Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, covered the April 20, 2022, Bristol, Pennsylvania., townhall, featuring GOP Senate hopeful Dr. Mehmet Oz and former Housing and Urban Development head Dr. Ben Carson, which was hosted by talk radio’s ‘Godzilla of Truth’ John Fredericks.
‘This is the No. 1 race in America, because as goes Pennsylvania, as goes our nation,” said Fredericks. ‘President Trump needs Dr. Oz in the Senate when he puts his hand on the Bible on January 20, 2025.’
Oz told the more than 200 Republican voters that the event was not a rally, it was a forum for them to ask him the tough questions.
One of the tough questions was why did the former TV host have dual citizenship with Turkey.
The heart surgeon said it was a person and family matter that has become a distraction.
‘My mom has Alzheimer’s,’ he said.
‘Ben knows a lot about that, it’s a horrible disease, six million Americans are afflicted by it,’ he said. ‘My mom lives in Turkey–you lose your loved ones twice. You lose them when they forget you, and you lose them when you lose them.’
Oz said his dual citizenship allows him to have control over his mother’s healthcare.
‘My one sister has mental health issues, and so, I have a restraining order against her in Turkey–it’s a lot of dirty underwear, but it’s the reality and I’m pretty transparent about who I am,’ he said.
The surgeon said he would give up his dual citizenship if he is elected to the Senate.
Another voter asked Oz, how could he be sure he would not betray conservatives the way retiring Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-PA) did.
The surgeon took the question straight on.
‘Dave, I’ve got the scars to prove it and I can’t be bought,’ Oz said. ‘I’ve never been in the Senate, so I can’t show you, but look at my track record of the last 13 years–I will fight, and I’ll do what needs to be done to protect my country and the people who’ll send me to Washington.’
Carson said it another way.
‘One of the reasons that Trump was despised in Washington, not just by Democrats, but by a lot of Republicans, too, is because he didn’t play their game,’ he said.
‘They have a very ingrained game, and I don’t think you’re going to play that game either.’
TRANSCRIPT
McCabe: With less than a month ago, before the May 17th Republican Senate primary, Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a town hall here in Bristol, Pennsylvania, with Dr. Ben Carson, hosted by Radio’s Godzilla of Truth John Fredericks.
Fredericks: This is the number one race in America, because as goes Pennsylvania, as goes our nation. President Trump needs Dr. Oz in the Senate when he puts his hand on the Bible, in January 2025.
McCabe: Oz told the Republican voters the forum was not a rally, but a place where they could ask the tough questions. Taking him up on it, one voter asked why the former TV host was a dual citizen of Turkey.
Oz: My mom has Alzheimer’s. Ben knows a lot about that ailment. It’s a horrible disease. 6 million Americans are afflicted by it. My mom lives in Turkey with it. And you lose your loved ones twice. You lose them when they forget you, and then you lose them when you lose them.
My one sister has mental health issues, and so I have a restraining order against her in Turkey. This is a lot of dirty underwear, but it’s the reality, and I’m pretty transparent about who I am.
McCabe: The heart surgeon said it was the only way he could control his mother’s health care.
Oz: If I’m elected, if I’m honored to allow to be serving you that I will give up my Turkish citizenship before I would have served in the Senate.
McCabe: Another voter asked Oz why he would be different from retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who betrayed Conservatives.
Voter: How do I know that you’re going to keep those values?
McCabe: Oz took it straight on.
Oz: I’ve got the scars to prove it, and I cannot be bought. So I’ve never been in the Senate before. So I can’t show you by my track record in the Senate, but I can show you my track record, what I’ve done for the last 13 years, that I’ll fight and I’ll do what needs to be done to protect my country and the people who have put them in Washington. So God bless you.
McCabe: Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson had his own way of saying it.
Carson: One of the reasons that Trump was so despised in Washington, not just by Democrats, but by a lot of Republicans, too, is because he didn’t play their game. They have a very deep ingrained game, and I don’t think that you’re going to play their game either.
McCabe: Reporting for The Star News Network, Neil W. McCabe Bristol, Pennsylvania.
