Dave McCormick defending John Fetterman amid health concerns

(WHTM) — Democratic Senators and former aides of Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) have raised questions over Fetterman’s health and well-being in recent weeks.

A report from the Associated Press citing sources says Fetterman was repeating himself and pounding on a table. This came following a report from New York Magazine that he is behaving erratically and not staying on top of his health.

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick is a strong advocate for President Donald Trump, which is not a surprise since they’re both Republicans. McCormick is also a staunch defender of Fetterman amid the unflattering reports regarding his health.

“I thought the attacks on him were so vicious, so unfounded, and sort of came out of nowhere,” McCormick told Dennis Owens. “I think largely because he hasn’t been voting in lockstep with his party.”

McCormick suspects politics is behind stories from former Fetterman staffers alleging erratic behavior and questioning his fitness to serve. McCormick doesn’t see it.

“[He is] completely coherent, and on top of the issues,” said McCormick. “He’s a good partner, and we’re trying to find ways to work together in Pennsylvania.”

Not a good partner, McCormick says, is China. As an undersecretary for George W. Bush, McCormick praised the Chinese. He now supports President Trump’s tariffs, hoping they bring about fairer trade. An about-face?

“The other thing that’s changed is that in the last 20 years, China has shown itself to be a bad actor,” said McCormick. “They’ve stolen our intellectual property, they’ve had unfair trading agreements, so I think our notion of treating China as the adversary is the right strategy.”

Debts and deficits in this country are also adversaries, $36 trillion in debt and counting.

“You know, both parties are guilty,” said McCormick.

Brett Loper of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation says the real fix will involve tax cuts smaller than Republicans want, and benefit cuts larger than Democrats prefer.

“It’s going to take both parties deciding they’re willing to take a little bit of political risk on things that they find perhaps sacrosanct,” said Loper.

Like many Republicans, McCormick says he won’t support cuts to Medicaid with a caveat.

“If those benefits are going to vulnerable single mothers or children, you will see me being a strong advocate for not cutting those, but if those benefits are going to working-age men who choose not to take jobs, then those are where we shouldn’t have the benefits, and that’s the challenge,” said McCormick.

A challenge that, for decades, Congress has failed to solve.