Buttigieg making faith-based appeal to voters in 2020 bid

[left-of-center2012]

The question was about climate change. The answer soon turned to the Bible. And Pete Buttigieg knew the verses.

“There’s a lot about the stewardship of creation that is in Scripture that I don’t see being honored by the administration right now, not to mention the stuff about loving your neighbor and taking care of the least among us and feeding the poor,” the South Bend, Indiana, mayor said. The crowd of about 250 at a Mississippi River park in southeastern Iowa this month erupted with cheers. Buttigieg, like no other Democrat seeking the 2020 presidential nomination, is trying to demonstrate that there’s a strong religiosity among Democrats , too.

“My goal is for people of faith who believe that it has some implications for how they participate in politics to be aware that they have choices,” Buttigieg told The Associated Press. “I want people to know that when I say I’m guided by some of these ideas, it’s not something I seek to impose on anybody else. But I do want people to know that’s part of my formation, part of how I come at the world.”

“I feel like he actually lives the words that he says,” said volunteer Robin Gingrich, a retired test administrator from West Branch. “I think when he says he’s a Christian and he loves God, he proves it every day by the way he lives his life. I feel like he’s a therapist for America. He gives us hope.”

https://www.apnews.com/bf10ec40db0b407f85a45edd1f261819

[mtnsnake]

1. I wish religion stayed out of politics entirely, but if it works for Pete, then go for it I suppose

Personally, I don't think half the politicians who talk about God are really believers, especially the Repukes who cloak themselves in religion for nefarious purposes only.

[Garrett78]

2. I understand why. But, as an atheist, I don't like it.

I hope we evolve beyond superstition someday.

[CTyankee]

10. I have no religion but I don't see in Pete's quote anything particular to a religion.

The better part of all religions is that of helping your fellow man/woman. I turned away from organized religion because of so much hatred involved against the "other." I found good people of faith in the anti-war movement many years ago and came to respect them and the good parts of the religion that shaped them.

[Skittles]

3. ugh

[msongs]

4. faith based crowd is least likely to vote for a gay man. good luck with that nt

[brooklynite]

8. The people who won't vote for Buttigieg because he's gay wouldn't vote Democratic anyway...

Moderate Main-line Protestants and some Catholics are still ripe for the picking.

[cwydro]

9. Spot on.

[guillaumeb]

5. Recommended.

The Democratic Party is and must remain a big, inclusive Party.

[ChiTownDenny]

6. It's important for Trump's base to hear this.

It's not so much for the deplorables as it is for the evangelicals, even though those two groups may overlap.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I'm not happy with this

His religious belief is his private business, and that's where it should stay.

[CTyankee]

11. I think he doesn't want to cede ground to the RW on the basis of religious belief.

He is countering the "godless Democrats" theme that the RW has been allowed to get away with.

We simply cannot afford to let the RW Republicans smugly own the issue of religion. I think Pete is schooling them on what they probably consider to be their own territory. I'm certainly not religious but I applaud what he is doing. It is a wise move.

[kacekwl]

12. I believe he was trying to point

out the hypocrisy of those who spout Christian values (trump - republicans) who want to make laws and America being a faith based country who don't practice what they preach . And in trumps case knowing nothing at all about faith as he lies about loving "all the verses in the bible".