When The 11th Hour host Stephanie Ruhle sat down for a taped interview with Democratic Pennsylvania Senate nominee John Fetterman it was expected to be a softball interview, but what aired on MSNBC on Wednesday night was somehow even softer than those expectations.
One of Ruhle’s favorite habits is to demand to know how Republicans plan to fight inflation, but such expectations are not extended to Democratic candidates, “Take me to the campaign trail. What are voters telling you is their top issue? Because just a couple of months ago it was all about gas prices and inflation, an issue some people said was the problem from hell for the president. Today, what are you hearing?”
Fetterman, who looked like he was doing the interview from a dungeon, resorted to his favorite tactic: deflection, by talking about Dr. Oz, “I think everyone's excited because they want a genuine, actual Pennsylvania resident. And somebody that actually understands what all the important issues are. And people understand what's really at stake in this--in this-- election right now. And now, with Dr. Oz, just being caught saying that, you know, every abortion is murder and that right now there's a stark choice between us right now too and I think people understand that.”
Ruhle followed up by, not asking about Fetterman’s own radical views, but by worrying voters may not understand the stakes of the election, “Do people in Pennsylvania understand that? Because to your point, Dr. Oz has flipped-flopped on abortion. But now, he is saying it is murder for those who believe life starts at conception. Doug Mastriano is running for governor, he is against all abortions, under any circumstances. Do Pennsylvania voters know that abortion access could become an issue?”
Again, Fetterman decided to talk about Oz, instead of his own record and his answer had nothing to do with abortion.
Later in the interview Ruhle displayed a newfound appreciation for politicians using social media to troll people, “One thing that you are winning in before we go is trolling. Hard-core trolling. Social media trolling, using New Jersey using Snooki to go after Oz. It's obviously entertaining, it's getting a lot of attention. But does any of that matter to voters who care about their day-to-day lives?”
Fetterman claimed that voters really do care about such things, “Oh Absolutely. People do understand how it is very important. How can you -- if you can't recognize a life here in Pennsylvania how on possible can you go to D.C to fight to make a life in Pennsylvania better? And it also, the kind of campaign we run is very, it's never nasty.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Ruhle didn’t ask Fetterman if his health problems could limit his effectiveness as a senator, only how he plans to convince voters it won’t. She did ask if he eventually plans to debate Oz, but did not press him on it when he equated all concerns about his health with mocking his stroke. She did not ask about the time he chased down a black jogger with a shotgun, allegations he has used his past offices to target his opponents, or why he’s against school choice while sending his kids to private schools that cost nearly $35,000 in tuition while portraying himself as a man of the people.
This segment was sponsored by Golden Corral.
Here is a transcript for the August 31 show:
MSNBC The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle
8/31/2022
11:27 PM ET
STEPHANIE RUHLE: Take me to the campaign trail. What are voters telling you is their top issue? Because just a couple of months ago it was all about gas prices and inflation, an issue some people said was the problem from hell for the president. Today, what are you hearing?
JOHN FETTERMAN: What I'm hearing is that one, they are so glad to see is that I'm healthy and that it's going great and it's astonishing that just a few days ago we were in Mercer County, a very deeply red county, and we had 450 people there. It's just remarkable. And I think everyone's excited because they want a genuine, actual Pennsylvania resident. And somebody that actually understands what all the important issues are. And people understand what's really at stake in this--in this-- election right now. And now, with Dr. Oz, just being caught saying that, you know, every abortion is murder and that right now there's a stark choice between us right now too and I think people understand that.
RUHLE: Do people in Pennsylvania understand that? Because to your point, Dr. Oz has flipped-flopped on abortion. But now, he is saying it is murder for those who believe life starts at conception. Doug Mastriano is running for governor, he is against all abortions, under any circumstances. Do Pennsylvania voters know that abortion access could become an issue?
FETTERMAN: Nobody really knows what Dr. Oz believes. I don't even think Dr. Oz knows what he believes. Here’s an individual that was fined over a million dollars for selling "magic diet pills” now. So, if you're willing to sell those kinds of products and swindling people out of their money, who knows what they really believe? Because, right now it's very clear that this is a very one, important election. But, you know, we stand on the right side that I believe a majority of Pennsylvanian voters understands.
…
RUHLE: One thing that you are winning in before we go is trolling. Hard-core trolling. Social media trolling, using New Jersey using Snooki to go after Oz. It's obviously entertaining, it's getting a lot of attention. But does any of that matter to voters who care about their day-to-day lives?
FETTERMAN: Oh Absolutely. People do understand how it is very important. How can you -- if you can't recognize a life here in Pennsylvania how on possible can you go to D.C to fight to make a life in Pennsylvania better? And it also, the kind of campaign we run is very, it's never nasty. You know, that’s, Gisele is always very inspiring in that way too. It's always kind and it’s, you know, we only traffic in truths too. Whether you're looking for crudités or talking that Dr. Oz lives in New Jersey.
