'I'm not a progressive': Fetterman challenges the left

Some on the left are disappointed by Sen. John Fetterman ( D-Pa.) for showing an independent streak on contentious issues, such as his strong support for Israel and his demands that Democrats work on stricter immigration restrictions.

Even though New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez rejects the federal allegations of accepting bribes and serving as an agent for Egypt, Fetterman blames Democrats for failing to remove his colleague from office following his indictment, as NBC News reported.

In the 2022 Senate campaign, GOP opponent Mehmet Oz used Fetterman's connections to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to cast him as a mere "sidekick" for the democratic socialist.

In a purple state that is anticipated to be fiercely contested once again in the 2024 elections, Fetterman's recent positions suggest an unconventional blend of blue-collar liberalism and outsider populism.

The first-term Democrat from Pennsylvania stated in an interview that his detractors should not be surprised.

Fetterman's Comments

“I’m not a progressive,” Fetterman told NBC News. “I just think I’m a Democrat that is very committed to choice and other things.

"But with Israel, I’m going to be on the right side of that. And immigration is something near and dear to me, and I think we do have to effectively address it as well," he added.

Fetterman maintained the stance that it is possible to support policies that limit migration to manageable levels while remaining pro-immigration.

This position contrasts with that of progressives who oppose new limits on asylum and criticize certain concepts discussed in the negotiations, labeling them as cruel.

“It’s a reasonable conversation -- until somebody can say there’s an explanation on what we can do when 270,000 people are being encountered on the border, not including the ones, of course, that we don’t know about,” he said.

“To put that in reference, that is essentially the size of Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania," Fetterman declared.

The Wrap Up

Aside from the fact that Republicans have made it a prerequisite to move the supplemental bill forward, the senator continued by saying that it is "not ideal to have this conversation" on parole and asylum policies in the context of a package of aid for Israel and Ukraine. He, however, made it clear that the discussion should still take place.

“Progressives better do that because we can't leave Israel -- we can’t sell them out, and we can’t sell Ukraine out, and we have to deliver on this,” Fetterman said.

"I just would very much like to get a deal to deliver this critical aid."