Actually, I like Pete Buttigieg for president
I know I already endorsed Beto O’Rourke — but it’s still early enough in the process that I can change my mind regarding which candidate is best equipped to replace the current disgrace occupying the White House, isn’t it?
I think it is. And I reserve the right to do so.
Pete Buttigieg is the two-term mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who happens to be just 37 years old.
Let me tackle that part up front: I don’t want to hear anyone tell me he’s too young to be president. Not according to the Constitution. And when you compare him to the incumbent, who is a 4-year-old in a 73-year-old body, Buttigieg might as well have the wisdom and experience of the ages, his literal age notwithstanding.
Speaking of which, Buttigieg has military experience and, as he likes to point out, more executive experience than either Donald Trump or Mike Pence. (Not that this is a high bar to clear, but still.)
I don’t bring up those issues because they’re necessarily important to me personally; I mention them because of this:
While Trump obtained deferments to avoid Vietnam, Buttigieg signed up for military service when his generation went to war in Afghanistan. He comes from a small Midwestern city rather than the Big Apple. And perhaps most important to primary voters and some Republicans, his politics are informed by a deep grasp of history, philosophy and ethics that are at odds with Trump’s rejection of expertise.
Unlike, say, Kamala Harris, no one at all will be able to accuse Buttigieg of “coastal elitism.” Nor will they be able to contend that he’s out of touch. He hails from a conservative state in a conservative region of the Upper Midwest where he came out as gay…and then promptly won a second term as mayor of South Bend by an overwhelming margin.
Nor can anyone argue in good faith that this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I’ve already heard proclamations that it’s too big a leap to go from being mayor of a small city in Indiana directly to the White House. I simply don’t agree with that. Again, when you consider the resumé of the incumbent (if you can even call it that), this is a peculiar charge to level, and on the contrary, I submit that being a relative newcomer to the national political scene is a positive attribute this time around — unlike, say, Joe Biden, whose decades of electoral history (and gaffes) undoubtedly make Republican opposition researchers salivate, just like it did with Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Finally, lest you think Buttigieg doesn’t have a commanding grasp of policy, you simply need to watch some of his interviews. The guy is a Rhodes Scholar — literally. (I had to look up what that even means.)
Every time I hear him speak, I’m more impressed. He’s articulate, calm, and reasoned, but he also conveys a youthful charisma. His answers are substantive. He comes across as thoughtful and pragmatic, neither detached nor professorial. He advocates for progressive ideals but does so in a way that can resonate with the Rust Belt and suburban voters who will be absolutely critical to Democrats’ chances next year. “I think everybody wants to fit you on an ideological spectrum, which I think has never been less relevant,” he says. “I think more and more, people just want to know what your ideas are and whether they make any sense.”
Good answer.
But what of his ideology? That part does matter to me, and I like what I hear so far. He supports Medicare for All but would approach it with a level of Midwestern realism and sensibility that I think many of the other Democratic candidates lack — that is, he offers rational specifics on how to get there rather than just saying it needs to happen. He supports abolition of the Electoral College. (Right there with you, Pete.) He recognizes the threat posed by climate change. As a member of the gay community himself, he would be a strong proponent for equality and justice. I like his idea for salvaging the Supreme Court.
Perhaps most importantly — and personally for me — he does a great job articulating the value that a candidate of a younger generation brings to the table, sagely noting, for example, that people his age represent the first generation on track to earn less than their parents. He appears to successfully combine the energy needed to mobilize young voters with the poise and rationality needed to convince older ones.
And it seems that this is all being noticed, too. Buttigieg’s presidential exploratory campaign reported earlier this month that it had acquired enough individual donors to guarantee a spot at the first Democratic Party debate of the 2020 cycle. I look forward to seeing him there.
Right now, Buttigieg doesn’t even register in early polling of the Democratic presidential hopefuls. That’s certainly because not enough people even know who he is yet, and he has yet to even formally announce his bid. As he gets more exposure, I expect that this will change. He may not ultimately be the Democratic nominee next year, but even if he’s not, he will be the future of his party, as one of his fundraisers recently said.
I’d like to see Pete Buttigieg be our next president. Either way, pay attention to this guy. He’s going places.
