'My Dad's a Fox News watching Texan. What he said about Pete stunned me.'

[elleng]

*So imagine my surprise when, just after we'd talked about UVA's bracket in the NCAA Tournament, my dad said "Hey, you know that Pete"- here he murdered trying to say "Buttigieg"- "guy running for President?"

"You mean 'Boot-edge-edge'? Yeah," I said, suddenly wary. A few weeks prior, I'd made the mistake of speaking positively about Kamala Harris, and got to listen to a recap of the last few days of Fox News' and Facebook's "real" reporting on Miss Harris. "Yeah. Mayor Pete's a good guy," I said without elaboration.

"Well, I saw him on Fox News-" I took an involuntarily breath in, girding myself for what direction this was about to go in- "and, I tell you what, I like him. He can be my President anytime.". .

Finally, my dad paused his gushing, and I decided to ask him the tough question that I hoped wouldn’t sour the entire conversation we’d had. I almost considered not asking it, but I just had to know.

“Dad,” I said, “you know Mayor Pete’s gay and has a husband, right?”

“SO WHAT?!” my dad retorted hostilely. I shrugged and nodded appreciatively.

“I’m glad you don’t care,” I said to him, “but, c’mon. You can’t tell me that’s not a big deal out in your neck of the woods. Indeed, my dad grumbled a bit as he admitted a couple friends of his from church were intrigued until they found out about Mayor Pete’s husband, which then made him immediately unelectable in their eyes- “but their time is up!” my dad said (correctly) of his friends’ attitudes on sexuality, which made me grin involuntarily.

“Besides, they put up with all the shit Trump does, you think they could handle a gay-” Dad, “a gay”, really? Sighhhh. “- as the President.” . .

The biggest bombshell, though, Dad saved for last- he was so impressed with Mayor Pete, he told me, he was probably going to donate to his campaign.

Mind. Blown.

On reflection, though, it’s just a case in point of what I’ve been saying for eons. You don’t have to change your message, or embrace some sort of wishy-washy third wayism to make inroads into even the most conservative places in the country- you just have to be authentic and speak to kitchen table issues, understanding that there’s a difference between issues and values.'>>>

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/22/1843896/-My-dad-s-a-Fox-News-watching-Texan-What-he-said-about-Pete-Buttigieg-stunned-me?

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. NOt going to click on the link, this SOUNDS like a propaganda tool to make it seem

like we should have debates on fox or our candidates on fox.

[dewsgirl]

3. From Daily Kos?

[Eliot Rosewater]

5. Most sources can be infiltrated.

And the person writing this is a random person on that site.

EASILY could be KGB or similar.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

19. More likely domestic disinformation: Koch, Trump etc

The Koches, Trump, Scott Walker’s donors and other rightwing groups are running domestic disinformation campaigns right now. Russian disinfo only ever piggybacked on what rightwing billionaires were doing in the US (Fox, Breitbart, WSJ etc.)

Clint Watts has written about domestic disinformation recently.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. Actually, no it isn't (a tool for faux news). It's an expanded, nice article about Mayor Pete...

I enjoyed reading it, and I didn't realize that faux news or anything faux was even involved in the article.

You'll enjoy the article. All about a couple of family members talking about Mayor Pete, and the father, a former die hard faux news person, actually went elsewhere and got news on Mayor Pete, and likes him.

Refreshing.

[DownriverDem]

15. All I care about is

Can he win the electoral college?

[defacto7]

11. an asside... you could turn off your java script whenever your not sure of a site.

That blocks the rating and fishing routine. Most sites will still work.

[TeamPooka]

13. it's the Daily Kos. I think you'll be safe from Fox News there.

[oldsoftie]

33. I think Daily Kos is a bit smarter than that. Everything isnt a conspiracy.

[orleans]

45. pete was on the "view" the other morning

and from what i recall, he said he was going on fox
and said something to the effect that if dems don't go on fox then how are their viewers going to get to know us and potentially like us and eventually vote for us.

if "mayor pete" didn't say that on the view he said it on some show that i saw

so i guess he did his appearance on fox like he said he was going to do

[elleng]

46. Yes, he did say these things, and he's right.

[KPN]

53. You are right. He is right.

[secondwind]

52. I saw the interview on Fox with Chris Wallace.

It was mind-blowing. This guy has what it takes, he reminds me of Obama.

[KPN]

55. Yup. He may be the front runner for my vote.

[KPN]

54. OK. Understandable. I almost feel like I don't trust

anything anymore. But ... what do you think of Buttigieg as a candidate?

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Neat. Really does prove the point that after all of the crap rump has pulled, that anybody, ...

including gays such as Mayor Pete would be far better than rump at governing, and people are realizing this. rump is our own best advertiser / political sign.

rump is a walking federal disaster...

Thanks for posting!

[Tipperary]

41. Including "gays."

[KPN]

56. Jumped up and pulled that reaction out of me too.

“almost anybody, including gays ...”?????????

[Autumn]

4. That's so terrific. It shows our message is strong enough to stand on it's own. We don't need

to move rightward to reach them.

[elleng]

7. Zacly!

[Power 2 the People]

17. +1

[EndGOPPropaganda]

20. Of course

[True Dough]

26. Since you already got a +1

+2!

[Kurt V.]

51. +3

[KPN]

57. OK. I'll play .... +4!

[Qutzupalotl]

8. Seems like Pete's veteran status helps

offset the negativity in some camps about him being gay. It’s his authenticity (and I think his brilliance) that makes that possible.

[KPN]

58. Yes to all of that ... especially his brilliance.

This guy may actually pull this off in my view.

[marlakay]

67. Also he talks about his religious

Views in a way you know he is actually living his beliefs about helping people like Jesus, its a real slap to the religious right who are hypocrites about their beliefs.

[underpants]

9. Great story

I read something here about Mayor Pete's townhall and I couldn't tell if he was just openly talking respectfully about gays or is he was gay. Obviously doesn't matter to me but now I know.

Yeah he does seem to be a really great candidate.

[Boomer]

10. This exemplifies why I'm drawn to Buttigieg

Yes, Elizabeth Warren is my first choice, and she most closely echoes my views... but Buttigieg just has this way about him that seems to disarm people on all sides of the great divide in this country. Warren is combative and some days I love that, but other days I think we need a healer more than a warrior.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

21. I agree, though we need a warrior

I agree with everything about your post , except I think we need a warrior and one who will first act to get money out of politics and attack the corporate and billionaire interest of the GOP first. Because that is the root cause of most of our problems.

[KPN]

59. I think you may be right. How about we need

someone who is both a warrior and a healer. He does appear to be both to me. He doesn’t shrink away from anything from what I’ve seen.

[grantcart]

12. Had a similar experience when my mother, a Goldwater Republican was so impressed with Shirley Chisol

That she would vote for if she was on the ballot.

Stunned silence followed.

[efhmc]

14. I couldn't believe how nice and how policy directed he was.

Saw him on the view here on DU for the first time. It was so poignant when he was asked by Meghan Mc about his father's very recent death. It was so lovely to hear a real human speak. We have lots of candidates like that but I really LIKE him.

[sellitman]

65. I saw that part with McCain.

She seemed mesmerized with Pete. For good reason.

[marlakay]

68. She did really like him

But at another time said she won’t vote for Trump and will write in someone. She is one of those pro lifers that won’t vote for anyone who isn’t and no matter how good Pete or anyone else is we won’t get those solid one issue voters.

But I think its great Pete is out there educating America to what can be possible for us.

[efhmc]

71. That was amazing to see those people connect

with the very human feeling of losing someone they loved deeply.

[efhmc]

72. Can we please stop giving so called "prolifers" that acronym. Unless they are antiwar and

antideath penalty, then they are not now and have never been, "prolife". Thanks.

[marlakay]

73. I agree just a term I am used to

Should have said antiabortionist.

[DownriverDem]

16. When we say who we like

it's important to me that we explain if we think he/she will win the electoral college. That's all that matters. I want to win.

[efhmc]

18. I am undecided because I like a lot of candidates.

But until the various candidates are better known, I think Biden has the best chance of winning.

[KPN]

61. I think many of our candidates including Buttigieg could

win the electoral college. So I’m still undecided.

[louis c]

22. your Dad sounds like a real staunch Trump supporter

They'd love for us to nominate a guy who has no chance of winning.

[oldsoftie]

34. I think the guy probably knows his dad better than any of us

[louis c]

38. and I know Trump supporters pretty well, also...

...and they all wish the worst for us, not the best.

now, there is a difference between a "fox News consuming Trump supporter" and a person who voted for Trump in 2016 because he didn't like Hillary and now regrets his vote. That's the voter we can probably win over. Now, I agree, that there aren't too many of them, but 5% will do.

But if a person gets their news predominately from Fox, as the OP's father does. That's a different story. That person, in my opinion, most likely wants our weakest candidate nominated.

[KPN]

60. +1!

[SKKY]

23. I have a very sneaking feeling that Mayor Pete is about to catch fire...

...He seems to be pushing all the right buttons.

[elleng]

32. He seems to be catching fire here, at least!

[KPN]

62. About to? He's already a conflagration ...

minus the damage of course.

[TomSlick]

25. I remain undecided but you've got to admit that Mayor Pete is really impressive.

I would so enjoy seeing the fundies tearing out their hair.

[ismnotwasm]

27. Gay rights are not "wishy washy third wayism"

Nor are women’s right, or the right of oppressed people or the rights of immigrants or the rights of people of color.

[elleng]

30. Yes, or BOODA-Judge; whatever!

HE says Mayor Pete!

[elleng]

70. Yes it is, brandnewday2009!

[robbedvoter]

31. Considering he is chasing the 🍊 voter, not all that shocking

Too bad for those of us who are not "the people where he is from". Us, along with our Democratic Presidents in the past 30 year can go 🔩 ourselves per Buti-whatever.

Link to tweet

[oldsoftie]

35. This shows how 2 people can read the same thing and come to totally different conclusions.

His first sentence says "I think its tough to speculate on that". What follows is a reasonable assertion by him on how HE sees it. Ignoring that view, which i have heard others express, just to scream about the "real" reason trump won is a waste of effort.

[Autumn]

36. Pete is 100% right. Removing Trump is not going to take care of the problem that got him

elected. And there is no way in hell Republicans will ever vote to impeach.

[Gore1FL]

37. What is a tangerine voter? nt

[mobeau69]

40. I think it's an orange.

[KPN]

63. What?! He didn't say or imply anything like that.

Are you messing with us? If not, I have absolutely no ability to understand how you took that (“go screw ourselves”) from that.

You gotta be messing with us.

[zentrum]

39. I wish it could happen but

......I'm terrified. We gotta have a person who can beat Trump. I wish I had more confidence in the country. But I do not.

[marylandblue]

42. You don't.need confidence in the country, just realize many don't care about his sex life

Any more than they care about Trump's sex life. It was always BS.

They thought Trump would solve everything but he didn't. Now they are ready for someone who can.

[Blue_true]

43. I am telling you. If Buttigieg gets on a debate stage with Trump or Pence, Pete

is going to make mincemeat of who he faces. The guy a really sharp.

[elleng]

44. Yes

[KPN]

64. No doubt about it. The Dem debates will be

interesting with him in the mix as well — though I don’t think he’s going to stand out anywhere as much as he would one-on-one with the orangutan.

[AlexSFCA]

47. He WILL be President

if not in 2020 then later. Once in a generation charisma! He can connect to anyone!

[PatrickforO]

48. What the child of the TX Fox-watching dad said:

"You don’t have to change your message, or embrace some sort of wishy-washy third wayism to make inroads into even the most conservative places in the country- you just have to be authentic and speak to kitchen table issues, understanding that there’s a difference between issues and values."

DAMNED RIGHT!!!

[lark]

49. Wow, congratulations on your dad evolving and recognizing a better message/messenger.

[MoonRiver]

50. Wow, somebody taught their daddy well!

[Texin]

66. Maybe it's indicative of an erosion of "tRump Derangement Syndrome."

Seriously, maybe even the most diehard conservatives* are over their unfettered affection and apologies for Shitler. Let us hope, but steel for what I believe will be the hardest battle the people of the United States have ever faced to save the Republic from the tangerine tyrant.