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What has happened to WaPo? Is it starting to act like a real newspaper?\u00a0 The editorial board of the Washington Post calls for John Fetterman to agree to debate Dr. Oz not once but twice before the November midterm election. It also calls for the release of his medical records \u201cfor independent review\u201d.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get carried away now, but maybe we should acknowledge when it does something right. In this case, it is the right move. The WaPo\u2019s editors are correct to say that Pennsylvania voters are entitled to see both candidates on a stage and watch their performances. And, since Fetterman wants to be a senator, a six-year term, voters deserve to know that he will be up to doing that job for the duration.<\/p>\n
No one can absolutely guarantee that they will be able to serve a full term in office without unexpected health issues. Stuff happens. We don\u2019t have crystal balls to help us look into the future. But in Fetterman\u2019s case, voters could be able to glean from his medical records if his doctors give him a reasonable chance of fulfilling his term. The point is that there has to be transparency when a candidate runs for office. He shouldn\u2019t be allowed to hide on the issue of his health. WaPo rightly points out that Fetterman already has shown a willingness<\/a> to gloss over real concerns and his medical history which led up to his stroke.<\/p>\n Since returning to the campaign trail, Mr. Fetterman has been halting in his performances. He stammers, appears confused and keeps his remarks short. He has held no news conferences. Mr. Fetterman acknowledges his difficulties with auditory processing, which make it hard for him to respond quickly to what he\u2019s hearing. He receives speech therapy \u2014 and we wish him a speedy, full recovery \u2014 but the lingering, unanswered questions about his health, underscored by his hesitation to debate, are unsettling.<\/p>\n The Fetterman campaign squandered credibility by concealing from the public for two days after his stroke that he had been hospitalized. It waited weeks longer to reveal a more complete picture of his medical history, including that he had been diagnosed in 2017 with cardiomyopathy. Mr. Fetterman had a pacemaker with a defibrillator implanted after the stroke. The campaign\u2019s response to questions about Mr. Fetterman\u2019s health is to point to a doctor\u2019s note, released more than 14 weeks ago, which said \u201che should be able to campaign and serve in the U.S. Senate without a problem\u201d if he takes his medications and exercises.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not good enough. Mr. Fetterman is asking voters for a six-year contract without giving them enough information to make sound judgments about whether he\u2019s up for such a demanding job. We have called for full disclosure of health records from candidates for federal office in both parties, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and we believe Mr. Fetterman should release his medical records for independent review.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s not being mean to someone who has suffered a stroke, that is just being honest about what anyone can see and hear. Fetterman even looks frustrated with himself when he tries to speak in complete sentences and has to stop and search for a word. The Senate is a debating body and being able to express himself and articulate a political position will be a requirement for the job. It is not too much to ask to be able to see his medical records.<\/p>\n Dr. Oz has asked for five debates. Fetterman refused to agree on any debates, much less five, until last week. He agreed to one in the middle to end of October. The problem with that timing is that mail-in voting begins September 19. Also, it is standard for Senate contests in Pennsylvania to hold three debates during the campaigns. Again, it\u2019s not fair to voters who want to see the candidates side by side and listen to their views before casting a vote.<\/p>\n In the meantime, I\u2019ll enjoy a brief moment when WaPo actually held a Democrat candidate accountable. This race may be tightening as November approaches. Currently, RCP has Fetterman up 6.5%. Pollsters haven\u2019t exactly covered themselves in glory in past voting cycles so take that with a grain of salt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n