The Democrat Party is in disarray. They may never fully recover.
And this Democrat Senator betrayed his party with one move that has all hell breaking loose.
In a surprising twist of bipartisan camaraderie, Pennsylvania Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman are gearing up for their inaugural joint public appearance this Saturday in Pittsburgh. The event, centered around McCormick’s new book, has sparked a firestorm of controversy, with not everyone thrilled about the Democratic senator’s willingness to cross party lines.
A coalition of activist groups, including Mondays Without McCormick Pittsburgh and Indivisible Pittsburgh, is rallying constituents for a protest, demanding that both senators prioritize listening to their concerns over hobnobbing at a book signing. They’re calling for a proper town hall to address the issues plaguing Pennsylvanians.
Adding fuel to the fire, Fetterman’s 2022 Democratic primary rival, former Rep. Conor Lamb, didn’t mince words in a recent chat with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lamb took aim at Fetterman’s absence from the public stage during President Donald Trump’s second term.
“And that’s John Fetterman’s job. He should be not only speaking out, he should be listening to people, and instead, it sounds like he’s going to be listening to Dave McCormick and cheering on Dave McCormick’s book signing,” Lamb remarked, his frustration palpable.
While McCormick keeps his social media buzzing with weekly constituent meetups, Fetterman’s been off the public radar in Pennsylvania for over two months. This weekend’s anticipated protests come as town hall tensions flare nationwide, amplifying the discontent.
Fetterman, known for being the lone Democratic senator to sit down with Trump at Mar-a-Lago before his inauguration, has doubled down on his maverick streak. He’s a staunch supporter of Israel and co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act, empowering ICE to detain undocumented immigrants who break the law. McCormick’s embraced this bipartisanship, but it’s left some Democrats grumbling about Fetterman going rogue.
“He’s been saying the same thing about Democrats now for six months, we get it,” Lamb said to the Inquirer.
“Democrats know we have some issues, but he has a job to do… I know that trashing the Democratic Party gets him a lot of attention, but he wasn’t put in office to be a political commentator. He was sent to office to get results.”
The Pittsburgh event promises a chat between the senators and their wives—Gisele Barreto Fetterman and Dina Powell McCormick, a former Trump national security advisor. The book (which the McCormicks wrote together), WHO BELIEVED IN YOU?, dives into the power of mentorship, with the tour touting insights from top-tier leaders. Tickets run $32, including a $29.99 copy of the book, per Eventbrite.
Protesters, however, aren’t buying the hype. “Instead of holding town halls, they are hawking a book at a paid event at City Winery. Join us to tell them NO! NO to dismantling the Department of Education. NO to defunding SNAP and programs that feed our kids. NO to cuts to NIH which supports research for our kids and ALL of us. And NO to attacks on our democracy – the legacy we will leave our kids,” their Facebook invite declares.
Originally slated for City Winery, the event’s venue has shifted to a mysterious “Location to be announced,” a move that hasn’t fazed the demonstrators. They’re still set to rally in the Strip District, scoffing at the “paid book event” dodge.
“Our senators appear to have caught wind of the fact that their constituents want to be heard. And instead of HOLDING TOWN HALLS, they have moved their paid book event (the subject of this protest) to an UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. Please keep reading and stay tuned for a NEW LOCATION,” their Facebook page warns.
Town halls have become a lightning rod across the country, with both parties catching heat. Constituents are fuming over Trump’s executive moves, fretting about slashes to Medicare and Social Security, and raging at Elon Musk’s aggressive cuts at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Democrats have countered with a 50-state “People’s Town Halls” push after disruptive protests prompted GOP leaders to shy away from in-person gatherings. The DNC and state parties racked up 22 events across 13 states in just one week, per a Friday update to Fox News Digital by the DNC.
The Pittsburgh protest poster even features a cheeky “missing” flyer, a nod to the Democratic Party of Florida’s trolling of GOP lawmakers not holding town halls. Though partisan divides fuel much of the town hall friction, Pennsylvania voters seem united in their irritation with both senators.
Once campaign foes, McCormick and Fetterman have buried the hatchet since McCormick took over from former Sen. Bob Casey last year. They’ve shared a joint interview, cheered the Eagles at Super Bowl LIX, and kicked off their truce with a January dinner alongside their wives. On Donald Trump Jr.’s “TRIGGERED” podcast, McCormick praised Fetterman as a “voice of reason” among Democrats on hot-button issues like border security, fentanyl, and Israel. “I trust him. I think he’s a very authentic guy,” McCormick stated. “I think he’s going to be a good partner.”
Whether that partnership holds up under the heat of Saturday’s showdown remains to be seen.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
