" “I’ve been deployed in a war zone."
Tooling around Kabul is not exactly what his sentence implies nor is your picture of someone in a T-shirt on a hillside.
Face it, he's a Mayor of a small Midwestern Bible Belt city and that's fine. It's the country where I grew up. And yet Peter is the voice of inexperience on both a national and international level. We've got one of those in place who's also psychotic, but much of Trump's damage comes from the fact that he simply doesn't know how the world works.
Buttigieg may fill out in 5 or 10 years, but he'd be a disaster now. Klobuchar is already a better bet.
6
I don't believe in the "generational change" argument. I vote for the best person for the job, irrespective of age, gender, and race. And to me, Pete Buttigieg is the best person for the job. His ideas are fresher and more practical than any other candidate's.
10
Pete Buttigieg is the best candidate. He has a vision and ideas no one else has. I would trust him in a post Trump era.
11
Pete Buttigieg, moderate and thoughtful, is someone I can vote for. I hope he will win the nomination. If it's Warren, I guess it will come down to the choice of the lessor of two evils again like in 2016.
6
I'm 64 and a democrat. I have only one friend who I know plans to vote for one of the three candidates who are over 70. I have many friends between 50 and 75 who all plan on voting for Buttigieg because we believe he has the vision and the clarity to be the best president and we do not want less than the best! We have had many conversations on the topic of age and we have much more concern about the ages of the three candidates who are over 70, we know what aging is like and we all feel that we want a younger more energetic person as president.
17
I am proud of and deeply thankful to Mr. Buttigieg for his military service. Senator Kerry deserves the same accolades. To be sure, a mayor even of a small city, is an executive. But the senator had experience and a record on the big stage that could have been used to evaluate his potential as president. Also, this election will be as polarized as the last one. Do we need to add an identity politics issue to the mix to further drive voters from focusing on the issues relevant to governing?
4
Right now the only thing I see that may give Buttigieg a challenge is his age, he gives clear answers that have been thought out and his background appears to show good leadership, but only time will tell.
42
@BTO
*Martin Luther King Jr was 39 when he was killed..I cant imagine our country or our world without him. He accomplished more before the age of 39 than most people do at the age of 79!
*Lewis and Clark were 30 and 33 years old when they went across the country.
*"How old were the Founding Fathers when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776?
Some were older, like Thomas Jefferson who was 33, John Hancock who was 39, or Benjamin Franklin who was 70. Others were shockingly young — even teenagers. James Monroe, for example, was 18 and Alexander Hamilton was 21." Business Insider Alyson Shontel
15
This older white male has been a very big fan pretty much since Mayor Buttigieg announced. At the debate, he reinforced my belief that he should be the next president or vice president. (I think the other spot on the ticket should be held by Amy Klobuchar or possibly Cory Booker.) I disagree with those who think it is not Pete's time. It definitely is. People's "times" come differently if they even come at all. Biden's "time" was 2016, but he chose not to seize it (understandably, but still....); sadly he is past it now.
Another note: while the moderators did quite well holding the overloaded stage in line, I found the promotional ramp-up to once again be far too much like a WWE Smackdown. I think this helped to diminish the attention paid to be the debate. I am disappointed that the Times allowed CNN to market it that way. We aren't electing a gladiator - we already have a corrupt one of those in the Oval Office - but rather the next leader of the free world who must pull us up from the abyss of trumpian authoritarianism. We must be discussing issues as well as how to be sure the country breeds out trumpism, and Trump himself, to the greatest extent possible.
13
The country desperately needs a leader for all the people. This divide will heal with Pete's leadership and vision. He has the capability. If he runs our country like he has run his amazing campaign we can turn this horrific page for good.
15
Interesting article. Curious subtitle though:
‘I Don’t Need Lessons From You on Courage’: Pete Buttigieg Makes His Case
On the Democratic debate stage Tuesday night, Mr. Buttigieg didn’t brag about his military service, but he did outflank his rivals.
The article then goes on to describe the many ways he inserts his military service into his comments albeit perhaps off the debate stage.
2
@Dream Weaver He's running for president. Highlighting his life story (resume) and how it informs his policies is a requirement. In my view, the fact that he can do it without bragging is a positive attribute.
5
Buttigieg seemed to coalesce the offerings of all the candidates on stage with sound, clear, concise rebuttals. He showed leadership qualities that made him rise to the occasion. ...Just as I had an early inkling of Bill Clinton's eventual winning I have the same feeling now that I can see a Buttigieg presidency as completely valid and appealing to all generations of Americans.
19
"I don't need lessons from you on courage." Other commenters have probably said it below, but that's a dumb statement and a cheap shot by Buttigieg against Beto, not that I'm a big fan of either of these guys. I don't like self-righteous veterans any more than I like self-righteous "evangelicals."
6
I believe that the statement about courage was taken out of context. Earlier in the week, Beto had tweeted about Pete’s lack of political courage in not supporting the gun buyback plan. This was his response to that tweet on the big stage.
5
This was a clever promotional article for the mayor. The pictures in particular were a great sales pitch. They show the mayor as a veteran in a war zone. Then, another shows him with Obama, no doubt seemingly a pitch to those who like Obama, which is most democrats and progressives.
Clearly, the campaign for the mayor from the Democratic Party and media elite is now in full swing, now that Biden seems to be faltering.
It’s always surprising to see how much these centrist elites fear and detest progressive who really want to bring change. They almost prefer a Trump to Warren or Sanders.
The mayor sells himself as “progressive” in several ways, including obviously his sexuality. But his true colors come out when he shoots down true progressive ideas by people like Warren and Sanders. It’s exactly like Hillary Clinton saying Bernie’s ideas were “pie in the air.” The mayor is so Hillary Clinton 2.0 He sells himself as a “moderate,” but Trump would have him for breakfast if he’s nominated!!
The mayor, to me, is no progressive. He’s simply a status quo candidate, the typical “do nothing” candidates Trump was born to have for breakfast.
He doesn’t inspire me. I don’t even know or understand why he’s in the race. It seems to me like he simply wants to have the office, because he’s extremely ambitious. His pictures suggest it was all a cleverly orchestrated scheme to prepare to run for the office! I sincerely hope he doesn’t get it.
9
@Freak
But he’s so smart, articulate, and sweet, and he will unite everyone in D.C.!
6
In my opinion one photo caption captures the suitability of Buttigieg versus Trump for the office of president. "Mr. Buttigieg took an unpaid seven-month leave to deploy to Afghanistan in 2014".
Trump has never done anything for anyone but himself, and he never will. Even worse he would not even serve when he was drafted, let alone do so voluntarily.
As a veteran I see Trump debasing the office of president, misusing the military for personal aggrandizement and debasing and dividing the country that I served. If the American public can watch his incompetence and evil and still re-elect him in 2020 then I fear that this country is beyond saving.
14
When selecting a President of the United States the American people clearly don't care about military service.
Having elected two corrupt cowardly dishonorable and unpatriotic American War in Vietnam military draft dodgers like William Jefferson Clinton and Donald John Trump,Sr. there is no disputing that point.
While George Walker Bush allegedly spent time in the Texas Air National Guard learning to fly obsolete planes in case the mighty Viet Cong Air Force tried to bomb Austin.
Bill Clinton beat World War II hero George Herbert Walker Bush and then he crushed decorated World War II hero Robert Dole.
And young Barack Hussein Obama defeated American War in Vietnam hero old John Sidney McCain, III.
Since 9/11/01 a mere 0.75%:of American have volunteered to wear the military uniform of any American armed force.
While the rest of us pretend to be brave honorable patriots by rising to sing the national anthem and saluting the flag at sporting events.
And Pete Buttigieg's service in America's long losing war in Afghanistan is not something that resonates postively American interests and values.
5
Thank you for this article. I now know who I'm for, a man with a sound understanding of the need to reach out and cooperate with his fellow human beings.
And for those of you who think he's too young or that a gay can't be elected president I would offer the example of Barack Obama, a Black man with not even one finished term of public office.
Both offered hope to the whole of the United States and their backgrounds of service were proof of their dedication to this proposition. We've never been in such sorrier need of that right now.
15
The over reaction on O’Rourke was unnecessary, disproportionate, a drama, no body questioned him about. Made me doubt about his temperament.
5
I’ll be volunteering to help his ground game here in Nevada.
Signed,
20 year vet, USMC
15
Pete Buttigieg has to be careful about how he discusses his military service. Uninformed Americans tend to lump the words "Afghanistan", "military" and "veteran" into a mental vision of Navy Seals and Army Rangers out in the rough terrain taking on heavily armed Muslim combatants. And I think Pete knows that many American civilians think that way. In order to be straight with the voters, Pete needs to make it clear that he did NOT serve in combat.
11
Farthingham, it appears that you are not familiar with Mayor Pete or have not followed his campaign. This article states that Mayor Pete joined the Navy Reserves in 2009 and when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014, he served as a counterintelligence officer. Mayor Pete has repeatedly made clear that he was not a combat veteran. The military needs people to serve in a variety of roles. I think if they only had combat forces and no intelligence officers or any of the variety of other noncombat positions, that our military would not be as effective and that those in combat would be less safe.
26
@Farthingham You should read the article before responding:
"....I also don’t want people to think I am flogging it, presenting myself as a Navy Seal or career war hero. My turn came and I did my part.”
16
Pete Buttigieg has the wisdom and integrity to lead our country into a new era. He leads with his heart, and he’s exactly what we need to begin unifying and healing our wounded country. He was the only one who talked about the day *after* the current president leaves office, and how the country will be even MORE divided. Pete Buttigieg is the one who can lead us in the direction of unity.
13
Sign me up for this guy's campaign. I'm in my 60's, and he has appeal to older folks and to his generation. He would be a hope-inspiring change to end the current nightmare.
20
"For [Kerry's] generation, it makes total sense that he would be against that war [Viet Nam] and serve." It would be good if Mayor Pete would nuance this statement: many of Kerry's generation moved to Canada. Anyway, not all of Buttigieg's generation are from his privileged background. How many of today's youth see volunteering to be cannon fodder as their only way out of poverty? Perhaps, in time for the next debate, he should explain why we should re-instate the draft?
Or, he could talk about how the savings from cutting an obscenely bloated Pentagon (he could look at what has Trump done to the deficit, with the Republicans' blessing) could help pay for "Medicare for all." Unlike Mayor Pete, many vets have to rely on the VA.
4
In sifting through the comments, Buttigieg is doing a pretty good job of stirring the Barack Obama "Hope" goulash.
I ate a pretty big helping of that stuff myself.
In general, I thought Obama made a very good president with the hand he was dealt (particularly the McConnell situation). Are there regrets? Quite a few.
I am a little torn; naturally drawn to an articulate and sensible pol like Buttigieg, but also wanting a fierce fighter more than a pragmatist, someone who's going into the fray with big goals, knowing that the result is going to be tempered by political reality. I waffle between Buttigieg and Warren (with the occasional dreamy sigh towards Mr. Yang's visionary positions).
If you start negotiating with the McConnell breed from a place of anything pragmatic you will be dragged underwater in short order.
7
it's obvious that Pete Buttigieg is not the guy this cycle... let him get some experience at the national level. I think he has a promising future.
5
I can’t wait to vote against Trump, but I would be thrilled to vote for Mayor Pete. Every time Pete speaks I feel compelled to listen —- you can’t fake smart! How refreshing to feel proud and hopeful instead of scared and mortified.
22
Mayor Pete is so steady, and clear about what needs to be done in our country, and just plainly “wicked” smart! He gives me hope.
20
Buttigieg is like the famously fake academic paper that used fashionable jargon to make it through peer review.
He's the Sokal hoax of Democratic politics.
Elizabeth Warren on the hand is a brilliant activist scholar, whose intellectual and political positions are rooted in real working class experience. I'm just sayin'
*admittedly, for the second time ;-)
8
No. He is real and original, and he could win against prejudice like Obama did. Warren would lose to Trump like Clinton. I predict a move up for Buttiegieg when the actual voting begins, and a threat to win. People will be willing to roll the dice with his talent in order to beat Trump.
10
Ah, the flavor of the day is changing.
Buttigieg's best-case scenario is a stealth showing in Iowa, where he is at 12 percent in RCP, and NH, where he is at 8.
But the smart money is betting that Buttigieg is just running to be the veep nominee and/or for national cred stockpiling.
Pete's prissy pastor scold mode cannot win. Exemplar case in point: Warren.
3
Honestly, I thought all the candidates were terrible last night. Everyone came off as... unlikable. A zillion times better than our current president but still, I expected better from them last night.
3
While I understand all the gushing at his style, looks, articulation, eloquence, etc. there is zero attention to his policies. He has no clear original policies. He criticizes other's policies, and snipes at those who point it out. He is charming, but his charm won't win policy changes. He needs experience and maturity. And he can't charm or sleep his way to the top.
7
Military service represents an exclusive claim to courage?
10
While I understand all the gushing at his style, looks, articulation, eloquence, etc. there is zero attention to his policies. He has no clear original policies. He criticizes other's policies, and snipes at those who point it out. He is charming, but his charm won't win policy changes. He needs experience and maturity.
4
Buttigieg is too inexperienced and too young. He should be aiming for mayor, representative, senator or a cabinet appointment; not President. Not yet. What he had to say about health care policy in the debate is very troubling. He doesn´t understand -- or maybe he just doesn´t know anything about -- the very complex economics and practices of the for profit health insurance industry.
We subsidize them with billions of our tax dollars and every year they get more of our taxes while providing less and less comprehensive care. They have an impressive creativity when it comes to finding ways to cherry pick healthier enrollees and deny care to those who really need it. Meanwhile, doctors and hospitals are choking on paperwork and billing codes and we can´t even manage to guarantee supply of a life-saving chemotherapy drug for children.
It seems like politics is what determines his position on health care, not the reality. Or the economics. We deserve better than that.
6
Airborne! Mayor Pete. Thanks for giving this Iraq Vet some hope in our Constitution. After all, it is the thing we for which we fought.
18
One very revealing measure of how a candidate would perform in executive office is how they run their campaign. In every element of his campaign so far, from strategy to organization to fundraising to message discipline to staffing choices right down to cybersecurity, Pete and his core team have run a nearly flawless campaign. In six months, they've managed to take the unknown mayor of a mid-sized city onto a national stage to go toe-to-toe with senators and a vice president on an equal or superior footing in terms of resources and media. Doesn't that signal exactly the type of candidate and the type of miracle-performing administrative team the US will need to recover after the current chaos is finally ended?
25
I am a registered Republican but I would feel great joy in having the chance to cast my vote for Mayor Pete, Senator Klobuchar, or best of all both of them. For the sake of Nation above Party, please give either or both of them the nomination of your Party. Please!
39
And this, friends, is why Klobuchar and Pete are among the worst of the candidates. I’m voting for Bernie as a candidate who can radically expand the electorate into the near-majority of people who do not vote. I do not want my President to depend on Republicans for support and have to take their views into consideration.
8
@Charles Becker They don't count, Charles. They're really old school Goldwater Republicans in their policies. I'm sure you'll feel right at home with any one of them.
4
And it is because of rigid views like this that this country is so polarized. All successful politics involve compromise.
3
I think Pete Buttigieg would make an excellent President after he gains political experience on a broader level than as mayor of a small city. Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama would have been more successful if they had more Washington experience and connections before they became President. Carter as governor of Georgia and Obama as a senator for a short time lacked the know-how to work the system. Pete Buttigieg would make a good Vice-President now, but not President.
6
New York Times readers are so privileged, they don't need to discuss policies. They just list personality traits, how they perceive him to be intelligent, and a good guy. He may well be, but what is he offering to do? How is he going to help the country that's in crisis? NYT readers just want someone poised and articulate to replace vulgar Trump, never mind policies.
13
@Jen Buttigieg has excellent policies he has spoken at great length about. They can be found on his website. In the few minutes each candidate is given in these debates, none can be expected to lay out their entire platform.
8
New York Times readers are so privileged, they don't need to discuss policies. They just list personality traits, how they perceive him to be intelligent, and a good guy. He may well be, but what is he offering to do? How is he going to help the country that's in crisis? NYT readers just want someone poised and articulate to replace vulgar Trump, never mind policies.
9
Pete's comments about having courage were intentionally misleading. He was simply trying to work in a reference to his military service. Beto is deeply appreciative of veterans, was on the Veterans Affairs Committee, has made veteran causes a big part of his platform.
The courage Beto is accusing Pete of lacking is political courage. And it is Pete who started this fight. He badmouthed Beto's proposal for mandatory buybacks of assault rifles, which polls show the American public happens to agree with. Pete is trying to hard to be "moderate" that he took a quick jab at Beto soon after Beto made his proposal. It was only then that Beto accused Pete of lacking political courage --- being too worried about polls, not being focus group tested --- to call for what most Americans really want. Joining the army for awhile takes some courage, but it is not the same thing as political courage. Pete is desperately trying to find that center lane where he can make inroads if Biden falters. Beto is just saying what he really believes.
15
@Joe Langford
Sorry, Beto has been coming for Pete for weeks now. It's time for Pete to stand his ground and I am extremely glad he did. I needed to see some fire in him. I wish Beto's supporters would stop acting like he is a victim here.
In terms of gun control, they have the same end goal but different ways of getting there, with Beto being the extremely polarizing choice.
A lot of the candidates are focused on pushing forward policies that ignore the will of half the population. That would be a grave mistake for us all if we choose to go that route again.
I see Pete as the true uniter here. And I was happy to see him toughen up. The other candidates would get torn to shreds by Trump and the right.
11
We need to stop eating our own and cut them all a little slick. This campaigning is exhausting. And that's just for us spectators.
4
@karen These policy differences between the candidates are important to parse out. There are plenty of uneducated voters out there who haven't followed who these candidates are.
1
@Harry Unfortunately the debates don't allow for much depth. I was disappointed by Warren's inability to explain how she would pay for MFA. I'd rather have spent more time on a few key topics than the jumble we got.
2
People who think that America is not ready for a Gay candidate probably thought that we were not ready for a Black President and weren’t they surprised?
13
If he's not the nominee, then I will vote and contribute to whatever ticket he chooses to be on. He's wonderful and a great patriot.
17
Will all the candidates and THE Democratic Voters please pledge to fully support the eventual Nominee?
We, the members of the Democratic Party, have seen the outcome of our bickering while the media act like carnival barkers, pushing us to fight among ourselves for the scraps left on the table.
I will declare that I am a Warren volunteer supporter, but I will only vote for the Democratic Party nominee, regardless of who it is, though Mr Buttigieg and Mr Biden are not in my personal top 5. I will give money to the ones in my top 5.
I will never utter a bad word against the eventual nominee, can you join me in doing that?
Please remember, “More Trees & Less/No Fossil Fuel is The Solution Going Forward. Plant & water some trees each week. Trees are a Proven Climate Change Solution.” Thank you & Vote Blue in 2020.
7
As a veteran with modest military service (enlisted 1969-73), I have never understood how someone who has not served in uniform thinks they "get" the military. You can say all you want that they respect the office, not the man holding it, but I also have a very hard time believing any general/admiral grade (O-7 on up) officer, who has earned the rank, doesn't have to swallow real, real hard to receive direction from a draft dodger POTUS. I am completely simpatico with Buttigieg as a candidate for POTUS.
21
He’d make a great Vice President.
5
Is he electable? Democrats have history of terrific candidates who turn out to lose elections. The field will soon narrow. Voters will get a better look at him. That will happen as he is gaining confidence, learning the ropes while having a good campaign chest. He seems like such nice guy who will descend, if he wins, into the snake pit of Washington. How he navigates among the snake-like politicians (and media) there, needing a unique survival skill, will be more relevant to his success than age or experience.
3
Oh please. When will the NYT stop ignoring the fact that this guy has a husband? America is not ready for President Pete and the “first husband.”
2
@Peter but we were ready for Trump???
30
I disagree. I think we’re as ready for a gay president as we were ready for a Black president when Obama ran. And we wouldn’t even be the first country to elect an LGBTQ leader. Ireland, Serbia, and Luxembourg currently have LGBTQ Prime Ministers/leaders in the highest office. Belgium and Iceland have had LGBTQ Prime Ministers in the past. Here in the U.S., we've elected LGBTQ governors, congresspeople, and even an out gay Sheriff here in Minneapolis.
5
Thank you for your service, Pete.
What did he accomplish as Mayor? How did he transform the city? What was so impressive that he is going to bypass being Governor or serve in Congress or the Senate and go from mayor to the White House?
He is an expert on foreign policy because he served in the military?
None of this adds up. He needs more more experience and maturity behind him and more than cheap shots on a debate stage.
35
Pete Buttigieg seems like a great politician and nice guy, but I don't really buy his story about how much his military experience changed his life. He was in Afghanistan for 7 months and it wasn't at some remote FOB. Sorry, his story just doesn't impress me all that much and I'm not captivated by someone driving around Kabul with a M4 in a discreet Toyota Hilux - that's the most common civilian truck there is in the Middle East. Not knocking his service but it's not a deal breaker to me for a US president. Just looks as if he was just checking off a box on his career goals.
25
@pk Checking off a box by risking his life for his country doing something that very few educated Americans would ever consider. Yeah, I see the problem.
3
I used to admire Buttiigieg a lot, but this ruined it for me. Very mean spirited and very uncalled for. See how this 2-year long election cycle is tearing the party up? Trump is sitting back and enjoying watching the Democrats tear each other to shreds. It doesn't have to be this way. We will lose if we don't stop doing this.
23
The "we will lose" argument is getting tired. It's thrown at every little thing the Democrats don't do, or don't do the way an individual likes it. Remember, we're not doing a rerun of the 2016 election again.
10
@JulieB Beto got exactly what he deserved and it wasn't mean spirited.
31
@JulieB I was more disappointed that Warren couldn't convincingly explain how to enact MFA, but that didn't "ruin" her for me. It just means I want to do more research. With more research, you'd know that Beto has been making snide comments about Buttigieg for several weeks now. I thought what Buttigieg said was more than appropriate.
3
Pete going after Warren regarding Medicare for all (not just in the debate but but also before) I found disqualifying for today’s Democrats. He’s in the pocket of big donors like no one else. I did like him in the beginning but no more.
24
@LFK Warren's "Medicare for All" is at present a pipe dream. If you think you can take away 150 million Americans' private insurance, you'll only succeed in angering a large percentage of that group. Pete is right. Why not make sure everyone has health care by providing Medicare coverage to those who don't have or don't want private insurance?
As much as I want to like Warren, she comes across as preachy and at times condescending, like she's the only smart person in the room. Her desire to require everyone to conform to her idea of health insurance is Exhibit A of that behavior.
19
There is no Medicare for some. It won’t work without everyone contributing. Warren has studied this and knows what she talking about. Please, take my insurance. It costs my family thousands and then we’ve got crazy high deductibles. Hope this lump on my neck is nothing because there’s no way we can afford it if it’s something serious.
9
@MindTraffic. Her IDEA of health insurance? Medicare already exists in the US so Bernie's plan is to expand coverage, and we don't even have to call it Berniecare.
1
Pete showed his true colors last night when he referred to campaign donations from people like me as “pocket change.”
Well, ok then. Way to show your values. If it’s not a huge donation, you don’t want it? Goodbye.
29
@Allison What are you talking about? About half of his donations are from small donors and they are welcome.
22
he said, during an interview, that Democrats could not win the election with just pocket change. it may not have been the most elegant way to say it, but he's not wrong. it is so expensive to run a campaign now that small donations are not enough
15
@Allison Except for one BIG thing...he never said that.
2
This sanctimonious, pinched, ambitious politician works hard to project the gravitas he does not possess as he courts billionnaire donors (from the health care and insurance industries?) and scolds his betters like an accountant. Small donors offer mere "pocket change", really? Would anyone tolerate this guy if he was straight? Pete, leave those of us who feel alive alone and go join the Log Cabin Republicans. I'll take Klobuchar over this crabbed poser anyday.
8
Sanders/Harris or Warren/Buttigieg, either ticket would crush Trump.
3
Imagine a president who so cogently puts thoughts together, and it is wonderfully inspiring to hear. A president with a healthcare plan that can’t be effectively catchphrased by Republicans into "Democrats are taking away your healthcare." A president who went to Afghanistan as a member of the military instead of claiming bone spurs. A president who actually knows and can cite scripture left and right.
What a welcome change from Donald Trump!
17
@Paul in NJ What healthcarecare plan? MC4A for those who want it? Who pays for the coverage? I'm glad he has "thoughts" and such but his healthcare plan is an illusion.
4
Pete is my guy. I happened to run into him in our neighborhood Starbucks when he was in town a few weeks ago. A short and simple conversation with him confirmed for me that he’s the real deal - smart, kind, considerate, and confident. We need a moderate to bring us all back together. Pete can do that.
17
Warren is pedestrian compared to Pete.
Bernie a hothead and Biden is soft.
Not sure why anyone would think any differently.
10
It's interesting that when people say why they like Pete, they talk about the way he speaks, his values, his military service, his kindness, his reasonableness... not once have I heard his policies mentioned. Why? Because they are watered-down versions of others' policies (mostly Warren's). And then there is... electability:
I am a gay man. If gay marriage only exists in this country by virtue of a Supreme Court decision, and not an act of Congress, then I have very little faith in the American people currently voting for a gay candidate--no matter how "centrist" he is. Sometimes I think Pete plays as "straight" as he can (he has never said straight up "I'm gay!"), so that he can lull us into a false sense of security, so that one day we are asking, "Wait, he's gay?". Just as Obama played down his blackness (unlike Kamala, who seems to put on a black neighborhood southern drawl which is decidedly fake--no surprises there), Pete plays down his gayness. But Trump will find some way to remind us. "When Pete's in bed with Chasten...and the call comes, will he answer?". Homophobia will lose him the election.
3
I disagree. We've elected LGBTQ governors, congresspeople, and even an out gay Sheriff here in Minneapolis. And we wouldn’t even be the first country to elect an LGBTQ leader. Ireland, Serbia, and Luxembourg currently have LGBTQ Prime Ministers/leaders in the highest office. Belgium and Iceland have had LGBTQ Prime Ministers in the past.
3
The subtitle alone should make this an opinion piece.
6
I served in a senior CI/HUMINT role in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2009 and I will be 100 percent supportive of the Democratic nominee (whoever he or she may be) to beat Trump, who in time, will be shown to have been a recruited asset of the FSB or GRU.
However, I have to say that I'm concerned about Buttigieg's own description of his service in Afghanistan and to me that means there's a lot of potential 'shoes' that could be dropped. He should be well aware of the Republicans' proclivity to attack veterans and their service, and his is probably vulnerable to those attacks. There are a number of points that I could bring up, but this is the most telling and it's his own quote: “At the end of the day my usefulness was as a driver more than an elected officer." A CI officer and Harvard graduate who's most useful as a driver? I actually had one of those working for me (not a Harvard grad, Naval Academy) and he wouldn't have been suitable for anything beyond fast food management. I can understand not wanted to embellish his service record, but he seems to be damning himself with faint praise.
5
I had hoped that we finally would choose a woman to lead this country out of the dark and horrifying times we find ourselves in. But we spent the weekend with Mayor Pete in New York and his measured, articulate and empathetic words captured us and the greater audience.
He represents the best of his generation; a man who believes in both service and a measured pragmatism that is desperately needed in leadership.
It convinced me that we desperately need generational change. Government has become stale and corrupt. We cannot go on with no faith in our elected officials, or worrying that life time appointments in Congress have thoroughly corrupted our officials.
As someone who grew up with Kennedy and Martin Luther King, he filled us with hope that this new generation can lead us out of a polarized citizenry and governmental swamp.
16
PB was an intel officer ...a naval intel officer. He spent most of his tour inside a heavily protected, concrete reinforced bunker with periodic forays outside of Kabul when he accompanied generals in motorized, heavily protected entourages. This was not front line combat. Even so, he did go into the service and he volunteered to go into a war zone...which is more than can be said for Trump or any of this Democratic rivals.
10
The more I hear Warren talk, the less impressed I am. Her evasive answer about Medicare for all by repeating the same mantra over and over again was insulting. I still don't understand why people over 70 think they can run this country and influence the world. We don't even let a 70 year old pilot fly a commercial plane. Why do these septuagenarians think they should be trusted for 8 years? Age does not automatically bring wisdom. Life experience combined with humility does and I believe Mayor Pete fit that bill.
15
I cannot stand him, I find the way he handled the racism in the police force which he covered up and fired the good person who brought it to his attention and then had to pay out a settlement for wrongful termination not a good sign. I find it a problem that he takes large "donations" from insurance companies and then blasts Medicare for all a real problem and hey look he is at 5 percent in the polls, he ain't going anywhere, he is done, I hope forever, we have enough people in government who take bribes and carry water for the elite.
8
If your for the status quo a bright young mayor out of Southbend might just be the ticket for you. TYT
3
It's ageist to say Pete is too young. We need a young, intelligent, knowledgeable, courteous president. Cleaning up the mess created by Trump and his gruesome horde will take energy, humility, and vision.
Pete Buttigieg is the gentleman for the job. He will pick a running mate and a cabinet who will help him. Maybe Cory Booker for VP.
29
I heard him many months ago, before most people knew who he was. I told an acquaintance, “ I don’t need to hear any more-he’s the one”!
31
Pete Buttigieg has the uncanny ability to share an idea so fully that you walk away saying, "Well, that was brilliant and I feel better now."
I want to live in his America.
54
I really liked Mayor Pete at first ... now I see him as snarky. Last night's debate was not a good moment for him. Frankly I thought Joe Biden came off well mostly because of one segment, where he talked about being able to walk into the Oval Office and not having to learn what to do. Of all the candidates, he's the only one who can come in and command the attention and respect of other world leaders. That has been, and will be, the main reason he's the best choice because after the mess that Trump has made, it's going to take a miracle worker to rescue our foreign policy from the dumper. (That's tough to say because on policy issues, I like a few of the other candidates better, e.g., Bullock, O'Rourke, and Yang).
6
Mayor Pete is the most qualified, level headed person running for President.
Compared to people who are trying to do a left wing takeover of the Dem party like Bernie, who at least is honest in answering questions, and Warren, who is one of the most evasive people on the debate stage ( If your policies are so great then why not answer the questions, Liz?), he comes across as a breath of fresh air.
Last night he finally shot back at those who are trying to trick us into nominating them to be our nominee.
He is our best chance to beat Trump and also to lead us into the next century.
36
@simon sez I agree about Warren being evasive. She lost my vote in these debates. Very disappointing.
3
I think Pete Buttigieg is great. He's one of the smartest people in public life. He'll go far. Some day, he may even be president. However, as smart as Buttigieg is, I don't think Beto was lecturing him on courage. I think Buttigieg's feigned outrage was a pre-planned bit of theater.
8
Scrolling through the comments, it's fascinating to see so many people gushing about a candidate yet hardly anyone seems to have a word to say about his ideology or policy positions. Maybe that's because when it comes down to the substance he's a completely nondescript neoliberal Dem and a big favorite of Wall Street and corporate donors.
Youth and charisma and intelligence are all well and good, but what matters is the candidate's positions, not their style.
21
Michael Bennet: why has this intelligent candidate not been given a fair hearing?
8
Mayor Pete and Kamala Harris togeyher would be an awesome ticket.
8
Living in sf where Ivy League technocrats have traffic cooled, unleashed millennial mayhem and made the city unlivable for families, I doubt we need an Ivy League technocrat in the Whitehouse.
12
A lot of people like the idea of a Warren/Buttigieg ticket, but I always say it should be the reverse. I admire Elizabeth Warren and she's great with plans and policies, but Buttigieg has the right stuff for leadership especially at this time, when our democracy and democratic institutions desperately need repair.
Buttigieg has leadership qualities that none of the others possess, including our former VP.
Buttigieg is young, but he is more attune to leadership values than those twice his age.
However....I'll gladly vote for the Democrat who wins the Primary.
22
Mayor Pete's remark seemed very juvenile to me and I was not opposed to him at all before the debate. I also felt like most of his answers to the questions were so rehearsed they didn't seem real to me. Anyway, not against him, but not for him either.
9
Imagine a US President committed by personal example to “duty, honor, country”. In the footsteps of former Pres. Truman, Eisenhower and Bush the elder. Every one Commanders of both distinction and honor. Every one whose individual lives were distinguished by old fashioned patriotism and honor. We really need to rethink our preference for Presidential candidates whose service has been solely or largely restricted to politics. We really need elect Presidents who represent the best characteristics of America. Presidents all of us, even opponents, can admire for their honesty, integrity and commitment to our nation.
8
My brother didnt come home from Viet Nam, his son didnt come home from Afghanistan. Mayor Pete Instead praised himself he should of thought about all of the heroes that would never have the opportunity to have a life.
Insightful It would of been if he made reference to the draft dodger in the White House.How our soldiers risk dying with Trump order,
Mayor Pete the hero of the day seemed to forget about everyone else who was left behind. They will never come home.
I saw a side of him that was pure ambition last night and his constant harping on age the day after Trump leaves the office . Is he the only one that thinks about it? Just because he speaks five languages he is no smarter than my family and I resent him acting as if the suffering of families whose loved ones never came home should be taken for granted.
My mother waits at the door knowing full well that her son is not coming thru the door, it would of been nice that instead of insulting Beto on the gun issue Mayor Pete displayed humanity about all of the people who have been killed here in the US and around the world. When he was attacking Ms. Warren he never mentioned the veterans who commit suicide do not get any type of quality medical at the VA instead of how we are going to pay for it. That would of been important he did not. It was all about his ambition, he acts as if he is the only one who was in the theater of war. Every family whose loved ones are fighting are in the theater of war.
10
@Tony I feel your despair at your loss, however, Mayor Pete is not a cruel, unfeeling man. He was debating his oponents in a debate. I am certain that he despairs the long years of endless wars when many thousands of our beloved, honorable men and women have not returned. Perhaps your disappointment should turn to the frauds who refused to serve. Be well sir.l
20
I support Pete, certainly over Elizabeth Warren, but he is going to have to make some inroads into African American communities, and really soon, if he wants this nomination.
11
@David
Choosing Cory Booker as his running mate would help.
4
they don’t call it petetown for nothing!
1
As someone who was “outside the wire” far more often than Buttigieg’s “100 times” in Kabul and Baghdad and Libya and Kosovo, Buttigieg’s comment rubbed me the wrong way.
I don’t like when military vets assert their bravery or character by referring to their military employment. It strikes me as cheap and disingenuous.
Then again, Buttigieg is hailed as a multilingual prodigy because (according to him) he can order a sandwich in Norwegian. So I guess puffery is just part of his candidacy.
10
Did you have the brains and education on to to track down the bank accounts of terrorists to prevent casualties in Afghanistan and back on the Homeland? I’m just not sure how thwarting terrorists AND volunteering to go off-base 100 times is any less than a service than yours.
10
Pete needs to be more transparent about his military service. He was in a desk job in Afganistan for 7 month. He was not in combat, that nice photo of him with a gun was not his job.
11
Dear Amy and Pete:
Suggest you team up and run together on the slogan:
A & P for P & VP
5
I appreciate Mayor Pete’s military experience. He is clearly a brave and brilliant man. However, the city who makes him Mayor Pete still has issues of police malfeasance and Pete has failed to find a solution to that issue or communicate effectively about many of his Black citizens’ concerns. Until he manages the job of dealing with this medium sized city’s problems, I find him an unproven leader.
16
Buttiegieg came across as arrogant and condescending. Yes, he served his country, no that does not make his opinion matter more. And how would he know that we are so close to making a deal on guns? We haven’t been close to any meaningful gun legislation since the Brady Bill.
15
"Not needing lessons" was pure McKinsey-ite intimidation, the signature stance of the prematurely anointed.
19
Great debate Mayor Pete, here is a question I would like you to ask Bernie. As a registered Independent, would he debate Trump?
1
For me the moment that stood out in last nights debate was Pete Buttigieg correcting Congresswoman Gabbard on her assertion that the US seeking Assad's ouster was not worthwhile.
It was a game changer as far as I am concerned that Gabbard is nothing more than a stooge for dictators like Putin and Assad , and she is the last thing America needs at this juncture in terms of a redo of our foreign policy once Trump is removed from office by impeachment or the ballot.
Buttigieg I believe will make an excellent President as he is Liberal enough to appease the base, and in the middle on other issues especially economic to make Independents feel comfortable supporting him.
45
Compared to Tulsi Gabbard, he came across less than brave, in my eyes. It was pretty easy in that crowd speaking melodramatically about 'abandoning the Kurds' and military honor. But Tulsi's position that we should extract ourselves from this misplaced alliance and military involvement in the region, in general, seemed courageous to me. Anything close to defending Trump in that setting takes strength, the good kind. It's really worth watching that exchange again; it was the most significant one of the evening, imo.
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYu2yXpmqo )
6
@carl bumba
After Pete, Bernie said he agreed with Pete and then elaborated in what I thought was one of the best moments of the debate (go Bernie!) Amy K. then chimed in, not quite as eloquently, while also expressly stating that she agreed with Pete. None of this changes your point about Tulsi, whose position I take it you agree with, but if you disagree with Pete's position on the Kurds, you are also disagreeing with Bernie's and Amy's, as stated during the debate, and I believe Joe's as well. I couldn't actually tell what Elizabeth thought because her points (seemingly read from her notes) were generalities only. In that exchange, I would say that Warren was the least courageous, because she did not clearly state her position.
8
@carl bumba I was frustrated that Rep. Gabbard was so quickly cut off. I imagine you were, too.
I knew this would be a difficult debate for her, because she needed to explain why Trump's desertion of our allies was so tragic while at the same time agreeing that we shouldn't be imposing our will everywhere in the world. This would be difficult in the ridiculously small time that candidates had, to give answers.
These "debates" really are soundbyte contests. They are entertainment. They aren't a serious attempt to discuss complex issues, or to provide opportunities to teach and learn. They are entertainment, conducted for profit by for-profit corporations.
You and I may disagree on what Trump SHOULD have done. And Rep. Gabbard may agree with one of us, or both, or neither. But I agree that Rep. Gabbard stands out for her integrity, and that she was mistreated.
Also, I can't help feeling that Mayor Pete's service, along with many other things, was part of a long-term plan to construct the perfect image of a one-day Presidential candidate. Unfortunately, this is typical of many candidates. But when Rep. Gabbard talk about her service, I don't have the same impression at all.
5
@DM
Thanks. In this case (and a couple others), I disagree with Bernie. I think our alliance with the Kurds, like the Mujahideen/Taliban, Contras, South Vietnamese, etc. was for OUR interest - and, inevitably, at their expense. The "we can't now turn our backs on them" argument only leads us into deeper involvement in these flawed relationships where they will likely suffer only more. IMO, Pete is a fool to think many locals would want to risk their lives for American GIs... and why would or should they? They are making alliances and risking their lives for the sake of their families and friends - this is fundamental. If it involves Americans today and the Syrians tomorrow, so be it. I've stayed withTurkish friends a hundred miles or so from where this is going on now. The situation between the Kurds and the Turks, imo, is way more complex than what is addressed in 95% of the opinionated comments that I read here.
1
Throwing rank, bragging regarding martial prowess telescoping insecurity.
Proud, but secure U.S. Navy Veteran, President John F. Kennedy never feeling above his gifted speech writing Conscientious Objector, Theodore Sorensen.
11
I never imagined I'd see America elect a black President. To our credit, it did and Obama had two excellent terms.
Now, I wonder if we might possibly elect a gay man. At the risk of saying this awkwardly...Pete demonstrates both a manliness and wisdom, likely born from his life experience, that I find comforting, genuine and rare.
I wish him success.
40
I just wanted to point out that the only reason Joe Biden is in this is because the 1% who own the press are keeping him in it in their articles.
He cannot possibly win and even if he could he's a DINO, he is not a real DEM in any way. He sold us out. IDK if he's dumb or what but he made nice with people whom he should have been trying to put in prison and passed legislation that has strip mined this nation of our public resources and prevented it from becoming a truly first world nation to profit a very few people who will happily move on once this nation is destroyed.
4
This article reads like Buttigieg propaganda. So nuts.
Is it normal for a major newspaper to use a photo from the campaign of the subject of the article, with the caption "Mr. Buttigieg visited orphans while on duty in Afghanistan. Credit: Pete Buttigieg Campaign"???
Goodness me.
32
@jay Oh, and I forgot one of the most important things, which is that the dude is out there raising money non-stop from the richest people around the country. I know this is how things have been done historically, but obviously that has contributed MASSIVELY to the wealth and power inequalities we have here in America.
If you're taking someone's money, they're going to have your ear when the time comes. Credit goes to Warren and Sanders for foregoing big fundraisers and appealing directly to the people. Clearly it's worked for them, and makes them 1000x more trustworthy to do the right things when in office.
27
Yes, normal. Because he wasn’t running for the presidency at the time — he was busy serving you and your country — and the photo wasn’t shot by a photojournalist.
13
@jay
The campaigns had to comply with federal disclosure requirements today for the 3rd quarter. Pete had over 560,000 separate individual donors, averaging $32 per donation. Unlike Warren and Sanders, who could transfer funds from their Senate campaigns, Pete started with zero. According to the tax returns that the candidates released and Forbes, Pete's and his husband's combined net worth is $100,000 and Warren's and her husband's combined net worth is $12 million. The NYT previously reported that Warren changed her fundraising tactics for the Presidential primary, but that she took money from large donor fundraisers through 2018, so some of the $10 million she transferred from Senate to Presidential campaign probably came from the type of events you are criticizing. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, unless someone tries to assert that her fundraising is somehow purer than Pete's. No individual can give more than $2800 per campaign. I'm a person, not a corporation, and I give a monthly amount to Pete's campaign. Pete is very interested in what his donors think, whether you give $3.00 or the maximum. (For what it's worth, if Warren gets the nomination (or Bernie, or Biden etc.) I will donate to their campaigns.)
13
I'm so excited to caucus for Pete Buttigieg on Feb 3rd, and until then I will be knocking doors and making phone calls, supporting his campaign in any way I can. Dark forces have assaulted our democracy, have made politics so toxic that voters are disengaged and demoralized. In this political moment we need a candidate who always speaks to our better selves, who elevates the political discourse. We can't wait four years for Pete, we need to elect him now.
38
I think if the goal is to ensure victory in 2020, Pete is the best bet. the base will vote for him regardless to get rid of DT, and he has the best chance to bring independents and disaffected R's into the fold. He's absolutely right that you don't accomplish your goals by starting at the finish line. Obama knew this when he got the ACA passed and took a lot of flak for it. If he had insisted on purity in the bill, we would have nothing instead of something. A lot of people with insurance don't want Medicare. If you force it on them, we'll lose big in the midterms and in 2024. You have to bring people to these ideas over time. Put out a public option and let people see for themselves if it's better for them. If you kick 150 million people off their private insurance mandatorily, you'll have 20yrs of Republican control and policies after that.
29
I thought Mayor Pete had a very strong debate performance and this was the opinion expressed in MANY major publications. I recommend that people who saw the debate and/or heard about him from this article and want to know more about him go to peteforamerica.com and thepetechannel.com, which has videos of most of Mayor Pete’s speeches and interviews.
He is going to win the nomination and will beat Trump.
27
People see what they want to see. I watched the debates and did not think Buttigieg, or any of the other candidates, unduly attacked another. It's a debate, not a friendly meet n' greet. I know who I'm voting for, as I suspect a great number of others commenting here do as well. I see no point in disparging any candidates. Let the voters decide in the voting booth. And let's hope voters don't sit this one out again just because their fave didn't get the nom.
23
Trump supporters are pushing hard for Pete. They want a showdown with him over Warren because they know he will not resonate with voters across the country and it will be four more years of Trump.
Warren can beat Trump, but Pete doesn't have the experience. If he can't transform a city as Mayor, how can he transform a country as President?
22
@Hope
Her agenda will be rejected by independents and moderates, as well as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We can't get 270 electoral votes in the blue coasts alone.
11
@dba
You work in Downtown Manhattan?
5
Beto had it coming. He thought he could get away with days of disparaging Pete while on the road, all in an effort to restart his lackluster campaign for the umpteenth time.
He needed to be put in his place.
Good job Pete.
Now it's time for Beto, as well as about 10 of the others, to drop out.
Too bad he won't until he loses the first 5 state primaries.
Why?
Ego.
Same with Bullock.
They could both win Senate seats from their respective states and do the country a major favor.
But instead we have to watch them waste their time (and ours) not to mention their money first before they finally accept the fact that they are running losing presidential campaigns.
Thanks a lot guys.
28
@MICHAEL Agreed. We need to take back the Senate, but no one's talking about that fact.
2
People write, he is not ready for 2020. I say if ever there was a time in our history for an articulate, intelligent man to be President its now, its Pete and we should all get smart and make him our next President. No more waiting for the so called right time. Our country is falling apart, wake up.
29
I hope the Democrats wake up soon. Biden has a difficult time making a cohesive sentence much less running a successful campaign. Warren and Sanders are too far to the left to win in a general election. When we come out of our left wing stance maybe we’ll be smart enough to nominate someone more centrist that can actually beat Trump.
11
I don't know whom I fear more, Trump or some of the hysterical people who have negatively responded to Pete Buttigeig's effort to be the Democratic standard bearer. I take solace in the knowledge that younger voters don't rely on the Times' aging readership for their decision making.
14
@BK Only people like Trump make executive decisions without the input of individuals who may have more expertise than they. Good judgment is not a function of age and it certainly is not a matter of federal experience apparently
7
@romac Right, so his cabinet and Chief of Staff will be making most decisions. And he’ll have no idea who to choose for these positions due to his lack of experience and connections to D.C.
4
@BK Much executive experience?
1
Mr. Buttigieg to O'Rourke.: “I don’t need lessons from you on courage, political or personal.”
Fair enough. But Mr. Buttigieg does pander to Republicans, so maybe he could do with some lessons on political courage from, say, Elizabeth Warren.
16
@Dominic Holland
He's not pandering to republicans. He's trying to expand the electorate. We can't win 270 electoral votes with the progressives in the blue states alone. Her agenda won't win Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and independents and moderates. They will hold their nose and vote for Trump.
8
I’d vote for any of the democrats running, but Mayor Pete simply has a greater grasp of the big picture.
Sorry, but Bernie and Warren (I would vote for them without hesitation in the general) are caught up in narratives that have a lot of truth to them but are missing so much nuance and depth. Economic populism reminds me a lot of libertarianism: sometimes a useful lens to look through but often used to reach simplistic and absurd conclusions.
Pete sees things clearly and has exactly the right big picture focus on the USA’s role in the world, the relationship between our government and the economy, and the role of the presidency. He has the temperament, intelligence and vision that make him uniquely suited for the job.
24
@Paul M.
Lol. It would not just be the right wing Republicans in Congress who run over him. It would be the federal bureaucracy and his own staff, too.
7
I’m an independent who has zero interest in voting for Trump. That being said, I have had to force myself to sit through the Democratic debates. The GOP will have a strategy for keeping red states red. Which red states will Mayor Pete flip? Beto came this close to flipping Texas blue. This close. You might need him if you end up on the ticket. The Dems just seem all over the place.
3
Pete Buttigieg is an extraordinary political talent on the level of Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Obama. A once in a generation candidate plus a very decent man full of integrity and compassion. Those naysayers that think he’s too young need to play closer attention: he is wise way beyond his age. And, like Obama, always the smartest person in the room.
32
My personal political positions put me with the far left, but first and foremost, I want someone who can beat Trump, and Mayor Pete's got it. He doesn't come across as a political insider, and he speaks the language of common sense.
He appeals to everyday people as well as more cerebral types, and he is young enough to be statistically likely to survive 2 terms without a lot of health problems. He comes with almost no baggage. He's likable. He's smart as heck. He's sufficiently progressive without turning people off. While my own economic views are considerably more socialistic than his, I feel comfortable that he is a great choice given the realities of America's version of capitalism and the humane and sincere nature of his beliefs.
38
After reading this, all I can say is he’s got my vote and my money. Time to clean house, Everyone.
26
Booker scored more than anyone.
4
I'm convinced a great many commenters here are campaign volunteers.
It's nice to see new faces in the Democratic party but no to using the presidential campaign as a press event to raise your own profile. Pete will not be be president and he won't be vice president either.
Sales people are great talkers too. Being smart is not a deciding factor. Pompeo is smart. Charlatans are articulate, so are account executives. That doesn't make them fit to be President of the United States.
A 6 month stint does not give you insight into the military unless it's how the mess tent operates.
Stop it people. This is how Trump got elected. Frilly, silly stuff.
Think critically about who you would send into the Oval Office to correct the institutional damage done by Trump, lead the world and strategize geopolitically as well as put us on firm ground domestically.
For me, it's not a 37 year old whose greatest accomplishment is eeeking by in a mayoral race in town of 100k people. That's magical thinking. I know we like heroes and saviors but get a grip.
26
@SM
Thank you. Well stated.
13
@SM This. The comments here make me want to yak.
It's readily apparent that Buttigieg at his core is a hyper-ambitious, calculating, entitled dude, generally devoid of firm principles. Obviously he's smart (so are most on the stage). Obviously he comes from and represents an elite part of society. And most importantly...obviously he's woefully inexperienced to be considered for the job for which he is auditioning.
10
Oh no we’re Republicans who voted for Clinton and Klobuchar or Buttigieg are the only viable options this time around. We won’t vote for Trump, but you’ll lose our votes this time around if you pick anyone too extreme.
Many of us are also Millennials, so we’re going to be around for a while.
1
Mayor Peter overstepped .. He didn't need to lash out at Beto like that.. both men are strong in their beliefs.. Beto represents a state which suffers a new assault rife attack practically every week.. Of course he is going to reign in the private ownership of assault weapons. And I too believe many Americans will think, "Do I really need this thing?" and hopefully they'll turn in their weapon.. If they don't and they are crazy enough to form a militia to fight "government intruders" .. then they SHOULD have their guns confiscated. I don't want those wack jobs running around with assault rifles. Mayor Pete and Beto.. both have my support.. Now work together and beat Trump in 2020!
13
I’m a very proud Veteran, married to a Veteran, from a Family of Veterans. Mayor Pete, you had Me at Hello, SIR. Senator Warren, THIS is your Vice President.
Seriously.
20
I wholeheartedly concur. Thanks
3
@Phyliss Dalmatian
Great ticket and I can't wait for Mayor Pete vrs. Pence debates! Bring it on!!!
2
A cheap shot, self promoting at the expense of another man, and uncalled for.
19
GO PETE GO!!!!
21
Buttigieg reminds me of a democratic Lindsey Graham, fake outrage to get your point across and appeal to those who doesn't think you are macho enough. I am sure when Lindsey first appeared as a public figure, the GOP said the same about him as many democrats say about Buttigieg now!
10
I like Mayor Pete a lot.
Wish he hadn't gone so negative on Beto last night. Not an appealing look. Unnecessary too, as Buttigieg has everything we need in a candidate.
6
@Jess Darby I liked him too, but I lost all respect for him now. He would be a great candidate, but it's a pipe dream anyway. Let's get real.
4
The more I see and hear him, the more impressed I am. His intelligence and obvious empathy are the polar opposites of someone we are all pretty sick of. I like Warren too, but I’m concerned she will be smothered by the McConnell crowd. I truly believe Buttigieg can reach many Americans directly with his practical ideas and inspiring words.
23
The personal insults and disrespect shown by otherwise good candidates is shameful and unnecessary. I'm heartened that those engaging in them have had little success in advancing themselves--quite the opposite. That speaks well of democrats (not so much of the media, setting up confrontations and going on about them as coups--they aren't).
6
Too bad country-club Republicans no longer exist, because that’s where “Mayor Pete” belongs.
For a more clear-eyed assessment of this guy, see Nathan Robinson’s piece in Current Affairs.
12
Forget it. Bernie stole the show at last night's debate.
After Buttigieg and Klobochur were whining about preserving private health insurance and attacking Elizabeth Warren, etc., Bernie cut right to the bone:
Why are you all defending the status quo of a failed system? We are the only [so-called] developed country where many millions of people lack any health coverage. Where catastrophic illness can financially ruin an entire family. Where prescription drugs cost more than any place in the world. [I paraphrase].
Why are Buttigeig and the others so pandering to an industry that rooks Americans?
17
@David Let me guess...you're a Bernie supporter. But sorry, Bernie did NOT steal the show. He was pretty much an innocent bystander. I didn't even hear him come to Warren's defence about Medicare for all. The show was between Warren and her many opponents and Amy Klobluchar and Pete Buttigieg were the most relevant of them.
3
I'm Gung-Ho for Liz, but I'm continually blown away by Major Pete's brains and wisdom. At 73, I'm awed by his gravitas, brains, and good common sense. How did a guy so young get so far so soon? I guess he's just an "old soul."
While I want to see Liz President, sometimes I think how satisfying it would be for her to run the EPA and kick the climate deniers in the teeth while she repaired the damage Trump and his corrupt cronies have wrought.
13
“Outflank”?
Self-important and arrogant is more like it.
He has potential, but needs to come back in 5 or 10 years after some ripening.
10
He sure did better, but he seems more like the snarky nephew at the bar-b-cue than the Big People flipping the burgers: Warren and Sanders.
14
Everything the Mayor has done in his life was to punch a ticket, including military service.
12
Pete Buttigieg was way out of line in jumping on Beto O'Rourke in callously calling him out by by saying, “I don’t need lessons from you on courage, political or personal." It was uncalled for and actually highlighted the big difference between them. Beto has compassion and empathy for the Hispanic community that's been under relentless attack by Trump while Mayor Pete has struggled to show a similar level of compassion toward the African-American community in his handling of police violence in Fort Wayne which Julian Castro, a Hispanic candidate, pointed out in support of Beto is "gun violence." Yes, Pete it's not courage, it's compassion and as a high thinking person you revealed your inability to relate to a high feeling person like Beto. Something for you to think about if you want to be president.
15
@Paul Wortman I agree. Looking forward to him NOT getting the nomination now. One mean-spirited nasty president is enough. I don't see how a person who says that is compassionate. He was like a kid acting tough in a very controlled environment where he wouldn't get punched back.
7
He's still just a mayor, people.
13
@Brock
And a veteran
and an intelligence officer
and a Rhodes Scholar
and articulate
and multilingual
and knows the issues
and compassionate
and authentic
Trump was nothing more than a rich, spoiled brat, emotionally a 12 year old, a failed businessman and con artist. He was only successful as a reality TV star.
Anyone, anything would be better.
It's just that Mayor Pete would be far, far better.
10
Pete was such a disappointment last night. He went on extreme defense, which is laughable considering his extremely limited experience in government. Zero experience at the federal level, and he wants to lecture Warren and O’Rourke. Not a good look, Mayor Pete.
25
@Allison
This is what is incomprehensible. He’s 37 and has no experience with the federal government government or even as a state governor. Yet, people actually believe he’s ready for the job because he’s intelligent and articulate. It’s scary. There is no comparison here to Obama, who was a U.S.Senator and already had many acquaintances in Congress and the federal bureaucracy.
17
Obama was Obama because of qualities that Pete also possesses — his eloquence, intelligence, judgment, sense of ethics, and his ability to inspire and bring people together — not because of his few years of federal government experience. Pete is not running for Congress. He’s running for the nation’s highest executive office. And he has executive experience that few others on that stage last night possess. I think his mid-size, mayoral experience is more applicable to the executive functions of the presidency than the experience gotten from a few years of Congressional work.
1
@Mcfife
He will inspire people like yourself. The people in Congress and the bureaucracy will not be moved by his words. How did that work for Obama? Three quarters of his Presidency was thwarted. The people there will run over Pete. The idea that he’s going to unite everyone in D.C. with his sweet words and pleasant demeanor is magical thinking.
1
I really dislike him after the debate. I thought he was cold before but his unwarranted attacks on Beto and his outright condescension to Elizabeth Warren made him very unappealing. I'll vote for him if I have to.
23
@FLT Safe to say it won't come to that--serves him right.
5
Buttigieg and Warren make an unbeatable combination. So do Warren and Buttigieg.
20
I hope he becomes our president.
19
I liked him a lot. Don’t think he’s ready this time around. I thought he was trying to be “Mean Pete” last night and it really turned me off to watch him get preachy with Beto and Warren. It just felt less like a debate and more like sniping insult slinging as a way to stand out. That didn’t land for me.
Next.
15
@Sydney Thomas
Disagreeing with competitors on issues and contrasting issues is something that happens in debates.
5
@Lark but you can do it without bullying and shaming your opponent. A very, very uncomfortable moment, and we should not be having them.
4
So the NYT "needs my voice"
Here it is: I'm a regular voter. Not a pundit, not a journalist, not an expert. A regular voter.
Amy Klobuchar was combative to the point of making me wince, she was disagreeable to me. I hope she does stay in the Senate, she should see her poll numbers and simply stop.
Mayor Pete grated on my nerves. Confronting Elizabeth Warren did not endear him to me. Just the opposite.
Joe Biden is fading.
And that's a good thing. Go spend time with your family Joe, you earned it.
Bernie Sanders was "lighter" than usual. His humor was a much needed reassurance he is not just a curmudgeon.
Kamala Harris and Corey Booker ... I like them both, but I do think they both serve us better by being Senators.
Elizabeth Warren earned even more of my respect. The more they come after her, the more sure I am they see her as "beating" them.
And they are simply aiding the GOP. Unacceptable.
37
@c Just a voter here too. I had basically the opposite reactions to you regarding Warren, Buttigieg, and Klobuchar. Shows how subjective this all is.
It's good for the frontrunner to get questioned. Their questions and comments seemed appropriate and warranted while still being respectful. I particularly liked how Klobuchar pointed how everyone on stage was for taxing the billionaires including the billionaire. Warren made it seem like only she and Bernie were for a wealth tax, though literally just 30 seconds earlier Steyer himself said he was for one.
4
I live in a southern States and can tell you that a woman will not win the election this time.
3
@micky Sadly, you will be right for many elections to come
2
Since Ike was being liked, I have been exposed to enough politicians to know when the real thing comes along. And in my experience, age has never been the hallmark of brilliant leadership. So for those who think that a little more experience is what Pete needs, take a look at what seniority has accomplished in Congress or age in the White House. If ever there was someone to lead us out of the abyss, it is Pete Buttigeig. Lord knows, it's way past the time for my generation to hand over the reigns of power.
52
I have yet to see Mayor Pete in any appearance that I have not been impressed by him. Of all those running, I can see him standing up well to Trump in debates and a campaign. As to governing, he will actually learn everything he can and listen to advisors. An executive that knows all about the sewers in his city is a man that cares about his city.
38
America always seems to elect presidents who are as different from the last president as possible, Nixon led to Carter, Carter to Regan, Regan to his VP George HW who was a one-term president, HW led to Clinton who led to George W. George W Bush couldn't really finish a sentence, which led to the extremely articulate President Obama, which led to Trump.
I don't think America wants a left wing version of Trump, a "firebrand" who's going to shake things up. I think we're ready, as usual, for a different type of president. For some stability, for some decency. Someone who is even-tempered and intelligent, someone who is trying to listen to all Americans, not just their base, someone who has actually performed some public service, and who won't govern via tweet, but through well thought out policy.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg certainly fits the bill. There are others too, Amy Klobachor comes to mind. But Mayor Pete really fits the bill, young vs old; measured vs erratic, moral vs immoral, military service vs draft-dodger, humble beginnings vs born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I'm ready for our President Pete.
34
I have concerns about Pete- first joining a military engaged in an unjust and illegal war, especially joining Military Intelligence, with a history of using enhanced interrogation (torture). Also, hiding his sexuality because of concerns about his political future. Frankly, he seems too calculating and disingenuous, compared to Bernie who has openly stated his support of democratic socialism.
13
8 yrs. Mayor of 102000 people. He should run for State house.
11
Trump had zero experience and lowered the bar to zero. Barrack Obama was a brand new jr. Senator and became one of the best presidents ever.
8
@Laume , Obama was a state senator seven years, with three in the US senate before he ran. Not a mayor of a town.
6
I have more respect for the Mayor of my town than anyone in Trenton.
1
Pete has progressive plans with conservative appeal. But unlike Biden or Klobuchar he has shown he knows that climate change and voter suppression have to be dealt with or we can kiss our country goodbye.
Though I have fallen out of love with him as my first choice candidate, I still like what I see. I will be happy with a President Pete in 2020 or in the future.
14
First of all he was a Navy intelligence officer - give me a break, this barely qualifies as the military.
Secondly, Harvard > Rhodes Scholar > McKinsey > Navy... his military service is such a transparent careerist stepping stone it should count against him
31
Knowing this makes that fake outrage even more absurd and demonstrates unfitness for the Office.
8
@Andrew L
Anti-war advocates should reject all veterans who claim their experience in America's wars of terror prepare them to become president.
8
@Andrew L , Buttigieg has much greater credentials than, 5 deferments, obstructor of justice, failed businessman, pathological liar (over 12000 and counting). Misogynist, con artist, racist. Tax fraudster, Failed casino owner. Who can accomplish that, when the odds are in the owner’s favor.
Oh well , Andrew, enjoy your fantasy.
25
Pete Buttigieg is the most politically talented Democrat we've seen since Obama. His humility, communication skills, compassion and clarity make him not only the anti-Trump but a truly formidable presidential candidate. Political talent is a real thing. Obama has it, Reagan had it, Clinton had it, and God help us even Trump has or had a version of it. Voters vote for a person who inspires them, gives them hope, communicates a clear message. Mayor Buttigieg comes across as brilliant, open-minded, compassionate, caring, dutiful, passionate, fearless. His message, communicated not only in words but by his very presence, is one of clarity, reason and hope. As Harry Truman said, the most important thing to consider when voting for a president is to ask yourself if your candidate is a good person, if that person will try their best to be their best and to represent everyone in the country. I've gone back and forth in my thinking about several of our talented Democratic candidates, but it's becoming more and more apparent that Pete outshines the pack. Boy I'd love to see him debate Trump. The optics alone - youth, grace, sanity and intelligence vs all the opposites of those things would guarantee Pete a win.
68
I think he’d trounce Trump in a debate.
20
PETE PETE PETE , that is all !!!
23
I thought Mayor Pete was doing well until that petulant uncalled for lashing out against Beto. “I don’t need to be lectured on courage.” I think it showed a level of immaturity, arrogance and inability to carry on a discussion on the issues without being overly defensive.
Maybe Amy is the best candidate.
9
Pete B. has character & integrity. He is everything that Trump and Co have never been. He has positive energy and stresses bringing all Americans back together (like it was before the Great Ruination). Mayor Pete has my support. He is a leader and a constructive person.
26
If nothing else the Democratic Cadidate’s Roadshow has opened American systemic racism and prejudice for all to see and hear.
“He’s smart, articulate - but he’s gay- you know what I’m sayin’ ... just sayin’.
2
I like Pete.
I'd like to hear him or any of the Democrats say this:
"The one important thing I want to say to all my fellow Americans - all of you - is…this…
We're gonna be just fine.
We're still going to be America and all it represents for the rest of time because we have a system designed to keep us true to our ideals."
"Donald Trump?
A blip.
A shame, but a blip.
The Founders - Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison - they planned for Donald Trump. So much of our Constitution and system of government that they conceived is devoted to checking and accounting for the bad impulses of humans. They knew the human heart was not pure."
"So, they divided government and let each branch check the other. They gave us the opportunity to vote regularly so that a Donald Trump could be rejected after only a few years - next year."
"What a blessing. What an opportunity. Such a simple system they gave us. All we have to do is show up or vote by mail on November 3rd, 2020 and this whole mess - this Trump mistake - goes away."
"And, just like that, we get back to a country we can be proud of again. With a new president who's normal, who believes in decency, truth, morals… the law."
"We've usually had presidents like that.
How about we have that again?"
"That's the president I'll be. Because I'm normal."
"Normal.
Won't that be nice to have again?"
14
Pete Buttigieg gives me hope like Obama did. The extreme liberals are too much like the extreme conservatives for my taste. Promising the moon without the slighest understanding that they cannot deliver. I want someone who is smart, courageous, able to take on and defeat Trump and advocate for changes that are possible. I want someone who is not devisive. I don't want one of those law professors who take pleasure in humiliating their students as Warren did. We have had enough of bullies. I want someone with real courage like Buttigieg. How I hope that he gets the nomination. I could actually get motiviated with him as a candidate for President. All the others I would vote for but not because I want them as President but simply because they are not Trump.
40
I’ve seen some so called moderates or centrists assert that those who support Warren and Sanders are just the left version of Trump supporters. I disagree.
A person who believes that a 37 year old with no experience working with the federal government or acting as a governor is qualified to be President is as uninformed as a Trump voter. It doesn’t matter how intelligent or eloquent the guy is. That’s completely insane and is evidence that it’s not only Trump voters who have no idea how complex the job of President is.
It’s one thing to disagree on policy. However, don’t treat this position as if anyone with a high IQ can do it. Age and experience matter very much.
17
I'd vote for any one of them in order to support getting rid of Trump and his band of criminal cronies. But really, there is no one on the field who comes close to Pete. Reading the comments here gives me hope... although I cannot imagine that America is going to elect a 37 year old, White, gay man. I'd LOVE to be proven wrong. As much as I want to see a woman in that role, there is simply no one on the list who comes close to showing as much intelligence, thoughtfulness, complexity & understanding of the dangerous world we all live in. I would sleep a thousand times more soundly if he was in the White House.
How about a Buttigieg-Abrams ticket?
17
Any fool can tack to the extreme of their group...
Leadership is tacking to the center - to include other groups...
13
This man as or president would cause each America to feel proud.
22
Nothing, but nothing, could bring this country back from the brink more than a Buttlieg or a Harris presidency.
I really wanted it to be Harris. I have to admit, I am not sure I trust her intellect in the same way I trust Buttlieg. Now don't get me wrong---Kamala Harris is extremely intelligent and capable. He just seems to grasp the bigger picture with a little bit more nuance. I think he is just great--he reminds me of Justin Trudeau a bit.
22
Maybe not this election cycle, but someday we will be referring to President Buttigieg
6
Hopefully he grows up in the mean time. Last night was a display of massive immaturity.
9
Suddenly the democrats who have wanted to end these forever wars suddenly want us to stay in the Middle East where we can loose young American lives and spend our national treasure until there will be little left to work on our infrastructure. I do not support Buttigieg concern about our word and honor. We can continue to be entangled in the Middle East wars that will last forever and when we leave broke and disheartened we will not be in shape to compete on the economic field with China. For Mr. Buttigieg and others advocating honor and continuing a Syrian war I suggest you and your children and other family members volunteer to serve in the Middle East. I know Mr Buttigieg served but I am also a veteran of Vietnam and can feel differently. The Middle East wars will continue unchanged after we finally are driven out.
10
My 89 year-old mom voted for Trump.
She said she'd vote for mayor Pete. And would have to think about the others.
The thought of him as president is refreshing.
43
@Susan
That your mom voted for Trump does not appear to be a positive endorsement of Pete. It seems she prefers people with little to no experience with the federal government. That’s scary.
9
No matter who the next democratic candidate is going to be. Stand united and remember the alternative. Buttigieg, Harris, Warren, Sanders (in no particular order of priority)... forget the details and remember the alternative.
Remember the alternative and vote for that one candidate, unless you want another four years with the most unfit person imaginable in office!
8
Buttigieg displayed no particular courage in Afghanistan. He had a desk job and occasionally filled in as a driver. A war hero he was not.
13
Buttigieg is not a profile in courage but in fact the opposite. He knuckled under to his donors when they demanded he fire the black police chief, and then he didn’t even have the nerve to look the guy in the eye and do it himself but sent someone else to do it for him. He says he regrets it. I’ll say. It was a revealing test of character which he failed. We can’t have a coward like him in the WH.
9
@Edward
But we do have a coward in the White House right now.
8
I cannot wait to vote for Pete Buttigieg in the primary. Let’s go, Mayor Pete!!
23
Many, it seems here, were impressed with Buttigieg’s performance last night. I had the exact opposite reaction, where I thought I saw an angry, self righteous prig. If so, I think he’s too small for the task.
23
I feel like he’s a typical fraud!! He says what he knows people want to hear. Then, he conveniently says what he knows some “liberals” might not want, in order to appeal to some on the right who are looking for a “moderate.” He’s extremely well calculated. He never seems to really say what he really means. You get the impression you don’t really know who he is, like he will sell you out!! He’s an absolute fraud, the worst of them, I feel like.
15
I had no opinion of Buttigieg before listening to him for the first time last night in the debate. Now, he comes off as just another calculating, phony career politician in the mold of so many others before him. His military service and attending photo ops now look like they were a notch on his belt just so he could utter non-sequitur humble brags like the one in the headline to this article.
20
Unless he wins the nomination, Pete should be the VP choice. He has incredible potential.
And I’m a Trump supporting Republican.
10
Tore a Trump supporting Republican? Still? Why so?
Moral courage is much more difficult and this rarer than physical courage. Mayor Pete lacked the moral courage to say no to a war that's so destructive and wasteful.
7
@Jimmy Herf
Then you must think Donald Trump is very, very brave, since he not only didn't serve, but concocted a disability so that some "less courageous" kid could could go to war in his place.
1
I liked Mayor Pete until last nights debate. The way he attacked Beto on the gun issue makes me think that he’s of the crowd that feels like it’s better to do things that are easy than meaningful. I would like to know what his signature issue is. Obama had healthcare, Warren has a wealth tax. What does Mayor Pete believe in?
12
@NKM
Go to his website it's all there. If you listen to him his beliefs are strong articulated and clear.
14
@Alecfinn
So you don’t know, either?
5
I'm very impressed with Pete in that he is so intelligent, articulate and seems like a caring person. I think it is a plus that he is openly gay and knows the bigotry that LGBTQ people face.
But there is just something that rubs me the wrong way about him too. I can't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it is that he advertises that he is a Christian yet he joined the military where he might have been called on to kill. I attended Catholic schools for 17 years - and if there is one consistent message of Jesus it is to be nonviolent.
Why would someone who is a believer in Jesus as a great teacher do that to themselves? It makes me wonder if Pete joined the military because he had political dreams and knew it would make him more electable?
7
@Kerry Girl
Perhaps he is telling a simple truth he does what he believes is right.
7
@Alecfinn
It is Buttigieg who draws attention to his Christianity. If he were secular or of another faith, I wouldn't call out his hypocrisy because there would be none. Jesus says many many times to "put down the sword." Yet Mayor Pete picked it up.
There are a lot of other ways to serve one's community and country. I myself did Americorps. There's the Peace Corps too. But neither of these has the prestige with many voters as the military does. It just seems calculating. And anti-thetical to Jesus' teaching.
5
@Alecfinn There are a lot of other ways to serve. I myself did Americorps. There's the Peace Corps too. But neither of these have the prestige with many voters.
3
Pretty arrogant to "outflank" someone from Texas when it comes to gun control.
Perhaps "Mayor Pete" should think first about how many people have been slaughtered by guns in Texas - including a recent mass shooting that he seems to feel does not have any standing compared to his military experience overseas.
Respect is earned, mayor Pete. I had respect for you right up until the grandstanding in this debate. Now you've lost my respect. I'll vote for you if you're the remaining candidate, but I doubt you will be after that banal performance.
13
@Jbugko
And I was happy he stood up for himself. He correctly interpreted what was happening and his response was appropriate clear and to the point.
8
Biden, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, O'Rourke, Harris, Klobuchar, and Booker could all do the job, especially when considering Trump.
But Buttigieg is the "secret weapon" when it comes to battling Trump. Trump's team would be feverishly trying to come up with some form of plan to discredit him. And all they'd be able to come up with is "only Mayor" and "he's gay." Well, Trump was never a politician so that falls flat. Being gay? I would wager 30% of Americans would be bothered by that... not enough to keep him from winning though. Plus, Buttigieg is far smarter. He'd destroy Trump.
32
@GaryK
Probably with very little effort and by telling the truth he sees. That's admirable.
8
Apart from being articulate, thoughtful, composed and intelligent, I think what's most outstanding is that Buttigieg isn't angry or trying to sell fear. Instead, he repeatedly conveys that he holds himself accountable and is a well rounded person.
30
Warren is my first choice but Buttigieg's character and charisma are both refreshing and inspiring. At the very least even if he doesn't get nominated he'll push whoever does to be even better.
14
I would follow this man into battle.
15
My suggestion Buttigieg Cummings 2020. Unbeatable.
3
Who?
He’s yet another nauseating opportunistic centrist who represents loads of potential for getting more of the same losing strategy from the corporate dems. He’s just more articulate than most.
He showed his true colors last night by attacking progressive policies he surely knows will benefit most Americans.
14
@Martin Amada
I watched the debate and did not see what you did.
10
Buttigieg was too mean. Beto didn’t provoke him. Beto didn’t deserve it
8
@Michelle
I think you need to watch that exchange again, he responded the best way he could. I truly enjoyed seeing Mayor Pete stand up for himself.
9
@Alecfinn I did watch it again and still find his response to Beto mean and unnecessary. Maybe this is a good quality to confront Trump if he wins the primary.
3
@Michelle
Beto had been disparaging him all week. I guess you were not aware of that.
2
I was with Mayor Pete from the start. Balanced so much he seemed impervious to attack. But he has grown self-righteous and arrogant. Not to worry, though. Koblauchar is balanced and impervious to attack. And so likable.
With Mayor Pete I grew weary of hugs of his spouse. Straight or gay, keep it in the bedroom. I have to admit, though, that I often want to hug Koblauchar. She has what no one else in the race has. She is nice.
3
@michjas Sorry, but Klobuchar is a phony. She acts more like a republican in MN and has greatly disappointed many of us who are environmental voters. She is self- rightous and a bully. Many people I know have contacted her and she will not listen to the voters, and is in the pocket of big business and big AG.
7
@Sue M. As a Minnesotan you had the potential to help. As a single issue voter, you threw it all away.
1
Her constituents, including me, have tried to talk to her over the years. Klobuchar has chosen to avoid any discussions about the environmental damage her positions cause Minnesota. If you think I am a one issue voter, your are mistaken. However, environmental protection has been the focus of my career and it is a top priority.
6
Here's a lesson for you on Twitter courage, Buttigieg:
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/16/buttigieg-tweet-medicare-for-all-048745
2
Buttigieg is impressive, but shame on the NYT for three recent hit pieces onhit pieces on Gabbard.
4
How is this guy still in the race? Maybe its "the money people" again? What will they dupe him into doing for them this time around? Oh, now we know...previously it was firing a black police chief in a crooked scheme, but now "the money people" have him attacking Medicare for All. Buttigieg is a tool.
14
Let's give Mayor Buttigieg the keys to kingdom. No doubt, he will shine them up and give them back to us!
10
Oh, yeah! Buttigieg all the way.
21
In the general election, I'll enthusiastically support whoever is the Dem nominee. In the primaries, I'm all in for Buttigieg.
34
Buttigieg is never going to be US President.
9
He was out there where 99 percent of Americans weren’t.
Combined with his brilliant intellect, his compassion, his understanding of what it means to be different, his keen listening skills, and his determination to effect change - that makes Pete Buttigieg the kind of 1 percenter we need in the Oval Office.
31
Like Jacinda Ardern, the young Prime Minister of NZ, it is time for a thoughtful, measured and courageous new President.
He has served, he has struggled, he has overcome, and kept his feet on the ground. And, he listens; really listens. Pete Buttigieg is the full package.
32
To me he looked weak and desperate. Constantly attacking the others. I think he's on his way down.
19
This love of Mayor Pete is out of hand.
He won the recent mayoralty of South Bend with 8,500 votes.
He's dishonest and wrong about Warren's Medicaire for all plan.
He's simply the latest neoliberal savior of the old guard.
Wait till he faces scrutiny and hard questioning of his non-positions. He's testy and patronizing. His obliviousness re racial issues in his little college town is serious. He's not remotely what
so many are making him out to be. Additionally, not that it matters, but he is in no way conversant in the 7 languages he professes to know. What on earth has he ever done to deserve all this respect?
22
@timbo
But he’s smart and articulate, and he seems so nice!
7
Full disclosure, Pete is my Mayor. That doesn't make him my automatic pick for the nomination, but I'm in his corner.
It surprises me to see people object to his exchange with Beto as mean-spirited. Beto is the one flailing wildly to stay in the race, talking about confiscating guns *solely* because it draws media attention. For him to then also talk about other candidates lacking political courage is pathetic. For him to then compound the error by sniping at candidates who have spent time in an active warzone is the act of a political buffoon.
He deserved to be put in his place, and frankly, more harshly, not less.
Go Pete, Go!
447
@Anonymous I disagree that Beto is talking about confiscating guns solely because it draws media attention. I think he is fully committed to reducing the carnage we have seen too often caused by automatic guns.
33
@Anonymous He needs to be more magnanimous than he is being right now. I'm a twenty year veteran myself--active duty, not National Guard like Erdogan's pet Tulsi Gabbard--and you shouldn't pretend you have more courage than a civilian like Beto, your mayor is beginning to look and sound like a maniacal ventriloquist dummy. A little humility goes a long way--even in Indiana where there's nothing forlorn save the corn (and more corn and more corn and even more corn.)
29
@Anonymous the reason people saw it as mean-spirited is because if you watch the tape, Beto wasn't attacking him for being cowardly. he said that we should take positions based on what we believe is right and not based on polls or focus groups. leaders move should move public opinion. show me where Pete has done that.
also, the notion that anyone who has spent time in an active war zone can never be criticized for political cowardice is absurd. are we not able to criticize Richard Nixon for cowardice?
29
I believe Pete Buttigieg has a real chance at winning the nomination. It may be an uphill battle, but I wouldn't be surprised if he won. He's shown he has courage and wisdom, and could definitely fight back against attacks thrown his way, as was shown in the debate last night.
34
I'm all in for Mayor Pete. I think he's super smart, thoughtful, well spoken and even-keeled, just the antidote for Trump. I think as time goes by, more and more people will back him.
39
He's an extraordinarily smart, articulate person who shows flashes of depth, insight and compassion to match his ability. But ‘I don’t need lessons from you on courage’ was real junior high-school stuff. It was out-of-place, disrespectful to a fellow party member who is himself of good character, and without cause.
If Mayor Pete needs to talk like that in order to feel good about himself, he's not ready for Presidential responsibilities yet.
And if a Presidential "debate" is really just a contest for clever, gratuitous one-line insults, and this is our basis for choosing a world leader, we are in deep trouble, and have nobody to blame but ourselves.
15
@Joe Joe..I think you may have missed the many baited commets Beto has made against Pete.. Pete's reply wasn't a one-off, and demonstrated how he would chew up Trump.
7
I absolutely hope Pete will be our party's nominee even though I think Congress will try to give him much of the same treatment as Obama received The people elected Obama twice but Congress pays no mind to what the people want even though we are their "employer." Obama of course is a man of color and Pete is gay and married. I live in the Southeast (yes it's maddening!) where there are lots of one issue voters and when you add what they consider to be the wrong color or sexual orientation, NOTHING else matters. Still we must continue to persevere and though I would hate to see Pete's hair turn gray, he has the qualities we need. I was concerned about his age briefly but got beyond that. He has a tremendous intellect, is totally rational, recognizes and prioritizes the many issues facing us and I am convinced will surround himself with cabinet and advisors who will also bring ideas and solutions to the table. So GO PETE 2020......Hear that drumbeat??
21
Let's see young Pete is a Mayor of a town the size of my living room--is 38 years old and a Centrist and everyone is going gaga over him. Sigh....not his turn, sorry, but it isn't. Pete needs to run for governor and win before he takes his place in the Oval office. Are we clueless? Lack of experience in governance--despite his stellar intelligence and poise, is not OK. Done that--been there--never works!
15
@Sage South Bend is a city, a city which has struggled with industrial decline, income inequality, and other pressing issues with which the mayor has had to grapple and about which he has had to try to build consensus. Indiana will not elect this man governor (unfortunately for it), if you have followed Indiana election returns at all. I remember much the same criticism of President Obama in 2008. There is an old police saying about experience: some people have their rookie year twenty times, and others are quick studies. I am for Mayor Pete.
11
Buttigieg is good and would make a great President; however, we have to think which Candidate can beat Trump. Perhaps Buttigieg can. What was good last night was seeing so many qualified Candidates speak. I haven't decided yet who I will vote for; however, I do know I would not Vote for the bottom tiers, beginning with Booker and O'Rourke. I am concerned about Biden's son taking advantage of his father (we have had enough of this with the Trump offspring). Still undecided here.
6
Mayor Pete is not only intelligent and articulate he’s charismatic in the mold of Obama and Bill Clinton.
More importantly, he has a message of transcendence over the current gridlock while the others just represent the other side of the divide.
34
If we choose a person who attracts Republicans, it means we’re basically choosing a Republican. I don’t want to vote for a moderate Republican; I want to vote for an unreconstructed Democrat.
19
@JM
"If we choose a person who attracts Republicans, it means we’re basically choosing a Republican."
No. What it means is that instead of trying to run some virtue-signaling vanity project, the Dems are actually trying to win.
7
I think the Democratic Party and its base would be mistaken to not consider Buttigieg potentially the best candidate in the field, not just in terms of ability to beat Trump but because of his eloquence, fairness, and perspective.
30
I think he'll be president. If not in 2021, soon.
9
For those who say Pete Butigieg isn’t experienced enough to be president I disagree . Number one , he may lack legislative experience but undoubtedly, unlike Trump , he would pick the best cabinet members to advise him . He’s also incredibly intelligent so I trust his judgment, unlike Trump who has proved time and time again what a fool he is .
25
Buttigieg gives me hope. His generation as a bigger stake in the future than mine, and has shown himself, time and time again, to be someone to whom we can entrust it. He is the un-trump in every conceivable way.
539
@Freak
Many of us would disagree with that.
17
@Freak The biggest fraud America has right now is what we currently have in the White House.
26
@Freak I know that the internet is not the best place for nuance, so please take this as intended:
Could you provide any proof to backup that belief? A well reasoned demonstration of that, using facts? I will drop my support of him on the spot.
10
He is at once unusual but familiar, brilliant but unpretentious, sensitive but tough as nails. In short, he has that undefinable thing called charisma. I’ve been watching and listening to everything available since he announced. It’s not just his welcome rhetorical skill, it’s the clarity and humanity of his vision. It’s time, maybe past time, to pass the torch.
111
“I don’t need lessons from you on courage, political or personal,” was just gratuitously mean. It changed my view of Buttigieg.
Perhaps if something in what O'Rourke said had seemed like a challenge to Buttigieg's courage, it might have made sense. However, it came out of nowhere.
Buttigieg had been making sense in his criticism of O'Rourke's plan, but then Mr. Rational turned into Mr. I-am-going-to demonstrate-toughness-by-playing-the-vet-card-and-acting-insulted. It reminded me of the Republican debates for the 2016 election.
56
couldn't agree more! this is exactly what I thought when I was watching it
17
@Eileen Hays I'm glad I wasn't the only one! He really turned me completely off by this.
12
@Eileen Hays Since O'Rourke had in recent weeks been calling him "calculating" and "fearful" over this issue, I don't see how Buttigieg had any choice but to pushback. He implied Buttigieg was a coward. It's not a good look when you go calling another member of your own party as someone who lacks "courage." I didn't see Buttigieg critiquing O'Rourke's character - only his support for a mandatory buyback.
17
“I don’t need lessons from you on courage, political or personal,”
I like Pete Buttigieg, but I’ve never been a fan of this type of comeback. It manages to be somewhat mean (you’re lacking in personal and political courage, sir) and a humble brag (I’ve demonstrated how much I have of both) all at once.
36
@NA Then O'Rourke shouldn't go around questioning someone else's courage on gun control. That's not a good look for him to be rocking. What did you expect Buttigieg to do, take it on the chin and not stand up for himself?
8
@CS Moore , then let Pete be straightforward and address the gun control comments. This was an ambush-type insult because Beto wasn't I never the military. Not an honest answer to the issue you claim caused it.
6
Mayor Buttigieg has to contend with the same veterans who backed trump and his contempt for Sen. McCain who spent five years in a Vietnamese POW cell and didn’t give up anything except his rank and serial number.
Not every veteran is a patriot.
13
I'd give serous thought to any ticket Buttigieg is on.
President or Vice President, he'd do a great job for our country.
72
I’m appalled by people complaining that he’s not gay enough (came out too late), not military enough (went in too late and as an officer), or not whatever enough. He’s gay, he’s a veteran, he’s a mayor. He’s not faking his life, people. Meanwhile, the opponent —the only opponent who matters— is a sociopathic conman who is actively destroying America and greenlighting genocide.
Perfect is the enemy of good, folks. This guy is good enough. Pete, Liz, Bernie, Joe — they’re all good enough in every way that matters. Stop ripping them apart for being real people.
132
@Hope
Liz is not real. She is a con artist with her 1,000,000 selfies, Boy, have I got a plan for that nonsense.
Why won't she answer questions if her plans are so great? They are pie in the sky promises that will never hold water.
3
@Hope thank you!
3
Wish I could spell his last name but I’ll learn it. All that aside Pete is the best and so far the most electable candidate the dems have. He gets my vote unless he goes off the rails in some way and I will be donating to his campaign.
I find it strange that we would even consider a candidate coming from a group (Congress) with a lower approval rating than Trump.
27
I am a conservative Republican, but I did not and will not vote for Trump. I will probably vote 3rd party, but I could see myself voting for Pete. He's a class act. I may disagree with him on policy--even strongly disagree--but he evinces a certain trustworthiness, a sense that he would be willing to put the country first, even if it meant that he did not get everything on his agenda.
101
@Charles - when you say you would never vote for Trump (nice to hear, btw), just be aware that any vote NOT cast for the Democratic nominee is, de facto, a vote for Trump, i.e. a vote he doesn't need to worry about overcoming.
14
@Bruce....Charles’ third party very for president isn’t a de facto vote for anyone but that candidate. With a swing state, it will count, and count more; but just like my third party vote in California last time, it’s a lot more nuanced than the prevailing wisdom with the electoral college deciding the outcome.
2
@Levon S --- IMHO you voted de facto for Trump, but in a place where you were sure to be outvoted. Hillary's margin of victory in California was a tiny bit smaller than it would have been, thanks to your vote.
I understand people wanting third parties to get enough of the popular vote that they could earn an electoral college point or two and maybe qualify for federal funding so next time around we wouldn't be faced with such limited choices. The thing was, enough people in PA etc did the same thing; it affected the electoral college, but maybe not the way they hoped.
I don't think this next election is a good time to mess around.
3
Pete must be on the ticket. He has demonstrated his character and his skills during each of the debates. Whether he is top or bottom of the ticket, the Democrats must use his skills to lead or strengthen their hand against Trump or any other Republican who may be the Republican nominee. Last night, Buttigieg looked very much like the leader of the moderate wing of the Democrat Party.
22
Perhaps Mayor Pete ought to read "Profiles in Courage." John Kennedy wrote it specifically because he recognized that courage on political issues is something very different from heroism in battle.
If Buttigieg wants to recognize true courage, let him look to Bernie Sanders who began as a lonely voice in the wilderness in 2015 and in a few short years has totally changed the course of the Democratic Party. To me staying true to your principles no matter how unpopular they may be and how much your career may suffer from it is every bit as courageous as doing something heroic on the battlefield.
And if he thinks that having served in the military will attract the votes of any vets, just remember George McGovern, who had served heroically as a bomber pilot in WW II, in 1972 and John Kerry, whose heroism was claimed by many vets as being false. Let's face it, the idol of most vets is John Wayne who did all his fighting on the back lots of Hollywood and never spent a day in the service.
19
@Steve
From the Wikipedia article on Buttigieg:
"In 2000, Buttigieg was valedictorian of his senior class at St. Joseph High School in South Bend.[18] That year, he won first prize in the Profiles in Courage essay contest put on by the John F. Kennedy Library. He not only traveled to Boston to accept the award but met Caroline Kennedy and other members of President Kennedy's family. The subject of his winning essay was the integrity and political courage demonstrated by congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont, one of only two independent politicians in Congress.[19][20]"
9
@Steve Buttigieg has plenty of the courage on political issues - just look at him standing up for his healthcare plan. Or hear him talk about how, by the grace of a single Supreme Court vote, he's been able to marry his husband. He's got plenty of courage. Just because he's not Bernie doesn't mean his perspectives aren't valid.
7
Love this guy... I don't know if he can make it to the top of the Dem ticket this go-round, but- if not- I'd love to see him as a VP or at the very least in a cabinet position. I think he represents the future of the both Democratic party and the nation. I'm in the middle of his book "Shortest Way Home." It's a good read, reflecting his views in ways that clearly inform his policy.
32
@Pat Bindrim - I am not a huge fan of him right now, but I could back him as VP. (I'd vote for him if I have to.)
Mayor Pete absolutely rocks. This business about him being too young is nonsense. His outstanding qualities have nothing to do with age, and the one area we might expect to improve with age, judgement, from all indications is exactly where we'd want it. I have incredible respect for President Obama, but he was regularly criticized as being aloof, professorial, and cold. I don't see any hint of that in Mayor Pete. Were he to be elected President, I think it would mark the beginning of an American rebirth.
40
We need to distinguish the groundless attack that Kamala Harris launched against Biden vs. Pete Buttigieg's attack on Warren. Harris' attack failed to recognize Biden's lifetime work in civil rights. However, I personally think Buttigieg's questioning on of Warren's Medicare for All is completely warranted. He did not attack Warren personally but rather challenge her to tell Americans honestly what will happen under her plan. One was personal and the other was on policy. Cannot lump them together all together.
27
It was a nasty and unnecessary comment that made me think a lot less of Mayor Pete. He is clever and articulate, which I like a lot. My real concern is how much Wall St loves him and since they have backed that up with massive financial contributions, it makes me worry that Mayor Pete is already beholden to their interests. Somebody else here wrote that he was the best Republican on the stage and somehow I have the uneasy feeling that there is more than a grain of truth to that. Any of those on the stage are better than Trump but I’m hoping we may get real change.
23
@TEB If by "massive financial contributions," you mean the FEC limit of $2800 during the primary from a single donor - then, sure, if you think that's massive. However, his average donation is under $30.
6
His condescending comments to O’Rourke don’t demonstrate vision or ability. After hearing for months about the excitement about Buttigieg it turns out he is just another politician, speaking like the worn out stereotype that doesn’t resonate with young voters or Trump’s base. And the idea that you have to be a vet to talk about the military is worn out, there are legions of vets who wouldn’t make a good POTUS.
24
@Gary There was a lot more context to those remarks towards O'Rourke beyond the one exchange on stage. I thought he was defending himself, not being condescending.
3
Pete just strikes me as smug and out of touch. He doesn't understand or seem to care about the lives of people very different from himself. His record with the black community in South Bend is troublesome. He just comes across as a very smart guy who was born privileged and doesn't quite see that. He's pretty self-focused and there's something insincere about him. On top of that, he seems content with the status quo (the pre-Trump status quo at least) and uninterested in true progress for our country.
31
I also fee there’s something insincere about him.
7
@ES My goodness, you seem to be out of touch with just about everything I have listened to and read about Pete. Did you bother to read his book or followed his speeches or interviews. He displays more empathy than most candidates and very much focuses on the average person's wellbeing.
5
I actually did read his book. I was a big fan before reading it, but the book is what first turned me off. I found it self-aggrandizing and performative.
7
Who gets their picture taken with orphans while on active duty except for those who are planning on being POTUS?
I’m disgusted by use of human beings as political props. Mayor Pete won’t ever have my vote.
21
Mayor Pete has the smarts, integrity, the service, the education, and the common sense to lead this country. He's a decent man. I'm paying closer attention to him these days. I like his demeanor and arguments on all major issues. Give him a listen.
20
Buttigieg is impressive for his intelligence, his knowledge of policies, his temperament, and his resume. He may be a good or great president in the future. However, at 37 years old, as the mayor of a mid-sized city, he does not have enough experience in life or government to be be president of the United States.
I also have serious doubts that this country is ready to elect a gay man as president, especially under the Electoral College system.
For those who reject Buttigieg because they think he joined the Navy Reserve in order to polish his resume, I am reminded of those who declined to vote for Barack Obama because they believed he was a Muslim. That was just another way of saying they wouldn't vote for an African American. This is the reason I don't believe a gay man could be elected during the current political environment.
Buttigieg is young and I hope we will evolve.
1
As a veteran I assume Mayor Pete gets his health care from the federally funded VA.
11
My “Dream Team” at the moment would be President Warren (for one term at least), and Vice-President Buttigieg, to be followed by President Pete and VP ACO.
1
I had liked him.I think he was a bit too nasty last night. Also,the meeting he had with Silicon Valley big wigs last spring, to "discuss" Bernie,was suspect.He is another neoliberal,I think we are beyond having corporations control our politicians,well at least I am.
20
@Nora
Any democratic candidate needs to sharpen their elbows. They will be up against Trump and his GOP minions
4
I love Mayor Pete, though I think we should stop calling him that. It just reminds us that he's a mere mayor.
You wait. The Republicans will gin up something to sound unsavory in his service. Kerry was a hero and got so much disrespect. I hope future-Prez Pete knows that.
8
The question is no longer, "Which candidate can beat Trump?"
A roadkill pancake could beat Trump now.
The question now is, "Who can best unite the country and repair the Trump damage?"
Answer: President Pete Buttigieg
23
Woman and veteran voter...I’m sweet for Pete!!
20
Echoing a comment on a different article:
Buttigieg/Abrams - my dream ticket!
9
The man never does one thing without an ambitious motive, and joining the military--like Harvard and being a Rhodes scholar--was part of a cynical long term plan to run for president. He's even managed to spin being gay into a selling point. As for his alleged brilliance--if he's so smart, why doesn't he realize that the reason Warren and Sanders insist on Medicare for ALL is that costs only go down when you have a single pool--instead of a bunch of pools with Big Insurance skimming off the top? Does he not understand basic economics? Or right-wing propaganda techniques? Instead of a fake demand that Warren 'explain how she's going to pay for it" why doesn't he admit that's a Republican meme designed to force Warren to say on tape "Your taxes will go up", so they can play it over and over again on Fox? He's a dishonest, soulless man. I don't say it because he's a moderate. Klobuchar has similar views, but she's clearly sincere (if badly mistaken.) Buttigieg takes money from big donors. He'll do anything to get elected. We don't need an articulate trump.
21
I don't say this lightly (I'm a grizzled war veteran of past elections...howard dean in Iowa...obama in new hampshire...hillary in north carolina) but Mayor Pete gives me optimism, confidence, and even a bit of joy looking ahead.
As he says, “Picture a presidency where when you turn on the news and see the White House, your blood pressure goes down.”
23
After supporting Beto in his ‘happy warrior’ campaign against the most loathed, reviled member of the Senate, I lost interest in him when he decided defeat meant running for President. His stance on guns only reinforces my feeling that the guy is a lightweight, unwilling or unable to do the heavy lifting needed to pass legislation, spending his time looking gift horses in the mouth. Buttigieg rightly called him out on it. His response was condescending and dismissive, and Mayor Pete rightly called him out on that too.
I want the Rhodes Scholar, former Navy intelligence officer and nobody’s fool in my corner. Pass on the feel-good slacker dude, thanks.
31
@raven55
Dear Raven55,
I agree with most of what you say, but Beto is no lightweight, he is a bantamweight with a glass jaw.
8
@raven55 I wouldn't count out Beto just yet. It's important to a lot of people to take a hard stand on an issue like gun reform. Pete just looked like a mean, self absorbed elitist with his comeback.
4
Biden is fading, caught up in a scandal that has just enough "there" there to be troubling. Warren is ascending, but is also worrisome to moderates who are fearful of major disruptions in healthcare delivery. Buttigieg has positioned himself perfectly on the issues, and it's not an accident that his fundraising is far ahead of his current standing in the polls -- lots of influential people are seeing the enormous potential in this candidate.
21
Mayor Pete strikes me as one of the brightest leaders of my generation. I’m also 37 and have lived and worked in DC for most of my professional life in education and in the military. His intelligence, patriotism, civic mindedness, and leadership qualities are a once in a generation occurrence. He has my vote, or at the very least, best wishes for rebuilding democracy should he serve in Washington in some capacity. I definitely plan to tune in to his fundraiser on October 19 in the district.
9
The Democrats are doing a great job of handing the 2020 election to the Republican Party. Moderate Republican voters will immediately reject hard left candidates like Sanders and Warren, especially when there is an endorsement from “The Squad”. With Biden fading fast, Mayor Pete may be the only hope for the Democrats.
14
We do not need lessons in courage from you.
15
Thank you for your concern.
5
This country is full of very smart people who learned that being smart in some areas doesn't necessarily translate into being smart in al ways. While Mayor Buttigieg is a very impressive person, I'll take a wait-and-see position for now. He still has more to prove.
4
I find Pete's thinking to be clear and forthright and appreciate the freshness of his voice as well as his ability to articulate his viewpoints on what is achievable and what is necessary for us to come together as Americans in the years ahead. I cannot think of a candidate that I would be more happy to vote for on election day.
64
@Lee Buttala I share your high regard for Pete's "clear and forthright" approach to issues. I find myself torn between support for Buttigieg and for Warren, as different as they are. Is a Warren-Buttigieg ticket totally crazy? Are we ready for these two? I am.
3
President Pete! It may not be this year (I’d settle for VP in 2020), but it’s going to happen. And we would all better for it.
14
He definitely had the courage to take corporate money. Takes a lot of that when you are going up against the likes of Yang, Warren and Bernie who didn't want to take that risk.
21
Nice. Great response. Mayor Pete would make a fine VP candidate to make Pence squirm on a debate stage
1
I believe Mayor Pete will surprise us in the Iowa caucuses. He has my support. So many want to crown Warren before a single vote has been cast, but many of her plans alienate lots of rank and file democrats, partly because they are fodder for GOP "free stuff" attacks. Pete just makes sense.
28
I realize that NO politician is perfect.
However, Pete Buttigieg certainly gives much hope and light to the Democratic Party. I see incredible potential in him and what he stands for and against.
I am becoming more impressed with each article I read about him.
He epitomizes what is sorely lacking in the White House - class, elegance, style, substance, intelligence, humor, level head, and extremely engaging.
104
@Marge Keller - I agree! He'd be a President our kids could look up to again!
5
Pete Buttigieg is the Mayor of a small city in Indiana. According to 2019 estimates, South Bend's population is in the neighborhood of 102,000.
Mr. Buttigieg has never won, or even run, a state-wide election campaign, let alone a national one.
What, exactly, are Mr. Buttigieg's qualifications for being elected POTUS?
What are Mr. Buttigieg's policy proposals? Does anyone know?
I would like to know much more about Mr. Buttigieg's campaign finance donors. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant.
20
@Bob The Builder
"Mr. Buttigieg has never won, or even run, a state-wide election campaign, let alone a national one." That fact makes his current success and top-notch organization even more impressive.
"What are Mr. Buttigieg's policy proposals? Does anyone know?" You are not paying attention. Go to his website, he has detailed lengthy policy proposals that rival Warren's in their detail and scope.
"I would like to know much more about Mr. Buttigieg's campaign finance donors. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant." I am a donor. I have never given to a primary campaign before. I am 60 years old. I am not a corporation and I have never worked for a corporation. I am a former public defender now in private law practice representing individuals, not corporations. I was a union member. My parents did not go to college. I have a dog. I am straight. I am married. I am an atheist. I employ and provide health insurance for myself, my family, and several employees. My dad was a veteran of two wars. I have always been a democrat. I will vote blue in November, but I will support Pete through the primary.
18
I understand you have reservation about him in terms of his experiences. But if you care to research a little bit, he has been doling out very carefully thought-out policies for last few months.
Care to read about them? Here is the website you can go!
https://peteforamerica.com/issues/
3
@Bob The Builder
Intellect and compassion and a real desire to unify the country across the red and blue.
5
As much as I like Pete, his response to Beto O'Rourke was out of line. Beto was not attempting to give anyone lessons on courage. This was a prefab response waiting to be played at the right time and was calibrated to appeal to the gun lobby, a group he does not want to alienate. Beto just happened to be the one in his sights (pun intended) when Pete was ready to use it.
39
@Tom Brenner Beto was saying that his approach was courageous and hinting that other approaches short of what he wants to do is not courageous.
4
@Tom Brenner As blunt as it sounds, Mr. Buttigieg was correct. Having risked his life to serve his country in Afghanistan, and risked his political career coming out of closet in an election year, Mr Buttigieg earns the right to be spared grandstanding of a "courage lesson." Mr. Buttigieg has said many times, "one must know what is more important than winning."
7
@Tom Brenner There was more to this than what happened on the debate stage. Earlier, Beto had criticized Pete on courage with regards to this issue. So, he did mean it for Beto, but it didn't make a lot of sense and sounded especially harsh to viewers who didn't know the other context.
2
Huh- ole Mayor Pete’s service is looking more and more like cold political calculus.
Also, can we please refrain from lionizing people solely for their military service? Military service doesn’t make someone a Good Person by default, nor does it foster the qualities (e.g., empathy, compassion, critical thinking) that would.
If military service were truly noble, then why do so many veterans (a “disproportionate number,” in fact) support Trump despite his unrestrained dishonesty, sexism, and race-baiting? Their support for him says more about most veterans than the military fetishists that populate our country would care to admit.
44
@Thom You are missing the point. His military experience is only a part of his life experience and he does have the qualities such as empathy, compassion, critical thinking that you value.
6
@Thom That is simply not true. Please get to know some of us before assuming such nonsense. Many people, irregardless of political opinions, serve for love of country. We have three generations of service members in my family, all of whom are registered democrats and war veterans, but political affiliations do not arise when serving overseas, domestically, or in combat.
4
Can you imagine how impressive and effective Buttigieg would be with foreign leaders? His intellect, his communication skills (all those languages he speaks) and - as this NYTimes article points out- his military experience.
When was the last time we had a president who entered the armed forces and put his life at stake for his country?
You can bet that he would also go that extra mile for women and men soldiers and veterans.
People need to quit fretting about his age and realize his years (39 when he would receive oath of office) will reflect terrific stamina as well as that fresh and inquisitive outlook that comes from not being adversely affected by the inevitable compromises of lengthy years in politics.
Sometimes very bright and articulate politicians (Obama and Lincoln come to mind) are tossed off as not "tough" enough. There are people who feel that Buttigieg was too "sharp" or "edgy" in last night's debate. Mayor Pete needed to call on this facet of his personality, to garner the attention of naysayers and to convey that he is more than "Mr Nice Guy".
31
Because our current president is a master of the subtle innuendo: no sharp edges there!
1
While my dream ticket is Elizabeth Warren with a running mate of Stacey Abrams...yes, two women...I’ve been a fan of Pete over the last many months. He is thoughtful, articulate and never takes the bait. Until last night.
His gratuitous lashing out at Beto O’Rourke seemed disproportionate and out of left field. Clearly, it was a line Pete wanted to use, but IMO, he looked angry and a bit out of control. It wasn’t the only unnecessary flash of very visible anger of the night. It was not a good look. And, it all seemed pre-planned, only needing a place to fit it in.
Disappointed in Pete. He will have to do some work to win me back.
13
He does however need lessons in how it to act like a Republican. He’s almost finished in the Democratic Party
7
Color me unsurprised that the moderate and over-educated readership of the New York Times is absolutely fawning over the student debate captain-turned "patriotic warrior" who joined the military long after the vast majority of the country had started viewing the wars as overdrawn and wholly unnecessary. He clearly did it to bolster his future political career, and I guess it paid off to be able to make such "quips" in the Democratic debates. I hate to break it to the suburban liberals (with apologies to those I'm overlooking on the Upper West Side) in the replies here, but he's not going to win. Outside of a handful of non-consequential zip codes, the guy has no real constituency of support, and rightly so. There's a reason why he's polling in the low single digits, despite having every billionaire in the country on speed dial.
15
Clearly you are ignoring the large number of responses that in fact recognize these matters as well.
1
I hope he gets a spot in the next administration.
5
Military service is overrated as demonstrated by the parade of military through the revolving door of the current administration, they all stink, they are all compromised and all should be under investigation for criminal behavior. Pompeo is the worst, West Point, who cares? All these guys show me, a plain tax paying citizen is that the only thing these officers can do is follow orders and bend the rules when those orders are illegal.
Time for Americans to stop worshiping the military.
17
While a lot of folks are claiming Joe Biden is too old and past his prime, I think a lot of folks may view Pete Buttigieg as being too young, too inexperienced, too "new" for the White House.
Well, I keep thinking and remembering a young new comer who was a brand new Senator from the state of Illinois. Not many people heard of him, but when he made a subtle splash, the waters quickly became a tidal wave of awe and amazement. And that young man's name was Barack Obama.
I more I read about Pete Buttigieg, the more I see a similar fate with Pete Buttigieg. He's young, fresh, engaging, he's got some real moxie, and as commenter "fast and furious" has stated, "He's the real deal."
If by some wild chance Pete Buttigieg is the Democratic candidate for president, I think he would make a marvelous president.
No one knows how ANY of the 12 Democrats will fare against Trump in the presidential debates. I think Pete Buttigieg has as good a chance as anyone. At least he has more integrity in the tip of his little finger than Trump has in his entire body.
"Pete for Prez" has a real shot at it, if not in 2020, I think definitely in 2024.
I think he is exactly what the Democratic Party needs NOW and going forward. We need more Democrats like Pete Buttigieg.
20
I'm of two minds:
1) I wish he was 5 years older was governor of Indiana, not just a small town mayor.
2) If an unstable imbecile like Trump can be elected, everyone in the country is qualified.
16
In MY book, Pete Buttigieg is about as perfect a candidate for president - about as perfect a PERSON - as I can imagine. He's calm but strong. He's caring but tenacious. He's incredibly intelligent but not preachy (note to Warren). He's young but extremely mature. He's self-made but doesn't rely on sympathy or adulation to support his achievements. For ALL these reasons, I fear he won't become our country's leader. The fact that I find him so admirable foretells, in all likelihood, his being underappreciated by the majority of the American electorate. Such has been my experience in life - those that I've admired have more often than not found disfavor in the public eye, an eye too quick to find fault where none exists and a public eye that, when given a chance to do the right thing, more often than not chooses the WRONG one. But boy would we be lucky to have a President Buttigieg - I've never admired anyone running for president more.
17
I think Pete is a huge benefit to the Democratic Party, and I absolutely believe that military experience is a huge benefit to any 'Commander-In-Chief'. I wouldn't say it's a prerequisite, but it's a definite plus. I also think that Pete is the ideal age for a progressive candidate.
I also really hope the Democrats take some of the best policy proposals from more than one candidate into the final show. I think a UBI and Medicare For All should absolutely be part of the platform for whoever takes the nomination.
11
I think anyone having served in the armed forces needs to have their integrity and ability to think independently questioned.
In an era of forever wars of imperialism, serving in the military brings no honor and debases the individual, especially those forced to serve for economic repression.
7
@Mexico Mike "In an era of forever wars of imperialism, serving in the military brings no honor and debases the individual..."
I would have said the same thing as you, except that I am so impressed with Rep Gabbard. To me she at least reopens the possibility that one can volunteer for noble reasons in the present context.
3
Excellent orator, high intellect, charismatic, excellent grasp of current affairs, but lacks experience and needs to display more humor and humility. I'm thinking VP or SoS.
5
@CritterDoc - He has just as much experience as Warren does. Warren has no executive experience in the government.
4
@CritterDoc
Pete is smart enough to surround himself with great minds. He doesn’t have to know everything himself.
3
Just another example of the media using a line that comes off punchy, aggressive and combative because it makes good clickbait. Mayor Pete said a lot of substantive, worthwhile things last night, of which that minor comeback to O'Rourke was the very least.
26
Buttigieg is exactly what we need in a president. Smart, articulate, young, moral, compassionate, open, committed, ethical, and did I say smart enough. He is definitely my front runner.
52
Wow! Buttigieg unleashes furious anger from commenters here, attacking nearly everything about him while seeing almost nothing good. Whenever I meet people who sound that way, I think they have some issues they're not telling us about.
I both like him and have some reservations about him. I think his delivery last night could have been less wordy and simpler. He could be more folksy. But he has a good future in politics, nature of which is yet to be determined.
5
Pete is the brainiac we so desperately need. His policy proposals, all of which are built upon firm foundations of justice, empathy, and fairness, are detailed and footnoted. He's made the most of all of his life experiences, including his stint in the military. He's exactly what we need, the antidote to Trump and the toxic GOP.
What I do not think is that he is a moderate. How can he be, when his proposals are so fearlessly innovative and progressive? I think that his rhetorical style is what makes people want to call him a "moderate"--he does not frame everything in terms of a "fight"--us against them--they way that Warren does, for example. His more Socratic style draws in people of all stripes and naturally leads them to reasonable conclusions, to understanding his views. He is young, ridiculously smart, and a marvelously capable leader. We'd be nuts to let him get away.
65
“Now, Pete Buttigieg, a former Navy intelligence officer who served in Afghanistan, [on a hunt-kill selection team.]”
“In the Democratic debate Tuesday night, Mr. Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., did not so much brag about his military experience as leverage it to outflank his rivals in a heated exchange over President Trump’s decision to abandon the Kurds in northern Syria. “
Don’t know what debate the reporter is referencing, but during Oct 15's debate, Buttigieg
did all sorts of bragging.
And, the Russians won’t allow the Turks to slaughter the Kurds in northern Syria.
“The strong showing in the Ohio debate was in no small part reliant on Mr. Buttigieg’s background as a service member and his ability to unpack questions about foreign policy and military intervention better than his opponents that night.”
Being a jingoist isn’t a sign of acumen regards foreign policy. That’s right the Afghan war has been ill advised and illegal for next to 2 decades.
8
Obviously, Mayor Pete is the smartest and most eloquent person in the room. Sure he could be more experienced, but his thoughtful analyses of everything from healthcare to international diplomacy make him a stellar candidate and competent potential president. Naturally, Trump and his band of miscreants will attempt to decry his sexual orientation, but it will backfire. Remember in the first debate when he took clear responsibility for police tensions in South Bend? That's a rare attribute on both sides of the aisle and it should be taken into strong consideration by voters.
36
No one doubts his valor, intelligence, and affability...But he's not ready to be president. Win a statewide election first. Or serve in a Democratic President's administration. Genuine executive experience has to count for something again.
19
@T. Conner - Senator Warren, Senator Sanders, and several others have no genuine executive experience. Being one of a hundred senators is not being an executive. Do mayors get a recess a few times a year? Congress does. When was the last time someone woke up Elizabeth or Bernie at three in the morning to tell them a white cop just shot a black man and the press is outside and wants to know what you are going to do about it?
Buttiegieg and Warren entered politics about the same time. She has not been around as long as Feinstein or Pelosi, she is a relative newcomer.
5
I have this image in my mind of Mayor Pete during a debate with Donald Trump, asking Trump if his bone spurs have been giving him any trouble lately.
17
The contrast between trump and Pete couldn’t be greater.
On the one hand is a person with a bone spur excuse for avoiding the draft, a shallow, petty, corrupt crooked man who has broken many many laws and norms.
On the other hand is a thoughtful, intelligent person who gave up a career at a top consulting company to volunteer for service.
17
Reading his exchange with O’Rourke has made me lose some respect for Buttigieg. Seems immature and petty. There are right ways to go on the attack and wrong ways. That is the wrong way. He needs more experience.
22
I'm 30 and have never donated to a political campaign until now. I believe Buttigieg will turn purple states blue.
27
Last time I looked, Mayor Pete didn't have a bunch of constituents hunted and murdered with assault weapons.
Let's not get on our high horse, Mayor.
9
Pete Buttigieg: the Professor Corey of politics.
1
He's the best Republican in the race.
12
He’s the real “America’s mayor.”
9
Mayor Pete. Please drop out. You are not what we want, and certainly not what we need.
Your campaign is technocratic, meritocratic, and uncharismatic. The money people behind you are elite. The policies you promote are lukewarm.
Get out of the way. We're trying to do some real work here.
52
@Area Man
Who's "we"?
Did I yield my vote to the Bernie Bro Collation at some point that I can't remember?
53
@Area Man I am a large fan of Warren, but Pete seems great in all the ways I wish Warren was different and they are both incredibly brainy!
I don't understand why anyone would use the word "meriotcratic" as a negative association. With the Trumps, Romneys, Clintons, Kennedys, etc of the world using familial connections to get ahead, it's about time we had a more meritocratic campaign!
Personally, I am hoping for a Warren/Pete ticket, but I would not be unhappy if Pete was the nominee (although unlikely).
52
@Area Man
Gee, thanks, I guess my donation of 10 bucks to Buttigieg's campaign makes me one of the elite. I didn't know that's how little it would take. I'm 72 and can't afford to retire, but I'm comforted to know I'm an elite.
So, if he takes your advice and gets out of the way, whom do you suggest will step up to do the "real work"?
If you're going to opine on whom your against, at least let us know whom you're for.
41
As someone who is the same age as Pete but I’ve been out for 21 years despite the risks and threats I think he could use a lot of lessons on courage. Waiting to come out until after you poll test it, is far from courageous. Boy bye.
21
@MP I didn't come out until my 30s. Everyone has his own timetable. Everyone, but other gay men especially, should respect that. If he'd "poll tested" it, he probably would never have come out.
72
@MP
Frankly I find it disappointing that you'd disparage another LGBTQ+ person for when they choose to come out.
35
@MP Does everyone have to take the same path as you took? And, unless I missed it in this column, can you cite proof that he poll tested coming out?
Sounds like you're making the perfect an enemy of the good.
24
Having only been introduced to him through the debates, I really thought he was a career military guy who decided to go into politics. Now I realize he has political career ambitions and did a military stint.
A friend of mine had a college degree and an occupation, and he joined the army after 9/11 to serve his country. He is a Green Beret. The real deal.
Sorry, Pete, but you can't stand on stage like you're a war hero when you're not. You're not.
38
@Brooklyn I wish your friend ran - I would vote for him.
1
@Brooklyn When did he ever claim to be a "war hero"?
48
@Brooklyn He doesn't claim to be a hero. He merely states, truthfully, that he served.
61
I think he's the real deal. A good guy who is extremely bright and articulate. I hope that if he doesn't win the primary he at least help shape the discussion. That alone is an important contribution.
1026
@Leslie
Amen. Thanks.
8
@Leslie
Whoever wins the primary should definitely ask Mayor Pete to be his / her running mate and announce that choice the very second Buttigieg is willing to take that post.
He is the antidote to our oh-so-pious VP, the one that proclaims 24/7 'I have not heard that', I have not taken part in 'that conversation with the president', etc., etc.
27
@Leslie : At the top of the top tier universities, there are many people, with their unique charisma, can articulate ideas, opinions while cutting sharp others by quick verbal interceptions. But not many of them choose to fully expose themselves in public for political careers. Buttigieg is, surely, fresh and impressive with this regard. He has a training for debates in competitive academic environments. The article is about his deeds, in addition to his words. But, to me, self-promotional aspects are still revealing. While I respect people supporting him very much, I hope more views on him, rather than about his age, lack of experiences or not, or talents and generational hope, will open up.
1
Pete Buttigieg is:
Smart,
A Veteran,
Young,
A mayor, twice-elected as a gay man in a red state, (for those who think the country is not ready for a gay prez),
Stable,
Committed,
Humble,
Dedicated,
Moral,
Kind,
Compassionate.
Aren't these the presidential qualities this country needs, especially after the Trump Presidency?
I was impressed with his performance in last night's debate. It was compelling, honest, direct.
I am one Democrat who would sleep easier knowing that President Buttigieg had control of the nuclear codes, instead of the current White House occupant.
1480
@Len I'm an Iraq veteran and will vote for whoever the Deomcrat is, but my instinct is that Buttigeig signed up to polish his resume. My peers feel the same. I sorely wish that wasn't the case, but I can't help but think of him as a really, really good phony.
I'll still vote for him if he gets the nomination, but hope he doesn't.
50
@Len I'm a huge fan of Pete's but it's always best to be accurate when describing his biography. He came out of the closet at the end of his first term as mayor and was reelected with 80% of the vote. The first time he ran, he wasn't yet out.
52
@Chris Your instinct may be right, that he joined up to polish his resume. On the other hand, there are others who didn't join up -- Clinton and Trump for just two examples -- and others who took the easy route -- Bush2 for example. I'll take the resume polisher.
172
Although I do not agree on all of his policies, Buttigieg comes as across honest and genuine, much more than the leading candidates. The fact that he served in the military is extremely rare in government now a days. As a military veteran, he would not be quick to send other young people into war all over the world.
23
Buttigieg is among the very few candidates with substantial governing experience in recent past. As a mayor, he has first hand experience with economic, environmental, health, racial, social challenges, etc. affecting our communities. With South Bend as a laboratory, he has studied and "experimented" with solutions to these problems with laudable success. For example, he has revitalized South Bend, yet keeping the cost of living the 2nd lowest in the US, with the distinctions such as a finalist for Smart City North America, a High Performing Race Informed City by Governing Magazine, winner of Cities of Service National Competition, etc. Buttigieg has managed to implement many progressive policies within the budget constraint in a red state led by governors believing in small government. As President, he will be able to mobilize mayors and implement pragmatic/creative solutions in communities, despite a dysfunctional congress. He strives to bring out the good sides of people as a leader.
40
Have been for him since I heard his interview on Preet Bahara. I am radically left domestically but don’t trust warren and Bernie abroad because they talk like isolationists. Trump is showing us the danger of that
10
Looking in from the outside, a highly intelligent man with integrity and moral values and a desire to provide public service looks more like a logical pick to be US President than the current incumbent. But then again, you could probably pick the next US President by running a lottery in a high security prison and get a more suitable person for the job.
6
Mayor Pete, besides all the great qualities he has, crucially understands that when you DO become president, you become president of the whole country. Not merely faithful to the people that put you there, but to everyone. Our present President believes in quite the opposite–that you can rule with, and for, a faithful minority. This strategy only deepens the toxic divisions we already have. I am as progressive as you get, but I also accept where we are as a nation. Buttigieg understands that without acceptance for where we are there is NO possibility for real change. GO Pete.
47
Read Pete's book, it explains a lot about him, he's an interesting and thoughtful young man.
19
Wow. It doesn’t take much to manipulate people. Speak articulately, sound reasonable, and then you get many fans. No record of advocating for any public policy or any accomplishments are required.
11
@BK What evidence do you have to accuse him of "manipulating people"?
5
@JGM
The glowing comments here from people who know little about him and rely on seeing him speak.
2
@BK This one "people" has read, not just heard his in-depth, thought-out platform..try it..PeteforAmerica.com
Spoiler..not one of the other .com requests have anything close.
1
Believing that very little in these "debates" is spontaneous, Mayor Pete's uppercut to Beto's smugness called to mind JFK telling Nixon that he didn't need the Trickster to tell him about patriotism, at one of their 1960 debates.
Well player, Mayor Pete. Well played, indeed.
15
I wouldn't vote for Bernie or Biden. The presidency is a hard slog for a long period of time. The idea that age brings insight and wisdom doesn't compute anymore. Age only brings reliance on what one learned in the good ol' days. Meanwhile the future lies ahead!
10
I question the decision of anyone to join the military. Is it really helping solve the problem, or it is causing them?
5
If Pete is elected in 2020, he will as President speak before the United Nations in September of 2021.
He already speaks some Norwegian, Italian, Maltese, and Dari Persian, along with four of the U.N.'s six official languages: Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.
That leaves him 23 months to learn Chinese and Russian in time for his speech. He can probably do it.
45
@DLNYC I wonder how many words he speaks in all these languages. Americans have a way of bragging about their abilities when it comes to foreign languages.
7
@heinrichz OK, I'll brag, I do speak 4 of the languages..and he is fluent.
6
“There must be millions of veterans who might disagree with everything he supports but might vote for him for that reason alone.”
There are a lot of single issue voters out there.
The environment is a big, HUGE issue for me.
After reading this article and seeing him in last night's debate, I am seriously rethinking and reconsidering what Pete Buttigieg could and does bring to the table.
He is looking more and more like a very viable option for president.
Thanks for writing and running this story Jennifer Steinhauer and the NYT!!!!
43
@Marge Keller Have you read his climate proposals? He is the *only* one who focuses not just on reducing carbon but on actual resiliency initiatives that are incredibly necessary to start *now* because we're already suffering the effects of climate change and can't just sit around hoping that cutting carbon emissions will do the trick. All of his policy is cited with loads of footnotes, and he consults experts in the field before releasing anything... and he gets you from "this is the problem" to "this is a goal" with actual steps instead of ???? in between. He's my guy 100%.
16
@Ally
WOW! Thanks for the comment.
I think he is quickly becoming "my guy" too!
4
@Marge Keller
You might want to watch the hour-long climate Q & A he did about a month ago. It's on-line if you look for it.
3
I guess some people see working at McKinsey & Co. as a mortal sin. Sad. He did not even work there that long. Those who hold this against him must have an extremely high standard of moral and ethical purity. I wonder how many can live up those lofty standards.
I lean more on the Progressive side and find this ridiculous, and worse, rigid.
10
@cl They are those folding of purity tests in the democratic party. To these people, they need to put their lives under the microscope and let us see how pure their lives are.
1
Nice clean cut young white guy. Thanks but no thanks. I'm sure at some point in his political aspirations he will move up the proverbial ladder. But a few things most comments here seem to overlook:
a.) Will the country as a whole vote for a gay man in 2020? From Obama ( white guilt probably) to Trump (crazy racist twitter president) to a gay guy, Seriously Doubt it. As Trump has proven, racism and old boy attitudes are still very much alive and well in these good ole USA regardless what the left leaning liberal coasts would have you believe. Electoral college anyone?
b.) Can he build a winning coalition? So far most of his support are from the white millennials. Haven't seen or heard anything from him that would attract a diverse coalition which he will need to win, getting out the vote. Counting on the midwest, which he constantly promotes won't win him the WH?
c.) The smack at Beto last night, "I don't need lessons from you on courage, political or personal," -- was extremely unnecessary and a real turn off. Really, what purpose did it serve other than today's sound bite to get more press?
As a black veteran, gave him a look at the beginning but the more I hear less I am impressed. As an independent I will vote for whomever the Democratic nominee is, but I really don't think Buttigieg has what it takes to "inspire" that grass roots get out the vote effort. Not yet anyway.
5
@Andreas To be fair, Beto has been going on Twitter and every television show that would have him and calling Pete a "poll tested coward" because he believes that mandatory buy backs (which Biden, Sanders, and Warren all oppose, as well) are going to sink any gun control legislation in a quagmire of 2nd Amendment court battles, which can drag on for years while injunctions against any gun control laws to which mandatory buy backs are attached will mean they aren't implemented. Where was his attack on Biden, Sanders, and Warren as "poll tested cowards"?
4
Pete Buttigieg is wrong about Medicare for All and should not have attacked Warren. But you aren't gonna get the facts on a CNN Debate.
6
@TWShe Said Why not? It was a debate, right? It is only your opinion that he is wrong about Medicare for All. I happen to agree with Pete Buttigieg on this.
4
A good debate night for you Pete! Now do what Joe Biden did just recently on camera..... Stare Trump directly in the eye and demand Dump Trump to release and show his personal and business tax returns. Follow the money and it will reveal a mentally sick and demented character who has not only lost touch with reality, but has multiple failed business dealings, and is unfit for office. A further point, Mayor Pete, is that both you and John McCain served our country. Trump has a well documented history as a draft-dodger.
3
As a Canadian I really like Pete. Seems reasonable, unflappable, cogent, coherent and not so much to the left that he'll spook the living soul out of everybody but a narrow spectrum of hard core left radicals. Plus I really don't see what degrading nickname Mr. T can come up with for him. We already know the ones for Biden and Warren. I can see Pete moping the floor with Mr. T
7
I liked him until he turned into a bully .
I support Warren
4
@Prw Please don’t be so sensitive. It’s all traditional politics.
@Prw
Also, if you’re worried about Warren or other candidates being bullied, how will they stand up against Trump and the GOP? You haven’t seen anything yet. The Democratic Party needs to sharpen it’s elbows
1
I had a lot of regard for Buttigieg before his performance last night. I get that he needs to stand out from the pack of middle of the roaders, but his antagonistic broadsides at Warren and O'Rourke were over the top and showed a lack of character that surprised me. He took cheap potshots and then went into self-serving soliloquies about how the next president must unite the American people. Ick.
9
Pete is my guy. I am 68 years old and I feel that my generation has had their chance to run the country. It is time for another generation to step up. As much as I admire some of the current candidates, Elisabeth Warren in particular, their time has passed. It is time for a new generation with a new outlook to take the reins.
709
I could not have said it better myself.
31
@Jacqueline Gauvin
Well stated. I could not agree with you more.
20
@Paul Leddy
Ditto
17
I'm a fan. But not for the 2020 election.
I have no doubt that he will be our president someday.
215
@Cousy
Thinking the same thing. Possibly 2024.
10
@Cousy I'm assuming you have a reason. It would be nice if you stated it.
19
@Cousy If hesitance to support Buttigieg now is based on his age, I'll just say that he is demonstrating great maturity and judgment -- qualities than many never achieve at any age.
40
He goes into his choice to join the military in depth in his book, "Shortest Way Home." Though he could've made much more money working at McKinsey, the work there felt empty to him. So, looking for a way to give back to society, he enlisted. I think it's a story a lot of veterans can relate to, and that everyone can find admirable. And serving has informed his message of unity, which is what I find ultimately compelling about Pete's campaign. Instead of bludgeoning people, he's reaching out. By building on AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, he's looking to build ways to get people to relate to each other as people again, something we sorely need. He really is the right person at the right time.
892
@Ryan H I agree, but as a gay person I don't think America is ready for a gay president. A large percentage of Americans is still against gay marriage.
4
@Ryan H
Somehow in 1972 vets couldn't relate to George McGovern who had served as a bomber pilot, a very dangerous position, during WWII or John Kerry.
Somehow they could relate more to Richard Nixon who never was in combat and the draft dodgers W. and Cheney.
29
@Steve -- The truth of your remarks is an incredibly sad comment on both the bigotry and the ignorance of our citizenry. We seem to bypass men and women whose intellect, common sense, courage are criteria for the job; we elect crass, corrupt MEN whose agendas are toxic and dangerous. Currently, the GOP toxic agenda and dangerous pols are destroying governance - and the planet.
26
Although a large majority of acting servicepeople's votes went to Trump, a year ago, Military Times did the only survey since the election. It showed a razor-thin, statistically marginal, but still important, change to a negative attitude toward the president. By targeting a message to servicemembers that emphasizes his own service in Iraq and stances on the military, Buttigieg will be able to siphon off a significant number of their votes in 2020.
42
I consider myself to be very left of center, and I love Elizabeth Warren and most of her plans. I'm 66 years old and I can attest that Medicare is far superior to private insurance.
But "Medicare for All" instead of public option just seems like bad policy and ridiculously bad politics. Yes, Senator Warren, I agree that nobody who has private insurance really likes or trusts their private insurance, but I understand that Democrat or Republican, union member or freelancer, they're afraid of the unknown and resentful about having a choice taken away from them. Besides, you don't need to prohibit private insurance to get everyone insured, with subsidies as needed.
If we have Medicare as a public option, I am confident it will either attract most of the private insurer's customers and deplete their share of the business, or/and it will force private insurers to provide better service with lower profit margins. The devil is always in the details, but it looks like a win-win to me.
Good for Pete for speaking up to help us avoid giving Trump an attack line in the election, that I, as a progressive, cannot intelligently defend against.
If Warren is the nominee, I hope she drops it. If Pete gets the nod, then even better.
281
@DLNYC The problem with a public option as opposed to a universal system is that it will, by design, confer less benefit. The majority of the benefits we would see from a universal/government sponsored system stem from the sheer size of the pool of the insured- this is the economic basis of any health insurance plan. By making the public plan only optional, you are left with multiple fragmented pools as opposed to one very large pool (and potentially some marginal, more specialized pools). Now the public plan has less leverage to lower drug costs/reimbursements and fewer people to support the costs of the very ill, and the very ill will almost certainly go straight for the public plan. On the private side, they will lose customers and their pools will shrink. This will make it MORE difficult for them to lower premiums, since their margins have shrunk due to less enrollment.
Would a public option be better than the current system? It's entirely possible. But it's definitely not the best option once you consider the economic reality of health care.
5
@DLNYC
Public option is actually a gift to insurance companies, as it will attract the sickest patients.
Actually, Medicare for All is a great public policy and one whose time has come.
Buttigieg is a corporate-driven candidate. Not what we need at this time, or any time.
14
@MC "Public option is actually a gift to insurance companies, as it will attract the sickest patients."
I disagree. a public option may attract poorer patients, since by definition it will attract people who don't have good jobs with health care, but there's no reason it would attract sicker ones. Also, the Affordable Care Act carried a penalty for people who refused to get insurance, and a Medicare for All Who Want It law could carry a penalty for insurance companies who cherry pick customers.
4
Frank Bruni's 10/8/19 column about Mayor Pete stopped me in my tracks. If you haven't read it, go back and do so. Bruni quotes him nailing the current problem we face:
There’s this desire to carve the world up into good and bad people and carve the electorate up into good and bad people. Trump has a way of doing it. My party has a way of doing it. And it misses the need for a certain humility about the good and evil we’re each capable of.
The real question of leadership is not: Do we round up all of the good people, hope it’s more than 51 percent, come together and crush the bad people? It’s: Are we going to bring out what is better in us versus what is worse in us?
251
@L. Rose
Absolutely agree. That article was very, very good, made some very solid points.
I'm Canadian, and I'm excited about this guy. The only interesting candidate so far. I liked Warren, I remember her interviews with Jon Stewart, but she missed her chance in 2016 . She could have been an alternative to both Clinton and Bernie. And Trump would have been a historical footnote. But that was then, and Mr. Butiegieg is now. Trump will not be able to find a sticky nickname, and just imagine the debate between those two. Pete would wipe the floor clean.
Bone spurs..... Yeah, he'll weave that into an artful phrase....lol
1
@L. Rose And that is why evil always wins - because good is whimpy, and refuses to crush those that cause harm.
Pete is the smartest guy in the group. A natural talent along the lines of Obama. He slayed the Texan, and I wasn't expecting the take-no-prisoner Pete last night. Nice work. This guy is no wimp. No slouch. He's pragmatic. Would love to see him take on Trump. I'm sending a donation right now.
418
@MistyBreeze
Mayor Pete is not the solution, unless you think the solution is half-stepping and basically maintaining the system under which we live: let them drive Ubers! health care, who cares?!
He reminds me of the lazy Ivy League thinkers I know who say "things happen for a reason" in their condos while homeless populations camp at their doorstep.
11
@MistyBreeze
Well said. I sent my donation last night, during the debate!
Also sent a donation to Klobuchar's campaign.
Maybe a long shot, but let us ponder: Klobuchar/Buttigieg 2020
17
@Area Man Wait, are you talking about Mayor Pete? I doubt he slept in a condo in the military. And he was not drafted, he signed up.
Oh maybe you meant Donald
Trump.
28
He's the first political candidate I've felt compelled to donate $$ to.
136
@Midwest Josh Me, too. I am almost 55 and have never felt compelled to donate to any political candidate before. I've been following Mayor Pete since his first CNN Town Hall in March and have liked what I heard.
After his performance last night, I woke up this morning and made my first ever donation to a candidate. I know the odds are against him, but no matter what, his is a voice I want to keep on hearing.
15
@Midwest Josh
I committed myself to sending him $25 a month for as long as he needs it.
Put your money where your mouth is and help him out if you want him as your President.
Just after the debate over one million dollars was contributed by people like us who want him in the WH.
Pete 2020.
1
I agree with those of you who see this guy as Clinton 2.0, only without the support of non-whites. And above all, he lacks experience, and needs the humility to run for Senator or Governor. And really, reservist military experience may be resume stuffing by the overly ambitious. No thanks. We do not need another mid-westerner who is not yet ready for prime time. When he trots out his line--"my whole life...." I get a big smile on my 75 yr old face.
14
@Michel B so only septuagenarians have valid perspective?
5
@Michel B you may smile when he says that, but the largest generation in our country is Pete's, the millennials. They don't hear it as silly, as you seem to. They know he's talking right to them.
6
@JiminCT Yes, he is talking directly to them, and some of them like my children see a smarty pants gone awry. I want a new generation of leadership too, but someone more seasoned than this admittedly able fellow.
1
It's interesting that the Midwestern pragmatism promoted by Mayor Pete and Amy Klobuchar is termed "moderate" in much of the press. In fact, both Mayor Pete and Klobuchar have a number of very progressive plans. But they are realistic plans that do not rely on empty, impossible promises that will never materialize for people who desperately need change. When Sanders and Warren begin offering free college and make promises regarding a new healthcare system that will result in no added costs for any middle class families, they are lying, and they know it. Such false platforms should not be getting credited as "more progressive" or "more daring". They are more unrealistic and more deceitful. The Democratic party would do well to promote the messages of the Midwestern candidates, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and (absent from last night due to lagging poll numbers) Ohio's own Tim Ryan. All three have warned that, in order to win the critical Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania (let's consider Western Pennsylvania to be the Midwest), the party will need to offer more pragmatic, realistic, down-to-earth proposals for policy development. That's not "moderate" That's not "cautious". That's not "Right-leaning". It's honest, practical, and achievable. That's how we do things here in the Midwest. That's why our quality of life is so much higher in Minnesota than San Francisco. That's why Mayor Pete is being recognized as such a bright new voice.
177
@Tintin Incrementalism was what the DNC offered up in 2016 and that did nothing to increase enthusiasm among voters, even though Hillary won 3 million more votes than Trump, it wasn't enough. And incrementalism, is what Biden, Klobuchar and Buttigieg (as Biden 2.0) are currently offering. America needs something new and bold to overcome the many messes created by Trump.
11
@kladinvt After Trump, "new" and "bold" will consist of honesty, integrity, and civility. Far flung promises to rapidly over-haul massive, multi-determined, entrenched systems like healthcare and higher education (simultaneously, no less) is actually more of the pie-in-the-sky con game many fell for in 2016. We can improve healthcare access tremendously in the near term with a public option. We can decrease the burden of student loan debt with practical solutions like requiring state universities to work more collaboratively with community colleges if they want large federal grants to support such initiatives, and then dropping the interest rates on Federal student loans to 2%, and subsidizing those loans so no interest accrues until after students finish school. Of course, it's much easier to just promise "free college" without any reasonable plan for providing it, but easy promises that are not kept will result in a terrible sense of betrayal and disappointment after the first 4 years of the new presidency, and then we will have to contend with that disillusionment in 2024 when some other authoritarian menace is vying for the office from the GOP side. Pragmatism is not "incrementalism". Reality actually is a thing, and we should aim for it. In the long run, it will serve us much more than grand promises that are not kept.
13
@kladinvt You actually pointed out why we should support a moderate democrat like Buttigieg. Hillary won by 3 million votes but she lost in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the middle west. Warren/Sanders will continue the same pattern as Hillary by appealing to the costal liberal democrats and may give Trump the second term.
7
Mayor Pete missed no mark with respect to last night's debate. He is incredibly intelligent, thoughtful and forthright. His military service, while short, had an indelible impact on his world view. I am an avowed Independent and would be very satisfied to vote for Pete Buttigieg.
201
I think he'd be a great VP choice. He could complement either Biden or Warren, beautifully. I don't think Bernie will make it, and there doesn't seem to be anyone else at this moment in time to discuss.
17
@Scott He would compliment Klobuchar beautifully, and they would win in a landslide. Look at Klobuchar's record of achievement and working across the isle. Biden is a great person and served our country honorably and well, and he is way past his prime, and Warren is a great policy wonk, but far from great at effecting those or any policies. Klobuchar / Butigeg will take the best ideas and actually effect them, Warren will be unable to do that.
11
@Scott I could see him as Warren's VP, but not Biden, because they are both similar.
This guy's popularity among the donor class (i.e. rich people) says all you need to know about him.
He's a skilled orator and a pretty face, with perhaps the greatest ability I've seen in recent memory to sound good and say nothing. His politics are a relic of the and 90s and 2000s and should be treated as such: outdated and dangerous.
12
okay, I'm going to go against what the majority of people here seem to think of Pete B. and this puff piece. I thought the line, "I don't need lessons from you on courage", was extremely poor form. I mean, what makes his experiences in life so much more worthy than others, particularly those that Beto was advocating for. He constantly cites his vet status, but it was 6 mths in intelligence, he was not in a combat role. That's not to say he didn't gain from the experience, but it's not quite the same as those who are in combat or in the military for years. Yes, he's bright and well spoken, always careful to be inclusive, but to me this just comes off as packaged. Also, his lack of experience in public service and legislature are negatives for me, A couple of years at a consulting firm and some experience as a small town mayor just doesn't cut it. It's great to have vision, but he has no track record in the execution of that vision. Next time maybe after he gains more experience.
33
I’m with you on this. It was extremely poor form for Pete. He didn’t look tough to me at all so much as an unruly child misbehaving in order to get attention he can’t command otherwise.
4
@catee I don't recall him saying that his life experiences are more worthy than others.
I do believe he was saying that they were no less worthy than others.
6
First off, joining up shows a lack of historical understanding and good judgment -- WHY would any intelligent person risk their life over the eternal chaos of Afghanistan?
(Patriotism -- oh please, Afghanistan had nothing to do with our safety and survival -- even less than Vietnam and Iraq.)
He obviously did it to build a political resume. Like Gabi.
Was he ever even under fire or in harm's way? Because I'm sure if he were, he would have mentioned it.
And now this articulate kid considers himself an expert on the military, war, courage, yada, yada...
He's a good talker, I'll give you that but he doesn't even understand which direction we have to go on military weapons, and he's constantly sniping at Bernie, Beto, Warren... whomever is above him on the preference ladder.
I belong to a gun club, have 5 guns and won numerous skeet championships. And I detest the NRA. IMHO, if you make semi automatics illegal, where anybody carrying them in their car or public is arrested, there would be a precipitous drop in ownership.
With buyback and followups you could eliminate 99% of them in five years.
Let's get on with the obvious.
Reality Check: Mayor Pete couldn't get elected to a minor office in his home state, he has no realistic shot on the democratic ticket, whatever the aspirations of his core supporters.
He needs to grow up and learn he doesn't have all the answers. Make him an assistant to the next Democratic president. Toil in the vineyards for 8 years.
8
@frankly 32 you do know that Mayor Pete, as you referred to him, currently holds a more than minor office in his home state?
3
@mikekev56
Mike: His city of 100,000 is not even listed in the top 200 American cities by population. That's minor. Electability? He ran for treasurer of Indiana and got 37% of the vote. Vulnerability? A trumpster political operative I know says he hopes Pete is on the ticket, in which case they will mail out 200 million copies of him soul kissing his husband at their wedding. I'm thinking the only president I could bear to see French Kissing is JFK. Now I get that Mayor Pete is a bright, articulate kid and that the gay community, now that they can get married, would like to move on to the presidency, so they are mailing off those checks for their home team, but come on, anybody who thinks Pete could help a Democratic Ticket take the White House is out of their mind. Make him press secretary to Warren, Bernie or Biden and let him learn on the job. Maybe in 8 years America can handle the idea of a gay president.
2
Many working class Americans are donating $20 or $30 to candidates like Sanders or Warren. To these folks, that $20 or $30 could have been used to buy groceries or fill the gas tank. But they believe Sanders/Warren can deliver meaningful change to this country...and are parting with their hard-earned money to support real change.
On the other end of the spectrum, Mr. Buttigieg considers these "small" donations to just be "pocket change".
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/14/democrats-head-debate-stage-buttigieg-attacks-warren-and-sanders-who-have-outearned
If these donations are just "pocket change" to Mayor Pete, then what does Buttigieg really think about those individuals who are donating the "pocket change"?
Unless you believe in expanding income inequality and protecting the wealthy...do not support the candidacy of Mr. Buttigieg.
14
Buttigieg is the sharpest person in the primary. Rhodes Scholar, and he seems smart even for a Rhodes Scholar. He speaks in not just complete sentences, but complete paragraphs. He's in my opinion the best moderate in the race.
102
He will say whatever he thinks conservative suburban moms want to hear. They don’t care for his status as a gay man, nor his presumed push to advance civil liberties for the LGBT community, but say the words, “I’m a Christian Veteran,” and you’re half-way there. Also, he is merely an intellectual foil for people who have broadly stated their policy plans without actually having an idea of what he wants to do, if he himself is elected president.
I will now pretend I’m Pete Buttigieg at a debate, town hall, or returning as a guest on Chuck Todd’s podcast:
1. “Hmm, that might not work!”
2. “Let’s take a breath here, and reframe this question.”
3. “I find that to be a bit myopic”
4. “[insert slightly jingoist appeal clouded by amateur erudition here]”
5. “I find the phrase neoliberalism unpalatable, and yet I find that every single one of my potential political stances would indicate that I am indeed a neoliberal. Thusly I will speak in hollow aphorisms to render this designation more opaque.”
16
The best candidate.
70
I question the courage of all these so-called centrists that fear the change this country needs. Promoting half measures and ever cautious lest they offend extremists who will never vote for them anyway is not leadership. It is cowardice.
6
Sorry, I wasn’t won over last evening by Buttigieg, nor Klobuchar. They both came across as desparate and resentful that they aren’t getting as much attention as they think they deserve. Buttigieg is indeed very smart and articulate but, heck, so are Warren, Harris, Booker—need I go on? He also showed us he has a mean, petty streak that is not becoming in an office holder. The word that comes to mind is “entitled”—an attitude that might well turn off the moderate voters he most sees himself as appealing to.
16
What lessons you could use though, Mayor Pete, are ones in humility.
6
I like Pete as an analyst and policy creator, but we don't yet know his executive skills. The VP route may be the best route... or Senator. Too bad I don't see a person of his capability with more experience on the Dem campaign trail... at this time. Maybe Pete can show us some executive skills. Where are you Mrs/Mr Moderat Charismatic of our dreams?
8
@Fairokian Certainly has more legislative experience than the current president....
14
a quick read through these comments and you can clearly see why the democratic party will eat itself alive...
25
@JBT , starting with the candidates. They need to be civil.
2
Impressive guy. And as usual, the NYT writing is excellent. "Careful mental spade work." Love it.
20
The debates have little else to prove for me at this point. It will be interesting to see how Mayor Pete does in his ground games in both Iowa and Nevada. Strong showings will be a game-changer far more significant than what can come from these televised spectacles. He's a smart, thoughtful, capable guy and may very well be rewarded for that in the long-run.
42
Pete missed the mark last night in attacking Beto, who wasn’t questioning Pete’s courage in the way Pete implied. That was a misplaced, irrational response and made me completely question his ability to lead, especially as Commander in Chief.
71
@Lilly
The Mayor was mean to the Congressman from El Paso for no apparent reason.
17
@Lilly It felt very forced. Which is nothing new for Mayor Pete, he is a packaged candidate.
24
I completely agree. I liked him before last night. I won’t consider him a real option moving forward based on his performance last night.
19
I'm not surprised that Buttigieg hasn't attracted a big following. While some people seem to be very impressed with him, I'm keen to guess as to why that is. He does seem to attract some very rich donors. Without the money, he'd have already become irrelevant. He has had a short stint in the military, and a short stint as a mayor of a small town. I haven't heard even 1 bold plan from him. And while I'm not prejudiced against gays, to think his homosexuality is not a liability in the campaign is to be terribly naive.
21
@karisimo0 Pete has been a hands on mayor for 8 years, and was in the naval reserve for 8 years, not short stints, imho. He has many bold plans (check out his website peteforamerica.com ), with his Douglass plan for Black Americans in particular being a standout.
9
Nobody else here seems disturbed by the gratuitous mean smugness of Buttigieg's comment to Beto not to lecture him on courage. Was Beto doing that? I didn't see it. This is our unifier?
76
@Ellen Finkelpearl
"Smug" is the perfect word. For someone who can't run a college town well, it's an odd attitude to possess.
34
I thought it was appalling and a really bad move on Pete’s part. I see no upside in how badly he behaved towards his colleagues.
30
@Ellen Finkelpearl Pete was responding to days of Beto sniping at him. It was time to stand up to that. If Beto can’t handle “meanness” maybe he shouldn’t have started it in the first place.
29
We don't deserve a President as smart, committed and thoughtful as Pete because we've allowed one as juvenile, criminal and destructive as Trump to remain in office. And yet I dream of it.
125
@LarryCage
What a beautiful comment.
Why not make our dream come true?
It is not too late to get Pete into the WH.
Warren is such a phoney, pie in the sky, I have a plan for that con artist. She could never beat Trump.
I'll take Pete anyday.
3
Dying to see him debate Trump. He’d wipe the floor with that criminal...assuming he’s not in jail be the time the election happens.
209
@J
Don't forget that Pete is much shorter than Trump, which would put him at a disadvantage.
agree wholeheartedly
@W No disadvantage. It would be a classic 'David and Goliath.'
4
we need someone with character in the WH! Someone like the Mayor!
90
Correction needed: ...casually but artfully dropping it into “conservations” on a wide range of policies...
1
The last p[residential candidate to articulate a clear vision of where America should go to ensure 'the good life' in a peaceful world was JFK. Mr. Buttigieg has taken up this approach and has the intellectual capacity and experience to enact this vision.
The question remains: Are the majority of voters in the 'red' states willing to embrace such a future versus the retreat to the 1950s now being enacted by Trump-Pence-GOP?
35
I loved Pete Buttigieg in the Debate last night, in which there was too much attention ceded to Elizabeth Warren giving us all her "my way or the highway" routine, complete with excerpts from every campaign speech. Mr. Buttigieg is a breath of fresh air, as was Amy Klobuschar for taking an impassioned stand for the possibilities of middle ground, and daring Elizabeth Warren to criticize both their courage and their commitment to change. It was wonderful.
204
@mlmarkle Thank you for that. I totally agree that both Mr. Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar were excellent last night and I do hope that one of them is on the ticket. The middle ground is where the Democrats will win in 2020. Gloria from So. Cal.
61
So, it looks like the Establishment is trying to promote a "centrist" as Biden fades. Pete checks all the boxes of a careerist who has satisfied the 1% money donors that he will defend the failed status quo. Follow the money. Pete's preposterous "Medicare for All Who Want It" is a desperate Neoliberal ploy to preserve the rapacious private health insurance industry. He uses RNC talking points. He slings health insurance "choice", when in reality people only care about choice of doctor, which M4A will preserve. He's another articulate speaker who pushes pretty platitudes. What does he believe in except for some sort of vague technocratic "efficiency"? He stands for nothing. No thanks!
48
@Stephen Love
I couldn't disagree wth you more.
You are coming across as a one issue voter. Sort of like the one issue abortion voters. Yours is an extremist progressive position. You want a revolution no matter how unwise it might be.
If there are lots of voters like yourself Trump will get re-elected.
40
@Stephen Love Apart from not actually telling us where the M4A money is going to come from, Ms. Warren is yet to lay out how she's going to tell 150 million Americans that she's going to take away their healthcare and still keep their vote. If Pete ends up being the nominee, are you going to vote for Jill Stein?
21
@Stephen Love Not sure I agree that M4A will allow you to keep your choice of doctor as I'm not sure your doctor will stick around. If they receive the reduced rates that Medicare pays for every one of their patients, plus all of the paperwork they're already required to do, I imagine many will leave practice to finally write that novel they've been dreaming about. Most humans choose careers for their own self-interests - not because they want to save the world.
3
this article is a nice sales pitch for Pete. no doubt he has a lot of support from the establishment and right-leaning elite like and corporate types like the media. he's the perfect sell for a public totally confused what to do, who to vote for: he can leverage his sexuality to be a "liberal" or "progressive" when it suits him. yet, when you listen to him, you hear his true values: corporate interests, and no change from the status quo. he's really a republican who talks like a progressive. i think he's a clever Clinton 2.0 who hides who he really is, what he really believes. he's definitely not the change that's needed. but, against Trump he can easily pass as "change" or "improvement."
27
@Freak You have it completely backwards. Pete is not a republican who talks like a progressive. He's a progressive who talks like a Republican. Please visit his site and read his policy proposals. He is very progressive. One of the most progressive candidates out there. Far more so that Biden for instance. But he is able to get more conservative voters to support those ideas because he frames then through a lens of faith, community and patriotism. It's an incredible gift and one that will move those progressive ideas into the mainstream.
52
@Freak What is it with all this talk about "the establishment"? NYT has been critical and at times even dismissive of Buttigieg's candidacy, but a flattering article and suddenly it's part of a grand conspiracy by "the establishment."
9
@Steven Rosen
I Agree
2
I've been for Biden and Harris but I'm now open to changing my mind. Even though I still think the criteria is "Can you beat Trump?" and Trump himself sees Biden as his most dangerous opponent. Buttigieg is certainly the best at articulating a common sense policy that recognizes differences. The Democratic Party now longer represents working class Americans but rather a colorful mix of interest groups: Afro-American's, Hispanics, liberal women, LGBT folks etc. Buttigieg could win with traditional Democratic voters who Trump took and with military veterans, and LGBT folks... but what about Afro-American's and Hispanics?
5
Talking about courage while holding a gun - way to go the mayor of south bend, Indiana. I am protesting such militaristic rhetoric with my words and facts that the US and its allies kill civilians in Afghanistan and mayor Pete is bragging about his role at that war. I can't believe that we are living in the 21st century.
UN says more civilians killed by allies than insurgents - so courageous - I am being sarcastic. ( Afghanistan war: UN says more civilians killed by allies than insurgents, BBC, 30 July 2019)
4
If he were straight would he be getting any of this attention? As a gay man myself I think he is a fine person but not nearly ready for the presidency. He’s charming, even charismatic small-town mayor. I need more chops than that.
35
@John Mc Naly
Pretty sure you are the first to mention anything about his sexual preferences. Everyone else seems focused on his actual qualifications and experience.
23
@John Mc Naly If he was straight, a prodigy like him would now be the frontrunner. Let us not kid ourselves.
5
John Kerry, a man of honor, got swift-boated by the same fraud politician that disparaged Jon McCain’s military record. And now we have a president with no respect for anyone of than strong man dictators and anything other than money.
7
Where did Pete Buttigieg do his basic training in the Navy before being named an Officer ? I have searched and searched but cannot find out anywhere. Likewise no record of him getting any special training to be a driver for combat troops in Afghanistan ? And why did he resign from the Reserves as soon as he returned to Indiana from a few months there. All legitimate questions for someone presenting himself as a military man with distinct qualities as a Presidential candidate.
Or is Mayor Pete vastly over stating his real military record to score votes and support in the Presidential race ?? If Hunter Biden's background is open to scrutiny why not Pete Buttigieg ??
15
@AH2
I don't where you searched but there are many articles about his military service:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/intel-analyst-military-uber-inside-mayor-petes-afghanistan/story?id=64847210
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/17/politics/buttigieg-military-service-2020/index.html
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/442082-documents-provide-glimpse-into-buttigiegs-military-service
https://fr.scribd.com/document/408662295/Buttigieg-s-Military-Records
He did not "resign as soon as he returned". He came back in the fall of 2014 and resigned in 2017.
Jeez chill a little bit with the comspiracy...
27
Pete is the real deal.
A brilliant man who has no illusions and doesn't suffer fools.
Could this finally be our ticket out of Trump Bizarro World?
271
@fast/furious
Complete agreement 1000%
I thought the same thing - this guy is the real deal.
22
As far as I can see, he is the best candidate by far.
Intelligence, integrity, moral courage. Tragically absent in our current president, Mayor Pete possesses in abundance it seems.
Is this not obvious to all?
339
I like Buttigieg but I take major issue with his use of GOP dog whistles in the ads playing during the debate on Medicare for All. Fine if you don’t support it, but to invoke right wing-inspired fear of diminished freedom is as inaccurate as it is trashy. My respect for him was really diminished by that move.
And a thought on the Medicare for All debate: the needle only gets moved during negotiating when one comes out of the gate with a strong position. Because eventually the issue is going to get resolved somewhere in the middle, to have your starting position be some milquetoast re-jiggering of what we already have, you’re setting us up for no change. At all.
Also, the president isn’t (well, historically) a dictator. The legislation will be debated and tweaked and finalized in congress, not by the president. So, the fear around MFA is alarmist and the capitulating by the center candidates to the moderate voters is unfounded.
Want to really impress us with your courage, Pete? Then be bolder with your policies. Doing what’s already been done is hardly courageous.
10
@Brooklyn Dog Geek Pete’s position on MFA is the only good one, in my opinion. How someone can impress us with their courage by not fighting strongly against something they believe will seriously compromise our ability to defeat Trump and that will be 100% unpassable in Congress is beyond me.
8
Ask Hillary Clinton how being a rerun centrist worked out for her in 2016 had get back to me.
1
Yeah, we really need democrats “fighting strongly” against health care for all. Wake up.
2
After the last two years I have come to realize that IMO the top qualifications for POTUS are that the person is reasonable (mentally stable, calm under pressure, not prone to flipping out over anything or everything) and a high level of intelligence. And humility. Make it three. He has all three.
191
@SC68 humility??? The article shows a picture of him with orphans in Afghanistan. Who in the world would take a picture like that while on active duty other than someone planning on running for POTUS?
Pete’s a politician who isn’t above using vulnerable people for his own political ends. That’s sorta the opposite of humility.
1
@Thom What is your deal? Maybe you are a tad bit too cynical.
4
It's disingenuous that to say he took an "unpaid" leave to deploy to Afganistan. All reservists take unpaid leaves to deploy. We are paid by the US government whlle deployed. Some employers supplement the military pay if the employee makes less on active duty. Some reservist make more while on active duty.
15
@Tom As a mayor his salary is around $100,00
What is the pay for a reservist?
4
@Inès I would guess in the 50-70k range as a naval officer plus 2k range for housing that is tax free.
1
Political courage is running for Senate or Governor in Buttigieg’s home red state, not running a vanity campaign for Secretary of the V.A. It’s defining actual innovative policy positions, not vague slogans about “winning this generation” that are tailor made for social media.
6
@Peter Dugan have you ever been to Indiana? The mokes here elected Mike pence as governor. Statewide office is a hard hill for Pete to climb.
4
@Maureen I'm from Texas. It doesn't get redder than that. He took courageous positions on drugs, immigration, even impeachment here, and he single-handedly made this a competitive state. Beto ran a brave campaign here and came within 2.4% of winning. Not because it was an easy hill to climb but because it was the right thing to do.
That's what political courage looks like.
1
@Peter Dugan Head to https://peteforamerica.com/issues/ and find hundreds of innovative policy positions.
i found pete to be the only inspirational candidate on the stage..iy
90
There's nothing "fresh" at all about this candidate. He's the "oldest" candidacy in some respects. He is a candidate of empire. He doesn't 'lead' with being a soldier of empire, but he does pander with it. His employment with McKinsey tells me all I need to know. It is a 'tell' that he is a Clintonite, lean to the left in the primary but basically an imperial neocon who is in love with the 900 overseas bases. Sanders, twice as old, is mentally younger in his rejection of empire.
36
@stevelaudig
Pete analyzed grocery store pricing at Mckinsey.
Pete is pragmatic enough to realize that Medicare for all is not a winning policy in
2020 with the current polarization, current competition and a senate currently favored to be held by the republicans at 7 to 3. Not the “purity test” cycle.
12
@stevelaudig - "empire," "Clintonite," "neocon."
Drink!
3
I have never felt so positively about a presidential candidate — Pete Buttigieg is an exceptional human being, and we would be very fortunate to have him and his husband representing our nation’s interests in the white house
313
@Amy
Ditto.
As far as I am concerned, Mayor Pete's rebuke of Beto was his low point thus far in the campaign -- a manufactured moment, unnecessary and undeserved by Beto. Not impressive.
51
@Curtis Hinsley
You must own some stock in Remington? Beto is selling a LOT of AR-15's right now so can't blame you for supporting him the way you do. Gun Makers are cheering every time he opens his mouth.
4
I hear ya Curtis. It was a little much but I think Pete’s eyes are on the prize. He may have wanted to show us he has the teeth to go after Trump.
Beto made it hard for all democrats with his loose comments at previous debate. He deserved to get schooled.
19
@Curtis Hinsley
But it was OK for Beto to bash Pete? Something has happened to Beto since his loss for the Senate. He has taken to flaying about making alienating remarks about everyone and everything. At times he sounds as unhinged as Trump and Giuliani.
It seems you find it acceptable for Beto to lash out in what looks like an act desperation. Beto's magic summer of 2018 is over and what seems to have worked then is not working now. He is looking particularly unpresidential. I'm done with Beto. When I see these two together, Pete comes off as the calm , sensible, level-headed old brother, while Beto comes off as the goofball kid brother that still need babysitting.
19
I feel like the three top contenders are qualified, but they have vulnerabilities including age and their appeal to younger voters. Mayor Pete is young, and his resume in politics isn't as long as Sanders, Biden and Warren, but neither is he long in the tooth as they are. The youthful voters may surprise the pollsters. Mayor Pete is just getting on a good role in the national spotlight. After Iowa, New Hampshire and some early 2020 events, some of the candidates polling very low will bow out and their supporters will be looking for another candidate. Lots of time to see how this rolls, but I think he's connecting with a variety of audiences.
49
@Maureen O'Brien Bernie and Warren are by far the most popular among young voters. It is their weakness among older voters and legacy black activists that the punditry and strategist have been highlighting about their campaigns.
2
How sad that a candidate who understands complex issues and speaks in literate sentences is now the exception rather than the rule. Next to Trump, Mayor Pete is a true "stable genius" who actually does speak multiple languages and would make a superb VP, moving into president in four or eight years.
445
@Martha MacC It's funny how Trump has the uncanny ability to tell us precisely what he's not. He's obviously familiar with his personal deficiencies. And, he is well tuned to his inadequacies. Regardless, he will always give himself an A+.
Trump consistently demonstrates his remarkable ability to,
"Talk loud, and say nothing."
10
@Martha MacC
He's running for president not vice president. I am sick of seeing comments like this. Another is that the nation isn't ready for someone that is young or gay.
4
From the first I saw Mayor Pete speak months ago, I was impressed. I even rallied friends to contribute to his campaign. But frankly, he lost me last evening. He went from being a positive, upbeat, brilliant warrior to a petty and truculent one. His attacks on other Democratic candidates lacked merit. (Gun safety is not zero sum.) Moreover, negativity ... don't we have enough of that coming from the White House??
28
Totally agree. He set a very bad tone last night. Booker was right to emphasize its better for all of us for Dems to be united. It’s absolutely possible to respectfully disagree with each other’s plans but to act the way Pete did is exactly the kind of behavior we are all sick and tired of. Bad move, Pete. Bad move.
4
@Ann Beto basically called him a coward. Just because Pete is gay doesn't mean he shouldn't be assertive. Where is your objection when the straight candidates are doing it?
7
@Ann - YES. "Gun safety is not zero sum." Absolutely, absolutely the WRONG issue to get snarky about and his shot at Beto was unwarranted and mean-spirited.
1
I have no doubt Mr. Buttigieg could serve honorably and well in the White House. Listen to him talk and you hear a voice of reason, brilliance, compassion and a willingness to extend his hand across the isle. I'm guessing he would surround himself with the best and the brightest, diverse and experienced, and do whatever he could to serve this country. Depending on what happens in 2020 and who remains in Congress, his greatest challenge would be in getting the GOP, especially the Senate, to play ball and pull their heads out of the sandlot.
115
Buttigieg is a once in a generation political talent who is ready to serve as commander in chief. His focus on democratic reform cuts to the core of what's broken in Washington, his Douglass Plan would be a huge step forward on how the federal government treats African Americans, and he's more focused on passing policies that solve problems rather than winning the ideology game.
440
“Once in a generation political talent...” We’ll expresses.
4
In the unlikely event he is the nominee, I will happily vote for him. But he does not have the experience for the job that other Democratic candidates bring. There are better choices, especially for the economy.
Interesting that being a gay man is much more mainstream acceptable than being a woman of any orientation.
119
@impatient What brought you to the conclusion that being a woman is less accepted than a gay man?
21
@impatient
"Interesting that being a gay man is much more mainstream acceptable than being a woman of any orientation."
You determined this how? The front runner is Elisabeth Warren.
22
@impatient Could you define not having "experience"? He is a working mayor, he runs a mid-west city. He has to deal with all kinds of people, he has to create and stick to a budget, he has to run a school system, he has to work with law enforcement, housing renewal and roads, he sees his constituents on a daily basis. He takes that 3 AM call.
That's not "experience"? He has more experience than most of the candidates.
As for your statement about women? Poppy cock. To go back to the comment on "experience", not one of them have the diversity of experience Buttigieg has.
4
I worry a bit about his age & experience, but I love is pragmatism and the leavening he obtained from his service. He would make a great VEEP candidate.
25
It's just such a relief to hear a well composed paragraph come out of this guy's mouth. It used to be normal to hear politician's speak like this...thoughtful, balanced, patriotic, sensible, even tending toward wise, despite the youthful age. I very much hope he will play an important role in the future of the country.
494
I already liked Pete, but this article ramped it up a notch. Really helped me better understand the context of his military service.
206
While Buttigieg served for several years in the Navy Reserve, his DD-214 shows about 9 months of active duty service, 6 of those months were in Afghanistan.
A further look at Buttigieg's military record shows he worked on the Afghanistan Threat Finance Cell while deployed in Kabul. The mission was to identify and disrupt terrorist organizations' finance and support.
Records state the mayor oversaw analysis and operations, coordinated intelligence and went to high level briefings.
While the mayor says he was a Navy Intelligence Officer, the area on his DD-214 that describes his job is blank. And, despite only a portion of intelligence schools taking at least 13 weeks, his total active duty service prior to his time in Afghanistan is just shy of two months. Questions about his training were not answered by Buttigieg's campaign.
The mayor also does not appear to have seen any combat. Sailors who do receive what's called the Navy Combat Action Ribbon. The mayor received no such ribbon, according to his records.
This guy never saw any action and was in an office for the most park of his active duty.
21
@Frank
The man speaks 8 languages. "Intelligence analyst" seems like a natural fit for his skills.
36
@Frank
Can you specify what "records" you consulted, Frank, and where they are located?
15
@Frank Read the last paragraph of the article, specifically the quote from General Barno: "He spent at least 100 trips outside the wire. He was not a guy who sat behind a computer. He was out of the vehicle. He took some pretty interesting lessons from that. You can say he was not in direct combat, but he was out there where 99 percent of Americans weren't." That is the essential takeaway. Buttigieg has never claimed more--or less.
21
I want a candidate who is willing to hand back commitment of the US Military (including carrier groups demonstrating our power and “presence”) to Congress. The world policeman stuff can only turn out badly.
3
Mayor Pete is an outstanding candidate. Brilliant, articulate, good on the issues. I hope he can get some traction as more voters begin paying attention, because he’d be formidable in the general election.
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Mr. Buttigieg is not my first choice among the Democratic candidates seeking their party's presidential nomination. He's a bit less qualified than some of the other candidates and seems to me to be a little bit conceited about his abilities.
But he is obviously very well informed, intelligent, and an excellent debater and immeasurable better qualified than the person now sitting in the oval office and I will be very happy to vote for him if he wins the nomination.
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Everything in the article is true. But how can we trust someone to unify the country when he couldn’t unify his city?
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@Asdf Not so easy for Mayor Pete to fix the all too frequent scenario around the country of "A white police officer who fatally shot a black man".
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@Asdf Winning 70% of the vote doesn't count as unifying? I believe all of the Democratic candidates find police brutality appalling and a problem that needs fixing. I, for one, desperately hope that those black men that stayed home in 2016 because Clinton was the candidate don't again make the single issue of police brutality a reason to stay home in 2020.
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@Asdf That is unfair. What the media selectively showed in South Bend, after a black Police Chief was fired who was being investigated by the FBI at the time for illegal wiretapping and after the death of a black resident at the hands of a white cop, was hardly representative of African American support of Pete in South Bend. Pete was re-elected as Mayor with over 80% of the vote in a city that is 27% African American. I wouldn’t call that emblematic of a city disunified. But, as denigration and smears against opponents have become so thoroughly inculcated into American society, anyone with an axe to grind will find their reasons, regardless of merit.
27
I saw Pete speak a few weeks ago and was impressed. Early in the summer he got flack for being personality forward and policy empty, but he had some good proposals and a clear plan with how to pay and implement them. Honestly the first time I got shivers watching a candidate this election cycle.
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@Rachel M And just as he invited us to picture the first day in the Oval Office—-picture WHO he would surround himself with as cabinet and advisors. It will be brilliant!
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