Is Fetterman being a normal politician and lying about what he said or does he just not remember? Today, CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski points out that Fetterman has recently claimed he’s always been pro-fracking.

“I support fracking,” Fetterman told NBC News last week. “I supported the energy security we should have in the United States.”…

“I’ve always supported, as long as it’s done environmentally sound and making sure that we’re not contaminating our waterways,” he added…

But that somewhat nuanced position wasn’t what Fetterman was saying as recently as 2018:

“I don’t support fracking, at all and I never have,” Fetterman told a left-wing YouTube channel in 2018 when running for lieutenant governor. “And I’ve, I’ve signed the no fossil fuels money pledge. I have never received a dime from any natural gas or oil company whatsoever.”

He was also against fracking in 2016 as Fox News pointed out back in July:

…in 2016 he posted support for a moratorium on the practice and wrote that the entire industry was “a stain” on Pennsylvania.

“I’m not pro-fracking and have stated that if we did things right in this state, we wouldn’t have fracking,” Fetterman wrote in one Reddit post. “The industry is a stain on our state and natural resources. But yes, of course I worry about the viability of getting a ban on fracking done when the industry is already so entrenched in Pennsylvania,” he said, adding that he had “signed the Food and Water Watch’s pledge to end Fracking.”

And here’s where things get a little confusing. According to Fetterman’s spokesperson Jon Calvello, the candidate changed his position on fracking once the state “instituted stronger environmental rules to protect public health.” Fetterman’s camp specifically pointed to a law Pennsylvania passed in 2016 to regulate fracking.

New regulations governing the extraction of natural gas through fracking will go into effect on Saturday in Pennsylvania, the first overhaul since the industry took off in the state more than 10 years ago.

The new rules allow the state’s department of environmental protection to require additional measures if fracking is taking place near public resources, and requires drillers to restore water supply that is degraded or damaged through fracking, according to the statement.

That change of heart six years ago might make sense if Fetterman had in fact been a clear supporter of fracking since that time. But what about his opposition to fracking in 2018? His campaign couldn’t explain that. CNN reports, “The campaign did not address why Fetterman then said in 2018 that he doesn’t support fracking and ‘never’ will.”

Did Fetterman forget about his denunciation of fracking in 2018 or is he just lying about it now? CNN provided a link to his full 2018 interview so here it is cued up to the question on fracking. As you’ll see, Fetterman leads by saying he doesn’t support it and never has. But he goes on to argues and excuse one exception for two fracking wells drilled to support the operation of a loal steel mill. “Without this step, without drilling their own wells for gas, the economic viability of these three mills that it’s connected to are in grave jeopardy.”

The context here is that Fetterman is making one small exception to the general rule that he is against fracking. That definitely doesn’t line up with what his spokesman is claiming, i.e. that he’s supported fracking since at least 2016.

But I think this exception he’s talking about does help show why he’s changed his tune now as he’s running for governor. After all, if a couple of wells can make the difference between solvency and collapse for an entire steel mill, wouldn’t lots of wells benefit other businesses and consumers in general?

Not surprisingly, this CNN story is getting some attention today. But as Twitchy pointed out, not everyone is happy about it. But Dr. Oz’s camp didn’t miss it.

John Fetterman said he’s ‘always supported’ fracking – he previously said ‘I don’t’ and ‘never have’https://t.co/wWvWjiRAKJ

— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) October 18, 2022

Here’s an RNC Research clip posted last week which includes his most recent statement in favor of fracking as well as the one from 2018 and one from 2016 when he opposed it. Something obviously doesn’t add up here. Good for CNN for not letting this slip past them.

Fetterman just claimed he’s “always supported” fracking.

Fetterman signed a pledge to BAN fracking and repeatedly said he’s against fracking.

ROLL THE TAPE pic.twitter.com/EEyQggThBj

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 12, 2022

And finally, here’s an image of the pledge he signed in 2016. As you can see, he not only supported a fracking moratorium he also supported the Keep It In the Ground Act.

Here’s John Fetterman in 2016 signing a pledge to BAN FRACKING. pic.twitter.com/1zkGijacAu

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 12, 2022