Why does the left internet media absolutely despise Buttigieg?

[Capt. America]

I watch Minority Report, the Hill, and TYT and they absolutely hate Buttigieg viscerally.
They poo-poo Klobuchar and Biden and the rest but they revile Buttigieg.
What gives?

[The Valley Below]

1. He's a buzz kill to the fantasy that tomorrow's youth are going to abandon liberal democracy

in favor of democratic socialism.

[highplainsdem]

8. +1,000,000

[Hortensis]

83. That'd certainly explain TYT, but The Hill is anti-Democrat

in elections. Just hitting the dominant hostile theme against a candidate showing signs of viability?

And never to forget Uygur at least is one of those nasty mixes of social conservative and far left. Bigoted against gays, women, Jews, Armenian genocide denial*? Not the kind of left wing I'm part of. I've passed on doing a smell test for those in bed with this creep, just avoid them altogether.

* Bigotry comes from within, so it'd be unusual for the type if that list wasn't actually a lot longer.

[The Valley Below]

86. Both are hostile to Democrats.

So both are hostile to young Democrats who fall within the liberal mainstream.

People who could lead Democrats as the majority party in the future. Buttigieg is a threat precisely because his isn't on the fringe, in my estimation.

[Hortensis]

87. Agree, especially with that last.

Extremist-leaners always have to believe they're the future, and the dishonesty required to support extremism is part of of their package, so of course flashes of reality cause angry denial and more dishonesty.

Uhgur's job is to keep them passionately acting out against Democrats by feeding and strengthening the bulwarks against truth.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. He's young, smart and gay and they think he should be on their "side,"

but he's not.

[sweetloukillbot]

4. I've also seen takes that he's not gay enough nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Yes, it reminds me a bit of the people who said

Obama wasn't black enough.

[FreeState]

44. Yep

That’s common within some subgroups of all minority populations. Unfortunately those on the other side try and weaponize it.

[cwydro]

72. Spot on.

It’s unreal.

[TheFarseer]

10. Where did you see that take?

I watch a lot of YouTube political shows and, not saying it can’t possibly exist since I haven’t seen it, BUT I have never seen any criticism like that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Here are a few:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-insanity-of-democrats-attacking-pete-buttigiegfor-not-being-gay-enough

https://www.thewrap.com/pete-buttigieg-criticizes-lgbt-media-coverage-its-all-hes-too-gay-not-gay-enough-wrong-kind-of-gay/

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/buttigieg-chasten-gay-enough-queer-radical-a9246501.html

[TheFarseer]

33. Thanks

Looks like there’s just no pleasing some people.

[PatSeg]

38. Seriously

Things really do get absurd during presidential primaries.

[sweetloukillbot]

22. THis was the one I saw...

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/shannonkeating/pete-buttigieg-marriage-equality-lgbtq-gay-rights

Mostly saw the author getting roasted on Twitter for it.

[Shrek]

31. Here's a another one

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pete-buttigieg-gay-diversity-white-male-candidate.html

[elleng]

3. I haven't studied this question particularly,

am unfamiliar with your premise, but a reminder: People generally 'hate' the smartest kid in the class.

[Kurt V.]

54. like cory booker? no this ain't it?

[TidalWave46]

82. Who hates Booker?

Are people saying he isn’t black enough like they are saying Buttigieg isn’t gay enough? Is the pig Cenk and his crew trashing Booker constantly like they do Mayor Pete?

[The Valley Below]

89. If he had Pete's numbers I suspect it would be a different story.

[cwydro]

73. Very, very good point.

[Midnight Writer]

5. Why do they despise anyone on our side? I mean, pick your favorite players, but root for your team.

[crazytown]

6. Team Sanders.

First time round, like Beto, they were worried about the youth vote. Second time, his strong surge. In between, they got struck into Warren - Hillary 2.0. Amy isn't a threat yet. The campaign against Biden has already begun.

But why? They are looking for jobs in a Sanders administration. Pete's a technocrat, he will make selections on merit.

[myohmy2]

9. could it be...

...Mayor Peter is too moderate?...too middle of the road?

...I think he's too young...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Those are reasons to disagree with him or prefer a different candidate, but not to hate.

The venom being directed at him is really irrational.

[samnsara]

30. i agree. The word 'hate' is divisive....trump uses it.. the GOP uses it..and they subscribe to it..

...i am pretty damned sure no one on our side 'hates' anyone..except trump.

[TheFarseer]

16. I like him personally

But I am just not sure a jump from mayor of a medium sized city to potus is a jump that should be made. I think a lot of people did not like how he started to make himself out to be a big progressive and then seemed to back off of it. I hope he has a great future in politics though!

[Kaiserguy]

34. I like him personally also

He would be 1000 % better than the failed idiot business owner who is currently disgracing the White House. I do think he needs more experience before he becomes President. However if he becomes our nominee I will give him my full support

[kurtcagle]

76. Some Federal or Gubernatorial Experience - Can You Manage a Bureaucracy and Make Laws

A big part of it comes down to understanding how to manage a large public bureaucracy. Governors usually tend to be relatively able presidents (not always, as GW Bush indicates, but historically that's been true). Senators have a better idea about how Congress works, and usually tend to be good at crafting legislation. There are a few mayorships that are large enough to qualify as well: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, but again it's a matter of experience. Theater generals (such as Eisenhower) would also qualify.

CEOs tend to make fairly indifferent presidents because they see everything in terms of money, and while money is important, you don't have the absolute power in public office that you do as a CEO. I think this is one of the reasons why Trump is such an abject failure as a president: he has never really had to deal even with a board of directors, let alone a quite possibly hostile Congress. He has no clue how to manage a bureaucracy, and he's never had to put the public weal at the top of his priority list. I wouldn't vote for Bloomberg - I don't like what little I've seen of his policy, and his tenure as mayor of New York City was problematic - but he would be moderately competent (though not great) as president just on the basis of his resume.

[ritapria]

11. Pete fulsomely praised MFA in 2018

and called it the compromise solution between Britain's NHS and our present system in the first half of 2019 ...Then he pivoted to the Public Option when the healthcare campaign contributions came flooding his way... The left believes he's yet another pro-corporate neoliberal….. The left wants a candidate who supports MFA ...Liz backed off from MFA and has consequentially plunged in the polls …. ….It's a dealbreaker to break away from MFA ……. MFA is not a pie in the sky proposal …….All of the West has opted out of our shitty" for- profit" system long ago .. And no country wants to go back … It is not a fantasy ….

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. That's a cause for disagreement but not visceral loathing.

Buttigieg is on our side, as are all of the other Democratic candidates. Not supporting MFA doesn't make him a mortal enemy - save that for Trump.

[The Valley Below]

15. "Some people say...."

[crazytown]

18. Not so. Pete favored a public option as a practical path to M4A from the outset.

I think that (single payer) is place for us to head as a country, and we can debate the finer points of how to get there.

But I've been in countries -- look, I studied in the UK where there is not only single payer, there's national -- nationalized medicine, which we're not calling for. Even there, there is a role for the private sector. I just don't believe that leaving Americans to the tender mercies of corporations is the best way to organize the health sector in this country.

(snip) We can start with Medicare for all who want it by making some version of Medicare available on the exchanges for people to opt into, as part of the pathway to Medicare for all so that you can try before you buy so to speak as a country.

February 3, 2019
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/02/03/buttigieg_medicare_for_all_who_want_it_is_a_good_pathway_to_medicare_for_all.html

[dansolo]

24. You have things backwards

Liz backed off of M4A because her polling plunged when she tried to do what Bernie refuses to do, propose how it will be paid for.

[OnDoutside]

29. +1 Exactly.

[blm]

32. She didn't back off M4A, she added a timeline and political opportunists

to her right and left spun that timeline into “backing off Medicare for All” and “she has no credibility” and “she is dishonest” and other attacks on her.

I do “hate” what was done to her by political liars and opportunists.

Pete is now experiencing just some of the overthetop style of attacks Warren has been enduring since her rise last July. He and his camp generated some of those attacks then screamed foul when she decided to start hitting back last month.

[unitedwethrive]

47. Not sure this is true. Most of my IRL friends want to make sure everyone has access to

health care, regardless of ability to pay, but they also like their own personal circumstances...be it private insurance, supplemental insurance, medical or medicare with the ability to supplement. I'm in the Bay Area and these are all Democratic voters I'm speaking of. Buttigieg's ideas do resonate with a significant part of the party.

[ehrnst]

57. "Long time ago" is the key point.

If we had a time machine, then it might make sense.

But we don't.

Building from scratch is very, very different than retrofitting a baked in system. The demolition of that system, done too quickly - like say in TWO YEARS, did I say EIGHT YEARS would disrupt health care delivery in a manner that the lost lives would sink it immediately.

[TidalWave46]

85. This is not an honest portrayal of Mayor Pete.

This is what’s being discussed. You are very well educated on this topic but are still willing to push a dishonest argument against a Democrat. There has to be a certain level of hate involved to knowingly do such a thing.

[Lithos]

13. God do not know why

I suspect he's too polished for some, not gay enough for others.

I have some issues because he misses a bit on healthcare, but definitely appreciate his candor and how articulate he comes across.

That said, Sanders seems rather Teflon coated. He has some faults which are not seeing the same navel-gazing as those of his rivals. This makes me worried as this is the time when I want to see people come out from the wringer with some wear and tear.

And for honesty - I am truly undecided with the exception that for the primary, I'm not voting for Bloomberg, Tusi or Marianne. I will see who is standing at the time my primary comes.

L-

[Qutzupalotl]

19. Bernie vs. Buttigieg is the new Bernie vs. Hillary.

Don’t let the trolls play us again.

You’re right, the vitriol is out of proportion to the situation. There is a pile-on effect whenever Pete is in the news. I can understand voicing disagreements, but whenever you see people post only to ridicule or belittle ... that’s a red flag that you’re dealing with a troll. Best not to engage — but feel free to comment about how many trolls you see and how angry they are about nothing.

[David__77]

20. While I don't know that I'd characterize things that way...

Last edited Sat Jan 4, 2020, 05:04 AM - Edit history (1)

I think that the issue is what I would call cultural. It’s more akin, I think, to generational difference in my opinion, which may seem counterintuitive.

[pnwmom]

21. Maybe for the same reason he annoys me,

and my father's gay partner.

He is too young and inexperienced for the huge task that faces the next President. It's just arrogant to think he could leap from the position of Mayor of a town of !00K to the Presidency. If he's gone as far as he could in Indiana, why not move to a blue state and try his luck there?

But I think the media has been much kinder to him than to Cory Booker, who is ALSO a Rhodes Scholar and just as smart as Buttigieg. In addition to having been a Mayor, Booker has been a Senator. He's taken the time to prepare for the Presidency that Buttigieg has not.

[crazytown]

23. How about him accepting an offer as ambassador to the UN? (if made)

He has Bill's gift to distill complex considerations into clear coherent propositions. He lacks experience, but is a quick study (to say the least), and IMO a superior intellect.

[pnwmom]

25. There are many responsible positions that would make sense for him. Yes, I can see him

as an Ambassador.

[SaschaHM]

64. Why?

Why not a hardworking democratic diplomat or foreign policy official? Why does the mayor of a small town get some sort of consolation prize for being rejected by voters?

That's what gets in my craw about Buttigieg. By virtue of name recognition and running for president, he gets tossed to the top of a lot of piles that he shouldn't be in.

We need someone experienced to repair our diplomatic relationships after Trump. Pete can be his/her assistant.

[crazytown]

67. "a hardworking democratic diplomat or foreign policy official"

Like Louis Susman for example
Ambassador to the UK
October 2009 - April 2013
previously Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking
who bundled $500,000 for the Obama Campaign

Citigroup was fined $7 billion in 2015 for securities fraud
Corporate and Investment Banking was the epicenter of the storm

Those sort of people.

[SaschaHM]

69. Still more qualified than Pete.

I see that you left out the 27 years that he spents as a lawyer, his 1975 - 1989 stint on the board of directors and managing committee for the St. Louis Cadinals, and his time as a director of the Center for National Policy in Washington, D.C.

Warren spent more time as a Republican than he did at Citigroup.

[crazytown]

70. PTL Susman didn't have to deal with Ashcroft's DOJ.

He might have been out the door, and on his way to jail like Kenny Boy, W donor extraordinaire.

[crazytown]

27. The thing that worries most of is

there is no substitute for the 'muscle memory' of dealing with a real live legislature of vipers. Even being a member of one barely covers it. Bill and Obama thought they knew what was coming, but found otherwise. Mayors deal with a more co-operative environment. As Pete has said they have to choice but to get things done. If there is a blizzard, a flood, the water fails, the roads become undriveable - the blame game only goes so far.

Pete, in the crucial first two years, would surely be out of his depth. There are few legislatures on earth as poisonous and contorted as Washington . A technocrat may expect to find common ground on matters like 2 + 2 makes four. No deal. Faux and co. would have GOP'ers hollering "five", eight days a week.

In 1994 - we lost the house for the first time in 40 years. Then GOP had control for more than a term for the first time in 60 years. The less said about 2010 the better. Side stepping another catastrophe in 2022 won't be child's play, and in this respect, Pete is an infant. My 2c.

[GoneOffShore]

28. Too right - He's an 'entry level' applicant for the position of president.

And he's got some stances that are just wrong.

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/12/29/buttigieg-churches-arent-like-other-non-profits-so-no-transparency-needed/?fbclid=IwAR0BA6V80nPQzDe96umet1RyBDJthbqjIBzbS_W5lUw5z-uq0EZUr9EJF6Q

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

41. Be that as it may, the vitriol some have brought down on him

is hard to explain on the basis of policy disagreements. I don't see that kind of fury being leveled at some of the other so-called "moderate" candidates like Klobuchar or Booker. What is it about Buttigieg that's different? Yang doesn't have any experience either and I don't see any wholesale trashing of him.

[GoneOffShore]

46. I'm trying to stay away from the vitriol(presently occupied with the strikes here in France)

And I'm not sure where I'm going to cast my vote in the PA primary(not that that will ultimately matter).

Needless to say, should Buttigieg get the nomination, I'll vote for him.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

42. Does Yang, who has even less government experience, annoy you, too?

Isn't it just as arrogant, if not more so, for Yang and Steyer and Williamson to think they could leap from the position of being whatever they are now to the presidency? I do agree that Cory Booker deserved more attention than he got, though.

[pnwmom]

43. YES, he does. But Yang's chances seem very small.

So do Steyer's and Williamson's.

Pete, on the other hand, has moved into the middle tier.

[pnwmom]

26. Since when is TYT and The Hill representative of left-wing media?

TYT hated Hillary, too, so Pete's in good company. And The Hill is a centrist, not a progressive publication.

[Polybius]

35. Because he used to be one of us

Now he is a moderate.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

39. He's still one of us. He's a Democrat.

[LongtimeAZDem]

40. +1

[aidbo]

36. It's "Majority Report" not minority. And if you actually listened to them you would know why

[theaocp]

50. Thanks for the post.

It says what I was going to. I'll give a shoutout to Even More News and Renegade Cut for their takes on Pete, too. He's not to be trusted.

[aidbo]

53. Oh yeah I've been watching Cody Johnstone since he was on cracked.com (when it was good)

[radius777]

45. Same reason they hated Beto and Kamala.

Pete/Beto are 'white Obamas', and Kamala was the 'black Hillary'.

Basically it's all about Obama/Hillary hate.. really fear of a charismatic telegenic 'neoliberal identity politician'.

Much of the online left ideology amounts to libertarian socialism that centers the white working class and views the struggle as a generic class struggle.

Whereas liberals (like Pete/Beto/Kamala and most of the other candidates) view the struggle through the context of history and intersectionality, and seek to promote groups into power who have historically been excluded.

[ecstatic]

48. Interesting perspective. Nt

[obnoxiousdrunk]

56. Thread winner.

[ecstatic]

49. So based on TYT being on the list, the answer is pretty simple:

They have a visceral hatred for anyone who threatens their preferred candidates' chances, coupled with an aggressive/rude personality type that's more suited for the republican party.

[mathematic]

51. Apostasy is the greatest crime to the zealot n/t

[Kurt V.]

52. he comes off as a sheep in wolves clothing. with god, military and mckinsey.

you asked.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

58. And yet he's doing quite well in the polls, and even has a shot at taking Iowa,

which is the real reason he's getting so much shit thrown at him. It Is Written that Bernie is supposed to win Iowa, and along comes this... this... interloper! The very nerve of him!

[Kurt V.]

59. i don't give a care who wins iowa. and no one should. Yes buttigieg is an interloper, which can

destroy solar systems .

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

61. The Democratic Party permits interloping.

What are your criteria for allowing someone to run, or not?

[Kurt V.]

62. i cannot disagree with you on this point

[Kurt V.]

60. his poll numbers suck. tbh

[underthematrix]

55. I like Buttigieg but he's not qualified for the highest federal office in the land.

I don't read stories about him because he's not on my short list. I don't like to see our DEM candidates dragged. The best course is to IGNORE the candidates you don't support. We're an attention driven society. So no attention usually means no interest. Go with that.

[SaschaHM]

63. I don't like Buttigieg.

To me, he's an unqualified over eager politician with a spotty record and profound racial blindspots backed up by donors and a degree clinging fanbase willing to overlook everything because he is a smart white guy. I'm also no fan of Bernie Sanders.


Klobuchar and Biden (both are in my top 3) have experience and don't seem like an entry level applicant getting a spot at the big kids table. That's why they don't receive the same amount of animosity as Buttigieg.

He's also, despite his paltry numbers with young voters and voters of color, is constantly branded as the future of the party, which to many just seems patently false. Absent a run for congress or a cross country move, his elected career is over. So it really chides folks to see someone like him get constantly mentioned as a potential VP candidate, ambassador, or cabinet secretary over many more overly qualified Democrats, who decided not to make a vanity run for president. It's a constant pushing, which is understandable if you like the guy, but gets a bit annoying when we have people getting elected and doing good work in harder swing districts.

I'm just ready for him to write that post campaign book and start his inevitable lobbying, msnbc, or non-profit career.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

66. I take exception to your phrase "vanity run."

Pete is not doing any such thing. He has a deep understanding of history, economics and politics, and he is alarmed at the current trajectory of both our country and the world.

He has spoken widely about how he sees our problems here at home and he understands what we need to come together.

Vanity run. Phooey.

[SaschaHM]

68. Take exception. It's still a vanity run.

Is he at 2% w/ AA voters now or still keeping that 1% bench warm?

[boomer_wv]

65. Because.....

they see him as a threat to their favored candidates because he attracts from the same young and white demographic.

[KayF]

71. it's actually the opposite

Bernie has slightly more black support than white, and much more young support than old.

Buttigieg has much more white support than black and much more old support than young.

[boomer_wv]

75. You sure about that?

Because that's not the numbers I see. If that were true Bernie would be doing much better in places like South Carolina. Pete doesn't take the youngest group, but he does jump way up in the 30-somethings, a group that Bernie and Warren would both need to win.

[KayF]

79. Bernie is doing much better than Pete in SC

but Biden is far above everyone there. His black support is high and I think the SC electorate is relatively old.

Here is a one breakdown of the demographics:

https://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-candidates-poll-age-gender-race-region-politics-2019#men-and-women-view-the-race-differently-sen-amy-klobuchar-mayor-pete-buttigieg-and-sen-elizabeth-warren-do-better-among-women-while-andrew-yang-mayor-michael-bloomberg-and-sen-bernie-sanders-do-better-among-men-1

[boomer_wv]

88. Sure...

Pete does really bad with blacks, that's a given. However, Bernie and Warren are relying highly on white and under 40 support and Pete does take a chunk of that electorate. That's why Warren attacked him at the debate and why Bernie took those lines after as well. It's why strong Warren and Sander supporters hate him so much, he is a moderate who can directly take votes from those two in a significant enough way to harm them.

[KayF]

90. Bernie is the least dependent on white support than any candidate

it's not close.

What you're saying could possibly be true about Warren, but clearly both of them have big ideological differences with Pete and that is the reason they are criticizing him.

[AngelicaHora]

74. They lost their minds once he started arguing against M4A

The far left advocates policies that are impractical and irresponsible. Buttigieg is exceptionally intelligent and persuasive so in this primary he is the biggest threat to the electorate's support for those policies. He has already succeeded in moving Warren from her M4A position over to his. Sanders and his supporters have no way of winning any substantive policy debate. They know this so that's why they attack Buttigieg's character incessantly, because it's all they have.

[Joinfortmill]

77. Because he has the same "it" factor Obama had

Cool, unflappable, and highly intelligent.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

78. Exactly right, and thank you for saying it out loud.

I appreciate your stance, especially since you support Biden.

[MBS]

84. + 1 n/t

[TidalWave46]

80. He doesn't fit their false and imaginary definition of a millennial.

I don’t think people have made enough hay over the fact that people have defined millennials as worthless and helpless victims of society in order to sell their policies. They are neither worthless or helpless.

TYT is a shit show.

[Hortensis]

81. Fwiw, The Hill leans RW in elections, pretend centrist.

Heavy bias against electing Democrats.