Senator John Fetterman’s attachment to, affection for, and defense of, the embattled Jewish state has fluttered the dovecotes of those who, like the salon bolshevik Jon Stewart, find it impossible to believe that any sensible person could possibly think that way. Stewart, whose name at birth was Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, decided to change it for reasons that deserve to be pondered. Was it possibly, in his eyes, “too Jewish”? Stewart recently interviewed Fetterman, and kept asking him why Israel was so important to him. More on their exchange can be found here: “Fetterman wins praise for ‘guts’ after going toe-to-toe with Jon Stewart over Israel support,” by Lindsay Kornick, Fox News, August 6, 2026:
A Republican Jewish organization praised Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., for his “guts” after talk show host Jon Stewart clashed with Fetterman over his “red line” support for Israel. The senator called out the Democratic Party‘s increasing hostility toward the Jewish state.
“So, you could agree with them 90%, but Israel is the red line?” Stewart asked Fetterman on “The Weekly Show” podcast.
“Absolutely, I can’t ever turn my back to Israel after where it’s at.” Fetterman answered.
The Republican Jewish Coalition commented to Fox News Digital: “Here’s some free advice, for a Democratic Party that has totally lost its mind and is hemorrhaging Jewish support: don’t be a clown like Jon Stewart, have some guts like John Fetterman.”
“I mean no disrespect on this, but that is not our country,” Stewart said in the exchange. “You’re saying that these candidates may have great ideas for our economy. They may want to do the exact same thing you want to do, in terms of getting money out of politics. They may want to increase the social safety net. They may want to change the balance of power from capital back to labor, but if they don’t agree with you on Israel, you don’t want them in your party?”
If some Iranian-Americans unswervingly support a war with Iran, would Stewart — who opposes the war against Iran — criticize them because “Iran is not our country”? Does he think support for Israel is illegitimate? Does he think Jews who support Israel are guilty of “dual loyalties” — a traditional charge that antisemites make? Does Jon Stewart realize he is echoing Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens?
Fetterman asked Stewart to give him some examples, to which Stewart listed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as Democratic figures who have criticized Israel. Fetterman clarified that he meant politicians who are members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) should run as their own party rather than “colonizing” the Democratic Party.
Stewart dismissed this argument, comparing DSA members to Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus.
Unlike Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus who continue to be Republicans, DSA members do not in any genuine sense remain in the Democratic Party; they are far-left and pro-Hamas former Democrats who have effectively split from the party. There is a difference.
“And I’m assuming there’s probably things in the Democratic platform that you might disagree with, but you don’t disavow the entire thing. You’re literally saying, ‘We can all have discussions, except when it comes to Israel,’ which is not America. It seems like a weird line to draw,” Stewart said.
Yes, to someone like Jon Stewart, Fetterman’s unswerving support for Israel makes no sense. After all, it has made him more unpopular both in his party and among voters in Pennsylvania. Stewart just can’t fathom this — a politician having deeply felt principles that he will, despite damage to his own career, never abandon.
In the most recent Democratic primaries, the “progressive surge” that television psephologist had predicted did not come to pass. In Missouri, the pro-Israel Bell trounced the anti-Israel Cori Bush. In Michigan, the pro-Israel Jeremy Moss defeated the Palestinian-American Aisha Farooqi in another landslide. And Abdul El-Sayed, whom everyone thought would defeat Haley Stevens by at least 16 points, ended up just squeaking through with the razor-thin margin of 1% — 48.5 % to 47.5% — that is, by only 15,000 votes out of 1.5 million cast. And with so many Democrats in Michigan now vowing to vote for Republican Mike Rogers in November, it is an open question whether or not El-Sayed will make it to the Senate.
Fetterman is a man of principle, “steadfast as Keats’ eremite,” who is risking his political future because he refuses to abandon his support for the embattled Jewish state. Jon Stewart can’t understand someone like that. But I can. And so can you.
Peter William Watson says
I am registered as Independent and will usuially vote straight Republican. In November if I am able to vote I shall cast my vote for John Fetterman because he has one thing the Repoublicans AND the Democrats lack – conviction politics. I utterly reject his support of LBGTQYXYZ garbage but I remember John standing on the Roof of his Home holding the Israeli Flag. That took some guts.
Wellington says
John Fetterman is not running in November of this year. He is up for re-election, should he seek a second term, in November of 2028.
Peter Watson says
If i am still alive in 2028 and I feel the same way as I do now. I shall vote for him.
Bexarkat says
This man has the courage of a lion. There are few in the Democratic party that will go against the party line constantly – even members of congress of the Hebrew persuasion do not defend Israel in the manner or consistency Senator Fetterman does. He is constantly standing up for Israel to the point where Tucker-influenced populists claim that Fetterman must really be Jewish. Of course he isn’t. He is simply, as Mr. Fitzgerald writes, a man of principle…and a man of integrity if I may add.
Edmund Carey says
Has John Stewart ever explained himself on the subject of Israel? What does he have against it? I can guess, of course, but I’d be interested to know whether he has ever come clean about it.
Rick Gordon says
I don’t know what he has against a sovereign state that accepts immigrants from all over the globe. Its population includes Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Jews.
I don’t think Stewart is stupid so he must just suffer from gross ignorance.
carpediadem says
No he’s just overly concerned with being “cool”. he is in entertainment after all and while some in the entertainment industry have bravery and principles, his are based in being a renegade.
Wellington says
“Salon bolshevik.” That’s a good one—and so very accurate in describing a rube like Jon Stewart, who is not nearly as well informed as he thinks he is.
There are few more disgusting than the Western Leftist elite who are rich and comfortable. They’re hypocrites as well as being malicious fools. Like Jon Stewart.
As for John Fetterman, he remains very liberal overall but, yes, he is a man of principle and why I have written to him suggesting he become an Independent and caucus with the Republicans just as Angus King of Maine and that monumental fool and hypocrite, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, both Independents, caucus with the Democrats.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
That’s a good idea. That way, he won’t have to risk getting primaried. Also, he can keep voting LGBTQ, Abortion and whatever other pet Liberal causes he has, while continuing to vote sensibly on Israel, Iran and domestic issues like antisemitism
Andy Lewis says
Jon Stewart is a yellabellied kapo.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Interestingly, Fetterman is not even Jewish: I once checked. Yet he’s more pro-Jewish than most Dem Jews
Rick Gordon says
Honestly and integrity should always trump partisanship and ignorance. My hat’s off to Fetterman.
Larry Estavan says
Psephology is a division of political science that deals with the examination and analysis of elections and polls.
Daniel Bielak says
Good on John Fetterman. I am grateful to him and for him.
I am grateful also to and for the people here on JihadWatch who defend Israel.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear, Daniel!
Daniel Bielak says
Thank you, gravenimage.
gravenimage says
Of course, Daniel. Always good to see you posting.
carpediadem says
Me too!! 🙂
gravenimage says
John Fetterman: A Man of Principle
…………………………………………….
Kudos to him!
Walter Sieruk says
I’m a Republican who is a long time resident of Pennsylvania , and when John Fetterman runs for reelection I will make a cross vote for Fetterman . In the last PA election he ran against a Muslim ,who was most likely part of the stealth jihad,
OLD GUY says
Fetterman has something that many if not most politicians don’t, a backbone to stand up against his political party when he feels they are wrong.
In a time when most politicians represent their political party rather than the people who elected them, Fetterman is a bit of fresh air.
Carolyn Emond says
It isn’t difficult to see how easily Jon Stewart is easily swayed on serious matters when he readily relinquished his sir name from Liebowitz to Stewart all for expediency in the right circles.
ORRN31 says
Stewart is just another of the Jewish useful idiots – and there are many, many of them.