r/politics • u/masterchief6913 • Jul 15 '26

No Paywall Fetterman warns he would leave Democratic Party if it turns its back on Israel

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5970730-john-fetterman-democratic-party-israel/
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59

u/Slow_Investment_2211 Jul 15 '26

He’s already left the Democratic Party.

31

u/TAU_equals_2PI Jul 16 '26

As somebody who watched what happened in 2008 with Joe Lieberman, I just want to warn people to be aware that Fetterman might be able to do the same thing.

For those unfamiliar, in 2008 hawkish incumbent Democratic senator Joe Lieberman lost the Democratic primary for his reelection. So he ran in the general election as an independent and won, because a lot of Republicans voted for him in addition to centrist Democrats.

I don't know what to recommend doing about it. But take the possibility very seriously. Joe Lieberman was the missing 60th vote needed for a public option in Obamacare. If he hadn't run in the general election, the Democrat who won the primary almost certainly would've gotten elected, given Connecticut's blue leaning, and would've provided the needed 60th vote for a public option in Obamacare.

10

u/Churrasco_fan Pennsylvania Jul 16 '26

We're a long ways from 2008. Partisanship is through the roof and Fetterman has zero chance of building the kind of coalition needed to win PA as an independent. Republican trolls will clap for him while he plays spoiler but they won't vote for him over a true MAGA candidate

0

u/ArcFault Jul 16 '26

they could literally clear the field for him and give him whatever he wants, what on earth are you talking about

3

u/No_Gas4560 Jul 16 '26

always seems like the addition or subtraction of ONE person could make a big difference, but we play it safe and nothing happens to make change for the better

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u/ProtectionVirtual225 Jul 16 '26

yes, Lieberman torpedoed the Public Option. It really was a “rotating villain” kind of thing because Obama had already promised Big Pharma the PO wouldn’t pass. There were a lot of Senate Democrats who were grateful to Joe for taking the heat.