Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumMayor Pete's Strategy for Beating Trump: Target Vice President Mike Pence
Mayor Petes Strategy for Beating Trump: Target Vice President Mike Pence
The intensity of Pete Buttigiegs critiques of the vice president speaks to a long history, both political and personaland the young mayors deep disdain for hypocrisy.
Scott Bixby
03.31.19 9:31 PM ET
Mayor Pete Buttigiegs message for fellow Democratic hopefuls is a straightforward one: Its not enough to just attack the presidentno matter how loathsome you might find his words, actions and policies.
The vice president, on the other hand? Its a little more complicated.
Other Democratic candidates have occasionally criticized Pence on the campaign trail: Sen. Kamala Harris called Pences past remarks about his refusal to dine alone with women without his wife present outrageous, and former Vice President Joe Biden was forced to backtrack after calling Pence a decent guy during a speech in Iowa.
But the frequency and intensity of Buttigiegs critiques of the vice president speaks to a long shared history, both political and personalas well as the young mayors deep personal disdain for perceived hypocrisy. Pences outspoken religiosity, the mayor said, is in direct and irreconcilable conflict with his position in the Trump administration, and with Buttigiegs belief in the importance of good faith.
Thats one of the biggest things that scripture councils us to avoid, Buttigieg, a churchgoing Episcopalian, told The Daily Beast. It is galling its just a real affront to see that happen.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/pete-buttigieg-mayor-petes-strategy-for-beating-trump-is-to-target-fellow-hoosier-and-vice-president-mike-pence?source=articles&via=rss
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,053 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elleng
(131,141 posts)more 'not' imo, as ATTACK doesn't appear to be Pete's way of doing business.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
babylonsister
(171,094 posts)Pete doesn't like him obviously; neither do I.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elleng
(131,141 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)only used the word 'attack' once, as an example of what not to do.
Target is more nuanced, and Pence is worthy of zeroing in on.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elleng
(131,141 posts)that and positive accomplishments, all of which are Pete's things, imo.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elleng
(131,141 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Qutzupalotl
(14,333 posts)Well, not the judges part, but the getting-Pence-near-the-White-House part.
Republicans are willing to overlook Trumps flagrant disregard of what they claimed were their own values in order to have a theocrat ready to take over. To question that theocrat is to erode Republicans core strength, the enthusiasm of values voters.
Attacking your opponents apparent strengths rather than their weaknesses is a strategy Rove used against John Kerry. We might as well use it too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
karynnj
(59,504 posts)who had the integrity and character to risk never having the political career he dreamed of to speak truth to power. The Rove and SBVT attack was a dirty trick to have a group of vets, many who never met Kerry, lie about his service - rather than just question his protests.
Nothing Mayor Pete has said of Pence distorts or lies about his actions. The only thing in common is that what is being questioned was an important element of defining each man's character. In Kerry's case, the comments of who he was under fire as a 25 year old spoke to his real leadership, compassion and character. There had been a powerful Iowa primary ad with some of them and his family speaking about him that could have been used more than it was.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Qutzupalotl
(14,333 posts)And yes, Rove had to lie to smear a hero. Apart from the deceitful nature that Rove cant help but exhibit, there was a sound strategy of not attacking the opponents obvious flaws, since that just entrenches resistance, but going after the opponents perceived strengths. In Kerrys case it was his stellar career, and of course they had to make up stuff to attack him. For Pence, its his obvious hypocrisy and smarmy sanctimony. Its actually just a paper tiger, and we dont have to make up stuff to point that out. Thanks for helping me clarify.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
nycbos
(6,039 posts)Mayor Pete has showed me again and again why Episcopalians are my favorite kind of WASPs
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
IndianaDave
(612 posts)He's not modifying his ultimate goal. But that was a nice try, Honeycombe8! And amusing, too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He has almost no chance of winning the nomination. So he's running to get a national profile, and get picked for the V.P. slot, if he's lucky.
He's all but said that himself. That's he's a long shot...and wouldn't it be great strategy to go after Pence. It's all there...in writing...on wall.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
IndianaDave
(612 posts)A good friend of mine in Indiana Democratic politics knows Pete, and says Pete is in it for the long haul. So I'm not inclined to accept speculation about his intentions.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden