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John Fetterman, 46, has served as mayor of the hardscrabble Pittsburgh suburb of Braddock for over a decade. His tattoos (of the town’s zip code and the dates of its most recent murders) and his stature (nearly 7 feet) have drawn more attention than his politics. Re-elected twice by huge margins after winning his first run by one vote, the “coolest mayor in America,” as the Guardian dubbed him, is now vying with establishment Democrats for a US Senate seat. While still an under-funded underdog, Fetterman is polling competitively: In head-to-head match-ups in October, he trailed Republican incumbent Pat Toomey by 7 points and his Democratic competitors trailed Toomey by 7 and 3.

In These Times talked with Fetterman about Bernie, Braddock and 2016....

Between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, this election season seems to be breaking every rule political scientists have written. Why do you think that is?

People are tired of prepackaged things. They want to go to a real restaurant, not TGI Fridays. Most political candidates are like TGI Fridays — franchises of what the party wants them to be. But we’re coming out with an authentic product. I’m coming from a community from the fringe of society that’s been written off.

Donald Trump’s slogan is “Make America Great Again.” Is there an alternative narrative that you’d like to advance?

My campaign has released a one-sentence press release calling Donald Trump a “jagoff ,” which is Western Pennsylvania for jerk. Populism has a dark side and Donald Trump is mining that for all it’s worth by saying reprehensible things about Muslims, about immigrants, about you name it. If you get to live vicariously through that and cheer him on, I don’t expect to get your vote, and frankly, I don’t want it.

andy7171 wrote:He looks like an asshole.

Ivytalk wrote:*Senator.

Played DIII football at Albright, so he can't be all bad! Lives in an old car dealership with wife, 3 kids, and "Dave" the Bulldog. Kennedy School Master's degree. What's not to like?

andy7171 wrote: He looks like an asshole.

Baldy wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:*Senator.

Played DIII football at Albright, so he can't be all bad! Lives in an old car dealership with wife, 3 kids, and "Dave" the Bulldog. Kennedy School Master's degree. What's not to like?

andy7171 wrote: He looks like an asshole.

andy7171 wrote:Is it normal for small podunk town mayors to jump to US Senator? I think he's being greedy. Go for Rep. first.

Ivytalk wrote:

andy7171 wrote:Is it normal for small podunk town mayors to jump to US Senator? I think he's being greedy. Go for Rep. first.

Or at least a community organizer.

kalm wrote:Oops, forgot link the article.

http://billmoyers.com/story/meet-the-ru ... t-senator/

Good read.

Ivytalk wrote:

kalm wrote:Oops, forgot link the article.

http://billmoyers.com/story/meet-the-ru ... t-senator/

Good read.

Dammit, klam, you ruined it for me! Moyers? Screw Fetterman then!

Repeal Citizens United. Billionaires and millionaires literally make candidates jump like dogs through flaming hoops. You have candidates for president doing tricks for the Koch brothers, saying, “Please, please pick me.”

BDKJMU wrote:What a dumbass- Trump didn't say any reprehensible things about immigrants..

Trump did say some bad things about ILLEGAL immigrants..Libtards, and even some conks, always conflate the two..

BDKJMU wrote:What a dumbass- Trump didn't say any reprehensible things about immigrants..

Trump did say some bad things about ILLEGAL immigrants..Libtards, and even some conks, always conflate the two..

Grizalltheway wrote:

BDKJMU wrote:What a dumbass- Trump didn't say any reprehensible things about immigrants..

Trump did say some bad things about ILLEGAL immigrants..Libtards, and even some conks, always conflate the two..

Oh, so saying Muslims shouldn't be able to immigrate, even LEGALLY, isn't saying anything bad about them?

Talk about a **** tard...

JohnStOnge wrote:How could you be smart enough to go to an Ivy League school without "under represented minority" preference and stupid enough to tattoo yourself like that and make yourself look like that? Paradox.

kalm wrote:

JohnStOnge wrote:How could you be smart enough to go to an Ivy League school without "under represented minority" preference and stupid enough to tattoo yourself like that and make yourself look like that? Paradox.

What's honest the difference between that and a suit and tie?

Baldy wrote:

kalm wrote:
What's honest the difference between that and a suit and tie?

Ummm suits and ties aren't forever?

kalm wrote:

Baldy wrote: Ummm suits and ties aren't forever?

I guess I'm not shallow enough to judge people on things like tatoos and beards...or the quality of their suit.

Baldy wrote:

kalm wrote:
I guess I'm not shallow enough to judge people on things like tatoos and beards...or the quality of their suit.

Good on you.

Knowing the difference between a tattoo and a suit and tie doesn't make one judgmental. It just makes them more intelligent than the ones who aren't able to realize the difference between a tattoo and a suit and tie.

kalm wrote:

Baldy wrote: Good on you.

Knowing the difference between a tattoo and a suit and tie doesn't make one judgmental. It just makes them more intelligent than the ones who aren't able to realize the difference between a tattoo and a suit and tie.

Nice dodge.

kalm wrote:

JohnStOnge wrote:How could you be smart enough to go to an Ivy League school without "under represented minority" preference and stupid enough to tattoo yourself like that and make yourself look like that? Paradox.

What's honestly the difference between that and a suit and tie?