Pete Buttigieg creates another media moment

[left-of-center2012]

Buttigieg is testing the proposition that Democrats desperate to take back the White House may admire Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s policy parade but what they long for is someone who can beat Trump and reflect their longing to reassert their values (respect for intellect, empathy, tolerance).

Buttigieg, in appearing on Fox News Sunday night, helped his cause tremendously. Projecting the same calm, incisiveness and wit that have impressed other audiences, he won enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation. He created some viral moments that will echo around the mainstream media for days.

First, he showed how to defend progressive positions and dismantle the right-wing frame for discussing them. The ability to defend Democrats’ values and views effectively, to avoid being cornered by right-wing talking points impresses — and delights — Democratic voters.

Second, going on Fox News, in contrast to Warren (D-Mass.) and others (who had perfectly acceptable moral reasons for shunning the propaganda machine,) reinforced the notion that his political instincts are superior to hers and other competitors. Instead of refusing to appear to denounce hate, Buttigieg used the airtime on Fox to denounce its hateful hosts. That’s nervy.

Third, by going on Fox News and winning plaudits, he implicitly made the argument for his own electability. Hey, he can win those people over. Part of his argument is that a religious mayor from the heartland knows the secret sauce for breaking through to working- and middle-class voters in the Midwest. His appearance on Fox News will convince some Democrats that he can.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/20/buttigieg-creates-another-media-moment/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f8b0e581b26c

[customerserviceguy]

1. I've seen criticism of Buttigieg

for appearing on Fox News, but there is a precedent for going into the hostile camp to make a point.

I'm talking about what Jimmy Carter did in 1976 (I know, ancient history for you millennials and younger!) when he wanted to make healing from the Vietnam War a part of his presidency. It was suspected that he was in favor of pardoning people who had fled the US to Canada to avoid being drafted to fight (and perhaps die) in a no-win war, and he gave a speech to the American Legion.

They welcomed him tepidly, but politely, but after he announced that he would give a blanket pardon to those who the crowd considered "draft dodgers" and thus, unpatriotic individuals, the crowd booed for a very long time. I was working as a delivery driver then, and was able to listen to the radio for his speech between stops to drop off and pick up paperwork for a title insurance company. I recall the booing starting while I was still in the delivery car, and through my next two stops!

Why did Jimmy Carter do that? Surely, he knew he was not going to be well received by presenting this proposal to this audience. But the American Legion was not his true audience, he was speaking to the American people, and he was sharp enough to know that if the AL booed him boldly enough, he'd make the evening news, and people could believe that promise.

Pete Buttigieg has that kind of savvy.

[Chakaconcarne]

3. The criticisms of his going on FOX are coming from trolls....

to create division here on DU.... That's the way I see it....

We already know it's the 2020 strategy for the GOP and it is snaking it's way into DU apparently.

Anyone that wants to see our side win takes advantage (and wants to see every advantage taken) of all opportunities. There are people that aren't hardcore trumpeters that might be happening to watch fox at the airport, gym, Dr. office...wherever it might be up.... Why not ?

How could one lose by doing this? Answer: They can't.

[MrsCoffee]

7. Yeah, I'm a troll because I think that no Democrat should be holding town halls on FOX.

Give me a fucking break.

Some of us just aren't that into propaganda.

[customerserviceguy]

18. Do you think

that Mayor Pete, Sen. Klobuchar, and the others who have appeared on Fox News town halls have spewed propaganda?

[MrsCoffee]

19. No.

But I see no reason to enable the Fox propaganda machine. We should be working to disable it. It is one of the most destructive media sources out there. The whole reason for Fox News' existence is to be a mouthpiece for the GOP and to spread lies and disinformation. There is nothing redeemable about them.

[customerserviceguy]

21. Whether we like them or not

they're probably here to stay for awhile. And a substantial proportion of Americans get their news nearly exclusively from them. Fox News town halls provide a way for the 2 or 3 percenters to try to vault into double digits, then the other media may pay attention to them.

Think of them as useful idiots in this way.

[cwydro]

9. I think you're spot on.

[leftofcool]

2. Pete had the most watched Democratic town hall

[pdsimdars]

4. for the critics, all you have to do is actually WATCH it and you know it was a good call for him

[mtnsnake]

5. Not that he had to prove that he has guts, but Mayor Pete is guts personified

not just for going on Fox but for blasting those two assholes on Fox, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham while doing his town hall on Fox. Mayor Pete rocks!

[MrsCoffee]

6. Oh please. I like Pete, but going on Fox is a mistake.

Warren is 100% right. We should be dismantling this propaganda machine instead of feeding it.

[Celerity]

20. totally disagree

They are running two different types of campaigns, it is not one size fits all paradigm. Also, Warren or anyone else not going on it has almost zero impact in terms of 'dismantling' Fux News. Reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine would be a far more fruitful path in terms of helping fight back against their propaganda. Buttigieg also got in a brilliant swipe at the worst of their opinion pundits.

[ecstatic]

8. He had a great moment, but I also agree with EW.

Today, John Heilemann made the point that there's no 1 size fits all solution for every candidate. Each candidate needs to do what works best for his/her campaign and base. I guess I'm part of the furious left who hates FNC and wants to see trump impeached then indicted ASAP. I'm also part of Pete's base, but it looks like he's attracting a lot of never trump repubs, etc. as well. He's targeting a broader coalition, I guess.

[left-of-center2012]

10. One respondent here mentioned "trolls"

IMHO trolls are part of the 'circular firing squad' who attack candidates (and the candidate's supporters) who do not meet the trolls litmus test.
By their actions, the trolls weaken a united front against Trump in the general election.

Even Biden's call for unity was attacked,
as in 'How dare he!'

"Can't we all just get along" (and beat Trump) ?

[.99center]

11. Mentioned trolls? It was a divisive attack against a large chunk of the community.

I'm just a blue collar low post nobody, I didnt take it personally. But there's quite a few long time DUers that I'm sure don't appreciate being called trolls for taking the same position that a couple of our candidates (Warren & Harris) have taken.

[Honeycombe8]

16. +1. The purpose of the Dem Primaries main group is for ALL to express their opinions...

and hash out feelings about the various candidates.

There is a restricted group for each candidate, where only that candidate's supporters can post, so there won't be any varying opinions about the candidate.

[Honeycombe8]

13. I was one who didn't like his unity message...

because he didn't show any recognition that the Republican Party is not the party of old. It has gone extremist right, and those guys don't compromise, negotiate, or even admit apparent facts.

To speak of "unity" with them is not realistic, IMO. When he speaks, it's as if the last 10 years hasn't happened.

I don't consider that an attack.

The GOP has become more ideologically homogenous as a party and, as a whole, they have moved in a more dramatic direction. Unlike Democratic leaders, who are constantly trying to find some kind of elusive middle ground, Republican leaders -- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trump -- all align neatly with some of the big ticket issues that animate the right, including immigration restriction, economic deregulation, abortion and supply side economics.

And Congressmen Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan, two House Freedom Caucus leaders who used highly aggressive tactics to achieve conservative goals when Obama was in office (such as threatening to send the nation into default over budget disputes), now command one of the most powerful caucuses in the House.

Biden must remember that each time Obama reached out his hand to make some kind of deal, the Republicans took a big bite and gave nothing back in exchange. This rightward drift has only become stronger under Trump.

Like Obama, Biden could talk all he wants about reaching across the aisle, but the reality is that the odds remain extremely low that congressional Republicans would agree to anything if he were in the Oval Office. Biden could propose a major social policy based on conservative ideas -- and he would see it turned into opposition fodder, just as was the case with the Affordable Care Act.

He could take a major Democratic cause, such as climate change, and use conservative mechanisms such as cap-and-trade, a market-based system that offers economic incentives to companies to lower their carbon emissions, to achieve reform. But Republicans will still likely vote no.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/19/opinions/joe-biden-false-bipartisan-promise-zelizer/index.html

IMO, unity may be a lofty goal for the future, but it's not realistic with the current Republican Party, as we've seen. I am a moderate and believe in working across the aisle and compromise. But I've been watching since 2008 and have seen what the Republicans have become.

I wonder about someone who hasn't noticed these things and doesn't acknowledge them. You can't negotiate climate change programs with people who think a snowball is proof that there is no climate change, who think women who have abortions should go to prison, who think it's okay to put children in dog kennels and not keep records so they can be returned to their parents. And ultimately, that a traitor in the W.H. is okay, as long as he signs the bills they send him.

I like him as a person. I appreciate his vast experience, his personality, his upbeat attitude and positive message, his foreign policy knowledge, his connections with Congress. But this thinking that he can unify Trump loyalists with people who believe in democracy....that's unrealistic. If he'd just admit that some of them are extremists who won't compromise, that would at least make me think he has noticed what's happened.

[left-of-center2012]

14. I think most people are sick of the fighting

[Honeycombe8]

15. The purpose of the Dem Primaries forum is for all to express their opinions.

It's not fighting. I certainly didn't "fight" with anyone.

Others fought with me, however. Trying to say the obvious wasn't the obvious. One even tried to deny the them of his campaign was "unity." Another tried to say that he didn't mean Republicans, when he was clear he meant everyone.

There is a place for supporters to go where they don't have to hear any criticism or different negative opinion about his candidate. There are special groups here for that. When people post a fan post (no intent to insult, there) about their candidate in the general Dem Primaries, they are inviting, and will get, all opinions. That's the purpose of that DU group.

[Honeycombe8]

12. I like him a LOT. I'd like to see him in the W.H., either as President or V.P.

But I don't see Biden choosing another white male as VP, if Biden gets the nomination.

Can Pete get higher numbers? I guess we'll find out. But I like him a lot.

[patricia92243]

17. He will be President to ALL Americans that includes the Republicans. THey

need to start getting accustomed to seeing him