John Fetterman Dons Suit, Gets Better at His Job

I am now firmly convinced that the best possible argument to be made for the restoration of the United States Senate dress code — which quietly took place three weeks ago after Chuck Schumer had relaxed it at the sole behest of noted slack-dresser John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — is not that the austere dignity of the institution has somehow been restored. (This remains impossible so long as Sheldon Whitehouse continues to serve.) Rather, the best argument is this: By forcing John Fetterman back into a lumpy, ill-fitting suit, the Senate Democrats may have unwittingly upgraded him.

Whatever has recently possessed Fetterman to sound the virtuous notes we’ve been hearing from him seems comically well timed to the moment Senate Democrats stuffed him — like a squonk weeping in its sack — back into creased slacks and wool blends. Since I lack any other insight into the man and cannot be bothered to do research, I am forced to conclude that the only explanation for the strong moral stands he’s taken over the past few weeks and his energy in communicating them is the sartorial change-up.

It is impossible for me not to kid around when it comes to Fetterman, but it shouldn’t be taken as a denial of credit in any way for how he has stood out — truly setting himself apart from the majority of his own Democratic colleagues in the Senate, to say nothing of the disgraceful Squad miscreants of the House Democratic caucus. Yesterday morning, after so many of his congressional party-mates (particularly in the House) disgraced themselves by repeating Hamas’s immediately suspect and easily debunked lies about the explosion at a Gaza hospital, Fetterman minced no words: “It’s truly disturbing that Members of Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza. Who would take the word of a group that just massacred innocent Israeli civilians over our key ally?”

He didn’t stop there either, laying out his position starkly in a later thread worth reading in full. No blame-both-sides game for him, rather this: “If not for the horrific attacks by Hamas terrorists, thousands of innocent Israelis and Palestinians would still be alive today.” No calls for a cease-fire or any stated intent to blame Israel for the civilian deaths that Hamas actively desires, instead: “Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children. Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized.”

Strong words, and well appreciated from a man who otherwise has been a darling of the progressive Left ever since he was the sweatpants-sporting mayor of a Pittsburgh suburb. Also, notably stronger than any of those uttered by his largely nonexistent — and perhaps mythical — fellow Keystone State senator Bob Casey Jr., a man who only narrowly avoids qualifying as a literal empty suit on the technical basis of corporeality, continued pulse, and the lingering ghost of his father’s good name. (Casey’s staff was finally embarrassed enough after Fetterman spoke up to post some mealy-mouthed gorm here.)

You might think, “Well, that’s fine, but that’s just his staff.” (I’m certainly sure someone types his social-media posts for him; even if he weren’t recovering from a debilitating stroke, he would still have staff.) But it’s clearly his view, and as reluctant as I normally am to give a Democrat his due, it must be noted that Fetterman is also having a jolly go of it right now in person, running around counting coup on his beleaguered fellow Democrat, New Jersey senator Bob Menendez. The vaguely porcine Menendez strikes me as a difficult man to feel much affection for in any event. (There are always exceptions, the curious entry into his life of Menendez’s recent bride being one.) But Fetterman not only immediately called for Menendez to resign after the latter was indicted, he has continued to spend time needling him about it mercilessly, as only a Pennsylvania man can condescend to a hapless Jerseyan. “Today would be a great day for you to resign, Bob!” he cheerfully said to Menendez when they hopped on the Senate escalator the other day. Then, just this Tuesday, he took to social media to ask a brutally funny question: “Would it be awkward to attend a classified briefing on Israel when you’ve been accused of being a foreign agent for, let’s say, a country like Egypt. Asking for a friend.”

For reasons that need little explanation, John Fetterman will doubtless never be well liked as a politician (or a dresser) by National Review. Nonetheless, he earns a tip of the cap today for his strong stances in recent weeks on matters of greater importance than mere partisanship. For those mystified by the senator’s sudden sharpness, my preferred explanation remains, “It’s the suit.” Next upgrade for the senator: He could ditch the sneakers and try some actual dress shoes. Imagine what he might achieve then.