A message to John Fetterman:
Donald Trump, a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist, is poised to lead the nation, but you and the Democratic leadership have failed to speak out as a unified opposition. Your silence allows Trump to control the narrative, presenting himself as having a mandate — something the election results don’t reflect.
You’ve said that Trump has the potential to be good in the Oval Office. But history has shown the opposite to be true. Trump’s policies are poised to harm everyday Americans, yet you call for compromise (I call it appeasement).
But Republicans negotiate in bad faith and repeatedly renege on agreements. You only need look at the recent bipartisan budget bill as an example of Republican betrayal.
The Democratic Party is the opposition now. They must own that role with vigor and conviction. Trump and Republicans need to be held responsible for the consequences of their policies, with no Democratic fingerprints on the damage.
You and your fellow Senate Democrats must relentlessly challenge every policy, every bill and every cabinet nominee, exposing their flaws and voting “no” on confirmations.
Democrats need to lead — or risk irrelevance in a fight that demands their full commitment. So, will you lead, or will you take a knee?
Michael Pardus
Penn Township, Westmoreland County