When Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz is not talking about “addicts walking like zombies” with “needles sticking out of their necks,” he’s avoiding condemning gross behavior by his campaign staff.
During a segment of the “KDKA Radio Morning Show,” host Larry Richert asked, “Is it appropriate for one of your folks to say, if Fetterman had eaten a vegetable, he wouldn’t have a stroke? Is that appropriate?”
“The campaign’s been saying lots of things, both of them. My position is that I can only speak to what I’m saying, and that John Fetterman should be allowed to recover fully,” Oz responded.
He continued, “And I will support his ability — as someone who has gone through a difficult time — to get ready.”
However, Oz said, “At some point, he has to either work with me to allow the American people and Pennsylvania voters to hear us debate so they can see where I am and where he is.”
Listen to the exchange below:
GOP Pennsylvania Senate nominee Dr. Oz, asked if it was appropriate for his team to say opponent John Fetterman wouldn’t have had a stroke if he ate a vegetable:
— The Recount (@therecount) August 30, 2022
“The campaign’s been saying lots of things — both of them. My position is that I can only speak to what I’m saying.” pic.twitter.com/WvshLn6iQa
This is such a slimy response to behavior by a member of his campaign that frankly crossed a line.
Last week, Oz’s senior communications adviser, Rachel Tripp, lobbed a mean-spirited attack at Democratic Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman’s health.
In an “exclusive statement” to Business Insider, Tripp said, “If John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn’t have had a major stroke and wouldn’t be in the position of having to lie about it constantly.”
She then tweeted the story with the caption, “An [apple] a day…”
Fetterman was sidelined from the campaign trail for roughly three months earlier this year after suffering a stroke. Speaking to supporters in August as he returned to campaigning, Fetterman said that he “might not have made it” after his stroke, highlighting the severity of the incident.
In his response, Oz acted like Tripp’s statement was something she said in her personal capacity. But Business Insider described it as a statement from the campaign and by extension, it is seen as a representation of Oz’s views — not some random person’s comment.
It’s one thing if Oz does not want to fire Tripp — despite the optics.
But frankly, this is a situation in which an apology is really warranted at the very least.
There would be nothing wrong with simply saying something like, “I want to apologize to Fetterman for that statement. It was really out of line and insensitive, especially with my medical background, and not the tone I want to set for the campaign. I wish the best for Fetterman and his family and hope to see him make a full recovery and can’t wait to be on a debate stage with him to discuss our different policies.”
In fact, something like that would have been the decent thing to say.
Instead, he shamefully tried to slither out of showing any remorse or taking responsibility for that atrocious statement.