Sens. Fetterman, McCormick address American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum

Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and David McCormick earned praise from American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch, who called the pair “champions for the Jewish community” during the closing session of AJC’s Global Forum held last week in Washington, D.C.

The two senators, Deutch said, speak “clearly” and with “moral clarity” about Israel and antisemitism.

Deutch noted that the two senators — Fetterman, a Democrat, and McCormick, a Republican — are colleagues and friends, something which is increasingly rare.

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Asked about the partisan tone of the current political climate, Fetterman noted that many in his party are critical of his efforts at bipartisanship and his friendship with McCormick.

The pair, he said, works to strengthen Pennsylvania and find common ground when possible. Any disagreement they might have shows up in votes rather than insults.

“It’s great to be up here on stage with him,” Fetterman said.

McCormick said he first met Fetterman at the fifth memorial for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and that the two agreed on a principle: “We would work together in every way we can.”

That simple agreement has led to the two co-authoring bills on fentanyl, nuclear energy, farming, agriculture and antisemitism, he said.

“It’s what Pennsylvania expects — and I trust him,” McCormick said. “I trust him more than anyone in the Senate.”

Asked about why the two are outspoken advocates for Pennsylvania’s Jewish community, McCormick recounted living near the Tree of Life building, traveling to Israel following Oct. 7 and watching recorded footage of Hamas’ terror attack.

“You can’t come away from that without thinking we need to do everything we can to support Israel and that Israel has every right to defend itself,” he said.

He went on to discuss how surprised he was to see virulent antisemitism on college campuses following Oct. 7 — including the assault of one of his campaign workers on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus.

Fetterman said that as a student of history he learned that many people and societies turn their backs on the Jewish community when it’s under siege.

“I always promised I would never be a part of that,” he said.

He recalled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2024 address to Congress and noted that several Democrats who were calling for a ceasefire turned their back to Netanyahu while he spoke.

Fetterman was emphatic in his support for the Jewish state.

“I’m tired of hearing questions like, ‘Should Israel exist?’ Absolutely, 100%. It’s not going anywhere and I’m always going to vote for whatever it needs — military, financial or intelligence,” he said. “It’s a miracle and a paragon of democracy.”

Asked about antisemitism in politics, McCormick acknowledged its existence in the Republican Party — especially on social media and among figures such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens — but argued it is a growing force in the Democratic Party.

“I don’t think any people in the Republican Party that are running for office [have] Nazi tattoos,” McCormick said, apparently referencing Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. Platner has covered up the tattoo, claiming he didn’t realize its significance when he got it.

Fetterman said that a Nazi tattoo previously would have been a non-starter for a Democratic candidate, but now it’s explained away. He recalled Platner’s resurfaced Reddit post under the name ‘P-Hustle,’ where he praised Hamas’ 2014 cross-border raid that resulted in the death of Israeli soldiers.

Fetterman also called out Pennsylvania House hopeful Chris Rabb for his anti-Israel rhetoric.

“That’s heartbreaking for me,” he said, speaking of the anti-Israel extremists in his party. “There’s always going to be moral clarity. That’s been the easiest choice for me.”

Fetterman also criticized J Street for opposing U.S. funding for missiles used by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

Israel, he said, is America’s “special ally” and deserves respect.

“To use terms like ‘genocide,’ or to say that they’re the aggressor or anything like that — that’s a community that really understands what the term means. They’ve lived through it,” Fetterman said.

Speaking about America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, McCormick recalled the letter George Washington wrote to the Jewish community of Newport, Rhode Island, in 1790.

“He talked about a country where religious faith would be free and where the Jewish people and America would have the opportunity to prosper,” McCormick said. “If George Washington could have imagined in 1790 the America we have today — the prosperity, the incredible opportunity for all of us, including the Jewish people — he would have been staggered at how wildly successful America has been living true to his values.

“I think in this 250th we should obviously stare hard at the problems and challenges, but we should not lose sight of the miraculous opportunity and success that America has brought to all of us.” PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.