With Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz struggling in the polls, his senior communications advisor has apparently decided to throw decency to the wind.
Politics is not known for being a genteel sport. It’s long been known that there are dirty tricks and harsh jabs thrown at challengers.
But Oz’s senior communications aide, Rachel Tripp, decided to take her attacks on Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), who is running for the Senate, to a whole new lower level.
In response to a story about Oz’s “crudité” video where he messed up the name of the grocery store he was shopping in, Tripp issued an “exclusive statement” to Business Insider that included a gross attack on Fetterman’s health.
“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,” Tripp said.
"If John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn't have had a major stroke” – Rachel Tripp, Oz's senior communications advisor https://t.co/VRBQUlXTmv
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) August 23, 2022
Seemingly quite proud of her attack, Tripp tweeted a link to the story with her statement and the caption, “An [apple] a day…”
An 🍎 a day… https://t.co/0PPpM6V9Gq
— Rachel Tripp (@retripp) August 23, 2022
Fetterman fired back on Twitter, writing, “I had a stroke. I survived it. I’m truly so grateful to still be here today.”
“I know politics can be nasty, but even then, I could *never* imagine ridiculing someone for their health challenges,” he added.
I had a stroke. I survived it. I'm truly so grateful to still be here today.
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) August 24, 2022
I know politics can be nasty, but even then, I could *never* imagine ridiculing someone for their health challenges. pic.twitter.com/0fJHESjt4l
Polls currently show Oz trailing in the race, and desperate campaigns use desperate tactics. But, let’s be clear here: there is nothing witty or funny or smart about Tripp’s attack.
It is gross and shameful. And the fact that it is coming from someone whose boss is a celebrity surgeon makes it all that much worse.
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.
Perhaps it could be forgiven if Tripp’s comments were overheard by a reporter while she was joking with colleagues and swept up in the mood, or if she believed she was speaking with her guard down to a favorable reporter and did not intend for it to be repeated — though none of those are good excuses.
And it’s one thing to question whether Fetterman has recovered and is in shape to be a senator, or whether continuing to campaign is what’s best for him and his family. Those are hard but legitimate questions that could arise.
But the fact that this attack came in the form of an “exclusive statement” would seem to suggest that there was some kind of thought process and vetting that went into it.
If that’s the campaign Oz wants to run, that says a lot about him. And even conservatives who despise Fetterman’s policies should question whether that is the kind of person they want representing them.