Sen. John Fetterman's (D-PA) controversial casual attire is causing controversy among the Senate's highest-profile Democrats.
This Thursday, Dick Durbin, Senate Majority Whip, that is the second highest ranking member of the Democratic party in the Senate, charged against the Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), for failing to enforce the dress code in the legislative headquarters benefiting Fetterman, known for wearing shorts, sweatshirts and casual attire instead of a jacket and tie.
“I’m concerned about it. The senator in question from Pennsylvania is a personal friend, but I think we need to have standards," Durbin said in an interview on "The Briefing with Steve Scully" on SiriusXM.
When asked about Schumer's reasons for not enforcing the dress code, Durbin, apparently bewildered, responded that he couldn't "understand exactly what he was thinking at that point".
And then he added: "I want to give him the benefit of the doubt until I speak to him but I think the Senate needs to act on this."
No. 2 Sen. Democrat Dick Durbin (IL) isn't happy about Leader Schumer ending the dress code: “I want to give him the benefit of the doubt…but I think Senate needs to act on this.”
“The senator in question from PA is a personal friend, but I think we need to have standards...” pic.twitter.com/vjFUDPD0JP
— The Recount (@therecount) September 21, 2023
With the change in the dress code, senators can now choose how to dress to attend the chamber, breaking with the tradition of attending elegantly.
Not even a couple of days passed after the measure was made official for Fetterman to begin taking advantage of the rule change, wearing a dark-colored short-sleeved T-shirt, knee-length pants, and sneakers on Wednesday.
Fetterman's outfit is generating strong criticism against the Pennsylvania senator and Schumer himself.
“Honest question: why would a mentally healthy person want to dress like this on the Senate floor? I’m a tshirts & shorts guy, I don’t like to dress up, but I’d be embarrassed to show up at a funeral or wedding in tshirt & shorts. Senate floor too. This is very strange behavior,” wrote attorney and author Clay Travis.
Honest question: why would a mentally healthy person want to dress like this on the Senate floor? I’m a tshirts & shorts guy, I don’t like to dress up, but I’d be embarrassed to show up at a funeral or wedding in tshirt & shorts. Senate floor too. This is very strange behavior. pic.twitter.com/m1rrvokQmk
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 21, 2023
Editor Ben Domenech was even harsher against the Pennsylvania senator: “Just keep in mind John Fetterman favors the violent taxpayer funded death of unborn children with Down's Syndrome, roughly the same level of disability that he believes entitles him to be allowed to wear shorts on the Senate floor.”
Just keep in mind John Fetterman favors the violent taxpayer funded death of unborn children with Down's Syndrome, roughly the same level of disability that he believes entitles him to be allowed to wear shorts on the Senate floor.
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) September 21, 2023
