Before reading this article, Buttigieg was my pick to be the Democratic candidate to go against Trump in 2020. Now, I'm going to look again at some of the other candidates. And that's not a bad thing.
It's still April. If we don't thoroughly vet all the candidates, we could end up with an untested candidate to go against a very powerful incumbent. We have to choose the candidate that can beat Trump. Buttigieg may not have any problem with black voters. or he may have a big problem. It's something that we need to find out sooner rather than later.
Trump is racist. We need a president who represents All Americans. I'm still hoping that Mayor Pete is the answer. But if he doesn't understand the challenges faced by all Americans, then let's find a candidate who does. And I hope The NY Times and all the media continues to poke around at all the Democratic candidates. If they can't handle The Times, how will they do when Trump's team goes after them? And how will they stand up for America against our enemies?
One article shouldn't sink a candidacy. But we shouldn't act like this is a coronation. Let's do the due diligence and find the strongest candidate. Then, let's make Trump a one term president. He's got a few Grand Juries waiting to indicte him when he's a private citizen.
10
Relative to the chaos on the national scene right now, this South Bend incident with the police sounds like a very tiny tempest in a teapot. Move on.
18
Shows exactly why he is not ready to be President.
6
Why did he relent to the pressure of the federal prosecutors? Why not handle this with honesty? If the police chief is a criminal, and it sounds like he is, charge him and let him face trial. If the officers were in fact racist, fire them/investigate their previous convictions and punish them in whatever manner racists are punished. That's appropriate and honest, would have gotten rid of all the bad apples, chief and officers, and no settlement wold have been paid.
10
He followed the law, which may have had a knock-on effect of shielding some awful behavior by senior white policemen. Not a good situation, but that hardly speaks to how good a leader he's been or how he looks after the interests of all his citizens, including African-Americans.
Why not do a journalistic deep dive into what efforts he may, or may not have made to improve the lives of the poorest citizens of South Bend, instead of what comes across as argument by innuendo?
13
Let’s stop getting excited by every new shiny object to declare that they’re running for President. This guy will be gone in a few months.
6
Can you imagine a republican bemoaning the fact that a rally was "very black", and calling it an "obstacle that will have to be overcome"?! What in the world isn't absolutely racist about this? Have democrats fully embraced hypocrisy as a tactic? Please, somebody, explain this to us.
17
Never heard much about Mr. Buttigieg before. From the quotation, can’t help wondering how he passed freshman composition.
“It felt stomach-churning to know that that same day, we were at what even then I understood was going to be the beginning of an incredibly painful and divisive moment of race relations in my city.”
That-that?
[Edited for clarity] ‘Attending the demonstration was gut wrenching. We were at a painful and divisive moment in race relations.’
Might seem like I'm splitting hairs, but just don’t see him making the final cut in such a crowded field of candidates.
Democrats need a candidate who can answer tough questions without seeming to get tongue-tied.
3
"unexpected strength in polls and mostly positive news coverage."
And so it's time to find a reason to drag him down.
23
To those who say he’s too young and inexperienced, I’d recommend watching the interview with John Harwood, “Pete Buttigieg chats with CNBC before his 2020 announcement”. This is by far the best conversation I’ve seen him have on economic policy. His position is one of pragmatism not ideology, and his ability to articulate it and connect with his audience is among the best there is
21
I'm an enthusiastic supporter of Buttigieg, and understand that his action was because the chief acted inappropriately, likely illegally. But knowing what it meant to the African American community in his city, he really should have found a qualified black officer to replace him. Yes, ideally race shouldn't be a factor, but when someone holds symbolic value to a community with a long history of discrimination, that has to be taken into account. It's just part of responding to the needs of all of your constituents.
21
One simple question: where would South Bend be today if Pete Buttigieg had not returned there to serve the city of his birth It seems to me he was caught between a rock and a hard place through no fault of his own and had the whole mess dumped in his lap. If that’s the only thing the writer of this piece can dig up to smear Mayor Pete, it’s time to put the whole thing into perspective in the great scheme of things and move on.
26
I keep going to Mayor Pete’s website and it’s bafflingly thin. What does he stand for on anything? What is his detailed platform? Until I know more, I’m supporting Warren. She is equally smart and you know what you’re getting with her!
16
@Rachel
Until you know more? I’m not sure he even knows. He’s never had to deal with federal issues, and I have not seen anything showing that he has a passion for any particular issue that is addressed at the federal level as Warren has. He appears to be another bright, articulate person who wants to lead from a particular party, but really does not have a specific agenda to push forward.
8
Hubris? Some. Decisiveness in the face of a thorny governing issue? Perhaps.
Arrogance in not seeking experienced counsel ( and I don't mean from attorneys but from the actual stake holders) before leaping to a quick decision? Clearly. He wasn't forced to fire the Police Chief -he decided to do that. Why the city rushed to pay off the officers who sued, I do not understand. And no one will, because the process was entirely obscured.
No one has a right to use racist language at work, and if employees are using police ( or other employer) lines to talk, it's more clear that this is NOT "private" conversation - no more than using a police computer system is private.
And that said, it still appears that he learns quickly - - and plays well with others -- all others - but I certainly wish that he had more experience, especially in dealing with legislative issues, where huge differences between conflicting interest groups have to be bridged to get anything accomplished.
12
It is 2019, Trip and Alex, 7 years after the nut of your piece...and apparently not a problem in re electing Pete as mayor to South Bend Indiana.
I especially have trouble with your observation that... "With federal prosecutors scrutinizing Mr. Boykins, the 29 year old mayor fired the veteran police chief just before the Trayvon Martin protest."
Are you suggesting the fecklessness of a youthful mayor in Indiana to protect unlawful wiretap surveillance is somehow associated with a racially inspired death in Florida?
I despise racism and all it represents, especially when it has become institutionalized by Trump. However, it seems almost beyond rational context to necessarily require all exercises of authority to be judged by speculations years later that they were "....either misunderstood or mishandled..." in any instance involving race.
Neither do I really don't know if "...teaching tennis and boxing to young people" and "...winning respect of both black and white officers..." has anything to do with illegal wiretaps sufficient to draw Federal scrutiny.
This piece sounds much like Biden smelling a woman's hair to her outrage years later.
We democrats are expert in circular firing squads And if Pete is too young and inexperienced, Biden too old and hair smelling, Kamala deficient in law enforcement, Klobuchar too hard on her staff, Beto too insouciant , Bernie too socialistic while a millionaire elite....we will have Trump.
9
@murfie We, Democrats, are also experts in circumventing race and discussions of racism. It was no way implied that this had anything to to with Trayvon Martin's murder. Also, this situation was scrutinized at the time, and revisited even by the Buttigieg in his own book. Unless the nominee is someone who gets it, this election might be another one for black Democrats to sit out.
6
I like Pete. Seems like a smart guy....but. His parents were professors, a tremendous profession, but if they had tenure, could never lose their jobs. He can't really connect with someone that could be fired or actually had gotten fired.
He went to Harvard. Great school, but not known for giving people real life experience.
A true leader would have spent some time, not just for photo opts, trying to feel how the average person gets by.
Running South Bend is not running NYC, Chicago, or LA, or any city with a large population.
9
We learn from mistakes. Bobby Kennedy turned himself around on race. If only....
3
I would never use a racial slur in the presence of a minority but my black friends have no problem using racial slurs toward each other.
you know his city is easily one of the worst in the state and hasnt got any better with him in office. He lacks the drive to make it better and get things fixed
3
Fired a well-liked Black police chief after he attempted to expose racist officers within the police department? Who should have been fired? I don't know enough about the case, but especially during this time of racism exposure in our justice system, this doesn't seem to make for an accountable government. I don't care how 'religiously progressive' he is.
12
Buttigieg is a individual who will fade from the national scene before the year is out.
Having said this; if the DNC found and nominated a transgender mixed race candidate who spent their entire lives working with poor people, somebody at the NYT or other major media outlet would find something offensive about that person's past.
In one of his songs, Billy Joel spoke of a girlfriend who did not accept some personality traits of his. His lines included: "but it just may be a lunatic you're after".
America is now so paralyzed in angst about looking for that perfect leader.
We have literally thousands of qualified individuals of different races and gender who would lead us back to the pre-Trump values of political civility. Why would 99.99% of them put themselves and their family through our current political process?
The Republican Party has abandoned all aspects of civility.
The Democrats need to be realistic about whoever they nominate. It's about winning the WH back, not about pleasing every faction in the party.
Those so-called "Democrats" who didn't feel passionate about HRC and sat out the 2016 election are as responsible for DJT sitting in the WH as the most hateful Trump loyalist who came out an voted.
11
The police chief broke the law. What's the problem?
12
So now the only sympathetic, educated and intelligent Democratic candidate among the crowd of decrepit socialists is being taken down...for what? Not overlooking an invasion of privacy because the culprit happened to be black? Or revitalizing the downtown? Or...I can’t even keep straight all the PC sins that nowadays seem be the target of “liberal” witch hunts? The American left seems to have mutated into a cult preoccupied with purges and hunting down dissenters rather than with presenting a winning candidate and a credible political platform. I could not care less whether Mayor Pete fired a black police chief. I do care about economy, foreign affairs and the future direction of the country. And I won’t vote for a candidate who checks all the PC categories but whose program is not in the best interests of American economy and the country’s standing in the world. I’d rather have Trump for four more years.
10
African American, gay, and a registered Democrat who has not made a decision on who to support.
It comes down to this: Instead of dealing with the racism at hand, the distraction in South Bend was to disparage Chief Darryl Boykins for the manner in which his evidence of racism was acquired.
This happens often in high-profile cases of racism targeting Black folk. Instead of dealing with the issue at hand, the focus becomes how to attack the character of the person making the charge, especially when the claim is credible. Indeed, that kind of response haunts the Black Lives Matter movement.
Mr. Boykins and others who have listened to the recordings make credible claims of racism. If such claims were not credible, the white police officers would not have fought so hard to ensure they not be released.
So, here's a two-fold question for you Mayor Buttigieg: Who do you believe in this case, and what do you believe regarding evidence of racist policing in South Bend and across the United States?
You are mayor. Black citizen testimonials about racism in your police force are not new.
Why not confront it forthrightly?
Why scapegoat federal prosecutors for your political decisions?
You claim a lesson learned but your campaign manager continues to threaten those who wish to release the recordings of the racist comments.
Before announcing your candidacy, politically it seemed safe to treat Chief Boykins as expendable.
The calculus has changed.
Where do you stand?
16
Pete is accused of ignoring racial sensitivities. So was he supposed to allow his police chief to break federal law because he was black?
Would Pete be facing scrutiny if the police chief he demoted was white?
Bottom line is Mr. Boykins deserved to be held accountable for his actions regardless of his race. To suggest otherwise is in fact racist.
Ridiculous purity tests like this one, is how the democrats will help re-elect Trump, an actual racist.
21
Boykins should speak. Promote Buttigieg for President or voice his concerns about this candidates ability to make judgements based on law.
4
It's still very early in the process but I find it very interesting how many people have knee jerk reactions to how they pick their "candidate of choice". For instance, the people commenting that due to this flawed article, now there is no way they'll vote for Pete. We don't really know everything that went on. The purity test for Democrats is unbelievable. We really might end up with Trump again at this rate.
On another note, so many people saying "he's too young". I actually think he's the perfect age. My husband and I (small sample, I know) both feel that we were in our prime in our 40's. Top of work game, still plenty of energy, easily able to adapt and learn new things and concepts. We aren't in our 70's yet, but many in that age group do become set in their ways. To combat things like climate change and the problems of big tech, I think a younger person has an advantage, as they have more in the game due to climate, and have better understanding of tech. Does anyone remember the joke of the Zuckerberg hearings? Most of those ancient congressmen didn't seem to understand what they were talking about.
14
So many people commenting here who are outraged that we are looking into Mayor Buttigieg's record. This a primary, this is his record, it needs to be looked into. I don't like the argument that experience is no longer relevant just because DT is president. I think Democrats have to ask for more. But if we're going to go with the unprecedented choice of a small city then we need to comb that record with a fine toothed comb. An exceptional choice demands an exceptional record. Every interview I've heard with Buttigieg he's touted his executive experience, so we need to see it up close. Here it is. You can agree with the Mayor that he did the right thing, or you can agree with his critics that this reveals shortcomings of vision and leadership. But you can't argue that it shouldn't be discussed, that's just not democracy.
18
I am wont to make a prediction: the last male standing on the stage for the Survivor Island/DNC campaign will be Sanders (a rebel type), Booker (black vote) and Castro (latino vote). At that point one can argue that no XYs will be crowned.
4
This extraordinarily articulate young man would (will) be a marvelous choice to be keynote speaker at the Democratic Presidential Convention. His political sensitivities alone allow him to elevate and form reactions to divisive issues, as illustrated even by this somewhat skewed article. It’s about time that the good side of politics became evident, hidden by the nearly unanimous view that bipartisanship is impossible under contemporary conditions.
Go Pete. Show us how it’s done.
15
The actions of the city's chief of police were highly improper, possibly illegal, and clearly resulted in liability to the city. Any right-minded executive seeking to defend the interests of the city would have also required the termination of the police chief. It is astonishing to think that this should give rise to criticism. If anything, his clear-headed and deliberate decision-making should be praised.
12
It’s 1.5 yrs til Election Day. Actually, it’s more than that.
3
Pete Buttigeig is impressively clear headed and articulate in describing national issues, but to me this is an important relevation as we’re trying to understand the character of this man. Systemic racism, the politization and militarization of police departments nationwide is a major isuue. White supremecists groups have made it a mission to populate their ranks. Mayor Pete’s actions in South Bend were a best naive -or worse. I’d like to see some candidate come forward with a policy proposal for nationwide police reform in recruiting, screening and training. One can only wonder why national police organizations haven’t stated a clear program to eliminate racist cops from their ranks. If they won’t somebody higher up needs to.
10
The Election campaigns have barely started and I already know who won. Trump will be reelected with his 46 percent again,thereby winning the electoral college. This field of clowns will keep the party divided and lose again. The news analysts and pundits were all wrong the last time around, it was not the Republicans tearing themselves apart. Sanders and Warren and these other unelectable candidates will definitely not win the hearts and minds of the unemployed factory workers and farmers in the south and midwest.
4
Who will be the next shiny new thing promoted by the Democratic establishment?
2
Critics are wrong: Presidents Andrew Johnson, Cleveland and Coolidge were all mayors.
4
Mayor Pete is a good guy, and so is Beto. I would be willing to vote for them if either one of them won the Democratic nomination. I would not hold my nose, either. I would proudly vote for them, pressure them to do better, and wish them well.
HOWEVER, Democrats need to start flipping some red state Senate and Governorships to blue. The time is ripe for politicians like Buttigieg and Beto to run for a state-wide office, and they are young enough to run more than once. We need smart young politicians to crack this code. Where are the worker bees? Everyone wants to be queen.
Considering how much Dems need to take back the Senate and how much doing so will effect our future, it is selfish and arrogant for these neophytes to run for President at this critical time.
Yes, it is easier to get elected as a liberal in California or Massachusetts or even Pennsylvania. But these young guys are asking me to see them as President. Being President is hard. Contrary to popular belief it requires more than fame and money. Figure out what it takes to win as a Democrat in TX or IN without losing your soul. If you cannot bring your own state to the table with an Electoral College vote, why should you win the nomination?
I preferred Sherrod Brown, so smart he has the good sense to hold down the fort in Ohio.
We already have a celebrity with little experience. In 2020, I want a President.
6
Seems like improperly taping phone calls of fellow officers would be a fireable offense, whether one is white, black, purple, or green.
5
Yawn. Who is this person and why should we care? Just another in the long line of candidates that will be announcing their resignation from the presidential race after the Iowa caucus.
2
You just said the chief "improperly taped phone calls" he was abusing power and the law this was never a race thing.
3
As a candidate for President, Mayor Pete has presented himself as one of few or any candidates with experience as an elected chief executive, albeit of a relatively small city. And, as this article notes and has been mentioned elsewhere and often, his record as mayor has some shining moments.
But I'm struck by the quotation in this article from one of his South Bend constituents, that though a South Bend native Pete probably had little contact with the city's minority citizens.
The article does not describe any significant changes he has made to build bridges--to become more familiar with the neighborhoods, schools, and other circumstances that minority citizens of South Bend know first hand. One would think he would have made himself more available and sooner--in 2012 when first campaigning and elected--to listen to how minority people experience and perceive their city and its government.
And it's late, perhaps not too late, for him to do better at this. And I humbly suggest he needs to do it, not because it will be easy but because it is necessary, regardless of what happens to him as a candidate for national office.
8
Pete is just not "ready," honest, or not. I like him for his honesty. I like him for his clarity. But I don't think he can carry the vote in this divided nation. I have monetarily supported Elizabeth Warren despite a very limited income (retired with all the monetary reductions that entails). If Vice President Biden runs, I will certainly support him. The combination of the two, in either order, would be "the dream team." We need their acumen and their sincerity. Unfortunately, Pete is just too green and controversial at this time as are all the other candidates.
9
I see that the NYT has decided it's time to take Mayor Pete down a few pegs.
50
Seriously. We need the media to bring us reliable information, but they have absolute control over what to spotlight. Marketing classes should be required in elementary and high school, with discussions of the effects of our current economic system - advertising and propaganda is gonna be absolutely bonkers in 10 years. It’s the main reason we can’t solve climate change.
10
@Kanaka It's almost as if they enjoy the boost in circulation that Trump brought on
3
@Kanaka vetting candidates who want the most powerful job in the world is one of the jobs our press should be doing.
6
Like many commentators here I am confused where the controversy is other than it being about identity politics. Was Buttigieg meant to keep someone on who was being investigated by the FBI? I mean I know it now seems pretty normal for public servants to remain in office while the are under investigation but I thought that was/ should be a bad thing.
35
Yes, but the article’s underlying story: As mayor, when confronted with hard evidence of racist beliefs among your city’s police force, and you take the action of firing your chief for improperly taping fellow officers, revealing yourself to be a man with an intolerance for tackling the deeper issues of inequality in the city you govern, and the toxic aspect of police racism.
6
This young man is not old enough to have a memoir, much less the wisdom to know better than to publish one.
9
@Dan Holton
Agreed, but we are not ambitious young politicians.
1
Half of the things nyt published these days seems like conservative tabloid fodder. What is the deal with your editorial board? I noticed that a lot of the Board ate from conservative southern background. This change in content is very suspicious.
15
I've been reading Mayor Pete's statements and reading many over-the-moon comments from his supporters about how they fell in love with him as a candidate. I saw him on Seth Meyers and I just wasn't impressed. He seems like a great young politician but certainly not presidential material. I'll still vote for him over Trump if that's what it comes down to.
9
This was a good article. I don’t like his answer of he never listened to the tapes. I feel like that is horrible for two reasons. 1. If he did listen to the tapes , ignored racial comments from his police officers , and ultimately lied that alone would cancel my interest in voting for him. 2. If he didn’t listen to the tapes as he claimed it shows that he didn’t have any interest in knowing that he had any racist cops patrolling his city , but rather believe and trust his officers over his black police chief without actually knowing that he truly had taped conversations would also be enough to cancel my interest in voting for him. But if Mayor Pete wins the democratic primary against Trump i have no choice but to vote for him over Trump. I would vote for Elmo over Trump in 2020. 😀
17
The mayor demonstrated he's a consummate politician who can act with decisiveness, and apparently on the side of law and order. He is ready to compete in the big leagues of American politics. What politician (or reasonable person) would keep a chief of police, or any other city official under FBI investigation for any crime? Would it be fair to assume Harris or Booker would not have done the same thing, if confronted with the same situation? He is young and with a fresh view of the reality of American society and politics.
23
I can’t say of it was an error or not but it is pretty clear that firing a beloved black police chief for breaking the law is an act that would require a certain amount of courage.
There may have been lack of political sophistication, misunderstandings, many errors, I can’t say. But the idea that someone would actually demonstrate the courage to act of principle is, well, out of step with the behavior of both of our political parties. Refreshing, it is.
Perhaps he isn’t willing to play by NYT rules or something
31
I am grateful to Trip Gabriel and Alexander Burns for this detailed account of Mayor Buttigieg's relationship with Afro-Americans in South Bend, Indiana. I had read and heard comments by Buttigieg about his firing of the city's black police chief in 2012. This Opinion touches on that, while indicating the very small number of minority police officers in South Bend now and the lack of improvement in the lives of blacks during Buttigieg's terms of office. The overall advance in the city's fortunes has not reached them. I have been enthusiastic about the mayor's attributes, but this article gives reason to pause. Elizabeth Warren's policy ideas have been very been well articulated and absolutely in the interest of the American people. Buttigieg cannot match her record of service. Of course, he is much younger and vetting him as a candidate for the presidency has just begun.
7
I wasn't for the life of me able to find any plausible reason for why the NY Times dredged up this story from 2012. There seems to me no connection to South Bend of 2019. The NY Times long has been the paper of record for me, yet I'm increasingly losing faith in its political coverage.
28
@ChristopherP Yeah, and I’m sure you didn’t understand why the Times and dozens of other outlets “dredged up” tapes of Trump from 2006 when he was running for president in 2016. I mean, why are those tapes relevant 10 years later? My guess is you want it two ways: One way for your beloved Democrats; and quite another for your hated Trump. The truth is that EVERYTHING is fair game when you run for president, no matter how long ago it was. I remember Dick Cheney running for VP in 2000, and having to explain a couple of DUI’s from the 1960’s. That’s why anytime Joe Biden’s name is brought up, people start talking about the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings. EVERY skeleton in your closet will come out if you run for president. This mayor doesn’t get a free pass, even though you seem to think he should.
10
@David I just didn't see in this instance a thoroughly well developed storyline that made pertinent connections and connecting thread. to the here and now. Yes, of course it's open season on anyone running for president, but have higher standards for the NY Times, and hope most others do too.
3
All these readers saying Boykins broke the law--yet no charges were brought against him.
9
@Sophocles you mean, like people say about Trump?
2
What the NYT reporters are suggesting, if I read this correctly, is that the police chief - who clearly broke the law - should not have been fired because he was black. Hence, Buttigieg should not have fired him in order to keep political options open for the future.
This is the worst type of identity politics imaginable.
64
Mayor Pete Buttigieg just launched his presidential campaign, an act he underscored might be considered “audacious” - shades of former President Obama - given his current job a mayor of a small Midwestern city. As an out loud gay American, Mayor Buttigieg noted that he’s sensitive to world of “otherness”, this includes racism, misogyny, regional discrimination, nativism, nationalism and other odious “isms”. Yet, he seems to have won the support of his conservative city. In other words, he seems to have moved one step at a time. From this report, it’s hard to conclude or even superficially assume that he made a huge mistake in removing the police chief, he got re-elected by a large margin, after all. More details and context is needed.
On the positive side, there’s evidence of possessing a clear, respectable intellect, a composed character and thoughtfulness - at least in answers to questions posed, so far. As people get to know him, the Buttigieg’s tent will expand.
25
The NYT can report almost no story without framing it in race, gender, sexual preference, class, and/or left vs. right. What was once a great paper now peddles in identity journalism at its worst.
45
I have been a Mayor Pete fan, but this does not sound good at all. I’ll wait for more details. But this sounds like a case where an independent panel should have appointed to sort things out, allowing due process for the chief and those he allegedly recorded.
11
@Mike Collins This has been densely reported for years in the South Bend Journal.
7
Find me a pol who is perfect? Impossible.
There may or may not be more to the story, but the city did bloom under his leadership.
The question I have is why tape without a warrant, especially if you are a part of law enforcement. Don't you need to build a case legally? And it seems he had good cause to go after these officers. Pete isn't stupid. He knew there would be repercussions.
But look at the stories coming out about Amy. She's touch on her staff. Does the media report that about men? Biden's too old, but Bernie's age is never an issue. Harris was a prosecutor. Oh my!
I like Mayor Pete, but he isn't the first pol to spin a reply. Hey, Trump does it all the time. Nor is he the first pol to have made errors.
Wasn't there pushback when DeBlasio didn't appoint a Black chief?
Every election cycle the NYTimes targets someone. Their reporting on John McCain reeked of bias. Even Hillary got bad press. Maybe Pete's story is their way of making it up to Bernie for their lack of coverage of his campaign?
7
Seriously, this child prodigy pianist needs to retract his candidacy for the presidency. He is a disgrace.
5
@Rose M "He is a disgrace."
" He is a disgrace."
Why? Because he fired a police chief who broke the law by abusing his power?
Had the chief been white and the officers been Black, would you say the same thing?
Of course, I know what your answer would be: In that case, of course the chief should have been fired, because he broke the law.
46
I am incredibly disappointed to read this and of course it taints my growing impression of Buttigieg. I am glad it came out early so that we can decide to forget this rising star. We need a woman in the White House I think. The time is right.
8
@Philip W Ann Coulter is a woman, so you'd rather have her over any man?
26
The man made a decision.
7
Liberals cannibalizing their own. Good luck beating Trump with identity politics.
53
Anyone claiming that identity politics is not relevant to 2020 has their head in the sand. Trump’s white nationalist (and patriarchal) proclamations, policies, appointees, staff and supporters show that his primary playbook is identity politics.
6
Is anybody surprised by the fact that Mayor Pete just doesn't get it?
6
A Donald Trump win, along with a Republican controlled Congress will mean the loss of healthcare, the slashing of Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid that will hurt tens of millions including many millions of African Americans.
Good luck with that.
18
It’s a violation of federal law to use unauthorized wiretaps. Police chiefs must follow the law; if they do not, it follows that they should lose their job.
This is basic First Amendment stuff folks.
53
So... what exactly should a mayor who’s been on the job for a few weeks so when he finds out his police chief is being investigated by the FBI (for a crime that he actually committed by the way)?
A) Lie, stonewall, refuse to testify, have his team attack anyone that points out the clear crimes that have been committed, order his people to lie to the public and refuse to give evidence to the investigators, and then have his cabinet hold a press conference to declare him exonerated when the evidence comes in.
B) Pay $135,000 to keep facts from ever being made public.
C) Make a hard decision that may be unpopular and mischaracterized to be used against you in the future because you believe it is the right thing to do.
45
The police chief broke the law by taping those officers without a legal warrant. He knew that he was committing a crime. He decided that the ends justified the means. Since he was trying to address racial bigotry amongst police, the African American community did not want the police chief to be held accountable for his unethical and illegal acts. The Mayor could not do what the law expected of him without alienating the entire African American community.
But the facts are very clear that the laws and the police were used for centuries to oppress African Americans mercilessly and brutally. They survived and endured despite laws and democratic institutions devoted to keeping them down. It will take generations of being treated equally and justly to establish trust.
7
@Casual Observer Laws are in place to protect law abiding citizens. Everyone has a choice to obey or disobey laws and to refrain from harming others. It is not racist to expect/require African Americans to obey laws and refrain from hurting others.
The way to the nomination is through South Carolina just ask Bernie. If Mayor Pete wants to get a chance to become mayor Pete he better spend a lot of time in South Carolina. Pete may be The Golden Child of the day who has taken Beto off the front page but he is going to have an uphill climb in South Carolina.
Not addressing these tapes are going to come back and bite him at crunch time.
5
@Steven McCain
Corey Booker will win SC.
Perhaps it's safer to say whoever wins in SC has the best shot at winning the nomination.
Mayor Pete looking doleful atop an article that takes some of the bloom off.
The pic is seven years old but it does serve - along with the contents of the article - as a reminder of his youth and inexperience.
Still looking forward to his contribution to the upcoming debates, though.
3
Why do we insist on the infallibility of normal human beings? I am surprised by the defensive tone of so many of the comments. No, NYT is not on a witch hunt to undermine all democratic candidates.
We can't criticize the guy at 1600 when he demonizes the press for attempting to report the facts and then scream fake news when the subject is a candidate we like.
Mayor Pete was my favorite. But I really knew nothing of his record. I am concerned about the circumstances of the firing of the police chief, and more so about the mayor's reasoning.
I don't know how much this will affect his candidacy, but I am glad that the same press which exposes our President's constant onslaught of lies also is objective enough to scrutinize the records of those wishing to replace him.
Thank you NYT!
9
Before I even read this article. Understand both sides of the argument.
2
All of us view the world through the filter of our own experience and biases. What is amazing to me is the extent to which the authors of comments project their own fears, hopes, and prejudices onto Mayor Buttigieg and the events described in this article. I include myself in this group.
Deeply intertwined issues of recorded phone calls, racism, legal issues, and cash settlements become described as all about one thing but none of the others. Continuing and incomplete efforts to revive a depressed Rust Belt city get characterized under the loaded term "gentrification". Everything is either black or white, both literally and figuratively - city, candidate, and politics as a Rorschach identity test.
I am concerned by people including myself who rush to judgement without knowing more of the facts. I am concerned by people who only see a zero-sum game in which for their cause to win, the other side must lose. And I am concerned by people who view everything according to a hierarchy of victimization and virtue. I believe that these viewpoints are traps that annihilate the possibilities for building coalitions necessary to win national elections.
I also believe that it is possible to investigate, evaluate, and criticize Democratic candidates without litmus tests, loyalty oaths, or demands for apologies and rigid ideological purity. Let's stop making the perfect the enemy of the good. Let's concentrate our minds and our efforts upon defeating Mr. Trump and his enablers.
33
@Ross Thank you for an excellent post.
10
I think it's important to reflect on why a black man in a position of power might feel it was a worthwhile risk to listen to and continue unauthorized wiretaps of his own subordinates. If I were a black man in the US at any age and with any socioeconomic position and job (but particularly a position of power with a bunch of white men with guns as subordinates), I'd be afraid for my life not just sometimes but pretty much all the time. I think the context here is incredibly important, and it seems in reading this account that Buttigieg (like many white men) didn't give it a tremendous amount of thought before removing a black man from a position of power and a job at which it sounds like he was very successful (and which must have been hard-won). Buttigieg could have done other things both to investigate the allegations of racism (and insubordination) among white cops in the department and to protect privacy without removing Boykins from his position. Ignoring the context of entrenched racism in the country (and in police departments) and applying rules in this purist way does nothing to heal tensions or push the country (or that particular police force) forward in understanding, communication, and collaboration.
13
Yes context matters. He's supervising armed people. It's important to have evidence if they're using racial slurs against him. As a taxpayer, the disrepect these publicly-paid police officers showed to their superior officer is enraging to me.
3
NYT, now you’re joining the bandwagon of circle-the-wagon Dems who consistently grab defeat from the jaws of victory by beating up their own.
Really? Making an issue out of this? I’m a full-blown left-leaning lib, but come one. Give it a rest. Let it go. This is beyond ridiculous at this point.
27
@Guitar Man Ha: You know nothing of history. When the Republicans attacked and investigated Clinton for 6 straight years (Kenneth Starr = Mueller), it completely backfired. Bill Clinton ended up looking great (he left office with one of the highest approval ratings in presidential history), while the Republicans attacking and investigating him came off looking like hypocrites. It’s the exact same thing now. I hate to have to break this to you, but Trump is going to be elected again.
What kind of reporting is this? What is the purpose of this article? The mayor of a city fired a police chief who was committing a crime. The courts upheld this, at least in part and so far.
Does the NYT administration hand out points to journalists for virtue signaling and fanning a race war? This is really outrageous.
55
I agree. Pairing the story with that picture says it all. Come on. I’m a journalist and this is an odd story.
15
@HH He didn’t fire him; he demoted him, even though the police chief had committed a crime. Give me a break!
4
You did the right thing Mayor Pete so please don't worry about that. Just know you have so many voting democrats who have your back. Never give up. Rise to the challenge and don't be discouraged.
There is so much wrong with this article that I'm pretty embarrassed to be a paid subscriber to the NYT. Sad to say, this was intended as a kill-shot. But, I have all the faith in the world that you won't give up and will keep running for President. This is a first major speed bump (crisis?) on a journey that will include many more.You've got what we need.
40
We are seeing repeated stories insinuating that there's dirt to be found among these Democratic candidates - but the dirtiest candidate of all, destroying our environment, our civil rights, a woman's right to choose, our schools, and our dignity is the incumbent. I hope these stories are not the work of the 'if I don't win the nomination I'm taking everyone else down with me' David Sirota employer - because BLUE has to win in 2020, or our country will go down with Sirota's boss too.
8
Ms Williams-Preston sounds like an extremely fair woman. I hope that the NYT will follow her career. Mr Buttigieg’s comments on the case are remarkably unconvincing. And if Mr Schmuhl really threatened arrest, he needs to leave the Buttigieg campaign, fast.
5
This might be a good touchstone to measure his capacity.
If he doesn't possess a CHARISMA to overcome this kind of controversy, he can't govern the country, not to mention winning the presidential race.
3
What is the purpose of this article? What is to be achieved? I'm a fan of Mayor Buttigieg. He seems intelligent, thoughtful and principled. Is he perfect? No, no one is. Does he seem to care about all people in this age of Trump? Certainly.
This seems more like something the Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg, Russia, would write. An article meant to divide Americans, not bring them together.
So why this article?
44
Of course no one will call this racism - only a misjudegement. Imagine if were a republican, how easily the word racism would have been used. These days people are crazy to throw words like sexist and racist very loosely but they definitely make a distinction between Dem and Rep whether to use it or not.
4
As if Mayor Pete's resume-suave White-House-here-ah-come media-ted triangulation weren't already a thing, it seems he got his Brother Souljah Moment checked off before We The People had even thought to ask.
I’m tired of racist mayors. If he doesn’t resign voluntarily, he should be impeached.
1
I personally think the love affair some Democrats have with him a bit silly. He’s like a novelty fad: a political version of what Crossfit was a few years ago.
But this really reads like a “hit piece.” I mean, if this is something that happened years ago and he even wrote about it in his autobiography...is this news? I don’t even really understand what I am meant to take away from this. The article offers very few actual facts. What’s the position of federal prosecutors? What was the actual evidence against the chief? What do the officers who were recorded say? The article is pretty empty of facts but full of insinuations. Is this even journalism?
40
Full disclosure, this South Bend resident supports her Mayor. This so-called news article, (at the very least it should have been an op-ed), in the esteemed Paper of Record is a hack job. We marched with the mayor and our African-American neighbors in the march for justice for Trevon Martin’s murder. We have witnessed the renaissance of our city that Mayor Pete would be the first to admit began before his tenure and he and his team have put into overdrive. It is our experience that when he becomes aware of missteps, he acknowledges them and works to rectify them. We recognize and know many of the people quoted and know that most are conscientious citizens, but also realize the axes that they were grinding when selectively chosen by your undoubtedly cub reporters. There are so many inaccuracies and lack of knowledge about our city’s history and challenges in this piece I question the NYT’s motivation in publishing it. We are longtime subscribers of the NYT and have trusted the reporting. This piece makes us question our loyalty.
66
@Karen Jacob Really? Then why were there so few blacks at his announcement?
This is the Democratic Party. All white crowds are a GOP thing.
2
@Lefthalfbach
Just FYI, Regina Williams-Preston, the African-American woman who the selective quoting in this article would have you believe feels aggrieved, was present at Mayor Pete’s announcement. She tweeted pictures of herself there with her mother, wearing Pete buttons. She has tweeted support of him repeatedly.
I do agree that the announcement crowd was too white on the whole, but I also know that many locals who support him did not attend the announcement. Many people chose to watch Tiger win the Masters instead. I don’t know if that changed the racial makeup of the crowd or not, but I would not be surprised if it did.
3
I've got an idea. Why don't the DEMs stop eating their own? Whose race is it to lose? Cut it out.
24
@NoCalSue
Are the writers of the NYT supposed to represent “the DEMs”? They could have provided more information and context here, but the media should not be representing a political party.
6
@NoCalSue You're talking about a party that was so determined to run HRC that they ignored the warning signs and consequently handed the presidency to Trump
6
Very curious about the genesis of this article. I’d say it’s even money that it started with someone from one of the B campaigns, Beto, Bernie or Biden.
25
No matter what happened, at least the Mayor did not refer to the police chief as a dog like T referred to Omarosa Manigault. If the GOP tried to play this card I hope the Dems have enough gumption to use some of T’s comments toward African-Americans.
8
I think it's great that Mayor Pete has done such a good job in South Bend.
But to run for President on it?
Bernie greatly improved Burlington, VT as mayor in the 80's. I know, I was there often and saw the improvements. The common refrain I heard when asking about the positive changes was "Bernie did that." I thought it was really cool the relationship the people had with him.
But I would have loved to see Bernie's reaction if in 1989 he was asked, "Why run for Congress, run for President."
8
@Omrider How about a Sanders-Buttigieg ticket? It would be a good balance of age and experience.
Unlike 2016, there would also be two people who've LED, not just advised and legislated.
4
@Jim...
An all White male ticket in which both candidates have trouble attracting Black voters... that is definitely not a Democratic ticket I would support.
4
@TOBY you shouldn't label people
7
Buttigieg is a bright guy, but for all his polish, I can't decide what kind of a Democrat we really have, here. The substance, underneath the philosophical approach on display, is thin. The other problem is that he's overshooting his resume by a considerable degree. He'd be better served trying for another position in government, a seat in the House, for instance. As for this story with the chief, I worry that it could be made to hurt in the general if Buttigieg somehow manages to win the nomination (though I'm not expecting him to do so, ultimately).
119
@T McAndrew
I agree, in the sense that this young and well-spoken man is still quite wet behind the ears; needs a little seasoning. I'm not sure why he is being so "pushed" at this point.
11
A seat in the House?! That type of experience is less useful than sitting on any city council.
Being a mayor is great for getting executive experience and having to deal with many constraints - a city council, various oversights, constituents and budgets. It’s much more than what senators and representatives have to deal with.
30
@T McAndrew:
Being a smart, articulate, well educated, Rhodes Scholar; partly educated abroad, speaking numerous languages, sure puts him ahead of the present White House Occupant.
24
Here it comes. The Democrats eating their young (in this case, almost literally).
So they will nominate Elizabeth Warren for president and Julian Castro for vice-president. Nicely racially and gender-balanced.
And this team will win 10 states (but win nationally by 3M votes); and as usual, the Democratic ticket will concede decorously.
But the Dow was up today. So who cares?
24
Meh, I don’t really care.
The man will learn. He is in his 30s. Give him some room to make these mistakes, and learn from them. Still for Pete 2020.
20
Is this what passes for vetting? Sorry NYTs, this is very poor reporting. It appears that these reporters are trying to start a story line that there was something racist about Mayor Buttigieg's actions. The story is incomplete, as many of the people commenting have said. More responsible journalism would tell a more complete story and not have such a misleading headline. This is reminiscent of the NYTs following the lead of the right wing media about Hillary's emails throughout the 2016 race. I almost always find myself in agreement with the Times editorially, but find the news reporting disappointing.
42
No doubt Mayor Pete inherited a tough problem when he first came into office, but he reached settlements with the principal parties and the situation calmed down. Since then relations between the mayor, the police department and the community have become more cordial. I’ve been at some of the major community justice meetings with these parties in South Bend where I live and can attest that the tone is respectful and cooperative. To raise these issues again now and suggest a public airing of the tapes is irresponsible and could be harmful to our community.
223
@David C.
But the article appears in a series that takes “the long view”.
9
Thank you for sharing your insight. It’s helpful to hear from someone that actually lives in the community.
12
@David C. This community you claim would be hurt by public airing of the tape, does that include the minority members of the city? From the article, the impression is that the tension has not been resolved despite the respectful tone at the meetings you experienced personally.
14
I'm glad there seems to be much resistance to this article intended to inflame but falls flat. They tried to bait us into a race relations bind when really, the legal system seems to be working itself out.. Mayor Pete is just one person in what seemed like a messy situation, makes this whole piece feel bloated.
26
👎👎👎
Shame on you New York Times, Trip Gabriel and Alexander Burns.
This article is NOT news worthy; is irreversibly and permanently damaging, to the New York Times’ reputation.
👎👎👎
47
Thank you NYT for bringing this to light. The cable news people never told us this story. They did note his lack of black support and now we know why. Goodbye Pete.
7
@J
Didn’t take much to change your mind, huh? Do you think there may be more facts here of which you are not aware? Do you think a chief law enforcement officer should remain in his position if there is legitimate concern that he is breaking the law?
21
This reminds me of 2016 when the media would never miss an opportunity to gleefully kneecap Hillary Clinton on every little thing.
23
And well-deserved at that!
6
People have called this clickbait or a hit piece?
Is the NYT supposed to ignore or bury this story? The Republicans sure would not were Pete the nominee.
From a cold-blooded political POV, we need massive black turnout everywhere. Quite frankly, unless Pete can make this right in some way with the black community, this story is disqualifying.
9
Sad the story doesn't talk about the Mayor's support of a living wage minimum wage in SB. It doesn't make it very clear that Derek Dieter who is mentioned was a racial pot stirrier. It doesn't talk about the improvements in poverty rate, only that it is still bad.
19
@mark
“Racial pot stirrer”?
What’s next? “...outside agitators...”
4
@mark Derek Dieter was a police officer and Common Council member, an "old school" Democrat. He was not a fan of Mayor Pete and ran against the African American woman Mayor Pete had endorsed for City Clerk in 2015, and lost.
5
A lot of the comments reflect a white, liberal perception of racial politics. If this story was published in the black press I suspect the comments would be a little different. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."
6
@roger
There may be some truth to what you state in general. However, here, people appear to be basing their comments on all relevant information, not just statements in the article.
4
@roger I had the same thought. There is obviously a reluctance to acknowledge that PB might have done something wrong or mistaken. There is an implicit, practically explicit wish that this issue not be discussed.
It reminds me a lot of 2016 Primary seasonwhen Bernie’s supporters argued Ethan his abject lack of support among blacks was irrelevant because we were going to lose the South anyway.
5
And, so we start with the back stories to tear down Mayor Pete.
The African American fired police chief sued and won $50,000. Sounds like less than one years' salary. And, the 4 white police officers still had their jobs and sued and won $500,000 which, assuming that's an aggregate amount, each won $125,000.
Apparently, the arbitrators or the courts, wherever this was decided, and I don't know, because usually governmental entities have immunity, are either (1) racist or (2) found that the police chief did exactly what he was accused of doing.
Reporting on truth is fine.
But, I'm tired of the negativity about the Democratic candidates.
What do we read? Amy is a witch of a boss. Elizabeth is a fake Native American. Beto didn't give enough to charity. Bernie rails against the 1% but made a lot of money writing books. Joe, who will declare next week, already has a lot of not-so-good history. Kirsten jumped the shark about Al Franken. Kamala put a lot of people in jail under laws that were racist and discriminatory. Corey is not married (oh no!) and made a fool of himself with the Spartacus thing. Tulsi? I don't think she has received one line of press, for anything. And, yeah, I left out several candidates.
Meanwhile, we have Trump. And, we will have Trump for a second term unless Democrats start learning how to control their own narratives.
444
@Alexandra Brockton
Is the Press supposed to ignore this story?
Do you think that black voters will? Do their views not count?
45
@Alexandra Brockton
No, that's why there are primaries. Let's hope the DNC butts out this time and doesn't railroad the strongest Dem candidate out of the election this time around, like they did to Bernie in 2016. Russian intervention? What about big money DNC intervention?
BTW, racism in the Democratic Party is still a big problem for progressive humane policies, just read the comments in this column, and we're not talking about the Faux News reverse racism the Trumpsters always whine about. Let those who support Reps AOC, Omar and Tlaib weigh in here.
20
@Alexandra Brockton I never underestimate the Democratic party leadership's unflappable commitment to standing in a circle, shooting each other, and losing elections. They've succeeded in this endeavor even with the benefit of pushing critical economic and environmental policies that a majority of American favor, and even with a majority of Americans voting for Democrats. Mayor Pete gives us a vision (and a language) for putting an end to the current "era of minority rule", the end of the Democratic party apologizing for itself, banishing its own, hiding from the word "liberal", brandishing butter knives to Republican's gun fights, and being completely complacent in implementing Republican policies - even when in the majority - during the past 40 years.
23
Even if we were able to dismiss the whole Boykins matter the fact that South Bend's black citizens have continued to be so much less prosperous than its Caucasians seems to represent a pretty large blemish on Buttigieg's record. Too bad: Mayor Pete had real possibilities as a presidential candidate.
5
Yeah, because he should have solved the entirety of 350 years of racism on this continent.
23
@mark
No, because Apartheid America should have rooted out racism by now post LBJ, we need another Bobby Kennedy now, not a pretender, support BLM, as some Republicans compare them to the KKK and Nazis unashamedly in the media, you can't make this kind of nastiness up, it's truly American in origin. You'd think we'd be more egalitarian 155 years after the civil war and 55 years after the height of the civil rights movement.
Bernie's the only candidate I know who got arrested for protesting Apartheid school housing policies in the 1960's.
5
@EC Speke
"Bernie's the only candidate I know who got arrested for protesting Apartheid school housing policies in the 1960's."
That's because he is 78 years old.
13
Firing someone, especially a police chief, who illegal wiretaps other police is not racist no matter how hard the NYT tries to make it so.
64
@Reader In Wash, DC Fox News won't need to put an end to Mayor Pete's candidacy (they don't do much investigative reporting anyway). Fox will simply watch The New York Times and The Washington Post take care of digging up the dirt, spin it in a negative light, and then report on it themselves. I love Mayor Pete. I hope he roles with the punches. We shall see.
17
New nickname:"Payout Pete."
7
While writing this hit piece on the mayor, someone should have been reminded that the guy currently sitting in the WH kept black people from renting in his apartments in Queens to the point that he was fined twice by the Justice Department. They should have been reminded that he loathes people who are any color of brown -- be they Hispanic, African American, Native American etc. He also loathes Muslims and anyone else who isn't lily white and thinks there were "good people on both sides" as white nationalist Nazi wanna be's shouted "Jews will not replace us."
Don't run out junk like this case to try to kill enthusiasm for a young, vibrant, intelligent, informed young man running for office to try to dig us out of the toxic mess known as the Trump administration.
30
He’s not the right candidate. Dems better think fast. He won’t be able to win without the African American vote.
3
@JC Oh, he'd get the African American vote. He did in South Bend, and running against Trump? You are confusing a minuscule number of Twitter trolls, many of whom don't like LGBT people, with all African Americans.
3
I want to have my presidential candidates vetted, so I am ok with this article. If this is the worst thing you can find on Pete Buttigieg, he is still looking pretty darn good in my book. The trick is to disclose possible problems about a candidate, but not to keep hounding an issue unless something new turns up. I'm hoping the NYT learned some lessons from its mistakes with the 2016 coverage. The 24-7 drumbeat of Hillary's emails comes to mind.
Along that line, I don't feel that Bernie Sanders was ever properly vetted. There were too few articles that illuminated his history, his family, past scandals or difficulties, etc., that one would expect about a leading candidate. I don't think the press thought he stood a chance, so why bother? Well, it is time now, for us to learn whether he has anything in his past we should know about.
Likewise with all the top candidates.
21
The decision to run for election to the highest office in the land inexorably brings with it the brutal reality of microscopic analysis of one's lifelong deeds and misdeeds. Some weather the storm better than others. Witness Turniphead who should be facing impeachment now but just possibly might still, God forbid, escape it.
Commenters here view this headline and story as "clickbait." C'mon, that's a mighty stretch. Media has a duty to explore the backgrounds of all candidates and the NYT's senior writers have acquitted themselves well.
The real story, yet to come, is how Mayor Pete learns, grows and acknowledges this scar on his short political history. And, much more importantly, how his Democratic opponents and their followers chose to characterize his actions and attempt to lever them to their own advantage.
Early days but Mayor Pete is high on my short list to become the next occupant of the White House in a couple of years.
12
I think the media's much-hyped Doogie Howser, Boy Mayor, Show is about over.
Buttigieg is unqualified to run for President. His record in South Bend is terrible. He also callously pushed gentrification which penalizes the poorest in a community - in his case people of color.
Buttigieg is a distraction and I've grown very tired of having to endure pundits on CNN and MSNBC vaunting the merits of this nonentity while ignoring more serious candidates.
Enough of this. Let him run for Congress or some statewide position if he is such a media-proclaimed "Star". Though the last time he tried to run for Indiana State Treasurer he lost by almost 40%. Caveat emptor.
60
@Eilidh Ritchie He's a Dem and he doesn't walk on water so he's finished. Right?
26
@Eilidh Ritchie
Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump by nearly 20 points in Indiana, so why do you think it's damning that a gay Democrat lost a State Treasurer race against a normal Indiana Republican?
As for this case with the police chief, I'm sure Mr. Buttigieg would have preferred to keep Mr. Boykins employed as Police Chief but in the end he can't knowingly allow his own police to violate the law. He may have not handled it gracefully but that's not difficult to understand either as he was 29.
"Buttigieg is unqualified to run for President." There's no such thing in 2020 because Donald Trump will be running for a second term.
46
Gentrification? Do you have specifics?
13
I am incredibly suspicious of a gay man that won't speak out against sexual assault and hasn't endorsed the "me too" movement. He is the Mayor over a city that includes Notre Dame and he has remained mute on the horrific sexual assaults on that campus. Sexual assault and blaming the victim are endemic in the gay community so it leaves me to suspect that this is his viewpoint.
Additionally, marrying as an event during Pride is really creepy and should show you something about how he values his marriage.
His "candidacy" is nothing more than a book tour that is taking funds away from other real candidates. It really saddens me to see him taking advantage of our community by siphoning off donations to the tune of $7M. His donors are largely other gays that are falling over themselves to prematurely give him their money, consequently we won't have a voice in the next election at all.
Unsurprisingly he, like many other gay white men, is a racist and has denigrated the BLM movement during his speeches. As President we could look forward to him tearing down 1000 houses in 1000 days in urban minority communities nationwide.
I am reserving my support for a gay candidate in the future who actually has a chance (Polis or Baldwin?). That being said, I am sincerely looking forward to his bowing out (that will be once sales of his book begin declining). All you need to know about him: www.currentaffairs.org/2019/03/all-about-pete
14
@David. Crab in a barrel.
3
@David-
So after all of your virtue-signaling, you offer a blanket stereotype, "Unsurprisingly he, like many other gay white men, is a racist and has denigrated the BLM movement during his speeches."
First, what specifically has Mayor Pete said that denigrates the BLM movement? What other than his failure to pass all of your litmus tests or to salute all of your demands, do you have to prove that he is racist?
Second, I am an American, white, Jewish, gay man. Where am I on your taxonomy of victimization and virtue? And more importantly who established this hierarchy?
23
@Ross
Type in Pete and "all lives matter". Supposedly he has learned. Just like he no longer uses "SJW". I'm sure his handlers have corrected him.
2
It's too bad, I was gravitating to support this guy for president, waiting for the right moment to start contributing to his campaign. But this article changes everything for me. I can't support him anymore.
Now, a lot of people might say that I was rushing to judgment, that it's inappropriate to judge someone just by one incident; and I understand that. But I also understand that most of the people who would feel like that would be white folks, not black folks. White folks' experience of the police is fundamentally different from that of black folks'. It's, in fact, this huge difference in how white folks and black folks experience the police that allows the police to win the unconditional support of the majority of white folks they do not deserve. And this is precisely why it is always very difficult to effect change that would make the police treat black folks with dignity and respect, just like they treat white folks.
A few days ago, I was driving home from work when two white young cops jumped from their left only lane into my right only lane and started following me for no good reason whatsoever. After they followed me for about two blocks and not too far from my driveway, they pulled me over. Fighting to control the rage inside of me and not to appear confrontational with them, I silently handed over the proof of insurance and drivers license they asked for. They issued me a ticket claiming that I failed "to fully stop" for a stop sign. Yeah, right! DWB!
9
@Daniel Solomon
You never planned to vote for him. Did the police chief have a warrant for surveillance? If he did he shouldn’t have been fired. If he wire tapped people without a warrant, he should have been fired. Be consistent despite color, even if others are not. You keep your credibility that way.
17
RE: shaken by allegations that Mr. Boykins had improperly taped phone calls of senior white officers
Guess the reporters mean ILLEGALLY
14
I’m not a big fan of Buttigieg. However, it seems as if many people are easily swayed by articles like this that do not even provide all relevant information. We have another commenter here from South Bend who provided more relevant information in a comment than is present in the article. If people form conclusions based on very limited information, then they deserve to have poor leadership in D.C.
18
Glad to see the NYT continuing the fine democrat tradition of promoting a person based on some identity issue; black, gay, woman, etc. and then enjoying watching themselves canabalize each other.
MAGA 2020
6
This part bothers me.
He repeated the explanation this week. “It was made very clear to me by the F.B.I. and the U.S. Attorney that either we would take employment action or there would be indictments,” he said.
It seems odd as an explanation. He's not basing it on "I thought he had lost the trust of the force by having illegally wiretapped." He's instead shifting the blame to unnamed people.
2. Why would indictments be bad, per se?
3. Why would these unnamed officials send the Mayor that message? It doesn't seem like a logical procedure. He says in his book he thinks they wanted him to make the decision for non-professional reasons. It seems odd.
4. The judiciary system never proved illegal action by either the chief or the officers. But apparently the Mayor went along with about $2m in settlements to various parties.
He still seems to want the unpleasantness to just vanish. But being president means making tough calls with imperfect information, not just optimizing for the optics.
It's a shame because he was my first choice. I wish he'd drop the "blame the U.S. Attorney and the FBI" schtick.
82
@Sean O'Neill Thanks for putting the facts of this article into logical, dispassionate narrative. It worries me that B's supporters have already turned this election into a crusade for a living saint. That's what Reps can't stand about Dems: they are so self-righteous about perceived flawlessness of their candidates. Buttigieg seems like a great Dem candidate in a field of great Dem candidates. But apparently to question anything in his background is sacrilege?
PS He was my first choice too, but I am wary of the beautification he is engendering--dangerous.
17
@Sean O'Neill
Yeah, that is quite obviously false. A huge problem.
9
@Sean O'Neill
I don't find the story implausible at all.
Overreach by the FBI is something that happens all the time; not as a matter of "formal procedure" but just in the course of throwing around the power of their office. It plausible to me that they would want the chief to go away so they did not have to prosecute. Perhaps they doubted their ability to secure a indictment or conviction. Or did not want to be on the receiving end of hostility from the black community. Perhaps Buttigieg was afraid of the strife and turmoil that would occur in his community in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting if the City's black chief was indicted. All of that seems very plausilble. It also may be that the FBI agents leaned on the inexperienced Mayor to get him to rid the City of someone they perceived as a problem. It may be that he miscalculated and thought the chief would go quietly. All of that seems as reasonable as any of the other alternatives. It passes the smell test. Since he has not provided a reason to doubt his credibility I don't see a reason to doubt it now.
21
This, among many other reasons, is why I am so aghast at the media & pundits and their 'crush' on PB. His writings, his statements and his interviews show that he hasn't really tried to understand or empathize with people of all colors, genders who didn't live the life of privilege that he has. He's quite arrogant, possibly in a decade he'll be less smug but we'll see. And I wouldn't even mind this 'crush' if it didn't take all the air out of the room for other candidates.
Why not the same adulation for the very excellent Julian Castro? Or the admiration for all of Kamala Harris' career 'firsts' and innovative, now nationally modeled policies?
I'm a loyal Dem so will vote Dem post-primaries, but I'll only vote with joy for a ticket that doesn't contain any white guys, and I like my candidates over 40 (more mature) and under 58 (have grown up in the modern era).
2
More mud slinging by the NYT to bash a well-qualified person from leading this country. It took guts to do this and he did the right thing. Shame on you NYT.
36
@Dan S Exactly. They did this before the 2018 elections as well. Glad to be a Washington Post subscriber now.
6
@Dan S What qualifications does Buttigieg have? He's the mayor of a small town and judging by his record there - has done a very poor job and shown racial animus repeatedly.
3
@Dan S
It's called "vetting".
Granted it isn't pleasant airing ones dirty laundry.
Reminds me of all those Pharma commercials. "This pill will make your make you bigger and better" With beautiful people and loving smiles set in a picturesque setting.
While in the background a quite voiceover is telling you about all the side effects and reading the warning label.
Pete is just getting his warning label read.
3
It's interesting how things come back and bite you when you're running for president.
8
When you get right down to it, it's just another anglo lies situation at the expense of a black person. This guy may do well in his hometown but nationally, no black person will vote for him and dems can not win a national election without serious black participation. The only clear way this guy has to getting the nomination is for the tapes to be released.Without that happening, he's wasting time and money. They still act like black people are still putting their heads in the sand
7
@Ron Moore
Did the police chief have a warrant (a document issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police or some other body to make an arrest, search premises or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice). If he had a warrant he should not have been fired. If he didn’t have a warrant, he should have been fired.
16
Do the supporters in the comment section support Mr. Mayor Pete because he is white?
Mr. Buttigieg said he is a believer in so-called "white privilege," so I was wondering if his whiteness is the reason why he is getting so much support in the comment section from the same people, who, I presume, also believe in "white privilege."
Thanks! :)
3
@Xyce
No, he gets support because he’s articulate and provides good answers in public interviews. That he has not demonstrated a passion for any particular area of public policy seems to be irrelevant to his supporters.
6
@Xyce He didn't say he "believes in white privilege" he said he believes that white privilege exists -- ie. that white people have a head start in all things in the US just by being white. In other words -- he told the truth and he's not saying that it's a good thing -- just that it exists and it's not fair that it does.
13
@BK He has no policy positions whatsoever. He's a blank state the media has drawn hearts all over.
2
Every politician has baggage. I still like him. He comes across sincere. I would love to see a Harris/Mayor Pete ticket.
17
Black communities feel aggrieved when the police use heavy-handed or illegal tactics to stomp out crime, yet when one of their own commits a crime in the process of trying to prove injudicious speech by police officers, suddenly it's OK?
Like it or not, accused racists are still protected from unreasonable search and seizure (including illegal wiretaps) by the 4th Amendment. If Chief Boykins had worked with the mayor and the federal justice department (remember this happened during the Obama years) he probably could have opened a perfectly legal, secret civil rights investigation to determine if these officers were acting improperly due to racial bias. But instead he choose to ignore the laws to implement his own preferred ends (kinda sounds like Trump). The only thing that would be racist would be protecting him because he happened to be black.
And therein, we hit the crux of the problem with race relations today. The perpetual harping of the media has convinced a number of people that "racial justice" actually means special preferential treatment for blacks. Whether it's affirmative action or the specialized high schools of NYC, liberals are trying to give African Americans special treatment rather than race neutral treatment.
29
That’s a bizarre comparison. Blacks are literally fighting for their lives. Of course they are upset over heavy handed police practices . The fact is, Pete, in regards to race relations, is an ignoramus. He will not win the nomination without the Black vote. Also, let’s not forget, affirmative action would not exist if it weren’t for the systematic oppression of Blacks. No oppression, no affirmative action. Simply to me.
2
Shorter NYT: "Longstanding champion of minority rights has Black Problem."
You ran this story in 2016; back then, his name was "Bernie Sanders."
22
Leadership is about difficult decisions, so what should Mayor Pete have done? He made a tough call. Please let's not write him off for this call.
All too often people planning to run for high office make sure they don't participate so that their records don't have these sorts of controversies. And then when these 'clean souls' attain office because there are no complaints, they continue not making decisions so that they can get elected again. And again.
166
@GAR
It is just another weight in the buckets of the pro-con scale.
We all have them.
We'll see which way the scale balances out in the voters mind.
4
Are the Democrats still in love with this lightweight mayor? I really don’t think he stands a chance in the general election.
6
Buttigieg is the DNC/CAP's answer to the need for a new Obama. By that I mean someone is malleable and a neoliberal/Third Way type. He has a lot of charm and is well spoken, as was Obama. He fits the identity politics model; Obama was black and Pete is gay. He has no real policy proposals and a thin resume, like Obama.
Remind me again, why is he even in the race at age 37 with no experience to speak of? He could run for the House or state attorney general first. No more newbies with thin experience. The presidency is not an entry-level position. As we see daily.
12
@nora When you say "no experience to speak of" do you mean he's never owned a casino, never repeatedly cheated contractors by filing bankruptcy, never divorced and imported a foreign trophy spouse, never paid off a high price call girl--the list goes on, and on and on. Please be more specific!
5
@nora m
YEP~!
4
@nora m - he risked his life for you. Voluntarily. Since the president is Commander-in-Chief of the military, I think he has the most appropriate experience to fill this role.
Good grief NYT editors - three hit pieces on Buttigieg in one week? Is there an agenda here? I don't see the same treatment for other Dem hopefuls. Pete seems like an intelligent, good man who has exceptional leadership qualities and who, IMO, would make a great Democratic candidate/president.
48
@Sydney How about four or five daily hit pieces on President Trump for about 3 years straight. I will borrow your question - " is there an agenda here "?
5
Wait, I get it, the NYT is secretly really rooting for Mayor Pete, so it’s preemptively bringing up specious issues that night trip him up with the SJW crowd, thereby allowing Mayor Pete to develop an effective response for the future battles ahead. Who would have thunk it? Well done, NYT.
13
A commenter "Midwest" explained the firing more clearly and succinctly than the article does.
Shame on you, NYT.
21
@The Poet McTeagle . Thanks!
1
So NYT publishes unflattering portrait of Pete, but nothing about Beto’s DUI/fleeing arrest or passing 0 bills in Congress? I think it’s fair to ask tough questions about candidates, but journalists have a duty to to ask tough questions of ALL candidates, and not just make love fest fluff pieces for some they like, and critique others.
26
The Times should draw a reminder about professionalism from Robert Mueller, and treat candidates and all other subjects of articles in a dispassionate, fair-minded way. This piece is a flat-out hit job, intended to create a sensation by slinging dried-up, thinly textured mud at the Democratic candidate who happens to be riding highest at the moment. Amy Klobuchar got the same kind of mistreatment when she was enjoying a little bump. Maybe the Times will succeed in smearing all the Democratic candidates before the primary is over. Or maybe you will spare some favorites of yours from such openly hostile treatment. In any event, this kind of shabby journalism is more regularly associated with the New York Post than the New York Times.
43
@Len Colamarino Agree. I can see them really trying to muscle through this one; even then, they couldn't honestly reduce it in any persuasive way. He has answered for this, in bits and bites, and will likely have to again. But this article was not helpful.
1
@Len Colamarino -- It is kind of odd that the Times seems to be running negative articles about just about every Democratic candidate as soon as (or even before) they announce! Even today, at least in the online version, a headline near the Buttigieg article referred to "Sanders" counterattacking... only upon closer reading does one discover its referring to Trumps press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, not Bernie!
2
Lowered expectations or standards of official conduct for a person because they are black is racist against blacks. “The soft bigotry of low expectations” as it’s often phrased.
19
Pete is not anti black
Pete is anti corruption
The police chief is corrupt
32
So let me get this straight: for NYT it is bad to fire an officer doing illegal taping and invasion of privacy just because the officer happens to be black? The fact that the officer commits bad judgement and got fired over this is not acceptable for NYT just because the officer is black? This is a huge overstatement from NYT that someone cannot be held accountable over their action if they happen to be a certain colour.
I’m not for the Republicans at all, but this has gone too far NYT. With this article NYT has decided to support the tearing up and eventual fall of House Democrat.
I’m done here.
26
So you're going to smear Buttigieg because he fired someone under investigation by the FBI for criminal behavior.... under the guise he was black. With this level of stupidity we get Trump 2020.
57
The NYT has obviously learned nothing after its coverage of Hillary’s email “scandal”. Leave it to the NYT to start maligning the Dems best bet at ousting Trump by giving oxygen to this non-scandal, in an effort to appear objective. This is shameful
14
A beloved Chief is alleged to have committed a crime by the FBI. The Mayor is presented with two courses of action: Terminate the Chief, or the Chief will be indited. So, the Mayor terminates the Chief.
I don't understand why the Chief's supporters in the community are angry with the Mayor. Couldn't we see the Mayor's actions as doing the Chief a solid? The Mayor, by virtue of his choice to terminate, precluded their beloved Chief from being:
1. Indicted by the FBI
2. Criminal legal proceedings
3. Revocation of law enforcement credentials
4. Diminished standing in the community
5. Great shame
Can we see this termination as a thoughtful choice intended to stave off unnecessary suffering for the community at large?
If the Chief (and of course we do not know the truth of the matter) would have carried out his resignation, who would have been the wiser about his criminal deeds (of course he certainly may be innocent, just assuming guilt for the sake of argument)?
My assumption, giving the Chief the benefit of the doubt, is that the racism he experienced from his officers confounded the situation with many heavy emotions.
Nevertheless, it is standard practice for employees, especially in leadership, to bring such matters to their superiors. Surely a Police Chief knows the necessity of adhering to the chain of command.
Is this really about the Mayor, or about racist white cops and a Chief who went rogue?
15
Dems need black voters. Can't unring that bell. He may have been a great president, but he's not going to now...Sad. Good thing he is young.
3
@RCJCHC
Ever notice that snowflakes are not Black?
Some Blacks can think quite independently for themselves, as evidenced by recent backlash on the Virginia governor's blackface shaming and the notable reaction of many Black Virginia voters who said that they'd overlook that incident in view of the Governor's track record, and choose the outcome of lesser evil. (Progressives, take note.) "Looking like me" is not a "get out of jail free" card.
And political haymaking is an equal opportunity employer, amply demonstrated by this article.
6
It has seemed to me to be an impossible situation, and I believe Buttigieg was correct to let the courts determine whether the tapes should be released. Can't fire officers for illegally obtained wire taps, and the chief had no business obtaining them. I've known of officers fired for using official computer systems for personal use, along the same lines. South Bend has it's racial problems, for sure, as do all major cities. Gun violence in Indiana is horrific, thanks to right-wing pols who actually campaign in gun shops and push the NRA program to the limit. No background checks for PRIVATE gun sales in Indiana, and 35% of crime guns recovered in Chicago originate in Indiana. Trump and Pence will be in Indianapolis (with record gun murder rate, again) to worship and be worshipped at the NRA convention. Bang. Bang.
12
Well now it seems that choosing among Democratic candidates is going to be a matter of which mistakes they've made is the most egregious and most indicative of deeper problems. Both Harris' and Klobuchar's records as prosecutors are even more troubling, as is the way Booker let corporate donations affect his votes.
But back to Buttigieg. This isn't his only problem. He also initiated an aggressive gentrification program that forced some African American families from their homes, and in his book he referred to Harvard students demonstrating on behalf of the janitorial staff to get them better wages as "social justice warriors." I'm sensing a pattern of arrogance, a tendency to act before listening. The question is whether these incidents can be marked up to his youth and inexperience that he's learned from or whether he's going to try to sell this as an aspect of his "decisiveness" (much as Klobuchar is now trying to make a virtue of being an abusive boss.)
Because what we should be judging is not the candidates' mistakes but their growth. You want a leader who has made mistakes (that they know are mistakes, that is, unlike our current president who will never admit one) because that's how they will know how to act under pressure.
I like Mayor Pete and hope he responds to this article with humility and an acknowledgement that, like all of us, he's on a learning curve that never ends. If not, perhaps we should admit that maybe age and experience do count for something.
104
@James Jacobs
Age and experience and a coherent set of proposals that shows he understands the needs of the country are essential.
It doesn't help that he is in bed with the Democratic old guard and their fund raisers, either.
11
@James Jacobs
It's misleading to characterize the 1000 houses program as "aggressive gentrification". The houses in question were vacant/abandoned, i.e. no one was living in them and "forced from their homes" as you describe it. As Calvin Breseman has pointed out, the city's population decline has resulted in less people living in a larger urban area, exacerbating the issue of abandonment and urban blight.
49
@James Jacobs
It's misleading to characterize the 1000 houses program as "aggressive gentrification". The houses in question were vacant/abandoned, i.e. no one was living in them and "forced from their homes" as you describe it. As Calvin Breseman has pointed out, the city's population decline has resulted in less people living in a larger urban area, exacerbating the issue of abandonment and urban blight.
14
More of those purity tests that Obama warned against - more Democratic party circular firing squads.
I'm so sick of the sensitivity police - we do not live in some utopia where our biggest problem is whether or not good people who believe in Democratic values are apologizing using the exact right words. We live in a world where a substantial number of citizens and voters support a candidate who takes children from their parents and family members and locks them up - then forgets who the parents were.
48
Amen, amen, all the blessings of God be upon you as you find your way to the pearly gates. MAGA
@Mark not sure if you understand susan's comment
3
Seems like Boykins had it coming to be honest. How is his race even part of it?
37
Will the pendulum swing so far after Trump that no one will have the goods to unseat him?
The 45% who supported the ignorant bully still do. 45% is enough to re-elect; if the rest of us let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Democrats must not become a party of whiners who eat their own young.
13
So Democrats can't fire people? I am sure that trump has fired hundreds or thousands of people during his lifetime and yet it has not come up one time. Not once. Zippo.
16
Nothing is ever black and white.
Were mistakes made?
In hindsight, it may be very easy to say that they were and to point out that things should have been different.
However, it played out exactly as it did.
To me, the most telling part of the article is the following:
"He (Pete) points out that when he cruised to re-election in 2015, he defeated an African-American primary challenger even in the city’s heavily black Second District."
Clearly, the majority of the Black population supports him.
And they will support him when he runs against Trump in 2020 and find a true advocate in the White House.
He remains the most capable, honest, mature candidate for the nomination.
The American people are digesting all of this information and they will have much more to ponder before the Democrats decide on their nominee.
I am confident that Pete will learn from all of this and be that much better at being our next President.
That is one of his best qualities.
15
@simon sez -- unfortunately, today, everything is black and white.
Buttigieg appears to be a gay version of Bill or Hillary Clinton, middle of the road, pragmatic, articulate, intelligent, economically conservative, and yet socially liberal in his profile. He now appears slick, treacherous, and calculating, with little idea of the needs of African Americans in South Bend, Ind. or other cities. In all that he’s also like Woodrow Wilson, which his firing of Police Chief Darryl Boykins before Boykins won his lawsuit shows that no African American should trust him in the White House. Mayor Pete takes political risks only to benefit himself and gays Iike his partner.
5
@Bayou Houma-
Woodrow Wilson was an overt Southern racist from the era of Jim Crow and de jure segregation. Wilson is closer to John C. Calhoun in time and ideology than he is to Mayor Pete.
Just after stating that Boykins won $50,000 from his lawsuit, this article states that the white officers he taped won $500,000 from their lawsuit. I believe that the person who appears to be "slick, treacherous, and calculating" in discussion of this issue is you."
4
@Bayou Houma
I would have compared him to Obama, but on reflection, i think you may be just as close to the mark. My problem with him doesn't have much to do with this story, which seems like 6 of one and half-dozen of another. I'm more concerned with his cozying up to the CAP and big bucks Clinton and Obama donors. He doesn't need my couple of bucks anymore, or my vote.
I was really put off by that interview he gave where he said that he doesn't really think voters are interested n policy, but he might put one or two out just so there's something to read for anyone who cares to. Said all Democratic candidates basically believe the same thing anyway. Now that's just flat out lazy, no they don't. Couple that with a really off-putting email from his husband - dude, i'm a voter, not a groupie. And i already have a two for the price of one t-shirt that i never wanted.
Back to Bernie or bust it seems. Or Warren, the real deal policy maven, if she makes it that far.
2
Perhaps he will join the reparations bandwagon to atone?
4
This is the second NYT article in a week to knock Pete Buttigieg. (see "Pete Buttigieg's Focus: Storytelling First. Policy Details Later") by Alexander Burns, one of the authors of today's piece. Clearly Buttigieg's rise in the polls does not please the NYT.
Firing someone under investigation by the FBI for criminal behavior sounds eminently sensible.
That the person is black is neither here nor there; Mayor Buttigieg did the right thing but the NYT, disappointingly, is doing some "storytelling" of its own.
26
Leave Mayor Pete alone!
15
@Paul Yes, the fact that he is a veteran should be respected; but it cannot be a panacea to cure everything! In fact, had you been a black dude, like I am, you would also appreciate that most young people who become soldiers do so more out of economic and social necessity than love of country. That's just the fact. And they tend to carry with them the resentments and disappointments of their families wherever they go; including when they become cops after their service in the military, and black folks like me take the brunt of their lashing out. Now, I know Pete's parents are academics, I am just saying.
1
Just because a Police chief is a man of color does not make him stand above the law. By taping someone without their knowledge is illegal and he should have know that. If he had any probable cause he should have gotten a warrant and then taped them. No one is above the law irrespective of their skin color. In my book no story here, just move along folks!
34
If Mayor Buttigieg had fired a female police chief who had improperly taped phone calls of senior black or white officers who were said to have used sexist language, including about her, would people in South Bend be reacting the same way? Would the NYT?
I recall the NYT running critical headlines and stories about Bernie Sanders while being hands-off of Hillary Clinton in 2015-16. I sure hope editor-in-chief Baquet revisits his past mistakes and doesn't repeat them in the run up to the 2020 elections.
17
All these comments, hardly anyone giving much consideration to the fact that the underlying problem here, that sparked all this infighting, is that the South Bend police are really racist. What was "Mayor Pete" doing about that?
4
I've read a bunch of comments and we all seem to be in agreement: Chief Boykins deserved to be fired.
But, nobody is picking up on the thing that disturbs me--that Mayor Pete is posturing that he was pressured into it by Federal Law Enforcement, that some sort of "message came through" that he had to fire the chief or they would indict.
That makes zero sense. How many Americans seriously believe that the Feds (think Mr. Stuffed Shirt Jim Comey) wheel and deal with some local major when they're investigating charges of illegal wiretapping? But, hey, let's say for a moment that the feds decided that a little pressure would save them a lot of paperwork and court time--wouldn't they just tell Chief Boykins they've got him on illegal wiretapping--resign or they'll indict? Why would they haul the mayor into it? Oh, that's right, Mayor Pete thinks prosecutors were trying to "duck responsibility for taking down a beloved African-American police chief." Seriously? Does that sound like federal law enforcement to anybody?
Sorry, Mayor Pete, you should have just said to the Feds: "do what you gotta do." That would have been the right answer.
Maybe you're just not ready for prime time. How about governor first?
3
Wow. So many knee-jerk reactions to defend Mayor Pete! I’m quite taken with him, too, but this is a serious issue that merits investigation. The last thing we Democrats need is to end up with a nominee who doesn’t have the full-throated support of the African-American community.
9
Using the ever popular clown car analogy, every time one of the clowns manages to get into the front seat, all of the other clowns try to drag him back to the trunk. Nothing really new here.
9
@Thomas Smith
Great imagery. Sad truth. We better enjoy laughing while we still can.
This article highlights what's wrong with the identity politics so beloved by academia and the media pursue. If the police chief was white there would be no story. Because the police chief was black he should have received special consideration.
Stop patronizing black people in this way. Stop encouraging division and suspicion. Report the news rather than run an agenda.
24
Identity politics will destroy the Democrats once again and unfortunately Trump will win a second term. Take race out of this article and the story is candidate for President fired police chief for illegal taping.
24
One wonder why the Times did not explain that South Bend high eviction rate is due to tenant-unfriendly state laws. Additionally, Additionally, why not detail positive feedback from the black community.
"Stacey Odom, a resident of the heavily black LaSalle Park neighborhood, heard that her area was being targeted for redevelopment. She asked him for help, including a $300,000 grant for home repairs for local residents. Buttigieg gave her $650,000." (V0X 4-3-19)
"Odom and Williams-Preston also praise Buttigieg for making more resources and money available for low-income residents to fix up homes. In January, Buttigieg launched South Bend Repair, an initiative composed of three programs and more than $1 million in investment at the city and federal level, according to the South Bend Tribune. The effort is aimed at helping homeowners make renovations small and large. One of programs, Love Your Block, includes a $25,000 grant from the national Cities of Service nonprofit, matched by $25,000 from the city. Odom recently helped the city connect property owners with resources available from that fund. The mayor, she said, has shown an open door." (Buzz Feed News 4-9-19)
Finally, why ignore Buttigieg public pledge to black voters?
"I believe an agenda for black Americans needs to include five things that all of us care about: homeownership, entrepreneurship, education, health and justice,"( National Action Network's conference.)
19
What should Buttigieg have done? Looked the other way so he didn't lose political clout? The police chief who had sworn to uphold the law was breaking it. Buttigieg had a difficult task to do and did it, knowing there might be political fall out. That is a leader.
We have just been through a two year investigative process involving a president who except for the fact that a sitting president cannot be arrested and charged with a crime until after he leaves office, would apparently have been arrested and charged with a crime or crimes. We expect our leaders to uphold the laws all of us are required to follow. It begins at the local level and goes all the way to the top.
Surely the police chief could have found a different, legal way to root out the racists in his force. The law would have been on his side, and no doubt Pete Buttigieg would have been as well.
276
@Diana "What should Buttigieg have done? Looked the other way so he didn't lose political clout?..."
In today's progressive circles, a Black person is higher on the victim-group scale than any white male, even if he's gay -- and certainly higher than the police officers whom he may have illegally taped. So, if the white mayor wanted to run for the Democratic nomination, he should not have fired a Black person. Period.
Sadly, this is what progressive politics has come to; Pure identity/victim group competition. It's particularly tragic that this has happened in the Age of Trump, when we need change more than ever.
And be sure, if Trump is reading this article, he's laughing, watching his opponents turning against each other. And if he needs to help this process along, he will, because he's good at that.
18
@Diana_ and the racist cops weren't caught on tape saying racist things and discussing illegal activity as confirmed by the city's communications director? That huge fact nugget went conveniently over your head as you admonished the Black police chief and praised Mayor Pete. He will not be getting my vote...
9
@Joe
Um, Joe... Trump doesn't read.
12
All this was early in his leadership, long before Mayor Pete won re-election with 80% support. A Mayor and police chief must work in a trusting partnership. I admire a young leader who gets that.
27
It seems that he made a massive mistake, perhaps a suspension with pay until the courts decided would have been appropriate. It might disqualify him in several ways.
4
The most interesting aspect of this article for me is the Mayor saying he was pressured by the Feds to fire his Police Chief, not because he himself felt like that was the right thing to do. If true that means he allowed himself to be pressured and what does it say about his leadership? If he had simply let the Feds go ahead and file charges, he would have had reasonable grounds to ask the Chief to step down.
3
@Mr. Walter -- Depends what "pressured by the Feds" means." Maybe it means simply the fact of looming indictments? At any rate, wasn't that in the Obama years. The "Feds" of that time weren't the Feds of today.
1
From the article, “The chief sued the city for racial discrimination over his firing and won $50,000 in 2013.” Newspaper reports of this issue at the time (2013) state it was a settlement, there is no mention of a “win”. Given the immense legal costs of litigation, settlements are often determined by cost avoidance and are not adjudicated.
15
Disturbing. And I'm referring to the NYTimes decision print this article. Gabriel and Burns sound less like balanced reporters and more like more like eager prosecutors. Care to divulge which Democratic candidates, if any, that these two writers are supporting? One could certainly be suspicious that Buttigieg is not who they are cheering for.
The positive side is that this article will help Pete Buttigieg put more energy towards race, minorities and the need for more inclusiveness.
48
Seems along the lines of coverage done to Senator Sanders. Still, the story is worth reporting and giving some context to his mangement. As for how story portrays it, sounds like he handled a difficult situation early in his administration appropriately.
59
I think I’d have much more of a problem if Buttigieg hadn’t fired a police chief under investigation by the FBI (for a crime that turns out the suspect had actually committed).
I’ve had quite enough of politicians protecting their political allies from criminal prosecution, thank you very much.
89
To sum it up, 4 police officers win a judgment for $500,000 for invasion of privacy, in a case against their boss, the Chief of Police, who allegedly wiretapped their phones. The FBI then investigates the Police Chief to pursue the illegal wiretap aspect of the case. With a Police Chief under investigation for a serious breach of civil rights, they mayor decides to have him demoted to the rank of captain.
But the good people of South Bend would rather have a Police Chief who allegedly violates the civil rights of his staff because he is black?
---
The sentence below made no sense to me. How can you have a "longstanding" practice of taping and then claim the recordings were made "inadvertently"?
"Mr. Boykins has insisted that the recordings were made inadvertently, as part of a longstanding police department practice of taping some phone lines."
37
I can understand why a mayor would be skittish of having someone who is under FBI investigation in a position of authority.
49
Another hit piece on a Democratic candidate for President. Mayor Pete must be getting some traction.
110
@jas2200 My thoughts exactly!
6
So the police chief engaged in illegal behavior, so much so that it warranted FBI review. Why is this an issue for the Mayor?
36
Quite frankly South Bend has an astonishingly ugly racial history. That history includes police misconduct,racial discrimination,segregation,redlining and Klan activity. Mayor Pete seems to talk a great game when he criss crosses the country but the Black folks of South Bend have been treated to a policy of gentrification that has unfairly uprooted and displaced them and a general tone deafness when they turn to Mayor Pete after serious episodes of police misconduct and brutality. I watched Mayor Pete's campaign roll out on Youtube and came away thinking that South Bend had few if any Black residents. I was surprised to find out what the actual demographics are. Buttigieg has almost no support among the African Americans of South Bend because he has done nothing to EARN that support. Given the fact that the base of the Democratic party is heavily Black he will have to work on that relatively quickly. His neglect of these citizens and their concerns is inexcusable.The information as presented thus far shows a lack of compassion,courage and leadership on his part.
9
@Marian
If you actually paid attention to Buttigeig's campaign, as documented on YouTube, you would know a great deal more about South Bend than you apparently do. So, from where do you draw the evidence to make the broad and damning assumptions you do by this comment?
None of what you assert was in this article, which relied heavily on one City Council member, soon to be campaigning to assume Buttigeig's office. And transparently looking to stir the pot in her favor.
4
It’s not as if HE was caught being taped. In the current political climate this seems benign. Besides, he’s already on record as confessing how conflicted he was about the matter. He responded in a human way to a human decision about a problem involving...humans. Pete gets a pass here for sure!
41
@biblioagogo He gets no pass from me, a suspension would have been much more appropriate.
3
@vulcanalex
Sorry—suspensions are for school principals. He did what he felt was best under the circumstances of that time, stood by them, even as he could see both sides. Can’t ask for more, especially so early in his first term.
4
@vulcanalex Oh so, you're saying you would have voted for Buttigieg otherwise? Hah!
2
New York Times, are you suggesting that an executive should take race into account when making hiring and firing decisions? Should he retain a bad employee because he is a member of a minority? Should an executive retain an employee in whom he has lost confidence, an employee who is being investigated by the FBI to please that employee's political constituency?
91
The police chief was in clear violation of the law. Mayor Pete fired him. What more is there to know? Is this piece suggesting it's ok to break the law if you are of a certain race? Pretty sure there's no one in the world who would agree with that.
31
@ED Innocent until proven guilty, and perhaps the circumstances would justify something less than firing.
2
This is a very misleading story and headline. Of course it was illegal for the police chief to record the calls, and so, as the chief law enforcer of South Bend, the chief had to go. There is no mystery or intrigue here.
45
Buttigieg gentrified South Bend by following a well established playbook laid out in coastal cities. What an accomplishment! Let's reward his ability to follow the path blazed by others (see his interview with Maddow for a different example) by elevating him to the highest office.
2
I'm not hearing the "tone deafness": he fired a police chief for illegally tapping the phones of some of the officers he supervised. I am however, seeing some good ole cognitive dissonance, gyrations and questionable motives in reporting on a seven year old city law suit that has been settled, when the reporter simultaneously acknowledges that South Bend is small enough to "fit in some Big Ten football stadiums."
The use of percentages is reminisent of Russian-style pro-trump propaganda to divide blacks against whites: 37% "minority" (that sounds like a lot!) and "some" (African Americans) "have not benefited equally from an economic resurgence." How many of 37,000 are "some?" In their concern for people of color, the writers conflate Blacks and Latinos into "minority," and fail to cite figures for Latinos, making it sound like all people of color in South Bend are suffering under this "tone deaf" Democrat.
The Russian troll farms won't have to go very far in collecting data for 2020.
37
~~~making mental notes in case I should ever decide to run for mayor~~~
When faced with an African-American Police Chief who is being investigated by the FBI for the serious civil rights crime of wiretapping, invasion of privacy, do not fire or even demote said Chief of Police because it will upset the African-American community.
Okay. Noted.
29
If the only worthy candidates are those who solved the problem of African-Americans lagging behind economically, then NOBODY will get elected. Even Obama couldn't fix it, and he was both black and president!
Would the people of South Bend have preferred no progress at all? Talk about perfect being the enemy of good.
43
Mayor Pete just lost this potential supporter. His firing of the Police Chief was in contempt of the First Amendment in favor of the Second, the latter which has often historically and to this day, been used to commit countless American human rights atrocities like the murder of the teen Trayvon Martin, let alone used to enforce Jim Crow, slavery and native American genocide.
By bye Mayor Pete, your short time being a contender might play well for a while in white supremacist Trump country but you've lost the real Progressives already. Adios.
5
@EC Speke-
What?! First Amendment in favor of the Second?! What on earth are you talking about?!
The issue was illegal taping of phone conversations, i.e., the Fourth Amendment:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
And FYI, I do not know who the "real Progressives" are but "Trump Country" defeated Mrs. Clinton in the 2016 election and may do the same in 2020 unless Democrats work to win at least some of their votes.
20
@ EC Speke
A “real progressive” here, EC. Sorry to say goodbye, but with that mindset, you won’t be missed. Don’t let the screen door hit you in the rear.
3
@Ross
The Chief was protesting the murder of Trayvon Martin, a 2nd amendment issue. You obviously don't think black lives matter, if you did you'd be more concerned about the dead teen and his family rather than another Slick Willie in the Democratic Party running on a right-leaning Democratic plank like the Clintons, that helped make America the world's greatest jailer and most violent developed society on the planet this millennium. I support Trayvon Martin's family, and countless hundreds of thousands like them. White supremacists should not be able to hide in the Democratic Party, and if they bully someone in the work place taping them makes sense, as we all need to work and eat. If you're not a racist no need to fear the tape, right? You can't resurrect a dead skittles loving teen, Pete can start an apology campaign, if he's so inclined.
2
The take away: Pete fired a police chief for misconduct. Who happened to be black. Any police chief should come under great scrutiny for this action. Doesn't matter the race. Looks like someone decided to make it about race to detract from the issue at hand.
This will be the greatest roadblock in the Democratic party: moving away from identity politics. Keep playing this card and you will ensure a second term Trump presidency.
37
Well, there it is. I've been waiting for this. All good things must come to an end. I didn't know when, but I knew it was coming, and now we have it:
Clear, undeniable proof that Mayor Pete Buttigieg has more governmental administrative experience than Individual-1 had (and, I would argue, still does not have despite two years of occupancy at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue).
28
This is so exasperating it makes me want to cancel my subscription and for once I agree with the president’s opinion of the NYT. The issue of the challenges facing Buttigieg in terms of black support could have been addressed without preposterous identity politics.
42
The police chief serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Period.
Don’t you guys watch Blue Bloods. ?
9
@New World As does the head of the FBI, and every other position. That he serves at the pleasure does not mean that there are not consequences for your actions. Surely you watch Blue Bloods where this happens all the time.
Isn’t that the one with the star that shills for the reverse mortgage industry?
4
What’s the issue: wiretap calls without a judicially-authorized warrant, no matter the merit, you lose your job.
Mayors have to do what they have to do. Replace the chief with someone who is sensitive to today’s issues. Job done.
14
Well, I guess Mayor Pete is officially a front runner. When the NYT digs into a candidate's past, finds something that has just the slightest hint of a "scandal", then publishes it, you've arrived! Congrats, or something.
32
@Chris
Wait, there's more - I hear he's a hugger, as well.
5
@Chris
This story was in The Hill last week. It's not like the NYT went out and dug up their own dirt on the guy.
2
@rtj
All the "News" that' fit to recycle?
4
I have more respect for him as a candidate now. He made the difficult, yet correct choice to fire a police chief engaged in illegal activity. It might have been easier to look past the behavior and avoid this unnecessary discussion about race. Everyone, including black people, deserve to be fired sometimes. Enough.
27
Do we not hold black police chief’s to the same standard as white police chief’s?
30
Here is a thought.
Even if this had never happened, what is the likelihood that the African-American community would support an openly gay man for president?
Isn't homophobia even more entrenched in minorities and among white people with low levels of education?
Forget about accusing me of racism, and say what you will, but what do surveys show?
Yes, I know that surveys have margins of errors, problems with representative sampling, problems with social desirability, etc, but we use poles for everything else, what do the poles say about the acceptance of homosexuality in the Black community?
3
@bigdoc
Black people had no difficulty electing Chicago’s first lesbian mayor. She trounced her straight opponent throughout the city.
Btw, it was a white man in Iowa who heckled Pete about Sodom and Gomorrah. No one in the largely black audience at the recent National Action Network Conference made homophobic comments during Buttigieg’s speech. Sounds as though you are the one with an “ism” issue.
1
Your headline implies that there was racism involved in Buttigieg's decision. The article fails to provide any evidence of that. Your headlines are getting worse and worse - please stop behaving like a tabloid.
112
If this police chief-tapes-offending some people in the community incident constitutes the biggest political crisis Buttigieg has faced he has no business being anywhere near the Oval Office
Bright and engaging? Yes
Authentic and promising? Yes
President? No way
At least not yet
1
We need not worry about the Democrats having a circular firing squad, or eating their own, since we can trust the New York Times to put the most negative spin possible on any story about a Progressive candidate.
52
@ImagineMoments
Pete is sweet but he really isn't a progressive. He is more of a neoliberal.
1
@nora m
You are correct. It would have been better if I had said "any non-Corporate, non-mainstream Democrat".
2
@ImagineMoments
Still not correct.
Mr. Buttigieg has decided to forgo small donors and go with establishment corp. bundlers. He's also been seen meeting in private with the Dem. power brokers to figure out how to stop the less moderate/corp. front runner.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/17/pete-buttigieg-enlists-barack-obama-hillary-clinton-fundraisers-for-2020-campaign.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/16/us/politics/bernie-sanders-democratic-party.html#commentsContainer
1
My guess is the MSM is trying to derail him.
Mayor Pete called Netanyahu a racist
Didn’t show up for the AIPAC convention
Nor did any other Democrats Candidate FYI
2
Agree with what others have said about this being inappropriate, imbalanced clickbait. I've been a subscriber since 2000, and this has me on the brink of cancelling my subscription. Really upset.
34
@M.G. But I bet you don't mind when they do the same against the president, happens all the time.
2
Do not exclude the chance that an openly gay may may be a closeted racist.
4
@NYT Reader-
You are right. I add that we should not exclude the chance that you may be virtue-signalling based upon incomplete or misinterpreted evidence.
3
@Ross virtue signaling. I don’t have full information. Neither do all the commenters supporting him. My comment keeps others honest, just like the New York Times keeps Neo-liberals honest
3
@Ross your comment is also inherently biased. You clearly believe he isn’t racist although you claim to agree with me original statement. The null hypothesis is not that he is not racist, Ross
1
“Hey Alex.... This is Danny, yeah from the Bernie campaign. Listen we gotta nip this Mayor Pete thing in the bud before it gets outta hand. If I were to send over some oppo research, you figure you could throw it into an article for me? It’s something about firing a black police chief. I dunno if he had it coming or not but hey it’s firing a black guy in Indiana so who’s gonna really try to figure it out too much. The implication is all we need.”
30
@JSD
More likely just a slow news day in NYC and this dud's been laying around the arsenal for a while.
1
@JSD - you're right on target except it would be David Sirota from the Bernie campaign, and the message would include Bernie's need to change the story from his million dollar book showing up in his tax returns this week.
2
You ever think that the police chief was doing something illegal, and it had nothing to do with being "black?"
I have to remind people who assault me on the subway once or twice per month, every month, then they revert to "you don't like _____ people" and my response is: You ever think you're just a jerk, and that being "black" has nothing to do with it????
10
Headline is a lie. Read his book. Mo Ferguson offered to resign and Pete accepted it. Later the chief was reinstated then demoted. He committed a Federal Crime!!!
Shame on the NYT looking to make trouble. If that is the best you can do, bring it! Black want special privileges? Even after breaking the law?
19
#MeToo devours Uncle Joe...
#BLM takes out Mayor Pete
OK Liberals.. Whose next?
7
@Aaron Don't forget, months ago Me Too preemptively took out Al Frankin, too. We are not forgetting that here!
3
The ongoing search for the White Male Messiah is exhausting us all.
4
Has the NYT already picked their candidate? Flashback to 2016.
14
South Bend resident, with additional thoughts on what has Mayor Pete "really" done for the city. For many years, downtown was not a destination, there was very little new housing built and, unless you owned a home in 1 of 2 popular neighborhoods, home values were stagnant. An unincorporated area outside the City was the destination for "white flight." Mayor Pete's 1000 houses program was directed at stabilizing and revitalizing largely minority neighborhoods -- about 500 of the abandoned homes were repaired so that they could be lived in, the other 500 or so torn down, with a community-based planning program to identify next steps for the cleared lots. Much of what Mayor Pete has done is not splashy, but collectively his actions created an economic environment where there is now massive new investment downtown. Empty and under utilized office buildings were converted into artist housing/work space or apartments and condos. People come downtown for pleasure, instead of fleeing at the end of the workday. Mayor Pete hired a respected Diversity & Inclusion Officer to focus on workplace inclusion and to expand City contracting with minority firms. Two major streets from the West side (largely minority) to downtown were improved. An intervention program working with gang members has reduced gun violence. Mayor Pete does regular "Mayor's Nights Out" in community centers where he listens 1-on-1 to citizens until everyone has been heard. His actions have transformed the City.
360
@Midwest So he is a good Mayor, that does not make him competent to be president.
4
@vulcanalex Yeah, it kinda does.
We have a grotesque liar in the WH now. A bunch of prosecutors who went on to a do-nothing Senate, and another member of the Senate who votes for guns and has gotten even less done than most.
28
@vulcanalex so Trump is a dishonest huckster - I'll take the imperfect mayor
29
Shame on you, NYT. A police chief breaks the law and loses the confidence of the mayor. The mayor fires him. And so you raise the question of whether he cares about the African American community. What are you implying? That if he was more sensitive to the African American community, that he shouldn't have fired his law-breaking law enforcer? We don't even have all the facts of this case, and you're here scraping the barrel trying to find clickbait.
648
@Aaron Miller
"Shame on you, NYT. A police chief breaks the law and loses the confidence of the mayor. "
When someone breaks the law, it's good to look at why that happened. Jean Valjean was stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's children. This is why the police who pursue him are not the heroes of "Les Miserables."
Boykins was taping phone calls out of a sense of personal danger. If the officers he supervised were using racial slurs against him on the phone, then they should have been fired ASAP. That's insubordination, for one thing, and that's not a team that's going to have your back if you're under fire. It's not good working conditions to be surrounded by people with guns who hate you and tell you so using racist language over the phone.
And meanwhile who paid the salaries of those officers? Taxpayers of all races. Talk about disrespect. Sorry, there's no way here not to be on Boykins' side, whether or not he broke the law.
But I'm beyond the whole White Male Messiah thing myself. Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris look better and better every day.
Warren has gotten past her DNA gaffe. Now if Harris can just get more specific on her policy platform...
16
@Aaron MillerI must have missed the part in the article where the police chief was found to have broken the law. I thought I read that the police chief was never charged, let alone convicted with violating any law.
19
@Aaron Miller Agreed 100%. Particularly on a day when the entire country has been deluged with the fallout stemming from the release of the epic report detailing the myriad ways the corrupt occupant of the WH attempted to break, obstruct the laws of the U.S. and blatantly disregard the Constitution. We should be relieved to learn the extent to which this candidate, any candidate, for POTUS is willing to uphold the laws of the land, not disparage them or raise questions about their legitimacy. It's terrifyingly clear what two years with a lying, inept, unworthy individual in the Oval Office has done to distort notions of common sense, respect for the law and acceptability.
27
Boy this is some tangled intersectionalizing. Boykins is black, which is righteous, but he’s police, which is not. But he’s opposed by racist white cops, which makes him righteous again, but he’s surveilling illegally which is what evil government does. But then he’s fired by a white guy, which is racist. But then the white guy is gay, so... wait, who wins?
284
@Chuffy
Great analysis. Sounds to me like the next mayoral candidate in South Bend is licking her lips a bit too coyly over an opportunity to stir prejudice and get out the black vote, presumably in her favor. Of course, the NYTimes is happy to help. This will probably only engender sympathy on the part of thinking moderates and some free ink for Buttigieg . But hey, that's as close as you can get to win-win in the early stage circular firing squad! I don't think we'll see a phone video response, however. Buttigeig is much smarter than that. It will be instructive to observe his reaction and the debate that follows. I look for great things from the former.
24
Wow...that’s hilariously accurate.
25
@Quite Contrary As a South Bend resident, some of Ms. Williams-Preston's remarks reflect the politics of the heated Democratic primary race for Mayor which happens in a few weeks. Mayor Pete has endorsed one of the candidates so the other candidates, including the Chair of the County Dem Party, are jostling for airtime and votes.
9
Talk about tone deaf! You should see the front page headlines of the South Bend Tribune concerning his own pay raise and that of his staff. It is something in the ballpark of a $40,000 raise he gave himself since he started as mayor.
He also benefited from a booming economy as most cities did. He has also used vast amounts of federal money for downtown projects. Not to mention that Notre Dame University spends between 300-500 million dollars ANNUALLY on construction project on or around the campus. Plus Saint Mary's College and Holy Cross College bring in vast amounts of money into the community.
Ask residents about crime, their water bill or the public school system. All three are a disaster.
Residents call him "Pay Raise Pete".
If it were not for Notre Dame or strong Catholic School system, South Bend would resemble Gary or Flint.
Look no further than the most vulnerable citizens of the community and see how they are treated and you will get the full measure of his ineptitude and lack of concern for anyone other than himself.
I encourage you to research my claims yourself. They are all in the public record and reported on in the South Bend Tribune.
America deserves better than Mayor Pete.
16
@James LOL comrade James. Nice try but it lands like a dud for those of us who have actually listened to Mayor Pete and know his sterling qualities. We’re on to trolls like you - won’t work in 2020.
20
@James
He was re-elected with over 80% of the vote.
20
@James
... yet he just got re-elected with 80% of the vote.
10
I’m an OUT gay man for decades. As of now I LEAN Beto. This incident is something that Mayor Pete needs to look at—-I’m confident he can handle it. The elephant in the middle of the room is that some Blacks, particularly older church going Blacks may not be open to a GAY candidate. I only wish reporters would ask some Black citizens of South Bend what they think of homosexuality? Is it an abomination for them?
Life is complicated and so is politics. Racism exists.
Homophobia exists.
15
@Mike - It is a BIG question. Should Democrats eliminate candidates because they are, for example, gay?
You are correct in pointing out that Mayor Pete's "gayness" may, likely WILL, alienate not just some random voters, but specifically, voters that the DEMs can usually rely on.
Replace "gay" with "black", "female", "Jewish", or a number of other traits and exactly the same situation applies.
In short, should the DEMs become a party that places prejudice at the heart of its strategic plans, so that it can gain more power?
Or should it risk losing critical votes and lose power, in an attempt to maintain the values of justice and fairness that it advocates?
I'm not prepared to offer an answer right now. But I think a careful framing of the question may help us to come up with a better answer than we have in the past. Sometimes finding the right question is half way to the solution.
3
Tone deaf? What was he supposed to do, let the guy who was illegally recording people stay in his job?
302
@Julie New Rules: You aren't allowed to fire African Americans unless you are also African American.
20
@Julie The impression I got from the article — and this is just me — is that the tone-deafness lay not in that he was fired, but how and when he was fired.
(And, as other commenters here have alleged, it's also possible that the recordings were inadvertent. Lack of intent may or may not be an affirmative defense for charges of illegal wiretapping — it'd depend upon the laws involved, and I have no clue about that — but it is exactly the sort of thing that a judge on any such case, as well as any mayor agonizing over an employment decision, should take into account.)
2
@Tel223 Recording someone in such a situation isn't likely to be inadvertent. Possibly, but not likely. And if the races were reversed, of course recording wouldn't be "inadvertent." Not a chance.
Also: To convict someone of a criminal offense, the government needs to prove guilt beyond all reasonable doubt. Otherwise, a suspected/ accused person should be treated as innocent. But does this mean someone should be allowed to hold all the power of a *police chief*, as long as he's not guilty beyond ALL reasonable doubt? The Constitution doesn't say this anywhere., nor does common sense.
Many seem to be saying that this definitely should be allowed, without question, if the person is Black. I can't agree.
3
It’s a simplification to describe him as misunderstanding or mishandling the situation. It is certainly possible that he handled it appropriately given the circumstances which may not be available to the NYT. It appears that your reporting lacks neutrality.
102
@Mark Westcott As does almost all reporting on the NYT site.
4
While I agree that Mayor Pete's youth and inexperience generally are negatives in a race for POTUS, and even though I am no longer a Democrat, it's obvious that he's the most intelligent Democratic candidate (ok, maybe this is not a very high bar) and the least openly craven. Bashing him as racist because he fired a black employee is absurd, and is itself racist. Thanks, NYT, for confirming for me that the Democrats intend to become a race based party - their current dislike of whites in general and white men in particular isn't just a "phase".
24
@me As a white male, I have no idea what you're talking about when you say Democrats dislike whites and males. I think you might have some hangups... Are you sure you're not the one viewing everything based on race?
4
What do you mean "not a very high bar" when there is an idiot sitting in the WH? That in itself is not a very intelligent comment.
You have in the GOP a party of climate deniers, voter obstructionists, some "very fine people" who ran over a woman with a car during a racist rally, a nut job who believes we can solve climate problems by having more babies, who believes that federal workers found a government shutdown acceptable, who has a leader and cabinet with too many Russian ties to count, nepotism and a "very stable genius" with a "big brain" sitting atop this dung pile.
4
I'm also a white man and a proud Democrat. "The Democrats" are a coalition party organized around a set of different constituencies with different concerns, not a consistent central ideology. This is sharply asymmetrical with the Republican party, which simply is the party of white nationalism, harvesting the felt sense of frustration among whites who see their privilege evaporating and using it as a smokescreen to consolidate corporate rule.
Assuming your comment is sincere (it has a whiff of the alt-right about it--"I was once a Democrat, but then realized how important it is to create a future that is safe for white children--join me, fellow New York Times readers!"), I urge you to look again at your assumptions and try to sincerely understand the experiences and concerns of people not like you.
3
Firing the Police Chief was overkill. The Mayor should have made him stop the taping, give up the tapes and be warned about his conduct. A homosexual mayor being insensitive to minority concerns plays out ugly and I think Buttigieg is not going to be viable nationally in the Democrat primaries.
5
@marcoslk - In the end Boykins wasn't fired. He was demoted to captain... after having cost the city close to $1 million and after allegedly committing a serious civil rights violation of invasion of privacy, tarring the authority of the police department and the city government by bringing down an FBI investigation.
---
"After Mr. Buttigieg dismissed Mr. Boykins in March 2012 by asking for his resignation, Mr. Boykins submitted and then rescinded it; Mr. Buttigieg then demoted the chief to the rank of captain. He has since retired."
4
This is ridiculous. The police chief was under investigation by the FBI for illegally wiretapping other police officers. I don't care WHY he did it, he was clearly in deep trouble. Would it have been better for the Mayor to know this fact and allow him to serve anyway?
99
Another example of the Democrats’ propensity to kill its own. Can anyone doubt that this young (but, of course, imperfect) mayor wouldn’t be a far better president for all Americans including African Americans than the corrupt, blatantly racist and misogynistic right-wing creep who currently holds the office? And in 2020, with the ACA and care for pre-existing conditions, the environment, the Supreme Court, decent infrastructure and education, Medicare and Social Security are all at extreme risk, the purity squads on the far far left are at it again—determined to shame and pillory their fellow Democrats over insane trivialities. It’s as though these “progressives” don’t take elections seriously.
125
@Annabelle this story smacks of NYT ginning up a non-issue to drop Pete a peg or two so some other favored candidate can benefit. The story is mostly ridiculous.
28
@Annabelle Social Security is at much greater risk from "reparations" which has been estimated to cost 15 Trillion and Medicare for All, which has been estimated to cost AT LEAST 35 Trillion. Where do you think they will get part of those trillions?
1
@Annabelle I can and do, I reject your ideas about the current president, his policies are my policies. My only issue is with congress and a lack of speed in passing all of them. They should have been passed in one year, all nominees voted upon in less time. Republicans did not do what they should.
2
Sorry to learn this. We don't need another tone deaf politician. Unless he can show real contrition about his failure help African Americans experience the same economic success as the rest of the people in South Bend, I'll have to scratch him off my list.
3
@James Graham
Oh please. NH is the 2nd WHITEST state in the lower 48. He's far from tone deaf.
27
@Moehoward
What we need is a tone blind electorate. Don't see that coming anytime soon...
1
@James Graham
The campaign is once again in full swing when GOP trolls are impersonating Democrats.
Commentators begin to make people believe that Pete Buttigieg is not fit to be president. A bit too soon. People will forget.
4
@Roland Berger
Commentators make me think the GOP is afraid enough of Buttigieg that they need to start trolling the comment sections.
1
The headline drips with reverse prejudice. "... Fired South Bend's Black Police Chief. ..."
So what! The article proceeds to point out the the chief illegally tapped white police officers' phones. What does Black have to do with it? other than the prejudiced belief that any negative action against a person of color must be prejudicial against that race.
Just as "all lives matter", all public officials must obey the law. It is indeed truly unfortunate that a Chief who was well liked by both black and white officers, had the unfortunate trait of believing that he did not have to obey the law, when he was sure that racial language was used against him. His job is supposed to be impartial; he wasn't.
33
@dpaqcluck
Yah, as if his only option upon learning that racial epithets were being used against him was to break the law. Wow.
2
A story centered around reaction to a police chief who illegally taped officers, without any concrete details of that part of the story, how it evolved, how it started (prior to Mayor Pete's arrive, by the way), or why it was continuing after its initial purpose was no longer a factor.
Examining how people may not be happy with Mayor's reactions and decisions on the matter, without laying out the matter itself in detail, is lousy reporting by Gabriel and Burns, who are looking to draw eyes by creating a "Buttigieg controversy" that only plays as one if you don't know all the details. Details that intentionally don't offer in this article.
This kind of reporting makes me second-guess my attitudes towards our President's opinion about the Times.
I'm not interested in a paper that plans to run flattering material about a candidate in order to build him or her up, so that the so-called salacious stories that come out later have a built-in audience.
44
And this snarky journalistic back-seat driving is supposed to elevate civil discourse how?
If you think you know how the Mayor could have handled the police leadership issue better then speak up.
Otherwise, quit gratuitously stirring the racial pot.
176
He won re-election with 80% of the vote - a number this article decided to leave out. How did all of these people he allegedly offended vote for him over an African-American primary challenger?
Pete has zero dirt, and this is the best the far left can dig up to paint some sort of racial intolerance on him, which is ridiculous
168
@Lee H
The left? HE IS THE LEFT!!!!
2
@Lee H Since when winning an election made a person ‘Not guilty’? Then nobody should be talking about the President because he won an election?
1
@Moehoward
Your comment is better read in a Judge Dredd voice.
1
And it starts! The left begins eating one of its own!
38
Maybe the young major made a rushed decision and didn’t fully think it through in all aspects.
Meanwhile our president is a textbook racist since day one of his adult life.
13
No chance. Not qualified. Experience free. Millennials aren’t ready for prime time, and neither are the over 75’ers.
New blood. New ideas. Forward thinking. Experienced and tough......
That’s the ticket. Fill in your most likely to succeed......
Harris
Booker
Warren
Klobuchar
Bernie and Biden......so yesterday’s news......
1
@Draw Man
Obviously you haven't read his book.
Bernie is the front runner for a reason. Too bad the Dems can’t get behind him. He’d win in a landslide
3
@Draw Man
Have you seen how Pete handled a couple of gay-bashers at a public appearance? Complete poise. Total composure. No anger. No nastiness.No defensiveness. Most of his older competitors still cannot not do that.
I think he has matured a lot in 8 years.
Perhaps he would been wiser to keep his police chief and let the FBI investigate him.
The fact that the officers he taped sued and won their case as well indicates there was wrong doing of the chief's part. If so I don't understand how he could have won his own case based on discrimination.
1
I have admired Mayor Pete's ability to message and change political rhetoric to favor progressive ideals.
This article make it sound like there was a racial motives behind dismissing the Chief, I think it would be premature to jump to that conclusion. The Chief, though highly respected in the city, definitely was at fault for the wiretapping. And regardless of what was in the tape, wiretapping it was illegal and cost city millions of dollars in the lawsuits that resulted afterwards.
And as for the minorities being left behind by the economic turnaround under the Mayor, it's really important to understand that moving forward in today's economy has a significant risk of leaving behind less skillful group of people. That doesn't necessarily mean he specifically targeted minorities, as this article implies. For example, when Obama proposed to move towards greener source of energy, he wasn't targeting specifically to neglect the suburban white older generation in the Midwest.
32
@Sam
Exactly. Elevating people economically requires time, no magic bullet solutions. There is a large Rwandan community of black native African immigrants living in the Michiana area, including South Bend. Not even speaking English and lacking funds, drivers licenses, etc., not to mention escaping genocide and losing family members, they have overwhelmingly become economically successful in that same area within 25 years. Why? Most such refugees were well-educated professionals and businesspeople in their native landand and they were culturally supported by fellow immigrants in their community after they arrived. Unlike many black Americans, they had the basic skill set (education) and necessary tools (a supportive community) in place to adapt and thrive. It takes time and more than political rhetoric to change institutions and cultures.
3
Interesting article. I've liked what I've seen so far about the mayor, but clearly not this story. It is interesting that his numbers among African-Americans are quite low. Not sure why that is. Seems unlikely that this issue about the polic chief is that well known. I've seen him interviewed several times over the last week or so, and it's time he gets asked about this. I'd be interested to hear him discuss it now. No matter what, it does seem like he's got some work to do to show he would be a leader of all Americans.
2
@Eli S
He won elections by 70% and 80% respectively.
“Any good story has an imperfect hero, where they struggle with something and they overcome. I’m not sure Pete’s completely overcome.”
So, Pete Buttigieg’s most notable flaw is that he’s not Odysseus? And that’s supposed to make him a less appealing candidate than Joe Biden, or Bernie Sanders?
Interesting.
32
Whatever popularity "Mayor Pete" has is a creation of the media, and heavily dependent on identity politics.
In reality, he's a pro-military war volunteer who came from a wealthy family.
He was a technocratic mayor of a small midwestern town in a very conservative state.
He refuses to explain his policies, but says that being a mayor provides him enough experience to be a president!
From what little he has revealed about his political leanings, he's a neoliberal centrist, at best. Not a progressive at all.
He believes in a Bronze Age Abrahamic sky father religion and has made this a central part of his marketing strategy.
Mayor Pete should run for state legislature and get some experience and creds.
The media should stop swooning over him.
Warren, Sanders, and Gabbard are eminently more qualified to be president than this hubristic young man.
11
@Steve Davies
Gabbard? No thanks. She has less of a chance of getting elected than Pete.
Mayor Pete now joins Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren in having problems with minorities. Let's hope the Democrats can solve the race- and religious-relations problems before the election next year. Minority turnout will be the key to victory and this is not good news.
2
Bernie doesn’t have problems with minorities. He just won the endorsement of 7 South Carolina black law maskers.
2
@Paul Wortman-
Kamala Harris has admitted regret for some decisions she made as Attorney General of California. Some of her other decisions remain controversial.
But she is not Ben Carson (if only because she does not seem to be always over-medicated). If a progressive, female, bi-racial senator from a deep-blue state is not good enough, then who is??? Do you think that voters from minority communities will prefer the reelection of Donald Trump?
To my knowledge, neither Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, nor Buddha are planning to run in 2020. Stop making the perfect the enemy of the good.
He has received laudatory coverage - but he does not inspire trust.
Why hasn't this issue received widespread coverage?
4
@NameNotFound
He's young, gay and white. As if that's not enough to disqualify him, he's also extremely smart , accomplished and funny. There you go, he is obviously not going to last long in this sausage machine, trust aside. The ideal candidate does not exist, so we'll have to settle for one we think can win. Clothespins, anyone?
Holy clickbait!
Can’t believe this is even a story. Except for the hundreds of people who protested the firing of a police chief who illegally tapped colleagues phone calls, just because he is black. I wonder if the protestors think it should be legal to record anyone at any time for any reason?
97
“Pete Buttigieg Fired a Police Chief Who Illegally Recorded His Subordinates Phone Calls and Conversations.”
Honestly, NYT. Whoever is writing your headlines here and on FB is appealing to the absolute gutter. This piece has relevant, if one sided, information. It gives context to black wealth inequality while also not acknowledging the white wealth gap with the rest of the country. Also know as: no one has been doing great in a town left behind by industry and called a graveyard by major magazines in 2010. And wow, a Mayor — repeat: a Mayor — has not been able to change the trajectory that the entire country has been on but for the most elite amongst us.
We all need to be informed about candidates. But you shouldn’t put your hand on the scale outside the opinion and editorial pages. Your readers will revolt.
178
Pete is an AMAZING candidate and the NYT trying to taint him with some non-race issue is typical of a paper that helped to elect Trump because of the non-importance of Clinton’s emails.
122
@John
Agree 100%! Trump drives me bananas but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t evaluate news more critically, now, due to his endless “fake news” accusations. This mayor Pete piece definitely seems like it exists for nefarious reasons. The headline alone- omg.
12
So, a police chief, who happens to be black, illegally tapes his colleagues. He gets fired.
Somehow, the mayor is at fault?
Stop seeing race. Look at them as humans. It would do you, democrats and liberals, well to look past someone's skin color.
221
@James I agree. If we looked just hear/read the words of all our current politicians next to their actions with no regard to race, sex or political party.... makes a big difference. Add to that their changing opinions or hypocracy. I don't mean changing evolving positions as society has changed I mean basic hypocrytical dual standards.
5
We currently have an African American police chief on the south bend police department. Using racism and apparent political issues to paint a picture of mayor Pete in a bad light is very hateful and creates a bias. Why can’t news be reported fairly? Why are you attempting to slander Pete and make an issue that isn’t an issue in South Bend? Stop trying to ruin his presidential run
333
You’ve got to be kidding me! How was that little detail not included in the article? Absolutely shameful, NYT!
18
@James Wilson just for accuracy's sake, the replacement chief of police is white. There are two other chiefs under the chief of police, operations and patrol, one who is white and one who is black.
https://police.southbendin.gov/about-sbpd/leadership
Mr. Buttigieg is running for president, all candidates are scrutinized and dissected, and yes, those of us around the country who are interested in him want to know more about his record and history, not all of which is flattering.
9
Curious at to why the Times introduces Hispanics as a 'special' culture/ethnicity into this article?
Mexicans are Caucasians. Their only difference with citizens of the United States is that the illegal alien mexicans speak Spanish and Americans speak English.
Why do we give the illegal alien mexicans 'special' bonus points over Americans?
2
@bobj
Look up the 3 races of Mexico’s colonial history. Some Mexicans today are Caucasians, that is, of white European ancestry, and they have little or no Native Mexican ancestry. But African slaves once made up one-third of the Mexican colonial population, according to documents of the colonial period collected and published by Anthropologist Gonzalo Aguirre Beltran. White Mexicans became Mexicans through immigration. Native Mexicans are not genetically Caucasians, and a large number of them have ancestry from African slaves of the colonial period, now mostly absorbed into the Mexican population. See Black Mexico by Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates.
2
@Bayou Houma
That is new information.
Didn't know that many Africans were shipped into Mexico.
Thought or understood it to be mostly Spanish moving to Mexico.
Read or understood that the Conquistadors killed off the natives thru war, disease or outright murder.
And assumed only about 5% of natives still around as the Conquistadors eradicated most of them.
As to Africans, must read up, you throw me for a curve. I know 'some' Africans but not huge numbers.
You need to answer why black people aren't benefitting from the South Bend renaissance, Mayor Pete. What are you doing to help them?
11
@nom de guerre-
Mayor Pete has worked to help an entire city that has been economically depressed for decades. He has had to work within limits set by state government controlled by Republicans.
He has been only partially successful but what evidence do you have that he has ignored African Americans?
3
Such an odd story and article. Apparently finding dirt on Buttigieg is so difficult that you have to resort to this.
By the way, why would you release tapes from 7+ years ago, recorded illegally from officers no longer on the force except to stir the pot of racial tensions? Am I getting this right? I mean the city lost a lawsuit over invasion of privacy because of the tapes and somehow it makes sense to release the illegally recorded tapes to the public?
Literally nothing good or substantive would come from that. This is just plain silly.
351
@MM
"Apparently finding dirt on Buttigieg is so difficult that you have to resort to this."
This man is running for the presidency. Any irregularities are important to be made public, so that voters can select the best candidate based on his accomplishments and his difficulties!
3
I guess it is best for all the "dirt" to be out there sooner than later. It appears that Mayor Buttigieg is willing to be as transparent as possible, and acknowledge his shortcomings in an effort to improve, correct wrongs, and move forward in a more ethical and fair-minded direction. If he is able to discuss the more fully once the court case is completed, I would be very eager to hear what he has to say.
The Democrats are fortunate to have a number of candidates this presidential cycle who are committed to behaving better, to being open to criticism, and to make efforts to improve. I hope these candidates will not be undermined, and I hope they will behave appropriately as the campaign season moves forward and not self-undermine themselves as a result.
7
I think Mayor Pete, whose sole and very modest governmental experience is serving as mayor of tiny South Bend, Indiana, the 301st largest city in the US, is quite a stretch as far as qualifying for Presidential candidate is concerned.
Also, while his being gay is a non-issue as far as so many of us urban and Democratic voters are concerned, it may be a significant negative among non-urban and non-Democratic voters. (Not to mention the inevitable and unending media chatter over whether Mayor Pete's husband should be called "First Husband" or "First Spouse.")
The NYT's earlier opinion piece on whether Pete is "gay enough" was too subtle a point for many; that he is gay at all, complete with husband, may be too much for many voters in fly-over land.
If Mayor Pete can successfully run for House or Senate or governor of his state, that will bolster his credentials and make him a plausible candidate in a later run for President.
As noted in this article, his mishandling of something like firing a minority police chief suggests he is far from ready for prime time--and even farther from ready to become President of the USA.
I am a life-long Democrat and I sincerely hope the grown-ups in the party can take charge and find an electable, competent, experienced candidate who will appeal to the great majority of American voters, especially those who felt their needs were ignored in 2016.
9
@Mon Ray Spot on post. I’m a black urban Millennial and have problem voting for him for being gay. But black voters specially in the south will no be open to Pete .. I don’t care how well spoken he is. Just being hones
2
@Mon Ray
What I took away from this article is that 1) he still has very little support among the African American community which knows him best and 2) the 'revitalization' of South Bend sounds a lot more like urban gentrification than anything else. Those are both concerns; I agree that he should look at a mid-level political position before jumping into a Presidential race. Oh, yes, that raises the 3rd take-away : as per the article, he has always (with the backing and blessing of the Dems) apparently seen his mayoral tenure as a stepping stone as much as a career job.
2
Having had to make controversial firings in my administrative history, i wouldn't jump to a conclusion on this one, especially due to race. Sometimes African Americans need to be fired due to reasons that are not race based. Hopefully this article is not wanting African Americans to be treated like any other employee.
37
@DJK.
" Hopefully this article is not wanting African Americans to be treated like any other employee."?
Surely, you and all those recommending this comment mean the opposite of what you posted here.
And neither articles nor NYTimes reporters should "want" anything. They should report without bias. Or perhaps I should say "did," in a previous era. Language matters.
Anyone with accomplishments and a track record is going to have some difficult episodes. The question needs to be, Did he act in good faith, did he make a measured decision when the "perfect' decision wasn't available?
Now that Buttegieg has garnered some attention there will no doubt be more scrutiny, which isn't bad thing - if its done fairly.
16
The schools that serve the African-American population are problematic in South Bend. This is partially due to the terrible pay. Indiana ranks among the lowest in teacher pay. In addition, the teen pregnancy rate is very high there.
9
@Sm May I ask where your getting your information? Indiana doesn't even make it to the top 10 in terms of teen birth rates. And in terms of teacher pay, it ranks #37 out of 50, but the cost of living is 9% below the national average. So, where are you getting your information from and what's your point?
1
It is 16th highest in teen pregnancy. That’s not top ten, but it’s high. Google Indiana teacher pay and teacher shortage. My point is there are other factors that are causing minority poverty in South Bend, and the mayor has no control over teen pregnancy and the bad schools.
Perhaps, as mayor of the city, he thought correctly that the color of a person's skin is as much NOT a reason to keep someone in a high profile position of trust, as it IS a reason to give it to them in the first place.
Protesting this on racial grounds is itself racist.
110
It is interesting that in all of the glowing media pieces and gushing commentary from the folks back home, this article is the first one I've seen that includes comments from black residents of South Bend and a more balanced view of the mayor.
Buttigieg seems to use his million dollar vocabulary as a shield against voters. I don't trust him and I don't believe he is being open or honest about the police chief firing and the tapes. I wouldn't vote for him.
6
There it is, the answer the curious have had for a week or two, ever since Axelrod studied the faces at the mayor's announcement rally. It was going to be a challenge for this candidate to gather the African American support which must be accepted as fundamental to any Democrat's credibility as a nominee, much less to his elevation to the Presidency. Knowing how cynically the Republicans manipulate reality, it is good to know now, what wonderful encouragement this information will furnish to those practices in the mayor's case. Of course, he can always resort to the Kavanaugh defense, that he never anticipated that anyone would care; but the Clintons' resort to being "born again" by wisdom they never knew about, pretty well wore itself out the last time.
1
Well... There goes his chance! Bring in another one!
6
@Aaron
Exactly! We can disqualify anyone, ANYONE, in a few weeks. That said, maybe we need to reconsider Howard Dean. After a few bruising primaries, he was disqualified.
For loudly yelling “WOOOOOOOO!”
No other reason. That was enough.
I wish I were joking.
3
Wow!! I write this as a 60-something, straight, married man, and a Viet Nam combat veteran, and inner-city teacher while attending graduate school.
This article seems to lean toward a segment of the population that thinks Black [Professional] Lives Matter more than white professionals.
After grad school, I went into the institutional investment field for 30 years during the time when profits were ringing in with mergers, downsizing, re-purposing, and budget-cutting.
My good-bye handshakes weren't based on being accused of any misdeeds; only that I was the next on the list to be kicked to the curb.
I was not bitter. That is the reality of the game in the financial field and I was eventually (more times longer than expected) able to get a new position again.
Here's my learning experience over the years: most people removed from positions of power has nothing to do with gender or ethnicity. (As a Hispanic (my mother's family are Fonts), I could have gone crazy-go-mad and played the race card, but didn't because it would not have been ethical or moral.) It has to do with incompetency or corruption.
So wait, we a need a more permanent solution to the real issue of racism and not these fringe issues that pit people of good will vs. people of real issues.
Not to be cynical, but is this issue being laid on Mayor Pete because he is starting to marginalize the black candidates in the field?
20
This is disappointing news. Up until now, everything I heard and saw about Mayor Pete was positive and made me think better of him.
Now, he might have been justified in firing the police chief but he won't be able to dodge discussing the issue - not if he wants to win in Democratic primaries. He'll have to explain himself and tell the voters how he plans to handle race relations in the future!!
5
@bhaines123. He has not dodged the subject. The incident is extensively described in his book and he answered questions about it Judge for yourself and don't automatically by into smears that are being propagated by supporters of another prominent campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oDLSWsLc18&t=61m50s
3
I was not aware that the democratic party’s base was “anchored” by minority voters. Really?
6
@Jeff Yes. The GOP is a white supremacist party, and almost exclusively white, which means that the Dems end up being disproportionately POC. And Black people in particular register and vote at very high rates, so we alone end up being about 1/3 of all Democratic votes. A small town mayor that's spent his career gentrifying his town and forcing Black people out, is not going to do well in a Democratic primary.
2
@Brillo
If you'd ever been to South Bend, I think you would find that it's hardly been "gentrified". Why the rush to condemn without citing some evidence?
2
@Brillo-
1. The fact that many white supremacists support the GOP does not prove that the GOP or the majority of GOP supporters are white supremacists. For example, opponents of abortion and supporters of deregulation vote for the GOP for reasons unrelated to racism.
2. Unfortunately, except for Mr. Obama’s first and second presidential elections, I have read that African Americans do NOT “register and vote at very high rates.” I hope that your claim will become true in the 2020 election.
3. Why do you choose the loaded word “gentrification” to describe efforts to improve the economy of a depressed and long neglected Rust Belt city? What evidence do you have that Mayor Pete “forced Black people out” or tried to harm them in any way?
4. Why are you casting the next election as a zero-sum game instead of seeking to describe and build alliances that can win the next election for progressive goals? I believe that when you implicate all 60+ million GOP voters as white supremacists, you annihilate the possibility of such alliances as well as the possibility of victory for progressive goals as well.
2
This won’t even come close to sinking my support for him. I like him a lot.
90
So, the actions of the police Chief cost the city $2M in claims and the police chief walks away with $50K severance. Seems to me the city got the short end of the stick. Creating a $2M liability seems like justification for termination.
Not sure this is racial.
It’s reasonable to expect a police chief to know the laws round surveillance. It seems simple, cover you hide by getting a warrant
43
@Prudence Spencer
Yes, and the city’s liability would have been far greater if Mayor Pete had refused to settle, as many here have naively suggested he should.
1
I'm not sure what it is a problem if police chief was listening other officers' phone calls illegally. No matter what the phone call about, tapping people's phone calls is illegal. Would you want your phone tabbed?
32
Please keep in mind that any and every Democratic candidate for president will, at some point, be raked over the coals by the NYT's in their effort to appear "objective." What they will actually accomplish, of course, is to effectively tarnish the eventual presumptive nominee so that the GOP will have an easier time attacking whomever the Dems choose.
This is the asymmetrical battlefield on which Dems must compete, and why they automatically begin as underdogs going into 2020, even against an unpopular incumbent president.
74
@Raindog63
I welcome the reporting on all candidates, good and bad. Is it really the job of the NYT to schill for the Democratic contenders at the expense of objective reporting? Keep in mind that there are other perfectly respectable news outlets that will and do dig up and report on the records of candidates. It does the NYT no good to be the paper who plays the three wise monkeys with respect to Democratic candidates.
5
The Police Chief could have been white, and it would still be illegal to tape his subordinates. For those who want to make this in to a racially biased event, they are seriously mis led. Buttigieg did not make this episode. He walked in to it and had the courage to do the right thing.
The Democratic Party has twice the national average in terms of blacks as members. Blacks were instrumental in nominating Clinton over Sanders, but blacks did not turn out for the actual election. I do not see this minority as behaving in their own best interests, and there is quite a divide in this group between generations. Hopefully, they will make a better contribution this time around. Perhaps, they want to be represented by a Republican, but they should step up and say so, rather than push the victim ballot.
27
It seems Buttigieg made a mistake firing Mr. Boykins. He probably did so due to inexperience and stress. It is understandable due to the circumstances at the time. If Mr. Buttigieg was a little more open about it, and did not blame the US Attorney's Office for the firing, I would view it as a painful, but educational experience for the Mayor. Alas, it isn't that clear if he learned and adjusted from this event. I have to say this episode makes me a little less enthusiastic to vote for Mayor Pete.
7
Many of South Bend’s problems have been years and years in the making, so it’s misleading to suggest that Buttigieg’s inability to turn them around is a failure.
24
Courageous action by Mayor Pete ... increasingly I find myself drawn to this rather refreshing candidate as compared to the usual pack of hacks.
97
The article says: "What no one in the crowd knew was that the police top brass were in turmoil — shaken by allegations that Mr. Boykins had improperly taped phone calls of senior white officers who were said to have used racist language, including about him.
So, the chief law law enforcement officer was acting "improperly", perhaps even illegally (taping without a subject's consent is illegal in NH, for instance).
But never mind. He was prominent. He was loved. He was admired. That's really all that matters.
One word: wow.
42
So let me summarize this article. We have an issue being dredged up that, apparently, involves some questionable activity on the part of a former police chief in South Bend. The issue is still being investigated and clearly there was questionable conduct on the part of the accused since he was under investigation from the FBI. The mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg, decided he had lost faith in the man and fired him. This happened in 2012. Now we have, not FOX NEWS but Times reporters attempting to make a connection between perfectly legal conduct that is still being litigated and some supposed - what? - racial bias on the part of the mayor? So is THIS how the tear down starts? How funny I didn't need to go to the New York Post to read an attempted smear.
402
All candidates should be held accountable for their actions especially one who cites his experience as mayor in his run for the presidency. That this is not bigger news really demonstrates the worth of certain issues in the United States. But then this is the country that elected Donald Trump.
15
This is the sort of controversy that would help him in a general election. He’s not just a skinny millennial who know a few big words, he’s actually a heavy-handed Boss who doesn’t sitting around thinking about people’s feelings when taking a decisive course of action. People respect that.
110
@MW Lol.. Maybe Trump supporters. You do realize people of color can still vote in elections right?
1
@Mark So are you assuming that people of color approve of wiretapping?
7
This is very disappointing - Mr Buttigieg seemed a promising candidate with almost all the attributes one would look for - intelligence, education, military service and eloquence.
But this apparent pattern of ambition at the cost of the most vulnerable minorities, African-Americans, could disqualify him in my eye, and is even more troubling because he consciously adopts Obama’s message. He reminds me a bit of Macron, high ideals but also at times willing to walk over others in service to an objective.
I would have thought that, as a man who knows what it is like to be judged on something other than character and competence, he might show greater compassion and understanding for other oppressed minorities. Alas, I have found that is not often the case, and compassion remains tribal.
9
It sounds like he made the right decision because the police chief was breaking the law. As mayor, he could not let the activity continue or look the other way just because the chief was black. Let's not jump to conclusions and generalizations about oppressed minorities because a white manager demoted a black manager. One cannot be a compassionate supervisor when someone is doing something wrong. It does not seem that the facts in the situation were clearly or fairly reported in this article.
7
I like him even more after reading this.
He was forced to make a very difficult and politically fraught decision. He made the right one.
It's called leadership.
500
@Pono
The number of rapid responses extolling this candidate seems odd. The Times could have moved the story to the National page instead of page one, but it is a reasonable report that goes straight to the issue of whether the candidate has good judgement in a crisis. He also has troubling ideas about policy--seems to be trying to make up his mind later (hedging his bets?). For example, he's open to compulsory national service but not saying he's for it. Will young people really vote for someone who might decide it's a good idea to restore the draft?
2
@Pono
From now on, only positive stories about Mayor Pete! No nuance, no complexity, ever. And if something truly bad is found in his background then that only makes us like him more because it’s Fake News and only printed to take down his candidacy!
Is this all-too-familiar route really where you want to go down? Because this kind of Trumpian defend at all costs knee jerk response makes me like “Mayor Pete” less.
2
South Bend resident here. From years of local reporting, this is what we understand about the tapes: specific police department phone lines were authorized to record calls because of the nature of the work, either as tip lines or something else, I can't recall. Over time, those lines were re-assigned to other police department staff and, because those staffers' work did not require recording, the recording should have stopped but, presumably inadvertently, continued. Paepe discovered the lines were still recording and informed Chief Boykins. Knowing the recording was a violation of state law, the Chief told Paepe to let the recording continue. It is surmised he directed the recording to continue because the officers recorded were using racist language and criticizing the Chief. The US Attorney's office was alerted to the illegal recording, and an investigation began. Mayor Pete demoted Chief Boykins and Paepe was fired. The Common Council has been trying to get the tapes released, while the officers recorded have been trying to prevent disclosure. The Mayor's view has been that, releasing the tapes to be replayed by the Council or others would violate state law. So, the Mayor's Office has indicated it will abide by the court decision in the case about whether the tapes should be released. That case is pending. Boykins was a respected Chief, but this was a gross error in judgment.
485
@Midwest
That was more detailed and nuanced than the original article. Thank you for providing context.
88
@Midwest - Thank you! I got more information from your comment than I did from the article.
65
@Midwest . Self-correction, DePaepe -- I didn't double check her name before writing.
12
Buttigieg is one of my tentative favorites in the Democratic primary at this point, but it's good to know this information about difficulties he's encountered in his political career. I think he's going to have to address this issue with some real thoughtfulness and contrition, which he doesn't seem to have done as of yet. Pawning off the responsibility for the firing on the U.S. Attorney, and citing continued legal issues as a reason for not releasing the tapes in question is not good enough.
Also, the story of South Bend's economic revitalization reminds me of what's happening here in Pittsburgh. Rustbelt cities have figured out how to revitalize through meds, ed, tech, and the renovation of rundown neighborhoods, but often these improvements leave out (or push out) the poorest residents, fin many cases people of color. Progressive politicians in these areas need to find a way to keep driving the revitalization forward while making sure that it's more inclusive (though that's much easier said than done).
63
@Hans I think that this is a story of many cities, rustbelt or not. Washington DC - under a succession of African-American mayors - has undergone dizzying change and gentrification, pushing out many longtime African-American residents in the process. Same in Chicago and other big cities. That said, I agree that he's going to have to address this in depth and earn support from minority communities.
2
@Hans Here's a video of Pete addressed the issue (and he also addresses it in his book):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oDLSWsLc18&t=61m50s
19
@Once an immigrant. Thank you for this link.
I would like to add a little context to this article. Mayor Buttigieg has also been criticized by some members of the community for his statement, after an episode of gun violence, that "all lives matter." They allege that his remark is an implicit criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement.
When an individual can be criticized for noting the value and dignity of all human life -- not just one segment of the population -- it reveals a great deal about those making such criticisms. Much more so, I think, than Mayor Buttigieg .
229
@Robert Wood
It's rather simplistic to call "All Lives Matter" a criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement. It also demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of the stakes of race relations today, perhaps willfully or perhaps not.
"All Lives Matter" is rather a primarily white, reactionary dismissal of the concerns of the Black Lives Matter movement, which sprung up as an affirmation of the importance of black lives in the face of institutional white supremacy.
36
How does that add context to his firing of the police chief?
6
@Robert Wood
I have heard Buttigieg respond to this in an interview and I did think on the matter of his statement "all lives matter," he expressed his own lack of awareness of the implications of that phrase at the time, contrition, and clarity that he would not repeat that error. I believe him. On the matter of the firing of the Police Chief, it sounds like he made an error that he has not yet atoned for fully. I hope he does, as he has been my favorite for the past two weeks, second to Bernie. (If he doesn't atone, I may go back to Bernie.) Bernie, by the way, seems to be making honest progress in his campaign this time around in terms of diversity and recognizing the deficits of his first campaign. Humility and contrition are important, as we all make mistakes and have blind spots at times.
On the issue of Pittsburgh, I agree with Hans below about the failure of the so-called "progressive" white male mayor to be more inclusive in his vision of how Pittsburgh changes, as racial minorities and economically disadvantaged residents are displaced with gentrification.
10