Fetterman, Often Absent From Senate, Says He Has Been Shamed Into Returning

[Polybius]

Source: NY Times

When Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, showed up at a hearing on May 8 with Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, his colleagues were surprised to see him. Until then, his chair on the dais of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee had sat empty all year.

But under intense scrutiny about his mental health and his ability to function in his job, Mr. Fetterman has been in damage control mode, attending hearings and votes that he had been routinely skipping over the past year. His colleagues, some of whom have privately described him as absent from the Senate and troubled when he is there, are trying to be supportive.

Mr. Fetterman does not enjoy participating in these hearings that he has sat through in recent weeks as he seeks to prove that he is capable of performing the job he was elected to do until 2028. In fact, at a critical moment for the country, he appears to have little interest in the day-to-day work of serving in the United States Senate.

Instead, he said he was “showing up because people in the media have weaponized” his absenteeism on Capitol Hill to portray him as mentally unfit, when in fact it is a product of a decision to spend more time at home and less on the mundane tasks of being a senator.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/24/us/politics/fetterman-senate-absence-mental-health-interview.html

[Ponietz]

1. Just resign already

No one needs your drama, John.

[sakabatou]

7. Agreed

[Paladin]

19. +1000. If Fetterman can't or won't handle the job, he needs to go away. Immediately. (nt)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. Seriously!

[msongs]

2. show up for work like poor people do? nah nt

[alwaysinasnit]

3. He is pulling a paycheck and he doesn't really seem to be making an effort to earn it. Apparently he

is only showing up because of what the media will say about him. I have sympathy for him but if he truly cared about his constituents, then he should let someone else take over.

[Wifes husband]

10. I have no sympathy for him

This clown feels put upon because people expect him to do the job he was elected to do, and is being paid to do. Nobody is stopping him from quitting!

He already gets a LARGE accommodation by being allowed to walk around the halls of Congress dressed like a slob. Showing up to work is not too much to ask

[alwaysinasnit]

15. You're right. "Showing up to work is not too much to ask."

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

17. I'm one of those constituents ...

and, while I voted for him and think he is still better than Oz would have been, I resent his apparent bait and switch both in terms of his politics and his work ethic. I had high hopes for him but now would be happy enough to see him resign and let Shapiro appoint a more effective person in his place.

Sigh...

[GB_RN]

20. I'm Not Excusing His Actions...

Last edited Mon May 26, 2025, 10:51 AM - Edit history (1)

But we need to keep in mind that a stroke destroys brain matter, and as a result, can cause personality changes, very similar to what happens with dementia patients. I have personally seen this happen with some patients and it appears to me that this is likely the case with Senator Fetterman.

Until he recognizes that he is still affected by his stroke, there won’t be any changes in this situation. Hopefully, his wife and/or staff will be able to prevail upon him, convincing him to resign his seat for both his own good and that of the citizens of Pennsylvania.

[Wifes husband]

23. He can resign

If this slob cannot or will not do his job, then he can just resign. I might feel sorry for him if he had a problem that he couldn't fix. Whining about being forced to show up to work is stupid.

All the slob has to do is resign

[GB_RN]

35. Again...

I haven’t seen anything that indicates he behaved this way before his stroke, nor have I heard anyone make that claim about him. Fetterman’s whinging about doing his job, at this point, sounds like a stroke-induced personality change.

I don’t disagree he should resign. But keep the focus on why he should resign, and still have some empathy for him: He cannot help what’s changed and, as stated before, like dementia patient, cannot recognize it, either.

[Wifes husband]

40. I will focus on what I want to focus on

This clown has been walking around the halls of congress dressed in a hoodie, shorts, and sandals. He is not getting ready to wash his car, he is representing his state and the Democratic party.

I am a Democrat. I don't like it.

[Paladin]

28. If he were a bus driver or a hospital orderly, he'd be out of a job. And rightfully so.

But because he's a U.S. Senator, we have to wait around until those personality changes of his lead to the inevitable relinquishment of his position. And day by day, his behavior becomes more and more irregular, and worse, he becomes more and more of a trump puppet. Pretty unfortunate circumstances, to put it charitably...

[mtairyguy]

27. This PA voter agrees!

I am very disappointed.

[Wifes husband]

43. Dr. Oz

This guy owes his job to Dr. Oz. No way he would have been elected if he wasn't running against Dr Oz.
I would not want to be a senator. I could not do the job. I could not endure the endless meetings, being polite to fools, and ethical compromises.

But I did not ask for millions of peoples money, and run all over my state asking for their vote.

If he can't or won't do the job, let someone else do it

[Mike 03]

30. It's just so puzzling. It's as if he ran for the Senate not entirely understanding what

the job is and what the job requires--and frankly I don't believe that for a second. Maybe he is someone who is easily bored, which is usually a symptom of a lack of intellectual curiosity or cynical indifference or clinical depression. But regardless, his absence from committee meetings specifically, or the senate generally, means he is is unable or unwilling to function. Period.

I'm glad to see he'll make the effort. But if the meetings become about his presence or non-presence, rather than what they are supposed to be about, then it's a very self-absorbed soap opera he is putting his constituents and the country through.

[dalton99a]

4. WTF

[Lucky Luciano]

5. Time to resign. I think the stroke did him in. It's sad.

[Walleye]

6. God Dammit man. If you didn't want to do the job, why did you stand for election?

Does he realize how many people he’s letting down here. Including his donors, his voters

[Docreed2003]

8. It's pretty apparent that he has neither the desire nor the ability to continue in the job

If he can't or won't perform the basics of the position, resign and allow someone else to fill that role.

[magicarpet]

9. Fetterman,...

I hate the senate

I find it very time consuming of my personal time,

I think the senate is very boring,

I would rather stay home - but the paycheck is fine. Could I refrain from going into Capitol Hill to work but still get my paycheck mailed directly to my home ?

[Bluetus]

11. My boss is weaponizing his position

He is now saying if I don't show up or work for 4 months, he is going to take me off the payroll. Can you believe that anybody would weaponize a job like that?

[Sucha NastyWoman]

12. Something is seriously wrong

No resemblance to the man he used to be. Why doesn’t Giselle do something to save his honor?

[yardwork]

25. Why is it his wife's responsibility?

[Sucha NastyWoman]

44. Perhaps he is not capable of making the same decisions he made

Before his stroke. He never talked like this before.

[fujiyamasan]

45. An article in NY Magazine (I think)

Showed that she was really trying to get him to address his issues, even basic stuff like taking his meds sounded like a struggle for her and his staff, many of whom keeping leaving because he’s a fucking mess. He also got her pretty badly injured in a car accident.

Senators have a lot of perks and a huge staff to help with anything needed. The bare minimum is just showing up and attending the hearings and voting. That he calls the work mundane, shows he doesn’t want to do the job he campaigned for and got elected to do. It’s not like he’s back home touring the state all the time holding town halls. At least then he may have an excuse.

[madaboutharry]

13. It is becoming clear that the stroke he suffered

was very severe and left him with serious disabilities that prevent him from doing his job.

2028 is a long way away. Running for re-election seems off the table. It also seems finishing his term might also be in question.

It is sad.

[LPBBEAR]

14. If he feels like

he is being "shamed" in to making an appearance and would rather "spend more time at home and less on the mundane tasks of being a senator" then get his ass out, resign, and let someone else do the job who would care about the job. Quit, go spend time at home like you want.
No sympathy for him nor any of his fellow congress people who think this behavior should be tolerated.

[SunSeeker]

16. Sad. nt

[Hope22]

18. Why not apply for disability

And stay home. It seems like he is a candidate for the benefit. Let someone else do the work that so desperately needs done.

[twodogsbarking]

21. Dude has issues, he needs help. He was once a democratic hope.

[Vinca]

22. If showing up for the job is too much of a hassle, resign.

[hamsterjill]

24. To state the obvious...

Flame away, but in my opinion, this is one of the things that Dems need to work on. Finding better candidates. Vetting them more, knowing what the hell is going on with them before they are fully supported, etc.

It's not a perfect world, and I know that. But the support here on DU for Fetterman was incredible when he was running. Either he truly was injured when he had that accident and he is suffering mental issues because of that, he had mental illness issues prior to the accident or otherwise, but something isn't right with him.

All we can do is to try to vet people a little better. We've got to get beyond the surprises if possible. We don't need to elect people we can't count on.

That's all I'm saying.

[dlk]

31. Fetterman was elected to do a job in the Senate

Showing up for work is part of it.

[Hotler]

32. Nobody wants to work anymore. nt

[Hey Joe]

33. Had hopes for this guy

We knew he was a bit flaky but thought he had potential to do good things. But since his stroke he has been a disappointment to say the least.
If he cannot do the job beyond just making an occasional appearance he, like anyone else holding a position, should step aside.
The times we are living in are too perilous to not be mentally present.

[cadoman]

34. the treatment of his condition here is shamefully hypocritical...

Yeah his politics are out of alignment and he's probably taking the next car on the Sinema/Manchin/Gabbard train out of the party, but there was a time, not more than two years ago, that we were all (rightfully, IMO) defending his right and ability to serve from attacks by Oz that are remarkably similar to the comments in this thread..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/107417615

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216715749

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142918241

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217076795

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217825538

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/107418133

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/107417827

Persons who are injured don't deserve to be fired. Persons who stutter aren't unfit to serve. Persons who need physical assistance to access buildings and services aren't unfit to serve. Persons who are traumatized deserve time to heal. Much of that is enshrined in law.

Let's remember to separate the political Fetterman from the physically injured person who still has a right to work and be part of public life.

[iemanja]

42. He's just admitted to not being able to do his job

People didn't believe that when he first ran for office. I understand many think Democrats are entitled to a paycheck for life for doing nothing, but that is not how it's supposed to work. They serve the people, which means they need to get their asses to work, just like everyone else in the country.

[Oopsie Daisy]

36. Can he be shamed into resigning?

[AKwannabe]

37. This is fucking insane

You were elected to an office. Put up or GET THE FUCK OUT!

Mundane my ASS! Stupid fucking MANBABY!!

[republianmushroom]

38. It is your job , little dude.

Can't handle it resign, simple, little dude.

[iemanja]

41. You mean he's expected to do his job?!

How unfair!