNY HOSTIN: Well, I think you look and sound great. So, last week – let me ask you this, you and Dr. Oz faced off in your first televised debate. And you said, quote, “it wasn't exactly easy”. I think it was an incredibly courageous and brave thing for you to show what healing from a stroke looks like. That's incredibly brave.
On the other hand -- [applause] -- Dr. Oz, a cardiac surgeon, in my view, came off as a bully. After the debate, the Republican National Committee chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, mocked you, mocked your speaking abilities.
Does any of this surprise you? A man with a Harvard master's degree, do you think the people of Pennsylvania saw what they needed to see from you to gain their vote?
(…)
11:21:27 a.m. Eastern
SARA HAINES: Mr. Fetterman, I was happy you released an updated letter from your doctor, and it’s clear your post-stroke troubles are not cognitive and would not hinder you as a senator. So, I’m just going to go ahead move on and treat you like a regular candidate.
Dr. Oz, you hit him often on his wealth and the number of mansions he owns. And you've been very open about your own privileged upbringing, very transparent. But can you explain the difference for those who say it is hypocritical to hit him on that?
(…)
11:22:43 a.m. Eastern
ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: Lieutenant governor, polls show consistently the economy is the number one concern of voters. What do you say to Pennsylvania voters right now who say, you know, Democrats have held all branches of power for the last two years and their policies have led to record high inflation, expensive gas, and skyrocketing food prices?
(…)
11:32:44 a.m. eastern
HOSTIN: Well, um – you know, you've been in politics for almost two decades longer than your opponent, Dr. Oz, who was on television selling supplements. And while you lead your race, your race is still extremely close, according to the polls, which is shocking to many of us. With the midterms just days away, what is your message to Pennsylvanians? Why should they vote John Fetterman?
(…)
11:33:56 a.m. Eastern
BEHAR: Well, you're in a very important race, sir, very important. Pennsylvania is a crucial state for the Senate, and we wish you the best of luck.
Our thanks to lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, John Fetterman. We'll be right back.
