As if the Pennsylvania Senate race isn’t rough enough, things took a dark turn and escalated into the “battle of the veggie trays.”
Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz made an ill-advised campaign video where he took a trip to the grocery store to highlight rising food prices. Trouble is, Oz apparently didn’t know what store he was in, and described a veggie tray by the haughty French term “crudité.”
Not a good look, to say the least.
After Oz’s far-left Democrat opponent John Fetterman ripped Oz for being out of touch, the fireworks really got going.
Rachel Tripp, Oz’s senior communications adviser, went in for the ultimate zinger, saying, “If John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn’t have had a major stroke and wouldn’t be in the position of having to lie about it constantly.”
Here is the original Oz video:
Who thought this was a good idea pic.twitter.com/dj5nz7vB1W
— umichvoter ????️???? (@umichvoter) August 15, 2022
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The Latest In The Back And Forth
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Here’s what Fetterman said about the crudité gaffe:
In PA, we call this a Veggie Tray.
If this looks like anything other than a Veggie Tray to you, then I am probably NOT your candidate lol
Get in on the joke with me – Will you make a campaign contribution of ANY amount before the end of the night? https://t.co/wMyObj0ZNA pic.twitter.com/LHhNx0DNwv
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) August 17, 2022
The whole back and forth started when Fetterman tried to paint Oz as a carpetbagger from New Jersey who cannot identify with Pennsylvania voters – particularly by noting that Dr. Oz owns 10 properties. (Yes, 10.)
Fetterman took to Twitter and said, “I’ve never spoken to a PA resident who doesn’t know how many houses they have … let alone be off by 8.” Oz claimed only two houses at an event prior to Fetterman’s tweet.
I’ve never spoken to a PA resident who doesn’t know how many houses they have… let alone be off by 8.
I can’t tell if he’s trying + failing to sound like a regular person (with ONLY TWO mansions) or if he genuinely has no idea. https://t.co/eZq9nV8uyQ
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) August 17, 2022
Oz’s response was epic. “You lived off your parents until you were almost 50. Regular people don’t mooch off their parents when they’re 50. Get off the couch John!”
I purchased my houses with MY money. You lived off your parents until you were almost 50. Regular people don’t mooch off their parents when they’re 50. Get off the couch John! https://t.co/4k3RQhi6SQ
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) August 17, 2022
Which turned into:
I have 10 properties (disclosed when I announced).
2 homes.
My turn: when can we debate?
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) August 18, 2022
And so here we are!
Who Is Really ‘Out Of Touch?’
When it comes to calling someone out for being “out of touch,” Oz may have the bulk of the ammo, which is the funniest part of this whole story. A recent New York Post report related the story of John Fetterman.
He appears to be the guy hanging out in Starbucks all day long with the expensive parent-bought Mac computer with Che Guevara stickers on it blathering on about “revolution,” just minus the man-bun.
As the Post relates the story, Fetterman grew up in the well-to-do suburb of York, Pennsylvania. His father is a prominent businessman and the founder/owner of Kling Insurance. He has lived off his parents’ wealth literally all of his life, getting a $54,000 salary to support himself, his wife and three kids. Not bad “work” if you can get it.
His parents continued to support him even after he was elected mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, a part-time job that paid $150 a year. That support lasted until age 49, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor. Even the house he and his family live in, a loft worth $70,000, was purchased from his sister at the bargain basement price of $1.
Icymi:
John Fetterman cast just one vote in 13 years as mayor of Braddock, PA.
The vote was to fire a town solicitor who years earlier had accused Fetterman of abusing his office by ordering a cop to dig up dirt on his political challenger https://t.co/pKxCDW3hbc
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) August 23, 2022
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A Socialist Who Wants Other Peoples’ Money
John Fetterman is a true man of the people. He has grand ideas, but he needs other peoples’ money to do it. The Bernie Sanders-supporter wants a $15 minimum wage, great for the people the business in question can keep on and afford to pay, not so much for those the business can’t afford and have to let go.
He supports socialized medicine. No word on whether he has asked anyone fresh in from Cuba or Venezuela how that is working out in those countries. He probably thinks “they just aren’t doing it right.”
Throw in support of legalization of marijuana, heroin needle exchanges and safe injection sites in a state where crime has spiked in its largest city, Philadelphia.
Perhaps the voters of Pennsylvania should see to it that John Fetterman gets his first real job somewhere else.
.@benshapiro: “@JohnFetterman is a socialist Uncle Fester, who is a complete, lifelong, useless person who is somehow being thrust into a position of power in Pennsylvania and believes the same thing that Bernie Sanders does…John Fetterman is a crap candidate.” pic.twitter.com/NqRMSznOQm
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 23, 2022
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