(Abdul–Rahman Oladimeji Bello, Headline USA) Despite Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., having been institutionalized for clinical depression and largely stashed from public view for upwards of a month, the mainstream media has been doggedly silent on the lawmaker’s mysterious status.
While campaigning for Pennsylvania’s senatorial seat, there was deserved skepticism from Republicans about Fetterman’s fitness for office. In response, a Biden regime-friendly media waged an aggressive campaign to downplay Fetterman’s health issues. Instead of pressing for details on Fetterman’s suspect medical history, fake news media took jabs at Republicans like Mehmet Oz raising entirely legitimate concerns.
The gaslighting has continued at a fevered pace. John Heilman, a Morning Joe regular, insisted that Fetterman’s health concerns were an advantage to the Senate race. CNN’s Michael Smerconish described him as a “mental health role model.” At the same time, MSNBC’s Alicia Menedez compared him with Abraham Lincoln, as he also had mental health concerns.
After reporting Fetterman’s health concerns as an unexpected development, Fox News reported that neither CNN nor MSNBC had questioned his fitness to remain in office, even after he had been hospitalized for more than a month.
Curtis Houc, kmanaging editor at NewsBusters, spoke to Fox News Digital as someone who struggles with mental health concerns.
“The media are wholly capable of doing two things at once in putting the spotlight on mental health and how the stresses of work and campaigning can wear someone down,” Houck noted.
“As someone who’s struggled with their mental health over the years, the question should be asked about how the senator got into this position,” he said. “It’s not pointing fingers at any individual, but a collective effort of where things broke down by his team and a press that, aside from NBC’s Dasha Burns, breathlessly worked to get him in office.”
Jeffrey McCall, a journalism professor at DePauw University, added, “It is reasonable to ask if Senator Fetterman can ever resume his duties, and if so, at what magnitude. It is not mean-spirited, unprofessional or intrusive to raise this issue.”
McCall also criticized Fetterman’s enablers for contributing to the problem.
“Fetterman was largely protected by the media during the campaign last fall, but it will be irresponsible if the news media thinks it should continue to protect Fetterman from questions about his health and fitness for duty over the six years of a senate term,” the professor said.
