Sen. John Fetterman’s recent interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” raised more questions than it answered about his stance on fracking. The Pennsylvania Democrat faced direct inquiries from host Kristen Welker regarding his—and Vice President Kamala Harris’—flip-flop on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing. Despite being pressed multiple times, Fetterman dodged the questions, offering vague responses and shifting the focus to what he described as absurdities coming from the Republican side.
The issue at hand is clear: Harris, during her 2020 presidential run, strongly opposed fracking and even sued the Obama administration to block fracking off California’s coast. However, as vice president, she has since reversed her stance, claiming she now supports the practice.
This shift mirrors Fetterman’s own back-and-forth on the subject. In 2016 and 2018, Fetterman called fracking a “stain” on Pennsylvania and made his opposition clear. However, during his 2022 Senate campaign, he voiced full support for fracking, a move that caught the attention of many who wondered how such a drastic change occurred in just a few short years.
When Welker pushed him on this glaring inconsistency, Fetterman’s responses became muddled. Rather than addressing why his position had shifted, he deflected, mentioning outlandish comments from the GOP and referencing conspiracy theories, leaving viewers with no real answer about his stance on one of Pennsylvania’s most significant industries.
“So strange why we just keep talking about fracking. Now, back in 2020, I said that that might be an issue, but it’s not going to be a defining issue. And now, in 2024, we’re still trying to talk about fracking. And now the other side, they’re talking about eating cats, and geese, and dogs, and saying absurd things, and talking about how, if Trump doesn’t win, he said that you know, you’d have to blame the Jews on that. And just absurd things. Now, like having a serious policy conversation when the other side is just absolutely on fire. And here’s where we are, and here we are also, that it’s going to be very close in Pennsylvania, and it’s not going to be defined by fracking.”
Fracking is a big deal in Pennsylvania, where the state’s economy benefits from natural gas production. The flip-flop from both Fetterman and Harris raises a key issue: Can voters trust leaders who seem to shift their policies based on political convenience? For years, Democrats like Fetterman were against fracking, often citing environmental concerns. However, as public opinion and the economic realities in states like Pennsylvania became clear, these same politicians appeared to change their tune, hoping to secure votes from both environmentalists and industry workers.
Republicans, on the other hand, have remained largely consistent on their support for fracking, viewing it as a way to boost energy independence and create jobs. This makes the flip-flop from Democrats even more striking. It’s one thing to evolve on an issue, but when it’s done in such a politically calculated manner, voters start to question the authenticity of the change.
Fetterman’s refusal to answer directly only fuels speculation that he, and the Democratic Party more broadly, are playing a political game—saying what they think voters want to hear rather than standing by their principles. This type of behavior erodes trust, particularly on issues like fracking, where livelihoods and the future of energy production are at stake.
Fetterman is a top Harris surrogate in Pennsylvania and he was asked 3 TIMES why he’s made the same shift on fracking that Harris has.
And 3 times he REFUSED to answer.
Harris won’t answer and her surrogates won’t answer because they’re lying.pic.twitter.com/ge7VuRxUHU
— Tim Murtaugh (@TimMurtaugh) September 22, 2024
As the 2024 election season heats up, Fetterman and Harris are going to have to do more than avoid tough questions. Their credibility is on the line, and Pennsylvanians, especially those whose jobs depend on the natural gas industry, are going to demand answers. After all, when it comes to energy policy, flip-flopping isn’t just a political inconvenience—it’s a matter that directly impacts the lives and well-being of countless American workers.
