John Fetterman, The Last Moderate Democrat

Decades ago, the Democratic Party had leaders like Presidents Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy who were proud of our county and our citizens. These leaders would have never embarked on a foreign “apology tour” like President Barack Obama or allowed our country to be invaded by millions of illegal immigrants like President Joe Biden.

In the 1980’s, a coalition of moderate congressional Democrats known as the “Blue Dogs” assisted President Ronald Reagan pass historic tax cuts, which unleashed tremendous economic growth and enabled our country to exorcise the “malaise” that another Democratic President, Jimmy Carter, had infamously described.

The “Blue Dogs” were essential for the Reagan agenda to be successful. Additionally, House Speaker Tip O’Neill (D-MA) and Reagan were friends, and enjoyed occasional evening cocktails together. This relationship helped Reagan and Republicans pass their legislation in a Democrat controlled Congress.

In the 1990’s, a Democrat President, Bill Clinton, successfully worked with House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) to pass welfare reform, capital gains tax cuts and “four consecutive years of budget surpluses.”

Sadly, the days of Democrats collaborating with Republicans to pass legislation are over. One major reason is that the Democratic Party has become radicalized by the far left. If a candidate in 2028, Truman, Kennedy, or Bill Clinton, would have no chance of winning the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

The radicalization of the Democratic Party began with their presidential candidate Al Gore in 2000, who was consumed with his nonsensical “global warming” hysteria. It continued in 2008 with the presidential nomination of Barack Obama.

Democrats nominated Obama even though he had limited experience as a “community organizer” and less than three years as a United States Senator. Obama was nominated because he was young, gave great speeches and, as an African American, allowed Democrats to play the race card.

Even though Obama was a disaster as a President, the Democrats never turned back toward the ideological center. Every presidential nominee since then, Hillary Clinton, Biden and Kamala Harris, has been a devout leftist.

The far left has captured the Democratic Party. Today’s leading candidates for their 2028 presidential nomination, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are leftists.

Today, the Democratic Party is obsessed with only one major goal. It is not helping the American people, instead, it is to stop President Donald Trump. Almost all leading Democrats are infected with the political disease known as “Trump Derangement Syndrome” or (TDS).

If they win back control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats will go after their political “enemies” on a retribution tour that will damage the country but satisfy their leftwing base.

Furthermore, congressional Democrats will likely impeach Trump for a third time. Leading Democrats, such as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshar, repeatedly claim that President Trump is placing American “democracy in jeopardy.” Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) declared that she is working non-stop and running for the  Senate seat in her state because “if I go to sleep, democracy may very well die.”

Never mind that the United States is a constitutional republic, Democrats are continually claiming that our “democracy” is in mortal danger from President Trump and his administration.

Also, powerful Democrats, such as Senate Minority Chuck Schumer (D-NY) use extreme language to criticize Trump and his Republican allies. In a CNN interview on Sunday, Schumer claimed that Republicans “don’t want poor people to vote. They don’t want people of color to vote.” This is total nonsense, an outrageous lie, but it is typical of how Democrats characterize Trump and Republicans.

In a CNN interview on Friday, Governor Newsom alleged that the Trump administration committed “abuses,” suffered from “arrogance,” and did not “represent the majority of Americans.” Well, Governor Newsom, you are factually inaccurate as the 2024 presidential election results show that President Trump won the popular vote, every swing state, and an electoral vote landslide.

In the face of this onslaught of craziness from the Democratic Party, there stands one elected official, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). He is the only leading Democrat with common sense, with a moderate political viewpoint, and who does not suffer from TDS.

Last week, Fetterman was the lone Democrat in the U.S. Senate to support funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Despite his support, the bill failed and DHS agencies were shut down on Friday night.

Fetterman criticized fellow Democrats for using “sexist” terms to criticize DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. He also admitted that the country was “failing on the border” during the Biden administration.

Fetterman is incredibly supportive of Israel and has not been reticent about criticizing his own party. In a Fox News interview on Saturday, Fetterman noted that there is “a rot in my party, standing with pro-Hamas people.” He specifically blasted Ocasio-Cortez for aligning with Turkish American commentator Hasan Piker, known for his socialist and “pro-Hamas” views.

Fetterman also castigated his fellow Democrats for their hypocrisy on the issue of the filibuster. As Fetterman said, Democrats wanted to “nuke the filibuster” during the Biden administration, but “now we love the filibuster.” Fetterman recommended that Democrats “humble ourselves and remind people” of their new position.

Of course, Senator Fetterman is the only Democrat who will admit his party’s mistakes or break from the leftwing ideological grip that is controlling his colleagues.

For example, Fetterman supports voter identification. He agrees with 84% of Americans who believe voters should provide photo identification (ID). According to Fetterman, “It’s not a radical idea for regular Americans to show your ID to vote, and absolutely those things are not Jim Crow or anything.”

While the Senator’s fellow Democrats are making the ludicrous claim that voter ID is racist, Fetterman notes that it is required in “many states” and “84% of Americans have no problem with” it.

Fetterman’s common sense views are sorely lacking among Democrats today and are reminiscent of a bygone era in his party.

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award-winning program, “Ringside Politics,” airs Saturdays from Noon until 1 p.m. CT nationally on Real America’s Voice TV Network & AmericasVoice.News and weekdays from 7-9 a.m. & 6-7 p.m. CT on WGSO 990-AM & Wgso.com. He is a political columnist, the author of America’s Last Chance, and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and at Crouere.net. For more information, email him at jcrouere@gmail.com

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