How People With Disabilities Saw Fetterman's Debate Performance

[Nevilledog]

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Maggie Astor
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New from me: Fetterman's debate appearance was exciting and validating for many people with disabilities, because it's so rare for political candidates to be candid about disability. Much of the public response, however, was painful. 🧵
Preparations for Tuesday’s Senate debate in Pennsylvania. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman faced his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, months after a stroke left Mr. Fetterman with an auditory processing disorder.
nytimes.com
How People With Disabilities Saw Fetterman’s Debate Performance
One in four Americans has a disability, but disabled politicians are rarely on the national debate stage. That made John Fetterman’s appearance a powerful moment, but public reactions were painful.
3:24 PM · Oct 26, 2022

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/26/us/politics/disabled-voters-fetterman-debate.html

No paywall
https://archive.ph/pArVL

For many Americans with disabilities who watched the Senate debate in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s performance against Dr. Mehmet Oz was both a sign of how far they had come in political representation and a painful reminder of how far they have left to go.

On one hand, Mr. Fetterman, the Democratic nominee, was in a nationally watched debate months after a stroke left him with an auditory processing disorder, speaking openly about his disability — a remarkable moment for people who have felt pressure to hide their own, and who rarely see people like themselves in politics. On the other hand, much of the coverage of the debate focused on Mr. Fetterman’s verbal stumbles.

“To see how quick people were to say, ‘He shouldn’t have been on that stage tonight,’ ‘I don’t think he can do this’ — it’s yet another reminder of how the world views disabled people,” said Maria Town, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities. “It really does show me how much we use speech to perceive competence and confidence, and we really shouldn’t.”

The debate was powerful, and the punditry painful, for Ms. Town, who has cerebral palsy and recalled falling onstage in front of elected officials and her boss. She said she could imagine the anxiety Mr. Fetterman might have felt about his disability being on public display.

*snip*

[wnylib]

1. FDR was in a wheelchair and was elected 4 times.

[Doc Sportello]

3. Most voters weren't aware of the extent of his polio condition

Or saw him in a wheelchair. When in public he usually stayed seated in a chair or the backseat of a car. He developed a technique where an escort, often his son, held on to one arm and helped him "walk" for example when walking to a podium. FDR and his handlers pressured the press not to post pics of him in a wheelchair. Most had no idea of the extent of his disability.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/prologue.htm

[dhol82]

4. His disability was hidden from the public as much as possible.

Also, we did not have such intense communication available among the opposition.
I’m sure Fox is having a heyday showing every twitch to their viewers.

[wnylib]

6. Doesn't seem to be hurting Fetterman

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17288776

[FBaggins]

24. Raising a bunch of money is not evidence that the "debate backfire(d)"

It could indeed be exactly the opposite.

Either way... elections are decided by the people who show up to vote. Not by fundraising totals.

[ZonkerHarris]

14. todays voters know he was disabled then and should know better now

[Cha]

2. Yeah, the US media$$$$$ is

mostly "painful" and so Predicable.

Didn't faze those who sent $2 Million in total to Fetterman after the debate, though.

[UTUSN]

5. K&R

[Just A Box Of Rain]

7. I suspect--and have said so previously on this forum--that many Americans

have struggles of their own, and have experience with friends and loved ones who live with disabilities--who look at Fetterman and admire his candor and his grit.

He's real. And his been transparent about his comeback.

Unlike some, I don't fault the media for asking questions. That's their job.

But I do think that there far more people will relate to John Fetterman than their are who will reject him due to the degree of his stroke recovery.

And the response by Oz about abortion should damage his campaign beyond repair.

[calimary]

10. Oz hasn't yet explained how we fit all those people - the woman's doctor AND all the local

legislators - into the woman's vagina. I didn't know a vagina could accommodate a crowd like that.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Don't forget

the dildocam up in there too capturing the crowd while doing a transvaginal ultrasound!

[calimary]

25. The dildocam!

Oh crap, I forgot about that! For lazy guys who’d just rather watch TV!

[debm55]

11. Oz also made a comment about telling John something and John not being able to comprehend what Oz

Last edited Wed Oct 26, 2022, 10:44 PM - Edit history (1)

said. Oz is an ass.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

19. That's for sure.

I trust people see Oz for what he is.

[Pinback]

8. In a society where appearance is everything

and slick liars are so often venerated, the treatment of Fetterman is not surprising. I’m glad so many compassionate Americans see through the BS.

[COL Mustard]

9. I just hope the Pennsy version of October surprise is

NO
ON
O
Z

[BumRushDaShow]

12. The GOP hypocrisy runs deep

One of the stories that our own current President, Joe Biden, has talked about is how growing up, he was a severe stutterer and how hard he had to work to overcome that.

[SeattleVet]

15. The wing nuts are way too concerned about HOW he said things, rather than WHAT he said.

[The_Casual_Observer]

16. Proved that OZ was a world class nasty evil piece of shit.

Fetterman has had an amazing recovery, it will take a while to get up to speed. OZ had the chance to let this go and be a human being about it, but NOOOOOO. OZ can roast in the 7 levels of hell.

[Mad_Machine76]

17. Jo From Jerz says it all

Link to tweet

?s=46&t=j1t76bgJIAq8jHIaVdlf6w

[Lucinda]

20. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

Than you! Followed her.

[Marcuse]

18. The cruelty is the point.

[GoodRaisin]

21. Most voters already have made up their mind.

If I was going to vote for him or was one of the few still actually considering voting for him, nothing about the debate would change my mind.

[Qutzupalotl]

22. Fetterman will recover, but Dr. Oz will still be a quack.

And Herschel Walker will still be a doofus.

[NowISeetheLight]

23. His Mind is OK

Compare him to Trump or Reagan in his last couple of years. Fetterman has a speech disorder. Hell… Stephen Hawking couldn’t talk at all and look at his accomplishments. I could care less if someone studders, uses a cane or wheelchair, or stumbles up a plane step (Biden & Ford anyone?). His mind is there. That’s what you govern with. If I lived there he’d have my vote.