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Oz proposes prescription in Williamsport for Pennsylvania’s ills

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate calls it his "Dose of Reality."

It's his slogan, a series of common sense, practical approaches to fixing Pennsylvania's many ills.

During a meet-and-greet at the Genetti Hotel on Tuesday, he named a few of them -- the crime crisis, lagging economy, a need to lower inflation, restoration of energy

independence and giving choice to parents in public schools.

Before the audience, Oz, figuratively, wrote a prescription, one he said that starts by people voting for him on Nov. 8 to defeat John Fetterman, his Democratic challenger and current lieutenant governor.

On crime, Oz fired off several bullet points.

"This may be the biggest issue in this campaign," he said.

Oz took several jabs at Fetterman, who he said was weak on criminals and would favor releasing one-third of prisoners from state jails, does not believe in life sentences and is far-left when it comes to dangerous street drugs.

Fetterman's actual stance is that elderly and reformed prisoners that pose no threat to society should be released, according to The Associated Press.

"I think it is pretty clear that he wants to legalize all drugs, and he's advocated for heroin safe injections sites," Oz said to several resounding gasps in the room.

Supervised injection sites are facilities in which people can use drugs with resources like clean needles, naloxone and trained medical staff on site to reduce the risk of overdose death. A 2014 review of 75 studies examining such sites found that supervised injection sites reduce overdoses and have no negative effect on drug or crime rates in the areas they operate, according to a 2018 NPR article.

While recently in Erie, Oz received the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police and as such would be supportive of law enforcement, which he said doesn't have the backing of the administration in place.

Another punch was thrown at Fetterman for allegedly ducking debates.

"I've been challenging him to come out, listen to what people have to say and answer questions about his far left radical positions," Oz said.

Fetterman had a stroke in early May and has stayed off the campaign trail since then to recover.

Oz held a mock debate with those in the crowd, since Fetterman was not present and could not respond.

On the economy, he said, Fetterman has criticized President Joe Biden for not doing enough.

"He's fighting with his own party," Oz said, a reference to how Fetterman said "if you like Joe Manchin III, (the Democrat Senator from West Virginia, a seat he has held since 2010) don't vote for me."

Instead, Oz asserted that he would do what was needed, including reaching across the political party aisle.

As for inflation, or the cost of living, Oz said he would stand against "regressive taxes," especially against senior citizens, "whose savings are being eroded."

In terms of energy independence, Oz claimed that Fetterman "thinks it's cool to say we should get rid of fracking."

Fracking is the technology to shatter shale deep in the earth, using high- pressure water to extract natural gas.

Oz said it is an important sector of industry, one that produces billions of dollars by "harvesting natural gas under our feet."

"Fetterman doesn't want it (natural gas drilling) to happen because it doesn't look good," Oz said.

Oz said there was no natural reason not to want natural gas, and hydro (carbon) and other forms of energy – including green. Toward that end, Oz said he was fine with green energy (wind, solar) but can't support policies such as the Green New Deal, the way it is structured.

Oz touched on how upset he became with COVID-19, as politics mixed with medicine.

"When you mix politics and medicine you get politics," he said, adding how what happened was the "weaponization of science."

For example, closing of the schools.

"I said, 'no,' because it was not working in Europe, and I don't think it was working in Asia, and it definitely hurts our children, which it did," he said.

As for the U.S.-Mexico border issue, Fetterman believes in an open border and sanctuary cities, Oz said.

"You are actually holding back law enforcement and you are undermining American law and order," he said.

Oz said he believes in a strong border, a proper asylum process, which he said was "upside down right now and would take a while to fix." Oz also said he supported hard-working immigrants who want to come to the U.S. and become citizens the right way.

"I don't want cartels profiting from bringing people into America," he said. Cartels take the money, buy drugs from China, and that fentanyl is coming, he said.

Oz cited the drug (fentanyl) as having claimed the lives of 100,000 young Americans last year due to overdoses.

He blasted Fetterman's take on improving public education, citing how his children go to private school and he painted Fetterman as part and parcel with that of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, who was among the far-left radical senators, and who wants to see Fetterman win in November.

Fetterman, Oz said, would be for "Senate filibuster, packing the Supreme Court" and supports socialized medicine.

Oz has stated he favored a two-term limit maximum, but would honor whatever the wishes were of the party and voters.

Oz also noted how party leadership was behind him, and cautioned those listening to not believe "mainstream media" spin that he does not have the backing of Senate leadership.

"I'm here to tell you it's not true," Oz said, adding that he gets calls from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, Senate minority leader, who he said has put $34 million into the campaign.

He said the decision at the ballot box this midterm election is a transformational choice.

"If you make noise, we will win," he said.