Here is a name that is new, and a little difficult. Pete Buttigieg (pronounced, in different places, as Boot A Judge or Boot Edge Edge) the Mayor of South Bend Indiana. You will want to learn how to say it, he is going to be around for a while.
In an odd turn of events, Mayor Pete Buttigieg had raised, as of May 31st, over 7 million dollars. A tidy little amount for a little known mayor from Indiana. It puts him solidly in the middle of the pack vis a vis cash on hand. Considering his status nationally that is impressive. When it comes to politics money does talk, and he has some. The old adage “it takes money to make money” might have been born somewhere between Iowa and South Carolina.
He was brave enough, which still seems ridiculous to say, to be an openly gay man running for president. It shouldn’t matter in 2019, but it does. If you don’t believe that you are not paying attention.
He handles the intolerant and cruel with the patience of Job (a little biblical reference, for the mean spirited self-proclaimed Christians in the crowd). So, people might have found a champion for a cause that often only gets a passing nod while answering a series of questions about tolerance. Which has become the standard litmus test for office that the press runs a candidate through, they don’t even vary significantly by party, and the answers can become tedious in their uniformity. Here is a candidate that has some serious LGBT credentials.
Echoing through the democratic candidates is the call for Medicare for all. But, none of them want to tackle the big insurance companies and their even bigger advertising budgets, and their even larger piles of cash, so they all waffle on the place these monstrous corporations will have in the coming years, Buttigieg believes they can fill the role of Medicare supplementals i.e. Medicare Advantage. And, that might not be a bad idea, but it has to be a secondary slot in the chain.
At 37 he would be the youngest president ever. And, in fact, is the youngest mayor of a city with 100,000 people. His candor is refreshing, and his charm and wit are abundant. Youth and personality are a refreshing change from the current president.
Beside his age, his husband, and his undeniable ability to charm, he is not so radically different than other candidates. Pro-Choice, background checks for gun purchases (which has to anathema in Indiana) protection for Dreamers, all pretty standard stuff. He is a safe bet, and with his stage presence, he will be a force in the coming battles. He would make a tough contender in the election because of his composure and presence. He seems unflappable. I think he could really bring voters to the polls, and that is good for everybody.
I have not gone too far into Mayor Buttigieg. Not because he is not a real possibility, but more because he will get plenty of press, and everybody will know where he stands soon enough. Trump has already tried to insult him by comparing him with Alfred E. Neuman, the “What, me worry?” guy from Mad Magazine.
I don’t really see that as an insult, the guy was a hero to hundreds of the disassociated youth (like me) in the 70s and 80s. In fact, he doesn’t seem to have a lot to worry about. He is a rising star, and win or lose we will probably see a lot of him in the future.
Buttigieg, not Neuman.
You can also check out Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Bill de Blasio and Steve Bullock here!
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