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Mehmet Oz—a New Jersey Republican millionaire best known for pushing conspiracy theories and endorsing unproven products and non-scientific advice who is running in the 2022 Senate election in Pennsylvania—was mocked after he inadvertently criticized his own party for not donating to his campaign.
During an interview with Fox News personality Laura Ingraham, Oz said his campaign has struggled to raise money because Democrats have "cleverly" roused support over issues related to reproductive rights and gun control while Republicans mow their lawns.
Oz's appearane on Fox News came after The Pittsburgh Post-Gazettereported John Fetterman, his Democratic opponent, has raised $9.9 million to Oz’s $1.1 million and has five times more cash on hand.
You can hear what Oz said in the video below.
\u201cIngraham: He has five times as much cash on hand as you do, is that correct? Why is that? \nOz: The Democrats have very cleverly taken all these issues that have come up over the Summer and they\u2019ve used these as excuses to raise money\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1658199401
Oz said:
“The Democrats have very cleverly taken all of these issues that have come up over the summer—the Dodd decision, the concerns about guns—and they’ve used these as excuses to raise money from the Democratic loyalists."
"Interestingly, when Republicans get mad, we go out and mow the lawn."
"Democrats, when they get mad, donate money to their party.”
Oz also told Ingraham voters should choose him over Fetterman at the polls because he is "a real populist," seeming to see no trace of irony in a multimillionaire claiming they appeal to ordinary people who feel their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
“He’s not a real populist, he’s a pretend populist."
“I’ve spent my whole life, y’know, working. My parents were immigrants, understanding the importance of dedicating my life to service."
"As a heart surgeon, I’ve invented devices. As you know I’ve been very active in a lot of endeavors just to make America a healthier and better place.”
Oz was mocked for his statements.
Many affirmed Democrats are mobilized in the months leading up to November's midterm elections.
\u201cDemocrats sound pretty damn smart and mad and motivated and mobilized to me. Now, spread this to every Dem and Independent in the country.\u201d— Vote 4 Your Life \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\udf0a Wave \ud83c\udf3b #SlavaUkraini \ud83c\udf3b (@Vote 4 Your Life \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\udf0a Wave \ud83c\udf3b #SlavaUkraini \ud83c\udf3b) 1658276045
\u201cOz,paraphrased: "Well, we're the bad guys, and we're doing bad things, so people are trying to help our opponents beat us."\u201d— Benjamin (@Benjamin) 1658267768
\u201cMehmet Oz should have stayed on TV slinging his snake oil instead of bothering us with his politician cosplay. Oz BARELY won his primary and he\u2019s acting like he should be the clear favorite. Perhaps Pennsylvanians want someone who\u2019s likable and FROM PENNSYLVANIA. Shocker\u2026\u201d— Allen Glines \u270a\ud83c\udffb (@Allen Glines \u270a\ud83c\udffb) 1658239251
\u201cHow dare Fetterman raise money based on issues?!\u201d— Butler of Dogs \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf31\ud83d\udc9a (@Butler of Dogs \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf31\ud83d\udc9a) 1658240808
\u201c@DrOz we here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania don't like carpet baggers.\u201d— SriTal (@SriTal) 1658244026
\u201c"When Democrats get mad they donate money..."\n\nHe forgot knock on doors, make phone calls, get in and stay engaged\u201d— Daniel W. Dick (@Daniel W. Dick) 1658247807
\u201c#moveblue2022 is a must and the people are responding with donations to Democrat candidate. Send more! To know your donation reaches a candidate you desire use search at top of link https://t.co/B4GShlfsWc\u201d— Move Blue 2022 Protect Personal Rights & Privacy (@Move Blue 2022 Protect Personal Rights & Privacy) 1658250651
\u201cThis is almost as scary as when Skynet became self aware.\u201d— j.\ud83e\udd10 (@j.\ud83e\udd10) 1658253069
\u201cIsn't this what campaigns are supposed to do???\u201d— MsHenderson (@MsHenderson) 1658262400
Fetterman, who suffered a near-fatal stroke in May, has generated support in his time off the campaign trail by launching social media campaigns that have emphasized Oz's ties to New Jersey and minimal ties to Pennsylvania.
Earlier, The Philadelphia Inquirerreported Oz lived in North Jersey for more than three decades. And while Oz has said he moved to Pennsylvania in 2020 to live with his in-laws, his social media posts and campaign ads have showed him still in New Jersey.
These facts prompted Fetterman to enlist none other than Nicole "Snooki" LaValle—best known for starring on the reality series Jersey Shore—to troll him for living in the state.
The video received millions of views after Fetterman uploaded it to Twitter and has been generally lauded as an example of creative and effective social media outreach.