Dems turn on Fetterman after 'Jerry Springer Show' comparison: 'Mad disrespectful'

WASHINGTON (TND) — Several Democrats issued strong words to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Friday after he likened a heated exchange between congressmembers to the "Jerry Springer Show."

A House Oversight Committee hearing devolved into chaos Thursday evening after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., took a jab at Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for her "fake eyelashes." Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., immediately jumped to the freshman Democrat's defense, telling Rep. Greene her words were "absolutely unacceptable."

Are your feelings hurt?" Rep. Greene asked.

Oh girl, baby girl, don't even play," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez shot back.

Sen. Fetterman reacted to the matter via his X account Friday, sharing a CNN headline referencing the exchange.

"In the past, I’ve described the U.S. House as The Jerry Springer Show," the senator wrote. "Today, I’m apologizing to The Jerry Springer Show."

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was among the first to fire back at Sen. Fetterman, telling her Democratic colleague she "stand[s] up to bullies" instead of "becoming one."

"I understand you likely would not have stood up for your colleague and seem to be confused about racism and misogyny being a 'both sides' issue," she wrote.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, echoed the sentiments, writing to Sen. Fetterman "there is no 'both sides'" to the issue.

"Women of color in congress are frequently targeted by misogynistic, xenophobic, ignorant people. I’ve lived it," Rep. Escobar said. "One of the shameless extremists we work with insulted [Rep. Crockett], and [Rep. Ocasio-Cortez] used parliamentary procedure to demand a standard of decorum."

Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Pinellas County, also weighed in, calling Sen. Fetterman's post "mad disrespectful."

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When asked to comment on the criticisms, a spokesperson for Sen. Fetterman told The National Desk (TND) the senator "responded to an absurd screaming match of personal attacks in an unhinged House committee hearing."

Sen. Fetterman has repeatedly distanced himself from fellow Democrats in recent months, telling The New York Times in December he does not consider himself progressive. The senator chastised some of his colleagues in March for failing to condemn the actions of Hamas terrorists in Israel. In October, he also called out members of “The Squad” for blaming a Gaza hospital attack on Israel, describing the assertions as “truly disturbing.”