John Fetterman enjoyed himself while also raising a lot of money after a clip of Dr. Mehmet Oz‘s shopping trip went viral.
Fetterman, who is also running for Senate in Pennsylvania, quipped back at Oz after he was mocked for having a stroke.
Dr. Oz Campaign Makes Callous Joke About PA Senate Rival John Fetterman’s Stroke
Mmmmm ???? crudité pic.twitter.com/SVqQDGOKEd
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) August 16, 2022
“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,” Rachel Tripp, the doctor’s senior communications adviser, told Insider in an interview.
Lt. Gov. Fetterman, 53, suffered a stroke just days before Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary in May and underwent a procedure to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator. His doctor later revealed he has atrial fibrillation, which caused the stroke, and cardiomyopathy, which is why he got the implant.
Earlier in the month, Fetterman returned to the campaign trail and told supporters he was “grateful” and “feeling great, better than I have in years” in a heartfelt speech.
We really love this guy ❤️ Because @JohnFetterman knows us – he’s our literal neighbor who lives across the street from our mill and union hall, and always been our friend. Can’t wait to see you in the U.S. Senate, pal. #1u #USWVoices #Elections2022 #EverybodysUnion pic.twitter.com/A61qb0ftpo
— United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) August 23, 2022
Fetterman responded to the famous doctor’s campaign’s swipe at his stroke in a post on Twitter.
“I had a stroke. I survived it. I’m truly so grateful to still be here today,” he tweeted. “I know politics can be nasty, but even then, I could *never* imagine ridiculing someone for their health challenges.”
In the doctor’s now-infamous video, he appeared at Redner’s, a Pennsylvania-based supermarket company that he mistakenly called “Wegners.”
The celebrity doctor, who has the support of former President Donald Trump, said he wanted to get ingredients for his wife to make crudités, and he began grabbing items off the shelves, including broccoli, asparagus, and carrots, totaling $10.
He then snatched some guacamole and a tub of fresh salsa, bringing the total up. “Guys, that’s $20 for crudités and this doesn’t include the tequila,” Oz said. “This is outrageous and we’ve got Joe Biden to thank for this.”
.@JohnFetterman, let’s debate! Pennsylvanians deserve to hear about your radical policies. https://t.co/9P7nN7iI7v
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) August 17, 2022
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Fetterman used the video to tap into a larger theme of his rivalry with the celebrity doctor whom he has consistently called out for being an out-of-touch transplant from New Jersey.
“In PA we call this a… veggie tray,” Fetterman wrote on Twitter on August 15, emphasizing Oz’s fancy term for a platter of vegetables.
Fetterman — who’s currently in the lead, per a recent poll — even offered up a limited-edition sticker “to honor Dr. Oz’s love for crudité and Wegners” for contributors to his campaign.
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