"Pete Buttigieg is the embodiment of white privilege - and black voters know it"

[bloom]

One of my favorite church deacons at a ministry I attended in Boynton Beach, Florida, decided one Sunday that he would run for mayor. “Deac”, as we all affectionately referred to him, had already served many years as vice-mayor and city commissioner, so it was no surprise when he won the mayorship.

Deac was best known for singing old gospel songs with the growl of a blues singer and the whoop of a baptist preacher. To me, he was far more a beloved, black church dignitary than he was a politician. Nevertheless, my church deacon is more qualified to serve as president of the United States than former mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Political pundits and media outlets are scrambling to try to understand how it is that Buttigieg could have 0% support among black primary voters. I would offer the following:

First, ask any black person across the south and they’ll likely say the same thing: Buttigieg has less experience in office than our local church deacons - yet he is being propped up to be the next president , above equally educated and far more qualified politicians such as Kamala Harris and Cory Booker....

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/11/pete-buttigieg-black-americans-democrats

[still_one]

1. Gee, an OP ED from a Bernie Sanders supporter critical of Pete

I am not surprised

He also rules out supporting Warren

https://www.reddit.com/r/WayOfTheBern/comments/epmm8z/benjamin_dixon_official_endorses_bernie_sanders/

How much “white privlege” does a gay white man who served in the armed forces have Mr. Dixon, or are you conveniently ignoring the gay bigotry that very much exits in the US today?

[CurtEastPoint]

2. "gay bigotry that very much exits" especially in black churches.

[still_one]

6. I don't want to make generalizations, but direct my criticism specifically toward Mr Dixon

and the fact that he brings it up that it “isn’t because he is gay”, and insinuates that African Americans are falsely accused of bigotry against gays, tells me Mr. Dixon himself ha a problem with gays

How would he feel if his OpEd replaced the words Gay with African American. Would he feel the same way

Why bring up that Pete is gay in the OpEd, if that isn’t an issue with Mr. Dixon, and then imply that Pete is racist

[cwydro]

20. I'm tired of this narrative that blacks are more homophobic than whites.

I have lived along with blacks and whites my entire life - if anything, I’d say the whites have a slight edge on the homophobia. Or maybe they’re just more verbal about their dislike.

I find this offensive.

[LaurenOlimina]

4. Actually, he came out quite late.

Privilege reflects the disproportionate opportunities given him and the sense of entitlement that says, "Sure, I can win this thing with very little experience."

Of course, If he shows he CAN win this thing, then that's another matter.

[still_one]

11. I think it is a problem for Mr. Dixon that Pete is gay, because he brings it up. He also implies

that Pete is a racist

I think Mr Dixon has some issues himself

[LaurenOlimina]

13. Probably.... Campaign season seems to breed irrationality.

[still_one]

19. While he does bring up criticism he has with Pete on the issues, his OpEd is more focused in my view

at personally attacking Pete, with some pretty nasty and unnecessary insults

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. "How much 'white privlege' does a gay white man who served in the armed forces have...?"

If he's white, he has white privilege. Being gay does not erase his white privilege.

[still_one]

16. He is implying Pete is a racist because of Pete's interaction with African Americans. He brings

up Pete being gay? Why is that necessary?

Because he assumes he will be accused of gay bigotry

I am not surprised he is a Sanders supporter, just based on his divisive rhetoric

Finally with all the other divisive nonsense thrown in, he says Pete has no experience, and criticizes Pete’s positions on the issues such as healthcare, etc

Too bad he didn’t start with the no experience, and differences on the issues, which would have given credibility to his OpEd, but choose instead to personally attack Pete

Typical of what I see from some supporters associated with that campaign

Cornell West comes to mind, and his attacks against President Obama

From my perspective, the minute one starts to personally attack someone, instead of focusing on the issues, you lose the argument

[Cuthbert Allgood]

8. He has all the white privilge.

I don't think you understand the concept. I can give you some good books to read if you want to learn more.

[LiberalFighter]

3. The writer's name is Benjamin Dixon. A nothing person.

Geesh! I despise people with no experience in politics giving their opinion as gospel.

It especially irks me with that statement about Buttigieg being propped up. Propped up by what?

Another wanna be pundit. Reminds me of old men in a bar spouting off their opinions. Even young whippersnappers who think they got it alllll figured out.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

9. One doesn't need to be a politician to know about white privilege

Are you denying it exists or that someone Pete, a white guy, doesn't have it?

[LiberalFighter]

14. How much white privilege does he have?

Or better yet how much does Sanders have? Seems to me that applying one standard should be applied the same to everyone.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

21. They both have white privilege.

Again, seriously, I can point you to a few books, since you seem to think a) it's like a percentage meter type thing and b) one cannot have privilege if they lack it in another area. Both of those things are not accurate.

Perhaps people feel that one of the two realizes he has privilege more than the other. Perhaps people feel that one of the two is trying to realize and deal with and stop that privilege in society.

But, yeah, both Bernie and Pete have white privilege. Never would say they don't.

[CurtEastPoint]

12. Mr. Dixon is a 'media consultant.' Blah blah blah

[LiberalFighter]

15. Ahhh one of those know it alls.

[Celerity]

18. he is the one who is pushing the Bloomberg is a racist meme that Trump jumped on then deleted

Bloomberg's reply to Trump

Link to tweet

now Dixon is starting up again and attacking Klobuchar as a racist

pure scorched earth attacks from a certain side of the far left twittersphere/blogosphere/podosphere

it is ripping our party apart and is only going to get worse


here is Dixon on the booing of Hillary, which he loved

https://podbay.fm/podcast/954648487/e/1580740425

Show notes
-
Episode 802 |

--
Rashida Tlaib is a badass -- point blank period. She booed Hillary Clinton over the weekend, and despite all the cries about "civility," Tlaib had every reason to boo Clinton. Here's why.
--
Listen to this compilation of Biden in debates versus Trump in his debates. It's shaping up to be a political blood bath.
--
Amy Klobuchar has serious baggage with this case of a wrongfully convicted Black man. Her interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News should end her career.

[Fresh_Start]

7. did the local church deacons run for President?

how did they do?

[brooklynite]

10. Al Sharpton (this morning): "Every candidate has a race problem"

"They need to acknowledge and deal with it and move on"

[Quackers]

17. Makes sense. You know, since he's the only white candidate running and all. nt

[Cuthbert Allgood]

22. What I learned on DU today: Lots of people here don't understand privilege.

Would have thought liberals would have a better grasp on it, but, you know, live and learn.

If you really want to gain an understanding, I would recommend:
White Like Me by Tim Wise
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
Between the World and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates
How to Be Less Stupid About Race by Crystal Fleming