Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., has responded to comments made by Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdulrahman El-Sayed during a campaign event, branding him "Pontiac Platner" after El-Sayed called for Fetterman to be put on a "pike." The comments were reportedly made during a Zoom call with donors and have been widely understood to reference the Pennsylvania lawmaker.
A recording from the Zoom call appeared to depict El-Sayed railing against those who have criticized his far-left policy platform, singling out Fetterman and allegedly envisioning his head on a stake. Fetterman later responded to the comments, comparing El-Sayed to the mythological creature Shrek and stating that El-Sayed is running to be the head of the party's emerging pro-Hamas wing.
Pontiac is a well-known name in Michigan, stemming from the 18th century Odawa chief to his namesake city and the now-defunct General Motors brand. El-Sayed has routinely criticized the Israeli government, and some of his policy positions overlap with those of Maine oyster farmer Graham Platner, who dropped his Senate bid after facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
Fetterman stated that Democrats are engaging in a "serious game" by allowing people in the "Bernie Sanders" wing of the party who "created the Platner disaster" some policy oxygen. During the Zoom call, El-Sayed spoke out specifically against Fetterman, stating that he plans to primary the senator and put him on a "pike" as a message to others in the party.
El-Sayed's comments have been met with criticism from some, who view them as unacceptable. Fetterman took the insult in stride, stating that it is incumbent on lawmakers to police their own ranks and warning against eliminating the filibuster as an example.
El-Sayed and Platner share several policy positions, including support for a single-payer, government-run Medicare-for-all system, anti-corporate housing policies, and higher taxes on wealthy Americans. Despite claiming to be neither a member of the Democratic Socialists of America nor a democratic socialist, El-Sayed has a history of speaking at DSA events and has distanced himself from the group in interviews.
