Sen. John Fetterman is the best Democratic candidate for 2028, IMHO.....

[Bazza]

We already have plenty of threads on why the Democratic Party lost the election. Thought it would be interesting to discuss particular candidates who might be the way forward.

BTW, I'm on record here as saying we need better candidates on BOTH sides.

After all......I pull for the country....not any particular party.....(can you say the same?)

There are plenty of Democrats who are not liberal sheep. They are willing to take an honest look at the big picture and call out what they see as ignorance by some in their party.

For these reasons......I hereby proclaim this man as someone I see as the way forward.......

 

[Bazza]

He's not wrong......

US Senator John Fetterman has suggested Democrats should not “freak out” over everything Donald Trump does. Fetterman’s comments came during an interview with CNN anchor Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday.

“If we're having meltdowns, you know, every tweet or every appointment or all those things, I mean, it's going to be four years,” he said.

The senator said he previously warned of the “jackpot” for Trump after Republicans won the White House, House of Representatives and the Senate. Fetterman also suggested the US Supreme Court favours Republicans and Trump due to its “conservative slant”.

“They have the absolute ability to run the table at least for the next two years, and that's what I think we should all be concerned on, not small tweets or random kinds of appointments,” he said.

 

[Bazza]

One more comment and video on the subject, for now.

I've been saying this for years that the majority of the country is sick of the partisan warfare. The country is wide open for someone better.

Well.....here he is, folks......breath of fresh air......

 

[Huckleberry]

Fetterman:
1) opposes all restrictions on abortion
2) favors barring members of Congress and their families from owning stock
3) is anti-death penalty
4) believes in man-made Climate Change and wants to do something about it
5) wants to end the filibuster
6) supports Israel
7) believes China is an enemy
8) supports Ukraine
9) wants the US to remain a part of NATO
10) is skeptical of unrestrained free trade
11) supports common sense gun control
12) is pro-immigration but concerned about border control
13) favors legalizing marijuana
14) is pro-law enforcement but favors restriction on use of deadly force
15) supports a wealth tax
16) supports union rights
17) opposes lab-grown meat

With the exception of number 17, I agree with him! I'm pleased to join you @Bazza in advocating that this man run for president. He might not be my first choice, but I'd be happy with him in office.

 

[Bamaro]

Policies aside, he would be a terrible candidate for POTUS.

 

[Huckleberry]

Policies aside, he would be a terrible candidate for POTUS.

Do you mean from a primary campaign standpoint or that he'd be a terrible person to consider for the office?

 

[Crimson1967]

After all......I pull for the country....not any particular party.....(can you say the same?)

Yes, you have always been a beacon of impartiality around here. I couldn’t fathom to guess how you voted last time.

 

[AWRTR]

Fetterman:
1) opposes all restrictions on abortion
2) favors barring members of Congress and their families from owning stock
3) is anti-death penalty
4) believes in man-made Climate Change and wants to do something about it
5) wants to end the filibuster
6) supports Israel
7) believes China is an enemy
8) supports Ukraine
9) wants the US to remain a part of NATO
10) is skeptical of unrestrained free trade
11) supports common sense gun control
12) is pro-immigration but concerned about border control
13) favors legalizing marijuana
14) is pro-law enforcement but favors restriction on use of deadly force
15) supports a wealth tax
16) supports union rights
17) opposes lab-grown meat

With the exception of number 17, I agree with him! I'm pleased to join you @Bazza in advocating that this man run for president. He might not be my first choice, but I'd be happy with him in office.

I too agree with a lot on that list. He would get a look from me. Especially since he couldn’t do anything about abortion. That’s a state issue now.

I think a snowman would have a better chance in hell than he has of winning a primary. There are quite a few candidates in each party that are more centrist that would be great in a general that will never get there.

 

[Bazza]

Yes, you have always been a beacon of impartiality around here. I couldn’t fathom to guess how you voted last time.

I would have loved to have voted for someone other than who I voted for - and said so on occasion - so guess you are wrong there, my friend.......

 

[Bamaro]

Do you mean from a primary campaign standpoint or that he'd be a terrible person to consider for the office?

He's unelectable

 

[Bazza]

He's unelectable

Way too smart....and way too honest!

 

[crimsonaudio]

I agree with @Huckleberry and @AWRTR - I will never see a candidate with whom I align 100% on every issue, but Fetterman seems to have a very balanced approach to governing.

If you had told me two years ago this thread would exist I'd have worked to have you committed. What weird times we live in.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I love the honest debate that is growing on this board.

I don't agree with anybody 100% the time. But their thoughtfully expressed ideas force me to equally thoughtfully re-examine my own.

Sometimes that leads me to logical change. Sometimes that leads me to confirm what I already thought. Either way my positions are strengthened, and I win.

We lost our way here for a while.

I'm glad we're on the way to getting back to respectful disagreement and honest debate....what a concept!

 

[Crimson1967]

I saw an ad promoting the state of Arkansas during the game hosted by Sarah Sanders.

Her first salvo for 2028?

 

[Bamaro]

I saw an ad promoting the state of Arkansas during the game hosted by Sarah Sanders.

Her first salvo for 2028?

When you see her with her lips firmly attached to the orange fool's butt you'll know she's serious.

 

[Bazza]

-snip-
If you had told me two years ago this thread would exist I'd have worked to have you committed. What weird times we live in.

-snip-
I'm glad we're on the way to getting back to respectful disagreement and honest debate....what a concept!

You're welcome!

 

[Bodhisattva]

I love the honest debate that is growing on this board.

I don't agree with anybody 100% the time. But their thoughtfully expressed ideas force me to equally thoughtfully re-examine my own.

Sometimes that leads me to logical change. Sometimes that leads me to confirm what I already thought. Either way my positions are strengthened, and I win.

We lost our way here for a while.

I'm glad we're on the way to getting back to respectful disagreement and honest debate....what a concept!

Agreed! This board has become a much more enjoyable place without the childish, binary you're-a-Nazi-if-you-disagree-with-me politics. And, as a result, we are seeing a lot more participation from new people here who otherwise stayed away because they didn't have the desire or time to wade into the sewer. There are a lot of people with varied educational and professional backgrounds and personal experiences that can add to your knowledge base. That's great and much appreciated! Thank you, everyone!

 

[alabama mike1]

The Democrats must make some major changes and get back to some common sense or they Will end up again in four years on the losing side. They are no longer a party of the common man or common sense. This party is so far out of touch with everyday America, they are on the outside looking in.

Fetterman has some good intentions and ideas but he is a huge minority with his party. IMO, I do not think he could unite the party enough to really make a difference. One name I will throw out is Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky. He is going to have to do more things to get nationally known.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Fetterman:
1) opposes all restrictions on abortion
2) favors barring members of Congress and their families from owning stock
3) is anti-death penalty
4) believes in man-made Climate Change and wants to do something about it
5) wants to end the filibuster
6) supports Israel
7) believes China is an enemy
8) supports Ukraine
9) wants the US to remain a part of NATO
10) is skeptical of unrestrained free trade
11) supports common sense gun control
12) is pro-immigration but concerned about border control
13) favors legalizing marijuana
14) is pro-law enforcement but favors restriction on use of deadly force
15) supports a wealth tax
16) supports union rights
17) opposes lab-grown meat

With the exception of number 17, I agree with him! I'm pleased to join you @Bazza in advocating that this man run for president. He might not be my first choice, but I'd be happy with him in office.

Serious question, Huck....has he reiterated these positions lately? Some look a lot like ones he may have supported before he started distancing himself from the far left wing of the Democratic party.

I agree with some, would like more information on others, and just see a few others differently.

1) opposes all restrictions on abortion -- Are you sure this is still his position? My own thinking has changed from a timeline to concentrating on viability with timeline figuring in. As in, up to 20 weeks, unrestricted. More than that, IF the fetus is viable, I start to get real queasy.

Beyond 24 weeks, for a viable fetus, I just can't get on board.

I'll accept abortion as an option for any fetus that isn't viable, up to and including the 9th month. Yeah, I know that leaves a gap for a viable fetus at 20 to 24 weeks. I'm still wrestling with that one.

2) favors barring members of Congress and their families from owning stock -- I like where he's going with this but would modify the solution to putting their invested assets in a blind trust that mimics the stock market as a whole. Gives them a vested interest in the overall economy as well as a longer-term perspective. But prevents shenanigans on individual securities. I'd also add that their and their spouse's (or partner's) tax returns are public documents. Further, I'd expand the public tax return to anyone running for Congress and their spouse / partner.

3) is anti-death penalty -- Just don't agree here

4) believes in man-made Climate Change and wants to do something about it -- I'm in with him here, but want to know what he means by "do something about it." So far, that's been expensive subsidies for ineffective approaches rife with unintended consequences. How will his ideas differ?

5) wants to end the filibuster -- Disagree. The majority party always wants to end it...,precisely because it's a powerful tool to keep the majority from running roughshod over the minority. Yes, it's inefficient. But that's a price I'm willing to pay to have a check on short-term political expediency for the majority.

6) supports Israel -- 1,000% agreement

7) believes China is an enemy -- 1,000% agreement

8) supports Ukraine -- 100,000% agreement

9) wants the US to remain a part of NATO -- Agreed, provided we can force the other members not to slack off, perpetually counting on the US to rescue them from their own folly.

10) is skeptical of unrestrained free trade -- That's awfully vague. What's he talking about here, and what would his proposed alternative(s) be?

11) supports common sense gun control -- Agree in concept but need to know what he means by "common sense."

12) is pro-immigration but concerned about border control -- Agreed. We need the labor force and economic growth that immigrants bring. But open borders are not the answer.

13) favors legalizing marijuana -- Provided that there are ways to define and measure intoxication and laws to punish harm caused while intoxicated, I'm fine with this. IOW, treat it like alcohol.

14) is pro-law enforcement but favors restriction on use of deadly force -- Sounds reasonable, but again, a bit vague. What restrictions?

15) supports a wealth tax -- Disagree. If you tax wealth as it increases, do you allow deductions / refunds when it declines? If not, you're just levying an envy tax. If so, you're exacerbating the effects of the economic cycle on governmental receipts. Plus, I think it's highly dubious from a Constitutional perspective.

16) supports union rights -- What does he mean by "rights"? I'm all for union rights. I'm also all for individual worker choice. If by "rights" he includes the ability to force a worker to join and/or pay dues, I'm against that. If it's something else, I'm listening.

17) opposes lab-grown meat -- Whatever. So long as the product is accurately labelled, I have no position on this.

I also really like that he's his own man and doesn't kowtow to anybody. In short, I need some clarification, but would probably have voted for Fetterman over Trump. As it was, I didn't vote. Couldn't support either Harris or Trump. Plus, it's Alabama and Trump was going to win at least 60% of the vote anyway. In 2020, I wrote in Nick Saban.

 

[Huckleberry]

Serious question, Huck....has he reiterated these positions lately? Some look a lot like ones he may have supported before he started distancing himself from the far left wing of the Democratic party.

I agree with some, would like more information on others, and just see a few others differently.

...In short, I need some clarification, but would probably have voted for Fetterman over Trump. As it was, I didn't vote. Couldn't support either Harris or Trump. Plus, it's Alabama and Trump was going to win at least 60% of the vote anyway. In 2020, I wrote in Nick Saban.

I looked on Fetterman's official website as well as some other reliable sites for clarification. I left the original post in bold, your response immediately after, my thoughts in bold italics, and new Fetterman info in italics. I also added three new issues at the end.

1) opposes all restrictions on abortion -- Are you sure this is still his position? My own thinking has changed from a timeline to concentrating on viability with timeline figuring in. As in, up to 20 weeks, unrestricted. More than that, IF the fetus is viable, I start to get real queasy.

Beyond 24 weeks, for a viable fetus, I just can't get on board.

I'll accept abortion as an option for any fetus that isn't viable, up to and including the 9th month. Yeah, I know that leaves a gap for a viable fetus at 20 to 24 weeks. I'm still wrestling with that one.

I believe in the right to bodily autonomy, so it’s the woman’s right to decide until the baby is born. However, third trimester abortions of healthy babies are so rare that it’s essentially a non-issue.

A woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is sacred and non-negotiable. Period.

Right-wing extremists have been hellbent on rolling back abortion access since the ink was barely dry on the Roe v. Wade decision. And in the decades since, the GOP has worked to do away with this fundamental right with extreme laws aimed at banning abortions without exceptions for rape or incest and even putting women who seek abortions and doctors who perform them behind bars.As your senator, I will vote to enshrine access to safe and legal abortion into federal law by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act, because deciding how and when to become a mother is a decision that should always be made by a woman and her doctor — not politicians. I will also stand up to attacks on Planned Parenthood, and fight to repeal the Hyde Amendment.

Democrats must do everything we can to protect this fundamental right. I believe that if you are not willing to do whatever it takes to protect abortion rights when they are on the line, then you cannot call yourself pro-choice. It’s that simple.

2) favors barring members of Congress and their families from owning stock -- I like where he's going with this but would modify the solution to putting their invested assets in a blind trust that mimics the stock market as a whole. Gives them a vested interest in the overall economy as well as a longer-term perspective. But prevents shenanigans on individual securities. I'd also add that their and their spouse's (or partner's) tax returns are public documents. Further, I'd expand the public tax return to anyone running for Congress and their spouse / partner.

I agree with Fetterman on this.

In the Senate, I will fight like hell to expand voting rights and push for reforms that get big money out of politics and prevent politicians from picking their voters through partisan gerrymandering. I will also vote to ban Members of Congress from holding or trading stocks, because lawmakers should not be making profits off of the same companies they are supposed to be regulating, based on closed-door information that isn’t available to the public.

These are simple, common sense reforms we need to strengthen our democracy and restore trust in our system of government.

3) is anti-death penalty -- Just don't agree here

Not only is it applied in an inequitable manner, but it is also irreversible. Though I believe some criminals deserve it, I can’t favor it.

No new Fetterman info

4) believes in man-made Climate Change and wants to do something about it -- I'm in with him here, but want to know what he means by "do something about it." So far, that's been expensive subsidies for ineffective approaches rife with unintended consequences. How will his ideas differ?

I agree with Fetterman.

I believe that climate change is an existential threat, and we need to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible. But we must do it in a way that preserves the union way of life for the thousands of workers currently employed or supported by the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania and the communities where they live. We need to make sure that as we transition we honor and uphold the union way of life for workers across Pennsylvania, and create thousands of good-paying union jobs in clean energy in the process.

In the Senate, I will support legislation that combats high gas prices, invests in upgrading infrastructure, and responsibly transitions us to cleaner energy sources. We must make proper investments in greener, cleaner technology in America — and make more of that technology right here at home. I have never taken a dime from the fossil fuel industry, and I never will. So you can be assured that any vote I take when it comes to energy production and climate will be what I believe is right — not what fossil fuel executives tell me to do.

This is what I’ve been saying for nearly 15 years: I believe that clean energy can revitalize former steel towns all across Pennsylvania, including Braddock, the town I call home. It’s a total false choice that we have to choose between creating jobs and working towards a cleaner environment — we can and must do both.

5) wants to end the filibuster -- Disagree. The majority party always wants to end it...,precisely because it's a powerful tool to keep the majority from running roughshod over the minority. Yes, it's inefficient. But that's a price I'm willing to pay to have a check on short-term political expediency for the majority.

I agree with Fetterman.

Last year, I became one of the first candidates in the country to call for abolishing the filibuster for a reason: it stands in the way of getting things done for Pennyslvanians. This includes protecting our democracy from those who simply want to throw out election results they don’t like. When Republicans in Harrisburg tried to undermine our democracy after the 2020 election, I called out their lies. We must do everything we can to maintain and protect our democracy.

6) supports Israel -- 1,000% agreement

I agree with you, though I’m not a fan of Netanyahu (to put it mildly, because frankly, he belongs in prison).

No new Fetterman info

7) believes China is an enemy -- 1,000% agreement

I agree with Fetterman.

U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) joined Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) to introduce the Banning SPR Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act. The bipartisan bill would prohibit the sale or export of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or any entity owned or controlled by those nations. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) led the introduction of this legislation in the House.

“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve protects America’s energy, economic, and national security,” said Senator John Fetterman. “We must prioritize the safety of America and our allies – we cannot allow our adversaries to purchase oil from our critical energy reserves. This is a commonsense bill with strong bipartisan support. I’m proud to introduce it with Senator Cruz, Senator Slotkin, and my colleagues in the House. I look forward to getting it signed into law this congress.”

In the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Fetterman strongly supported an amendment that bans China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing U.S. farmland and agricultural companies. It also requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review foreign investments and transactions in American agriculture to evaluate whether such investments would compromise national security.

In Washington, I will prioritize keeping America safe through strengthening our diplomatic efforts and investing in effective foreign aid programs while also ensuring that the best military in the world remains strong and prepared. I will also work to guarantee that we don’t allow China to out-innovate us. There is no reason that the next generation of technology—from defense to clean energy to the microchips that power our cell phones—can’t be manufactured right here in the Commonwealth. A competitive edge is the key to real and lasting national security, and as your senator I will work tirelessly to make sure we never lose ours.

8) supports Ukraine -- 100,000% agreement

I agree with you.

No new Fetterman info

9) wants the US to remain a part of NATO -- Agreed, provided we can force the other members not to slack off, perpetually counting on the US to rescue them from their own folly.

Regardless, leaving NATO is not an option.

No new Fetterman info

10) is skeptical of unrestrained free trade -- That's awfully vague. What's he talking about here, and what would his proposed alternative(s) be?

I agree with Fetterman.

From Fetterman's “make stuff here” proposal:

• The Import Security and Fairness Act: Places tariffs on all products from countries without free market economies, like China and Russia, and would include products less than $800.
• The Leveling the Play Field 2.0 Act: Enacts measures to prevent foreign countries from dumping their goods in another country (so-called “country hopping”) before sending them into the U.S.
• The Fighting Trade Cheats Act: Increases penalties and enforcement for people who break customs laws.
• The PRO Act: Makes it easier to join unions and initiate strikes, expands who can be eligible for union membership.
• The National Apprenticeship Act: Expands worker projections to people in apprentice programs.
• The Use Strong American Steel Act: Adds new incentives to use union-made, domestic steel for projects financed by the Inflation Reduction Act.
• The Rare Earth Magnet Manufacturing Production Tax Credit: Creates incentives for domestic producers who mine rare-earth materials used in electronics.

Across Pennsylvania, people are getting squeezed. We’re paying more at the grocery store, more at the pump, and more almost everywhere else. Inflation is a tax on working people, and we must do more to stop it.

First and foremost, we have to tackle the corporate greed that’s been contributing to the sky high prices. In the Senate, I will fight for a fair tax code that ensures the wealthiest Americans and corporations don’t get away with scamming the system, and finally pay their fair share. We can and must build an economy that works for all of us.

To bring down costs, we also need to make our supply chains more resilient and ensure that they start and end here at home – because supply chains get a lot less complicated when we make stuff here, not overseas. Making more stuff here in America would mean prices wouldn’t spike every time there’s a problem overseas. We don’t need to be outsourcing any more jobs and production to China, while exacerbating inflation.

And when it comes to gas prices, we should suspend the federal gas tax to provide immediate relief for people at the pump. We should also continue to use American oil, produce and invest in more American energy, and invest in programs that help low-income Pennsylvanians pay their energy bills. And finally, it’s time we crack down on the big oil companies who are making record profits while jacking up prices for all of us. Instead of raising costs at the pump, these oil companies should be working to help drive prices down, even if it means their CEOs make a little bit less.

The bottom line is that we have to make more stuff in America and bring manufacturing and jobs back home — not just to America, but to right here in Pennsylvania.

11) supports common sense gun control -- Agree in concept but need to know what he means by "common sense."

I agree with Fetterman, but would go a bit further (magazine limits, tightening of gun show and private sales regulations, mandatory insurance for gun owners, gun safe/trigger locks in homes with minors, etc.).

True public safety also must include ending the tragedy of mass shootings in this country. The United States is the only country that sees this level of mass shootings, and we have the power to end it. I’m a gun owner, and I’ve been around guns my whole life. I want what an overwhelming majority of Americans, including the majority of gun owners, want – which is common sense gun safety measures. We need universal background checks, red flag laws, and more proactive efforts to get illegal guns off our streets. This is personal for me, and every time we delay real action, we’re only counting down the hours until the next tragedy. Enough.

12) is pro-immigration but concerned about border control -- Agreed. We need the labor force and economic growth that immigrants bring. But open borders are not the answer.

I agree with Fetterman.

I fundamentally believe immigration is what makes America, America. This issue is personal to me. My wife, Gisele, was a Dreamer who came to America when she was 7, fleeing violence in Brazil with her family. I would not have my family if it weren’t for immigration.

It is no secret that our immigration system is broken. We need a system that is strong, secure, and humane. In the Senate, I would support investments that go towards keeping our borders strong and preventing the flow of illegal drugs into our country. We also must work to ensure that our immigration system is humane. I support commonsense immigration reforms that will restore our country’s legacy as a nation built by immigrants. In the Senate, I will work to modernize our visa system and asylum programs so that they can’t be exploited by bad actors. I will also fight for a pathway to citizenship for frontline workers, small business owners, and young people who have only known this country as their home.

We have to reject the false choice pitting laws and strong borders against those coming to America to seek a better life for themselves and their families.

13) favors legalizing marijuana -- Provided that there are ways to define and measure intoxication and laws to punish harm caused while intoxicated, I'm fine with this. IOW, treat it like alcohol.

I agree with Fetterman.

Weed should be legal, nationwide — for jobs, justice, veterans, farmers, and revenue. It’s far past time we end the failed war on drugs and let go of this bizarre superstition and criminalization of a plant. Almost every state allows some form of medical marijuana, and 19 states and DC have legalized adult recreational use. But more than 350,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana in 2020, and because marijuana is still illegal under federal laws, people who are using this plant legally in their home state may still be denied federal employment. It’s flat wrong.

In the Senate, I’ll work to end the war on drugs by fighting to deschedule marijuana, expunge the records of those convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses, and prevent the monopolization of this vibrant new industry. We have to end the national patchwork of marijuana laws that hurts patients, business owners, and the economy and move our views on this subject out of the Stone Age.

14) is pro-law enforcement but favors restriction on use of deadly force -- Sounds reasonable, but again, a bit vague. What restrictions?

I agree with Fetterman.

Our criminal justice system is broken. I believe in the power of a second chance, and for years, I have advocated for reforms to our too often unforgiving and vindictive justice system. As Lieutenant Governor, I have fought hard for second chances for deserving Pennsylvanians and to free the wrongfully convicted through my work as Chair of the Board of Pardons.

As your senator, I will fight for a criminal legal system where everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. I will work to make sure that serious crimes receive serious punishment, while also alleviating the burdens placed on prosecutors and judges by focusing on effective diversion programs for nonviolent offenders and prioritizing sentencing reform.

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their communities. And unlike Dr. Oz, I have actually taken on crime. As Mayor of Braddock and its chief law enforcement officer, I worked with the chief of police, our police officers, and the community to reduce violent crime. One of my proudest achievements as Mayor was when Braddock went five and a half years without a gun death. I’ve worked hand-in-hand with the police and I understand the challenges our police forces face and how to support them to make communities more safe. As your senator, I will make sure law enforcement has the resources necessary to do their job, but I will also prioritize oversight, accountability, and violence prevention.

15) supports a wealth tax -- Disagree. If you tax wealth as it increases, do you allow deductions / refunds when it declines? If not, you're just levying an envy tax. If so, you're exacerbating the effects of the economic cycle on governmental receipts. Plus, I think it's highly dubious from a Constitutional perspective.

I agree with Fetterman.

We need to cut taxes for working families to even the odds and guarantee that the ultra-wealthy aren’t abusing our broken tax code. I support suspending the federal gas tax, to provide working people with immediate relief at the pump and help deal with rising costs. We also need to bring down taxes for working people across the board.

To replace the revenue, we will make sure Wall Street, hedge fund managers, and mega-millionaires pay their fair share by enacting a financial transaction tax on trades of stocks, bonds, and derivatives. The savings could then be used to cut taxes for working families and reinvest in the American people.

I’ll fight for a tax code that ensures the wealthiest Americans and corporations like Amazon and don’t get away with scamming the system, and finally pay their fair share like the rest of us. We can and must build an economy that works for all of us.

16) supports union rights -- What does he mean by "rights"? I'm all for union rights. I'm also all for individual worker choice. If by "rights" he includes the ability to force a worker to join and/or pay dues, I'm against that. If it's something else, I'm listening.

I agree with Fetterman.

For the past 40 years, the rich have gotten richer while the workers who actually keep this country running have fallen farther and farther behind. The past two years have made this abundantly clear—management, elites, and politicians praised essential workers, but failed to back up those words with actual support. It is past time to build an economy that works for all of us, not just the people at the top. That starts with protecting and expanding the union way of life.

The union way of life is sacred, and as a public servant, I have always stood up for workers. I have walked picket lines with striking workers, attended countless rallies in support unionization efforts and have even asked my campaign email list to donate directly to unions’ strike funds. I’ll take this fight for workers with me to Washington.

We’ve seen bad trade deals have sold out people on factory floors, and benefited the people in the boardrooms and sent thousands of good-paying union jobs overseas. The bottom line is that we need to make more stuff here in America and keep jobs here. In the Senate, I’ll work to reverse the bad trade deals that have hurt American workers.

I will also proudly support the PRO Act, which will protect and expand workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively for better wages, benefits, and protections. And I’ll fight to raise the minimum wage to at least $15/hour.


17) opposes lab-grown meat -- Whatever. So long as the product is accurately labelled, I have no position on this.

I despise abuse of any creature, but I eat meat (yes, I’m a hypocrite on this issue). If we can eliminate cruelty and inhumane conditions for our fellow animals, I’m all in favor of it.

No new Fetterman info

18) Favors Universal Health Care – -

I agree with Fetterman.

I believe that health care is a basic, fundamental human right, not a privilege. But health care in America is far too expensive and convoluted. In the richest nation on earth, I believe we have a moral duty to guarantee quality health care coverage for every American, and end the disgusting practice of corporations profiting from people’s health and well-being.

In the Senate, I will support any legislation that gets us closer to the goal of universal health care coverage. I’m less fixated on what you call it, and more focused on the result: ensuring access to health care for every American. I will also support efforts to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60 while expanding its benefits to include vision, hearing, and dental care.

Under our current system, many people are forced to pay thousands of dollars for medicine that they need to survive. It’s inhumane and inexcusable. If we are going to bring down the prices of prescription drugs, we need to go after the pharmaceutical companies that jack up the prices. We have finally passed a law to allow Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices and cap annual prescription drug costs, but we cannot stop there–we must allow for the importation of lower priced prescription drugs from other countries and limit drug costs for all Americans.

19) LGBTQIA+ Rights –-

I agree with Fetterman. I’m not in favor of trans females participating in women’s sports.

I have consistently stood with the LGBTQIA+ community. Back in 2013, when same-sex marriages were still banned in Pennsylvania, I was the first and only elected official in western Pennsylvania to solemnize same-sex weddings. This was one of my proudest moments as mayor. I officiated more than two dozen before the ban was finally overturned. I believe everyone deserves equal protection under the law, and with extreme Republicans trying to pass legislation that discriminates against LGBTQIA+ Americans and targets transgender kids to score cheap political points, we need to fight back.

In the Senate, I will vote to finally pass the Equality Act, which would ensure that civil rights laws — like protections against discrimination in employment and housing — apply to sexual orientation and gender identity. I will also support efforts to end the hateful practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” and fight to strengthen anti-harrassment policies on school and college campuses.

20) End Immoral Price Gouging --

I agree with Fetterman.

It’s time we crack down on the big corporations who are making record profits while jacking up prices for all of us. We need to prosecute the executives of huge corporations, including the big oil companies and meatpacking companies who are artificially driving up prices, gouging consumers at the pump and at the grocery store.

Big oil companies like Chevron, Exxon, and Shell have seen their profits increase 200% since last year, but they’re still charging us sky-high prices for gas. Companies like Tyson posted over a billion dollars in profits last quarter, while raising prices on meat products our families depend on.

It’s gross, and deeply unpatriotic, for the big corporations to be rolling around in cash while charging us record high prices for gas and groceries.

Instead of raising costs at the pump or in the grocery store, these companies should be working to help drive prices down, even if it means their CEOs make a little bit less. It’s time to take on the big corporations and special interests, and bring down prices for the American people.