Pete Buttigieg — A Star Is Born Part 2

Pete is going to be in Las Vegas on Monday.

Mayor Pete is EXPLODING -- this could be the guy

Chas10 is burning up HRC in Texas tonight.

As I said, wouldn't it be nice to encourage the guy enough to make him more viable in 2024?

He was good on Meat the Press this morning.

I'm falling more and more in love with this guy.

Here's his speech at the LGBTQ Victory Fund, talking specifically about his struggles coming to terms with his sexuality.

Honestly, if we as a community can't rally around a man like this--intelligent, thoughtful, courageous, accomplished, empathetic, dedicated to public service, unapologetically OPEN, has a personal understanding and stake in issues facing us as LGBTQ people and doesn't shy away from talking about them--then WTF hope is there for us?

I want him to win, but I know that's a long shot, but I feel like just his presence in this race is moving the needle in ways we can't even know right now in terms of pure representation.

I'm just running up and down the halls screaming with excitement. Unfortunately I still don't know how to pronounce his name.

r7 Boody-Jedge

What did Chasten say about HRC?

Thanks for posting that R6. I think I love him even more now. This guy gets it.

Chasten said AT HRC dinner...

What is HRC? I’m not going to vote for Biden because he is a pussy. He is taking forever to make his announcement and I’m sick of waiting. Fuck Biden. I’d vote for Trump before I’d vote for Biden at this point. I hope mayor Pete wins.

What is HRC?

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rose.

I don’t like Chasten! He’s fug!

Goodbye r14.

No fan of HRC myself. Chas would be a natural on talk shows like Today; connects well with the audience.

Wrong [R13]. Human Rights Campaign, conveniently enough.

R6 - that was great. "Possibly not the app you're thinking of" made me genuinely laugh out loud, too.

Pete was interviewed on this week’s episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour and was fantastic. I am now on board, he was remarkably intelligent and thoughtful. I was particularly stuck by by how he suggested handling Trump, which was to not react and try to top him with the one-liner but rather ignore his showmanship and continue to hammer at what the needs of lower-middle class Americans are.

We can like him and be glad he's running but still acknowledge the reality that this country is not voting for a gay guy in the general election. We're in trouble if he wins the primaries because I don't think he can win the general. So, we'll have made out progressive point and then lose the country.

The Republicans are terrified of him!

But, I thought the Repugs were all busy being terrified of Biden, Beto, and Bernie already, R21. I can't believe that so many still fall for this Repug bullshit.

I'll preface this by saying I LOVE Mayor Pete thus far and have donated to his exploratory committee twice. He's been pretty short on policy specifics thus far and the way he's kinda of hedged some questions to me suggests that, perhaps, he's not going to be the most progressive Dem in the race. But, when it does come to moving beyond platitudes on the trail and having to join the debate stage, he's going to go up against candidates like Warren who have very specific policy platforms they've already been talking about on the trail and who will be ready to bring the specifics to that forum. Whether that matters to voters, I don't know, but I think he'll have a lot of work to to do to be ready for those first few debates. Given how whip-smart he is, I'm sure he's got it in him.

The Young Turks are NOT feeling Mayor Pete.

The comments are ripping them apart in that video.

The speech at r6 is really good... I know it's long, but really worth watching.

Pete for the White House! If only to have Chasten as First Gentleman. He's adorable too.

R27 = Fugly Chasten

Chasten is becoming really popular. He just went to some event this weekend and was a speaker, and was quite well received apparently. He’s got his own little fan club going already.

I think Chasten is going to be the Michelle Obama of this election. Could you even name most of the other candidates’ spouses or recognize them?

Jesus. Pete can give a speech. My eyes welled up a few times at the Victory speech, r24. Can't wait to see him get riled up at the rallies.

I think he’s got a good chance. I think he could show that people really don’t care or want to hear about our sex lives. They just want someone who can do the job.

This sounds really Mary!, but I want to vote for this guy in the same way that I wanted to vote for Obama. I haven't really felt like that in a long time. This guy speaks to me for some reason and it's not because he's gay. Maybe it's because I listen to him and believe that he wants to make this country work again.

I'm not naive about this country and gay people, but WTF. I'm tired of voting for people who I think are going to appeal to people who hate me. I want to believe that there are enough of "US" to go to the polls and elect this guy. I remember 11 years ago when this board ripped itself in half fighting about the electability of a black man versus a white woman.

If we are going to get an out gay man in the White House, Pete is our best shot. Because I think he is just that good.

What will he do about covert organized crime in government? The federal reserve loaning money to the "people" at interest?

Hope he won't be bought or assinated.

Assassinated*

I hope nobody asks him, R33, since publicly proclaiming yourself to be against organized crime tends to lower the life expectancy.

I will not vote for anyone who pays obeisance to bigoted scum.

Good for you, R36. So we then get to choose between Trump and some unelectable, pure naïf who thinks alienating everybody who isn’t a radical socialist is a winning plan.

Trump wins that “stategery” in that scenario.

R37 Of course you'd have no qualms are voting for someone who appears with anti-gay or KKK supporters.

^^^ about voting ^^^

Al Sharpton is to the left of Buttigieg in that photo, so I guess he’s a KKK fan as well?

There was no need to attack Hillary. He didn't even make a point with it.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is not happy with this or with Petey Butt.

You are two weeks late to stirring the pot r41.

Nobody cares and he didn't attack Hillary.

Stop cunting.

Where are his comments on why Gore and Kerry lost? How convenient for all of these white male candidates to have forgotten those losses.

Yes this is shallow but he needs to change his hair, he looks so nerdy

R44, he's running for President not America's Next Top Model

“Mike Pences” are trending at number one on twitter, because Pete referred to the Mike Pences of the world disapproving of homosexuality.

Apparently that really hit home with a lot of people. Also, Eric Erickson made a comment about Episcopalians not being real Christians because they accepted homosexuality and abortion. That went about as well as you would think.

[quote]I’d vote for Trump before I’d vote for Biden at this point

Mental.

R44, his hairs a fuck ton better than the orange bully

I don't know The Young Turks. Should I?

r6, you're spot on.

President Buttlegag!

Boot-e-jedge

Boot-eh-jedge

R49, young Turks has hat hot as fuck hasan piker

This is the interview throwing progressives into apoplexy:

The Young Turks are just a bunch of Bernie Bros who are threatened by the possibility that Pete might just end up emerging as the breakout star of this election, like Bernie did in 2016 and Obama before him.

They are knocking him on lacking policy specifics when, he's stated again and again in his interviews why he doesn't want to dwell on lengthy policy discussions, but instead wants to focus on talking about overarching ideas, values and emotions first. To paraphrase him, politics is personal and about feelings. No one really gives a shit about detailed policy jargon on exactly how we're going to get x, y, z done. Maybe the hardcore, super engaged and informed voter does, but not your average person. They want their politics to reflect their identity and values about how they see themselves in the world.

It's clear Pete is extremely intelligent and policy-driven in his thinking, and probably has detailed policy proposals already worked out in his head--but he knows that is not going to win over hearts and minds in the long run. Talking about values, and reclaiming words like "Freedom" from the Right is what is going to sway people.

This is why I'm so impressed by him, and why he's being compared to Obama--because he's telling a narrative of hope.

I also find it hilarious and disingenuous this whole discussion of policy anyway, when all these candidates are pretty much aligned with policy 98% anyway, and whatever ways they slightly differ is inconsequential. And also, as if it makes a difference at all when you consider the alternative. Anything...ANYTHING!...put forth by Pete, or Beto, or Bernie...would be 100000% better than what Trump.

But because we're in primary season, we have to split hairs between the field and pretend these criticisms based on policy are relevant when, again, ANY policy would due compared to Trump.

Pete is right when he says that the candidate who is the best messenger for these ideas and values, is ultimately the one who will win the primary.

Wasn't Pete's supposed jab at Hillary more about how she had hundreds of pages of policy information that NOBODY READ.

Pete is smart to make this, right now, about the message AND the messenger.

THAT is where he is set apart.

r55, and I totally agree.

.

r56

In Las Vegas today.

I just ordered my Mayor Pete Explorer's Club t-shirt!

[quote] You are two weeks late to stirring the pot [R41]. Nobody cares and he didn't attack Hillary. Stop cunting.

Wow! R42, thanks for mansplaining that to me, you misogynistic sexist pig.

I know it's hard to face facts but the reality is the DCCC is not happy with Pete.

Unfortunately I don't think the majority of people vote for a candidate based on their policy positions on various issues. Most people have one or two major issues that they care about, if that, the rest the stuff they just don't care about. They vote on their gut feelings about a candidate. The three Democratic candidates that seem to get the most people excited are Bernie (which to be honest, I just don't get) Beto and Mayor Pete.

That is not to say that some of the other candidates don't have their rabid supporters but I am talking about the masses that seem to just get behind a candidate and these three seem to have the mojo right now.

Disclaimer, I don't have a favorite yet, so don't assume I am supporting anyone, I WILL vote for who ever wins the Democratic nomination, because no one is worse than Trump.

The more I learn about him, the more I do not like him.

Like what?

I love people saying we should be focusing on policy, not on personality. As if a cult of personality didn't land Obama in the WH back in 2008! Most people don't get inspired by policy bullet points on a piece of paper, but by an exciting person who'll shake things up. That's just the way things are and it won't do you much good arguing against reality. Especially not now when the stakes are this high.

I’d love to hear from r62

Another great interview with Pete.

Skip to 13:03 to hear him talking about his coming out process. He is so candid and open, and FUNNY, it's so disarming to hear a politician be so honest about something so personal to them.

[quote]I just ordered my Mayor Pete Explorer's Club t-shirt!

Well, fuck you. Goddamn disloyal maricones!

Got my T

Zazzle does not support his campaign.

This is his store.

Buy here:

[quote]The Young Turks are NOT feeling Mayor Pete.

THAT should tell you what you need to know.

One word for the Explorer Club merch store. Caftan.

Do any of you Pete Punks really want to give up your shot of fucking Hasan Piker?

Thank god his name isn't any worse or it would be Dick Assepluig.

r73, have you ever had an original thought that did not blurt out?

You mean like the seventeenth idiot on this thread to explain how to say his name, R74? Have you ever had an original thought at all?

The original thought is reasonably close pronunciation.

I still have no hopes for you 73/75.

R72, fuck yeah, Hasan is the hottest!!

Donate what you can!

Pete will, probably, be announcing his candidacy on the 14th.

Hold off until then and make a donation.

HOWEVER, the MAY numbers are the ones evaluated for the debates [he is already in] so think about another donation in MAY.

All about the MOMENTUM.

R13 - pretty sure HRC= Human Rights Commission. Hillary has been tucked away along with Bill in the server room along with the 33,000 emails in the basement of their Chappaqua mansion.

Mayor Pete is the first decent candidate this season. All of the other candidates are right out of central casting. Pete is a veteran, speaks 7 languages, comes across as genuine and has experience turning around a city given up for dead. Let's hope he makes it official and he starts attracting big money.

Dear Pete,

1. Don’t pander to reparations like the other candidates. It’s a losing argument to get Trump re-elected.

2. Stay away from Hollywood. No celebrity fundraisers or photo ops.

3. Don’t use the word, Queer. It’s insulting.

4.) put Chasten on a diet and have him butch it up.

The Young Turks have got a new hit piece about Pete Buttigigeg on their channel.

Those protesters WERE social justice warriors!

Candidates need not be perfect.

r80, it was a joke, Rose.

R87 - Gotcha. Good to know there is still humor on this site

I know a white gay woman who feels strongly that Harris is a better (stronger) candidate as a non-white female than Pete a white male, staying that his orientation is a liability. She and I will just have to learn to disagree.

Will America elect an "angry" black woman?

I do not think so.

Is Warren the angry black woman? What did her mother tell her?

I think R90 meant Harris.

r91 was being a cunt regarding Warren's ancestry.

Cunt knew it was Harris.

Because of cuntery on a Pete thread...blocked.

Cunts all around

[quote] Hope he won't be bought or assinated.

He's hot. I'd love to "assinate" him.

I agree, i get hard for eggheads

R95/R96 is exactly why America is not electing a gay guy. All straight people think about when thinking about gay guys is that someone's getting fucked in the ass. They will picture Pete and his husband fucking in the White House, make a face, and vote for Trump or not vote at all.

Wait til Chas10 really blows up and then America will elect a person who can snap us out of the current DOWNWARD SPIRAL

R97, most American know that anal sex is one of the many ways that gay men have sex. If they have a problem with it, that's on them. If they won't vote for someone because of that, then why do we want their vote anyone. They're not voting for who Pete is fucking. They're voting for how Pete can improve the quality of their lives. Kitchen table issues.

Amen, r99!

R97, they are hypocrites then, the bible belt south consumes more porn than any other region. Pox on them if they vote against any couple who is legally married and almost painfully dull. Trump is a whore monger and they know it

Not America, R97, evangelicals. And they won't vote for a Democrat anyway, gay or straight. They would rather vote for a clearly non-religious, lying, philandering, insane, and illiterate orange goblin because he'll stack the courts with right-wing judges (among other things). Forget those people. It's the rest of the country you have to worry about.

Even non-evangelical straights get really freaked out when they think of gay guys fucking, especially men. We need union males to vote Democratic again four years after their sexist asses voted for the piece of orange shit instead of the most qualified person to ever run because she didn't have a dick. These are the same people who will go right to Pete sticking his dick up his husband's asshole or sucking on it. I live in the Midwest and am surrounded by these people. None of them are religious but they actually have visceral reactions to the idea of a man fucking another man. Some of them to the point of anger. I'm telling you, all they need to see if Pete kiss his husband one time and it's over because that will remind them about the sex stuff. They're nuts but they're real.

[quote] I live in the Midwest and am surrounded by these people.

Um, so is Pete, and he still managed to get reelected after coming out. That says a lot to me.

Look, no one is saying it's going to be an easy feat to pull off, but his record as Mayor, proves there's a small chance he can get voters who might otherwise be homophobic to looks beyond his sexuality and vote for him.

[quote]Um, so is Pete, and he still managed to get reelected after coming out. That says a lot to me.

Please stop with this nonsense. South Bend is where Notre Dame is. It has a decidedly young population. It has a minority population that is Democratic. It's a college town with some rundown areas left over from its manufacturing past. It's the county seat and the fourth largest city in the state. It's not Bumfucke. When Buttigieg ran statewide he got his ass kicked.

Pete should keep PDA to a minimum.

We're electing someone to run the country not a Pope, ferchrissakes. Pete is the real deal

[quote]Even non-evangelical straights get really freaked out when they think of gay guys fucking, especially men.

no, they don't. grow the fuck up, gramps

[quote]None of them are religious but they actually have visceral reactions to the idea of a man fucking another man. Some of them to the point of anger. I'm telling you

you're a tiresome bore

R97 and r99 make it sound like gay men are the only people who have anal sex???!! They’re the ones suffering from a very limited perspective.

Most people know ALL kinds of orientations have anal sex or some sort of anal play in their menu, including lesbians and straight men as passive receivers.

Mother Pence comes for Mayor Pete

.....

He has CAF. He gets my vote!

Caf? What is that?

R111, she sounds illiterate

CAF = Cute as fuck?

Just shows how fucking clueless both of the Pence's really are. Just because Pete and pence had a good working, professional relationship doesn't mean Pete has to remain silent when the pence's start spewing their sanctimonious bullshit, especially about LGBT issues. It's especially odious when pence attacks gays as immoral but remains silent about his dirtbag scumball boss DJT.

Conservative are already coming for Pete for criticizing pence even the once that previously praised him. Gay sex jokes about his last name is about to become memes. Once he starts criticising their believes they give no fucks about been pc.

No problem there, R118. Just keep hammering home what a scumbag Trump is and what scumbags they are for supporting Trump.

Two can take this "moral high ground" game and it's about time the Democrats got a spine and started playing the "I'm holier than you" card.

Democrats refused to play the game with de-emphasizing their religion. And the left wing denounced religion altogether, refusing to be even in the game. PB is finally playing this game, but he is battling two fronts, the no-religion left wing and the righteous religion right wing. I hope plays this well.

He’s got a touch battle ahead

Are you drunk or illiterate, r118?

Who cares if the conservatives are coming for Pete? People really not stop wasting their time worried about what conservatives might do.

R105, the statewide race was for state treasurer. He was up against an incumbent and most people in Indiana didn’t know who he was or even what state treasurer was. It was also tea party season that year.

Totally irrelevant.

Lincoln lost his bid for Senate before he became President two years later.

Booty-edge!

Just donated to his campaign. You should too!

and also R105 Notre Dame in NOT part of South Bend. Only adjacent to it.

[quote]Kitchen table issues.

Ew! Now they're fucking on my kitchen table? Lord help us!

R103 I know a woman who has a degree from Vanderbilt, lives in Mississippi, and voted for Trump. She said Hillary came off as an entitled bitch who talks down to people. It didnt matter how smart or qualified she was. It had been rumored for years that Hill was very rude and condescending to secret service and others "beneath" her. Hillary was a horrible candidate, but this same woman I know would vote for Mayor Pete.

Driving to South Bend on Sunday for his big announcement <3 <3 <3

Where do those of you who think America is going to vote for a gay guy live? I've asked several times in different threads and since no one answers, I'd wager big cities and solid blue states is the answer that you are all unwilling to give. Two men having anal and oral sex is still a big deal in the Midwest and Rust Belt once you get away from the cities. Look what Wisonsin just elected as a justice for their Supreme Court and then tell me that same populace is voting for Mayor Pete and his hubby to move into the White House and ass fuck each other in the Lincoln bedroom. Not happening but enjoy your delusions.

Thanks, r132, I will. It may not happen if he runs. But it certainly won't happen if he doesn't run.

I'm not stupid and follow PB no matter what. In the current pool I see at least three candidates who I gladly can give my vote. Thankfully we have so many good candidates. If one of the other two makes it - great. If PB ends up the winner in the primaries, he will have worked most states. Delegates will have tested the waters and vote for the one who gets them most excited and who may have the best chance to beat the opponent. I am confident that the eventual candidate will not be elected solely by fanboys in the primaries but by reasonable delegates.

His hair looked fabulous. He’s also looking a lot hotter. And younger. Not sure if that is a plus given all the talk about his age. I cried my eyes out hearing about his coming out. He appeals to basic human decency and this is what we need more than ever. No other candidate connects on an emotional level like he does. And I hate always having to qualify why this means something but I am straight, female, and 68 years old. I don’t feel it from Kamala, Beto, definitely not Bernie. I respect Warren and think she’s really on the ball policy wise but there is an inauthenticity to her that turns me off. He’s got a JFK vibe about him. The passing the baton to a new generation resonates with me because of Kennedy. I feel hopeful about the future for the first time in a looong time. Damn, I wish the people of this country would do something smart for a change and pick a president based on the content of his character.

R134 if we don't make that pick it will tell you VOLUMES about who we really are , not who we think we are.

R131, good for YOU

R132, you’re a goddamned jackass, fuck right off you turd.

seven things about Pete

This is an amazing Buttigieg number, much more revealing than polling at this stage (which is worthless, reflects only name recog.). Bernie's way ahead here, but it wouldn't surprise me if he peaked early

I'm 58 year old guy and never been moved by a politician before as much as when Pete have his LGBT speech last week.

In the 80's I went to a Dukakis rally and was bored. In the 90's I lined up to be one of hundreds to shake Bill Clinton's hand in a park and I got why people said he had that something. In person he really had a presence. I never was able to get through a whole Obama speech. He came off to me as robotic. Al Gore came off as condescending and entitled to me.

While I admire Hillary's accomplishments and voted for her but never seemed personable or warm. I wanted her to win but I began to doubt her when she debated Trump. I will admit I didn't mind at first he win as I was sick of political insiders. We all now know what a mess The Orange Idiot turned out to be.

But Mayor Pete. Whoa. I have never felt such a honest and open politician touch me like he had. He is quick yet thoughtful and clear. I hope he continues his trajectory. He seems like the real deal. Can't wait to see him in n the debates.

R140 62 yr old here and feel the same.

America did not vote for a black president until it did.

America will not vote for a gay president until it does.

New poll has Pete in third place in New Hamshire primary.

Ask him how he feels about offshoring good manufacturing jobs.

For you Mayor Pete fans, 40 pictures of Pete through the years. Click on the arrow on the upper right to go to the next picture at the link.

R144, read r138

R145, last photo is super cute

To the moron that said Pete won reelection in South Bend because Notre Dame is a college town with a lot of young students living there...you aren't registered to vote where you dorm at college it's where your permanent residence is, which for the vast majority of college students is where their family lives.

R148 Notre Dame has an enrollment of 8,576 students, anyone who lives on campus doesn't live with in the city limits of South Bend. Notre Dame is not in South Bend it is in Notre Dame Indiana. Many of the apartments where off campus students live are also not in the city limits of South Bend and couldn't vote for Mayor Pete. Most of the students who do live off campus in South Bend couldn't give two shits about who is Mayor of South Bend. Most of the students are Catholic, conservative and come from rich Republican families. South Bend is a very very Democratic Party city, any person who wins the Democratic primary is a lock to win the election.

Not really sure what your point is r149

R148 I was agreeing with you, and was too lazy to search out the moron's post, sorry that wasn't clear.

Ahhh ok r149, I understand now, thanks!

Alright

Pete's on Ellen tomorrow!!!

R132 - in 1960 NO ONE thought a Roman Catholic could be elected President. The country and society evolve. Pete presents himself well, he is articulate, former service and has experience turning a depressed city around. Major Pete all the way. Biden - befuddled and old, Bernie - crazy and old. Harris - condescending tone of voice - therefore comes across as unlikeable - no that's not being sexist - she just comes off that way. Beto - comes across as having ADHD and will likely break his neck first falling off all the things he stands on. Warren - the native American thing will haunt her and her revealed finances will make her unrelatable to her far left target voters. Swallwell - poster boy for frat boys gone wild. Booker - I am Spartacus - just no. The other 11 candidates best not waste their time.

DL in a nutshell, one bitch at a time

What do u guys think his chances are ?

R155: I'm with Warren still. The Nazis were going to call her Native slurs no matter what, no one else cares about that nonsense. I have no idea what financial stuff you're spouting about her. She's leagues ahead of this guy on policy and ideas, and that's what matters. If we win and don't enact popular left wing policy, we'll be destroyed in 2022 and 2024. It's not enough to win 2020, we need to win with a plan to go forward.

R157: If the Chick-Fil-A stuff is anything to go by, not good. He'll fade when people realize he wants to do the whole bring everyone together nonsense. Obama failed at it, and so will he. Plus, Americans are not in the mood for a "come together" moment. We may never be again...

Mayor Pete will be on Ellen tomorrow!

Damn, I’m starting to really like him...which means he’s toast. He’s so multi-talented and interesting. I don’t understand Chasten, though. Ick!

It irks me the way Chasten pronounces his name.

R158, if we aren’t willing to come together then the country is over as a nation state. I’m a cyclical as anyone else but this is the attitude the ruins the country more than anything else

R162: Cold hard reality. I'm convinced we're already a failed state. I'll support my candidate in the primary and vote a Democratic ticket in 2020, but the sub-human right will always be with us and will always try to kill us. They inhabit their own reality and eco-sphere, and there's really no getting along with them. Unless generational replacements sees far fewer of them. That's likely the only hope....

Iowa is responding to Pete's message.

R164: But will they vote for him a year from now? You can like someone and still not cast a ballot for them.

45% like him, 9% don't, and the rest are indifferent towards him. That's promising.

[quote]..you aren't registered to vote where you dorm at college it's where your permanent residence is, which for the vast majority of college students is where their family lives.

Not completely right.

I remember voting for Carter and a slew of New Jersey politicians in 1980, because I was registered in NU where I was going to college .... AND also voting by proxy in the elections in Puerto Rico, my home “state.”

Maybe it was a thing unique to a US territory, because we don’t vote for president, or maybe I cheated? Either way, I do remember doing it!

NU >> NJ

Another blessing from The Atlantic; it makes me so happy that Mayor Pete is in the race now.

So honest with himself, I love him:

And then there was the raw story he told at the LGBTQ Victory Fund brunch over the weekend about how as a teenager, if there had been a pill he could have taken to stop being gay, he would have taken it, and if there had been a part of himself he could have cut out with a knife so he wouldn’t have been gay anymore, he would have. “Thank god there was no pill,” he said. “Thank god there was no knife.”

His eyebrows need some work though.

a lot of naysayers i've met use the whole "the country will NEVER vote for a gay guy" as their reasoning, without actually answering if they personally would vote for a gay guy. are these people homophobic or just idiots?

bump

R158 - Can you elaborate why you think we are a failed state. It seems very cynical. How have you personally been negatively impacted since 2016?

‘Have you personally been negatively impacted...?’ R173? Because fuck everyone else, right? And yes, everyone has been impacted by the failure of this vile bunch of gangsters to do anything about climate change, other than to enact stuff that encourages it.

Another enlightening interview with Mayor Pete:

Pete Buttigieg | Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future

Looks like he'll make it official on Sunday!

Plenty of nasty comments 😢

Ignore the trolls, R177. The Cheetolinis are threatened; their "leaders" have told them that this guy may actually have broad appeal and should therefore be destroyed.

You only have to reside in Indiana for 30 days, student or not, to vote in Indiana. Just thought the morons throwing around the word moron might want to know that they are the morons. And, again, where do all of you claiming that America will vote for a gay guy live?

What are his views on Free Trade? Mama wants to know!

R158, I hear you. Cable news is the vital fuel for a terrible force in this so-called country, and it’s not going away anytime soon

R169, I’m sorry but that made me cry, cry because he’s clearly fine the way he is, but so many other youth don’t ever realize this.

R173, gee, well, the environment is deteriorating before my eyes, and LO! Every single person I know isn’t getting a tax refund this year, why? Because of trump. People who have ALWAYS gotten one.

If Pete is elected wouldn't it be dangerous for him to travel to countries that are anti-gay?

I can’t wait for Sunday! I want a South Bend t-shirt!

[quote]If Pete is elected wouldn't it be dangerous for him to travel to countries that are anti-gay?

He’d hardly be the first ever gay head of state. Also, haven’t you heard of diplomatic immunity? Many leaders have visited our nation on official business, who engage in practices we consider, sinful, unethical, deplorable, or downright ilegal (polygamy, embezzlement, cannibalism, torture, abduction, murder, genocide, etc.) Not to compare homosexuality with such acts, but other governments would:

The pictures at R145 are a really impressive slideshow. Judging in terms of looks and PR alone, Mayor Pete comes off great. He looks interesting, he looks active, he looks like he cares about people and people care about him, and he looks "presidential."

If you were to superimpose Obama over Mayor Pete in most of these pics, it would be believable that Obama was behaving the same way in the same situations. If you were to superimpose Trump in most of these pics, no one would believe for a second that Trump would come within fifty miles of these activities or people.

As long as he doesn't huff poppers while giving a speech, he'll be fine. It won't matter he is gay.

R187, well put

I don't understand why Mayor Pete is being coy about the time of his announcement Sunday. It is Friday now and he wants people to show up but won't tell us exactly when and exactly where to show up. South Bend is shutting down quite a few streets Sunday so it is pretty clear approximately where, but they are still not giving a time. Poor management if they want people to show up. It is suppose to be windy, rainy and cold on Sunday also, I will be shocked if they get any where near the 10,000 they are expecting.

he's a coy bitch

It's at noon, R190.

And the location just changed.

Peter, lighting is Everything

He has gone and attacked Mike Pence. Now Evangelicals will hate him!!!

We wanna know Pete's views on women's issues.

Saw him on Ellen. He's good but I still don't think America will elect a gay guy, especially after hearing he's only been married for a year. Chasten had to walk up on stage after the interview. I've never seen any spouse do that on Ellen's show before. Chasten looks pregnant. Ugh.

Huh? You think their problem will be that he's only been married for a year? I had no idea there was a large sector of the population that makes their voting decisions based on how long someone has been married. Live and learn.

What are they going to dig up about Chasten?

Leave Chas10 alone. There are no skeletons in his closet. He doesn't even have a closet.

R198, they are still in the honeymoon phase. The stress of the campaign added on top of the dwindling of that honeymoon phase and the inevitable step-in-it moment will most likely show things that are less than the fawning, big-eyed "love" thing they have going on now. That's the point. It would be the same if Booker suddenly got married less than a year ago.

nice, r201

Does he really pronounce it Chase-ten or Chas-ten, not Chase-en?

201 at this point it's bigger than both of them, so they better get it together

Chas-ten, R203.

Nope, it's Chase-ten. I heard Pete pronounce it in an interview. Can't remember which.

I hate Chas-ten and think it's wrong so I will continue calling him Chaste-uhn.

r195 No one apart from the evangelicals can stand Pence and they're never going to vote for a Dem anyway. Especially not when they're a cunt's hair away from having a completely conservative SC and so getting abortion and SSM outlawed again. Those vermin are dying out anyway so who give a shit what they think.

In 2020, We Democrats need three states to turn blue once again to regain the WH. Could Mayor Pete be that person that makes the best argument to the Upper Midwest why Democrats have their best interest at heart? I do think so. Pete paired with Biden would make an awesome team come 2020

The only thing I don't like about him is that he is happily married to a loving husband.

I'm forever alone, and his happiness forces me to confront the fact that I'll never have a happily ever after of my own.

Pete is the Dems only hope. All the others are out of central casting and need to give it up

Does Pete have Aspergers? The thought just occurred to me today after watching him on Ellen.

Will the trolls start pushing “Pete or bust” on the DL once it becomes clear he won’t win the nomination?

Mayor Pete will be Rachel Maddow’s guest Monday night.

Chasten forever shall be Chastity for me: so demure, albeit slightly coquettish.

I was joking about the evangelicals. I don't think he has Asperger's, but it's just very, very dorky.

Mayor Pete is our champion. We need to help the guy because he's one of us. He could've married a chick, had 4 kids and introduced anti- gay legislation. But, he decided to be true to himself. Wow! I'm impressed. He's going for the big chair comfortable in his own skin. Love it! Love him!

SO glad he's going hard at piece of shit pence. Pence thinks that being mild mannered but bigoted is acceptable. Pete is successfully challenging that.

Pete represents a tough challenge for his detractors as he's a military vet and religious.

I'm a firm atheist but I'm all for him flustering those pieces of shit

Facebook is exploding for Pete. His sexuallality is a non-issue there, in fact, many straight guys and people claiming to be Republicans are think very highly of him. Yes, I realize it's an echo chamber but it's nice to see a variety of people support Pete at this point.

That idea that gays should vote for Pete just because he’s gay is silly. I really like him, but I’m not voting for him because he’s like me. I’ll vote for the one whose ideaology most closely aligns with mine.

And that person with the closest "ideaology" most aligned with you, R219, is whom?

Pete is both the youngest candidate and the adult in the room.

The idea of gay voters voting for gay candidates is not crazy; actually it's very pragmatic and rational. At least as a president, Mayor Pete will never sign into laws some legislation that will harm us and himself.

The crazy one is you, for not voting for your own kind, auntie.

Rachel, Ellen, Lawrence will all vote for him. Pete needs to go on Conservative Radio and Television and reach those that don’t know him through the Fox echo chamber.

I am getting a little concerned about Pete continuing to go after Pence.

While completely justified, the media is beginning to sensationalize it, and now all the headlines are about Pete "waging war" with Pence, instead of focusing on the positive momentum he's gaining based on his ideas and messaging--which is what the media was initially focusing on.

Continuing to single out Pence is only going to give the 24 hour news cycle an easy conflict to exploit and turn into a tit-for-tat cat fight, to the point where it overtakes Pete's overarching narrative--so by the time he starts to engage the conservative viewership on Fox, he'll already be caricatured as the overwrought, gay politician attacking religious freedom and those poor, innocent Christians.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy Pete called him out, and it's getting him attention, but if you continue to throw the media one too many bones, they will run with it to create drama and spectacle, which can quickly overshadow the narrative .you're trying to tell.

True, but Pete in his feud with Pence is highlighting the right wing hypocrisy and wrestling away the true definition and ownership of faith.

but what he's doing is showing you can be religious and liberal. I'm an atheist but it's time the right wingers stopped having a self-imposed monopoly on religious matters

r224 he's positioned himself as a peer of the VP on the national stage. Pete knows what he's doing

I used to think that Pete's last name would be a liability but now I think it almost helps him standout among such a crowded field of candidates.

It's a weird last name but his supporters are embracing it.

Pete’s proving the right wingers are not the moral majority.

I want that sweatshirt!!!

Yes! Go Pete

[quote]I am getting a little concerned

We knew you would

I searched for the sweatshirt and found a wide variety of Buttigeig merchandise on Amazon, including this devotional candle

[quote]While completely justified, the media is beginning to sensationalize it, and now all the headlines are about Pete "waging war" with Pence

The Housewivesificaiton of the election continues. The media are idiots.

a Store is Barn Part2

Ooh lord. Pete is about to have a Thomas/Samantha Markle on his hands. This is Chasten's brother. He is an evangelical, Trump loving bigot who just created a Twitter account to bash Pete and Chasten. How long until the Daily Mail gets a hold of him and starts paying him to trash him more publicly? He also has a criminal record so it'll be interesting to see what that's all about.

Ugh. That's awful, R236. Must be tough for Chasten, but, if this does escalate it is his brother who will be painted in a poor light.

NO "there, there" R236 .. NIce try.

Yeah, makes sense why Chasten only mentions his parents. He has 2 brothers but never talks about them on Twitter.

Didn't someone say Chasten Glezman was Jewish? So how can his brother be a deploratrash evangelical? Is he reborn or born again or whatever the fuck they call it in their cult?

[quote]He also has a criminal record so it'll be interesting to see what that's all about.

Chasten or his brother?

Raised Catholic, R240. He's not Jewish. He and Pete are both Episcopalians now.

I see. Yeah, I do recall now someone said Glezman was a Jewish name, not that Chasten was Jewish, either ethnically or religiously.

Pete was raised Catholic, too. Glad they've both left that church.

The Episcopalians in the US are like the last step before atheism, right? Or are those Unitarians? I always mix up those two. Clinton is an Episcopalian as well, isn't she? What's Trump's declared religion again? I still don't know after all this time.

Don't worry, Trump doesn't know either anymore.

I mean, I know he worships himself alone, but he and his whore go to a church of some kind now and then for the photo-op. I'm pretty sure it's not a Catholic one.

About the need for three turned states in 2020: Don't underestimate the power of the girl's best gay friend. Yes, he gets fucked in the ass, but no woman needs to feel at risk around him. That actually may help.

What I'm actually afraid of: Russian secret service casting look alikes for a raunchy "home video". If the Russians don't do the casting, then I'm sure SeanCody will scout for a look alike to monetize on the hype.

No #Metoo with Pete or Chasten.

On the other hand, as Twitter has shown over the past month, there are plenty of women who would never vote for a gay guy because they don't see us as real men. They're fine with having us as company to entertain them now and then, but they're certainly not fine with us getting the top spot. Don't underestimate homophobia from straight (liberal) women because it's less visible than the one coming from the usual suspects.

You're nuts, R250. The only liberal women I've seen push back are the ones who feel like it's a woman's turn. Otherwise, I have seen nothing but support.

Monday Pete will be on Rachel Maddow.

R252 if she broadcast her show over the airwaves, it would be Macho Radio.

Anyone that looks to the reactionary, self-selected vocal minority who actively choose to use Twitter to discuss and react to politics as an accurate representation of how Americans or those of a particular group (women, blacks, Democrats, gays etc.) feel, is foolish and out of touch. The vast majority of Americans are not on Twitter and don't care about Twitter politics, and those who are/do are of a very particular ilk.

R236 I googled and can’t find anything about a criminal record for Rhyan Glezman. What’s the source of your info?

Hillary Clinton is Methodist. Unitarians are the ones often considered "athiest"; traditionally the most gay-friendly, though UCC (most Congregational churches) are now fairly SJW politically. Episcopalian attract educated folks (wonks) as thinking for one's self is prized; traditionally, many gays have liked all of the papist pageantry of high Episcopal churches, without the RC hierarchy bigotry.

I fear folks are under estimating Pete's husband. Pete needs someone who can keep up with him, not some sort of ditzy Frau. Wanted to repost this video to remind folks Pete actually has a sense of "fun" - not entirely a robotic wonk!

R256 I love this you tube! I have fantasies of this song being blasted at inaugural ball! ("Steven" being replaced by "Donald"!)

If he's so religious, why is he having this big announcement event on Palm Sunday?

Because nobody gives a shit about Palm Sunday?

Most presidents were Episcopalian. Very traditional.

And Pete has not continued a feud, he has restated his position when asked. Big difference.

OMG, Palm Sunday celebrates a GLORIOUS ENTRANCE and is THE perfect day for PETE to announce.

For all you Philistines out there, the only thing missing is a white donkey. How Democratic.

And peddles of white roses.

Petals? No Palm fronds...

R262:

Peddles: a salesman peddles his wares.

Petals: a flower has petals

Pedals: a bicycle has foot pedals.

[quote]OMG, Palm Sunday celebrates a GLORIOUS ENTRANCE and is THE perfect day for PETE to announce.

Announce what?

[Announce what?]/quote

The return of the McRib, Rose!

His official candidacy!

He is a rock star.

Compare his response to the Trump/Omar thing to AOC, Sanders and Warren.

It's like he's playing in a different league.

AOC: “Members of Congress have a duty to respond to the President’s explicit attack today. @IlhanMN’s life is in danger. For our colleagues to be silent is to be complicit in the outright, dangerous targeting of a member of Congress. We must speak out.”

SANDERS: “Ilhan Omar is a leader with strength and courage. She won’t back down to Trump’s racism and hate, and neither will we. The disgusting and dangerous attacks against her must end.”

WARREN: "The President is inciting violence against a sitting Congresswoman—and an entire group of Americans based on their religion. It’s disgusting. It’s shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it.”

[bold]PETE: “After 9/11 we all said we were changed. That we were stronger and more united. That’s what ‘never forget’ was about. Now, a president uses that dark day to incite his base against a member of Congress, as if for sport. As if we learned nothing that day about the workings of hate.”[/bold]

[quote]His official candidacy!

Oh, I thought he already did that.

[quote]I fear folks are under estimating Pete's husband. Pete needs someone who can keep up with him, not some sort of ditzy Frau.

You write a somewhat knowledgeable post explaining the different religions to the poster who asked and then you turn into a stupid sexist asshole. Enough with the common sexism around here.

So Pete has no problem with her outrageous statement that “some people did something” on 9/11?

He can praise coming together, but not calling her out in any way shows he’s the virtue signaler.

I guess it was inevitable DL would start managing Mayor Pete's marriage. I just didn't think it would be this soon.

I didn't even know he was married!

Okay, I love Pete, but why is he on TMZ? Sorta scraping the bottom of the barrel there aren't we Pete?

Next thing you know he'll be posting on DL.

Aim higher, Pete. You don't have to accept every interview invite. Quality control is important too.

Maybe it was a pre emptive visit?

Pete should have condemned that terrorist supporting Omar.

R271 is a troll.

r268, AOC, Sanders and Warren are Aggregators. They assemble policy. Pete is a Distiller. Pete Buttigieg takes aggregated policy, deconstructs it, filters it and produces an understandable and compelling elixir for his beliefs. Hillary, the Aggregator, has THOUSANDS of pages of policy on her website (that nobody read - they should have) but Trump DISTILLED the motivations of the people that voted for him. Aggregators tell you what to vote for. Distillers boil it down to WHY you should vote for them. Of the top ten, only Biden and Buttigieg are distillers.

Buttigieg is a META communicator.

If he ever goes to the dark side we are fucked.

He will be a transformational President.

[quote]  you turn into a stupid sexist asshole.

Not that I think it will change your mind, but I did want to make one point. Folks have been focused on the first female president for a while now. I have found it incredibly frustrating, as a male, that it's not looking like I'll ever see half of the members of Congress being female when women make up half the population.

Well, R279, I think it would be great to have a woman President because men in politics are hyper-focused on wars and cutting taxes. Meanwhile women of both parties care about social issues like childcare, elder care, health insurance and education. Men in Congress and in the Administration think all of those causes are worthless and millions suffer as a result. De Vos is an outlier hired by a dirt bag that had to search far and wide to find such an intense sociopath. In Congress, even Republican women often vote for bills to protect children.

Having said that, female candidates this year are all more worried about defending niche groups than helping the broad base. It’s all about one poor, innocent asshat after another who is triggered. Fuck that. I want a grownup running things. If it’s a man grownup this year, I’ll take that.

R241 R255 I sourced it from this link where I found out about Chasten and his family. It doesn't specify what his criminal record is, just that he has one.

And by he I mean Chasten's brother.

Stop with this bullshit, r250. I am on Twitter every day and with a few exceptions, mostly like the women r251 mentioned who tend to be hardcore Kamala and BERNIE supporters and don’t like the fact that he talks about his faith, most of the feedback from women across the age spectrum is that they like him, some LOVE him, and all of them are impressed as hell with his intellect, character, calm manner, and his ability to communicate on a real world level, not some pie in the sky hopey changey thing. They donate to the campaign and spread the gospel and many want to work for the campaign. Stop the bullshit.

How did Pete compare in height to Ellen? I missed the show, and she's my baseline to finding out how tall celebs and public figures are.

See for yourself.

Chas was on the show, too?

I'm not worried about the brother. If anything, he'll create sympathy for Pete and Chasten, even in some Repugs and libertarian conservatives. Very few people like bullies who meddle in others' private lives and go around talking shit.

r286, he was in the audience.

I'm not worried about the brother.

Trump is related to MANY criminals without effect.

Has there been any sort of an interview or appearance of both of them together as a couple so we can see how they interact?

R281, well I gives his phone number on that l k, so I’ll just call and ask him I guess

Pete and Chasten did a very short interview with CNN a few months ago.

It starts around the 2:00 mark of the video.

Based on photo at r285, I'd say Pete's around 5'8ish. Given that Ellen is around 5'6&1/2". Also, Ellen looks great there! Love her jacket.

It appears that Pete's full name is Peter Paul Buttigieg.

He's a saint, MARY!

R287 Let's change some details of your post and see if this still adds up.

[Quote] I'm not worried about the [bold] sister, Samantha Markle [/bold] . If anything, [bold] she'll [/bold] create sympathy for [bold] Meghan and Harry [/bold] , even in some [bold] Royalist [/bold] and [bold] Tory [/bold] conservatives. Very few people like bullies who meddle in others' private lives and go around talking shit.

Do you believe the vast majority of DLers believe this to be true? Evidently not, based on the amount of threads here that attack Meghan Markle relentlessly. Even though the DL is team Chasten and Pete because they are fellow gay men, the deplorables and the mushy middle of America won't be so kind if Fox News and the Daily Mail start amplifying Chasten's brother the way the British tabloids have amplified Samantha Markle and her equally dreadful brother, Thomas Markle Jr. That's why Pete ought to be on alert to this. Since he's now #3 in the presidential primary polls, the right wing won't hesitate to use this against the two of them, mark my words.

Speaking of being #3. Why does mainstream media even mention Biden being the so called leader? That SOB hasn't even announced an exploratory campaign. The media shouldn't even be talking about him now; they should focus on the candidates who have announced they're running or formed a exploratory team. As of right now, Pete is technically #2 in the polls!

#PeteforAmerica

[quote]Pete and Chasten did a very short interview with CNN a few months ago.

Okay, Chasten calling his husband Peter instead of Pete was really cute, I must say.

Now the sister (cousin?) is in on the act too. This is Erin Glezman. She liked the tweet at R236 that trashed Pete and Chasten and she has a bunch of deplorable tweets on her Twitter timeline. She also created her Twitter account just this month. Odd timing.

^Actually, that may be the wife of Chasten's homophobic brother.

I have a feeling that Pete hasn't even met this brother. He's not in their lives and completely irrelevant.

^ That doesn't mean he won't become a problem for Pete. Trump and the deplorables, and especially Mike Pence, will be eager to use the brother against them, especially after Pete called out Pence for his blatant homophobia.

If Pete comes close to the nomination, he will have many obstacles, including possibly this brother. That doesn't mean he can't overcome them. This comes with the territory of running for president. They will do their oppo research, dig up people from his and Chasten's past, distort his views and more. His calm confidence gives me confidence that he can handle it. But who knows?

I wouldn't be so sure that these two really have an awful lot of a sordid past to dig up. At worst he would be a lightning rod for evangelicals to the extent they don't vote regularly already.

At worst Pete likely has some nudes out there given that he's a gay who used dating apps. Doesn't bother me in the slightest, but evangelicals will clutch all the pearls.

He's a gay politician who's used dating apps. He's not an idiot, there are no nudes.

Like they cared when Melania showed tits and pussy?

Aww....Pete as an elementary school kid.

R298, Erin Glezman has 10 followers and says she’s a pastor’s wife. There’s a bunch of anti-abortion stuff on her twitter feed with pictures of embryos.

She looks like she’s pretty close to those raving ant-abortionists that carry the dismembered fetus signs, the Westboro Baptist Church types.

Then it’s Chasten’s brother’s wife, not Chasten’s sister.

R309 She confirms this.

Bitch. And how is Pete her brother-in-law if she doesn't consider gay marriage to be legitimate?

Well, like Harry Truman said, if you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

This is probably going to bring a lot of harassment to them at some point. Chasten has has mentioned a couple of times the nasty comments they get on local articles about them. Sounds like they upset him but he deals with it.

This might be a good opportunity to show what they’re made of. Being the underdog isn’t a bad thing if you handle it right.

This includes both Buttigiegs and the Buttigieg dogs. Check it out.

The sister in law is a piece of work. Keeping a distance is probably the only way how to shield yourself of her (and her husband's) vitriol. She is acid reflux on legs. Oh and what a great time she'll have if PB actually becomes president. She could tour the congregations and be on FoxNews for years. Notoriety by proxy. Pete getting elected would be the best thing happening to her.

Oh, absolutely, R314. They'll be happy to leech off the "sinful" gay couple and live the high life.

Link to the livestream of Pete’s announcement. 1:45 Eastern time.

How many of y'all here look at Chasten and think, "That coulda been me! I should be the one planning the China picking! Life ain't fair!".

nice 2008 I'd-Like-to-Speak-to-Your-Manager hair at r310

R317 I'm only six months younger than Chasten so that could have easily been me if I lived in that area, plus I'm more attractive. Really, though, Pete was looking for a guy that would be his fem gay to his masc gay so anyone not overly effeminate could have been his spouse.

I disagree that he was looking do much for "fem" as outgoing. Absolutely doesn't want a wonky clone of himself.

I think he was looking for true love! 💙💙

[quote]Next thing you know he'll be posting on DL.

Don't think Chasten, a Drag Race fan, hasn't stumbled on DL at some point before Pete launched his exploratory committee, or that these threads don't come up when Chasten Google Pete's name.

Does Chasten own only one suit?

R321, according to Pete’s version, it was true love. So I guess that makes Pete a flyover frau.

Pete is a total flyover frau, but I like him.

[quote]And how is Pete her brother-in-law if she doesn't consider gay marriage to be legitimate?

Good point.

Chasten isn't that fem.

R327 he’s not that thin, either.

He must have been seeing criticism about his weight because he mentioned it on a tweet.

Good! Maybe he will diet.

They’re covering the South Bend site on MSNBC love now. Pete is late. They’re saying he’s outside talking to the overflow crowd outside in the rain now. They say they’re three or four blocks in line.

One reporter says he’s interviewing people in the crowd and not one person has mentioned his being gay. They were discussing the issues.

Mayor of Austin is fluffing the indoor crowd now.

Pete is on now!

Crowd says, PETE PETE PETE PETE PETE!

Pete is thanking various people. Thanking a teacher in the audience.

I am loving Pete’s speech. I am so pumped and excited for this candidate and I am definitely not alone.

R319, I really doubt it could have been you.

Right on, r336

R336 You'll never know either way.

R337 Wrong. It's not difficult to be more attractive than this.

And yet, he's attractive enough for Pete.

Pete said, "I saw his smile and instantly felt, I *need* to know him <3 ". Pete's in love, sorry haters.

Chas looks a little like Ed Helms.

sweeties

Luscious

Watching Pete and Rachel discuss politics and policy is politigasmic.

It was like watching Yara Greyjoy interview Renly Baratheon.

Didn't know he didn't come out until he was in his early 30s. He wasn't out when he was in the military or when he was first elected as mayor of South Bend.

Someone use facts or numbers or something solid to convince me that America will vote for a gay guy for president. I like him but I just can't get to a place where I believe that this country will ever vote him in as president.

Leave it to Maddow to be the one who is the most intrusive about his personal life.

[quote]Leave it to Maddow to be the one who is the most intrusive about his personal life.

Well, maybe coming from one gay to another, it doesn't feel so intrusive for Pete. I know I would be a little more defensive if a straight person asked me that question vs another gay person--only because there is an implicit understanding when talking to "family" that there is a mutually shared commonality of experience, pain and empathy when talking about coming out.

[Quote] because there is an implicit understanding when talking to "family" that there is a mutually shared commonality of experience, pain and empathy when talking about coming out.

I understand, but I didn't get that feeling from Maddow. She was almost judging Pete and his coming out journey, and I didn't like it. Maybe I misinterpreted the exchange.

R350, if you can, watch the exchange between Rachel and Lawrence O'Donnell as she hands off the show at the end. They talked about coming out and what she thought of Pete's answer (while he was still sitting there) and she spoke very eloquently about the things gay people share with each other that others can't understand when it comes to everything that leads up to coming out.

Like she did not watch his Victory Fund speech...

Rachel asking about Pete's coming out was redundant. That ship has sailed. Moving on, the economy, healthcare, national security await.

[quote]Someone use facts or numbers or something solid to convince me that America will vote for a gay guy for president. I like him but I just can't get to a place where I believe that this country will ever vote him in as president.

Though it’s still too early to judge and I hold hopes for better numbers, as of now the only two democratic candidates who have a solid lead over Trump in the polls are Biden and Sanders. O’Rourke barely edges him and Harris is a tie. Buttigieg continues to show better numbers against other Democrats in the primaries, but falls short of beating Trump by a mere two points, which in itself is an encouraging improvement, though not quite there yet. However, as I said, here’s holding hope, since the margins are tighter than we could have ever dreamed of even just 4 years ago!

Yes, by all means let's give up on him immediately because he has a very slim chance of winning. Then he won't have any chance at all.

Relax ladies,

We’re months away from the first primaries. Pete’s starting slow so he can finish strong.

If you saw his expression when Rachel kept hammering him about coming out, I think he really did not like the blunt tactless way she went about it, but was too polite to say so.

It’s not that he didn’t want to answer, it was that she acted like she was lecturing him about how and when he was supposed to come out, and was basically saying, I came out very young, how dare you not do it like it did it? Rubbed me the wrong way. Just because you’re a lesbian, living in a super liberal town with super liberal parents, doesn’t mean that’s how it is for everybody.

Pete was number three in some poll Brian Williams was talking about last night. People assume that because Bernie and Biden are ahead of him, that means one of them is going to be the nominee. I don’t think either of them is going to be the nominee.

Bernie has high negatives, a lot of people don’t like him and won’t vote for him. Biden has a long history of running for President and not getting the nomination. He’s a gaffe machine.

Bernie is so divisive he will split the party. They’re both too old. Even if it’s not Pete I don’t think it’s going to be either one of them.

Chasten's family is rednecks from northern Michigan, so no surprise about the asshole brother. In the NYT feature about his and Pete's wedding, he talked about being a sissy kid whose two macho brothers who were into hunting. He said his coming out went badly and that he was disowned for a while. I think he's on good terms with his mom now, though.

eat meat and greet

Biden’s 40 year congressional career will be scrutinized worse than Hillary’s Emails.

[quote]Yes, by all means let's give up on him immediately because he has a very slim chance of winning. Then he won't have any chance at all.

Who was that flippant response meant for? My observations at r354 were nothing but hopeful of Pete’s future performances.

I haven't seen her interview. However, from the comments it seems that her closing statement about only another gay person would understand sounds at odds with her tone at the time.

I think Rachel had an off night, rare for her...and I didn't like the hand off Lawrence.

Chasten is only 29 years old? Is that correct.

[quote]Chasten is only 29 years old? Is that correct.

And when Donald Trump was Buttigieg’s age, Melania was 13. Your point?

No point or criticism, was just surprised to see that since he looks older and wanted confirmation.

I had thought they were roughly the same age myself.

They're less than 10 years apart, perfectly typical age range for a couple.

I like Chasten's glasses. I have a square head, and round glasses just don't work for me.

R362, Lawrence had a woman in his show, I wasn’t paying much attention to who she was, but I think she spent the beginning of his show sort of smoothing over Rachel’s comments, as if she thought they were too abrasive. Which they were. I think it went right over Lawrence’s head.

I thought Rachel stepped out of her public persona of an easygoing, likable person for one minute with Buttigieg and revealed her real feelings, which were, I’m doing it right and you’re not. She seemed very SJW in that moment, and seemed to be personally insulted. That’s very unusual for her. Her reaction was so strident, it seemed very personal and off. I don’t think he was expecting Ms. Happy-Go-Lucky to suddenly turn into the Spanish Inquisition.

She WAS judging him. I found the whole exchange rather strange. He told his story in his own way in his Victory Fund speech. Which she didn’t reference so I’m thinking she didn’t watch it. Neither she nor Hayes takes him seriously. And don’t get me started on Joy, I’m still a homophobe, Reid. Steve Kornacki has a similar story about his fear of coming out, how he had to accept himself first, and wasn’t sure how his family and straight friends would take the news. I believe he also waited until his late twenties or early thirties to come out. Which means he was also in the CLOSET. Do they share the same apparent disdain for him? First time I have ever thought of Maddow as unlikable.

Everyone needs to go back and read the post at r278 and then re-read it. Sometimes in these long threads you come across a brilliant and pithy statement that gets to the core of a situation - that post is it.

Hope the author doesn't mind if I borrow points he/she made there, in the future.

Yes, r371. An excellent analysis of why Pete’s style as a communicator has been so effective. Kudos to the author.

Rachel was a bitch to him and deserves to be SLAPPED VICIOUSLY!

I dated a guy with a coming out story similar to Pete's. He was deeply conflicted with himself, raised very conservative and religious, and (not sure about Pete) was a virgin until he was 29. He was one of ththe sweetest guys I've ever met, we got serious very fast, but I knew deep down he didn't have the personal life experience to fully know what he wanted. I broke up with him, so he could love a little more before settling down.

He got married two years ago to a great guy. I still think about him, but I'm glad he's happy.

I’m crying now

I thought it was weird that Rachel waited so long to interview him. By the time she had him on, he had been interviewed by everybody and their mother. CNN had him on long ago.

I think it’s worth wondering why a lesbian woman might not find this guy intriguing enough to interview early on. Especially Rachel who is always finding all these interesting people nobody’s ever heard of.

Could it be she just doesn’t like him because she is aggravated by his being in the closet for a while? She really hammered on that, and said several times how she couldn’t do that, implying it was dishonest and inauthentic. I though she went way over the line there.

The impression I got was that he was saying he didn’t want to come out or even be gay at all, because somebody would give him a hard time, probably the parents. I think the dad was Catholic. Maybe the dad was anti-gay and they reconciled later.

I also got the impression, reading between the lines, that he may have been a virgin until he came out. At age 33. But no Presidential candidate is going to say that, unless they’re Mormon maybe.

I did too, r376. It’s almost as if she knew she had to get around to it because it would appear weird if she kept putting it off. Like a bothersome chore you cross off your list. Hayes was a straight up bitch to him. Again, I never thought of him as unlikable until that night. The cool kids just don’t seem so cool anymore. I find myself watching Lemon more than I used to.

Rachel's coming out was of no consequence. Pete's was because he was in the military and running for public office. I can't stand her. She probably talks intellect in her sleep. Yawn!

I think she may have been put off by his despair and shame at being gay and that he would have done anything possible not to be. I don’t find that dishonest or inauthentic. I think it’s as real as shit gets. That he struggled with his sexuality and finally found self-acceptance and the courage to own it and be proud of it is a story that many people share. He is running to be President of the United States of America. The guy has BALLS. And they’re real.

Rachel came out in The Bay Area. She had very gay friendly parents. Not everybody does. It seemed very tone deaf.

she feels cheap

[quote]Sometimes in these long threads you come across a brilliant and pithy statement that gets to the core of a situation - that post is it.

[quote]Hope the author doesn't mind if I borrow points he/she made there, in the future.

r371, not in the least., and thank you for the compliment.

r278

I think Rachel was dismissive of him, and Chris Hayes was such a prick because he’s *gasp* a white guy. A lot of people on the left - far left - are beside themselves because the women and minority candidates aren’t doing as well as Biden, Bernie, or Pete - three white dudes. I’ve seen a few of the black talking heads on MSNBC - be outright dismissive of Pete (specifically Jason Johnson this weekend).

I hate to break it to the Dems but if they want to win this election they need to win back some of the white male vote. They wouldn’t vote for the centrist capitalism friendly white lady, they sure as hell ain’t voting for Booker or Harris, and at this point Warren is her own worst enemy and that ain’t happening (the DNA test put the nail in her coffin).

That’s not to say Pete won’t have an uphill battle, being gay. However, there are a lot more grandmas with out gay grandsons, and great aunts with gay nephews - that might give him more of a consideration than that demographic would have 20 or even 10 years ago.

Many gays forget that it was white gay men who lead the charge to LGBT victory.

While lesbians and gays of color were banging on the door, gay white men were inside at the table. They were in the closet but at the table.

Nothing in the LGBT civil rights movement would have moved as fast if it weren't for them.

Pete is them next gen.

R383, I agree about the grandmas. There’s a lot of older people who were very homophobic, and then, guess what, the grandson came out and they got over it.

Pete says that there’s a difference in people’s minds between a group of people and knowing one individual face to face. A lot of people aren’t going to be nasty to somebody they know as an individual. They do that online or to strangers.

It’s the whole Republican playbook:

“Gays are evil.”

“What about my friend Sarah’s son, Joe? He’s gay and he goes to my church.”

“Well, alright then.”

^^ Making up a lot of stuff, aren’t we? ^^

Forgot to refresh. Was referring to the people who think they live inside Rachel’s head.

Pete's coming out story is actually more relatable than Maddow's. Growing up a closeted gay boy in Oklahoma, raised evangelical I felt all the things Pete spoke about. Makes me like him even more that he isn't ashamed to share his journey.

I've never shared my story with even my friends. Once I came out, I basically began a nee life, I left my pain and self-hatred in the past never really dealing with it. Pete is inspiring.

*new

Do you folks think that a joint interview of the three of them with Kornacki would have helped at all?

[quote]He is running to be President of the United States of America. The guy has BALLS. And they’re real.

Totes agree. He's the real deal.

I only get nervous that he and all the other candidates declare so early. Were 18 months away from Election Day, time for plenty of fatigue to set in. By the time we get to vote everyone will be sick of the frontrunners.

Wow, you are all so overreacting to the Rachel interview. She was fine. Pete was fine. If you didn't watch the handoff to O'Donnell while Pete was still sitting at the table, then you don't know what you're talking about.

And, R384, you're so full of shit. Sexism is even uglier in gay guys than in straight ones. You should know better.

Another protester interrupting ⁦Pete Buttigieg⁩ with chants of “remember Sodom and Gomorrah”

Rachel needs to check her privilege.

Remembering Sodom and Gomorrah, it was about rich privileged people charging poor people for crossing a bridge, then beating them up and charging them for the “beneficial bloodletting.” God got pissed.

No gays were involved.

Pete's the candidate that scares Republicans the most but they won't admit it. They want to run against Biden and Bernie.

Rachel seriously needs to check her lez privilege.

Americans have always been much more accepting of lesbians than gay men, and she lorded her college coming-out over Pete.

It was a total asshole move.

Hollywood, if you want to support Pete, stay away from him. Pete can win the Midwest back. But not with you sniffing around him. I’m talking to you Ellen.

I thought Ellen was all about a woman in the white house. She even made Booker promise on national television that he'd select a woman VP if he won the nomination.

It's really great that you have all taken Pete's message of working together to heart by attacking lesbians.

r392, you are wrong.

r400, we are not attacking lesbians but pointing out historical differences.

Lesbians were monumental allies in the fight against Reagan and HIV.

Again historical.

It kind of doesn't matter how Maddow lobbed the questions at him, self-aggrandizing as they were.

Mayor Pete answered honestly, calmly, respectfully and diplomatically. He did not backpedal or divert, or roll his eyes. It's another good example of what TO do in an interview setting. He is a master class in politics and diplomacy.

I wondered if Hayes and Maddows were being rough on him so they wouldn't appear biased. But considering how Hayes deals with other contenders that doesn't seem to be the case.

Let them be pricks or not but Buttigieg managed to appear really solid either way. No matter what they throw at him (same in the Chris Wallace interview), his responses were good and convincing to me. He grows with these questions, so I don't mind. Since I am a Buttigieg fanboy now I appreciate an interview where he ends up looking good and the interviewer does not.

Besides the coming out topic I thought Maddow's question were pretty deep and tested his policies very well. But I also thought that she couldn't have asked such deep policy questions to Warren, Sanders and alike.

[quote]I wondered if Hayes and Maddows were being rough on him so they wouldn't appear biased.

Yeah, I remember when they did that with Bernie and Jeff Weaver and Tad Devine and Symone Sanders and . . .

We can only surmise what was in her head because even she didn’t seem to know why she went there. Don’t blame us. That was a conversation that should have taken place in private. She blindsided him. It came off as you are not doing gay the right way. Fuck that.

R403, it was definitely a win for mayor Pete in this case

Thanks, r392. My thoughts exactly.

Maddow being "rough" on him?

Do you think she's running a daycare instead of a political TV show?

Hayes is just a homophobic doujebag. He’s slammed Pete on twitter several times.

R408, The only thing posters are complaining about is that Rachel asked Pete repeatedly why he didn’t come out as a teenager like she did. She grew up in the Bay Area with very supportive, gay friendly parents. Coming out had zero consequences for her.

Pete had a Catholic dad, lived in Indiana and has said repeatedly that he dreaded coming out from the time he first realized he was gay. He’s hinted it was because it would not be well received at all at home. He also wanted to go into the military and “don’t ask don’t tell” was still in effect then, so if he came out he couldn’t serve. That is dramatically different.

Her very opinionated comments implying her way was the right way, and his way was the wrong way were unprofessional. She asked about it at such length, and with such barely controlled anger, you got the impression the only reason she asked him to appear is because she was angry he didn’t come out sooner and wanted to lecture him about it.

It was weirdly very unprofessional and personal for a person that prides herself on being cheerful and happy no matter what’s happening in the news. I saw her repeatedly laughing the day the Barr Mueller summary came out, while every other person was dismayed, as if it was all a joke to her. But she can’t control her animosity for this? Unprofessional.

She is not the ultimate authority on when other people should come out. It was done in a very rude way that no non-LGBTQ journalist, or journalist that wasn’t a right wing homophobic, would have done.

R410 has it exactly right.

Great summation, r410. That is exactly what I’m pissed about. That she kept hammering her point. And the barely contained anger because he didn’t risk everything like she did. Except that she didn’t really risk anything. You know who did? The nine year old boy who KNEW he was gay at such a young age and had the courage to come out to his family. And then committed suicide after a week of unrelenting harassment at SCHOOL by the same kids who were probably his friends just seven days before. Fuck her.

I think Rachel was trying to make a different point - not that he should have been out since a he was a teen, but the remarkable change that happened to him within just 4 years.

He goes from "I wanted to take a pill to make me straight", to coming out a 33, getting married at 36, and doing nationally televised gay public displays of affection at 37 as he he runs for president. That's very fast. She's been out her whole life and just barely references her partner on her show, and I don't even see pictures of them together.

It's head-spinning amazing how quickly he went from closeted man to gay role model, now at an international level, in just 4 short years. I think she wanted him to talk more about how someone so closeted could be so comfortably gay now, so quickly. (Afghanistan was part of the answer.)

Rachel needs a shave

He'll be on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend! Set your dvrs!

R313. One of the things that bothers people was her barely repressed anger and a sense that she was being patronizing. She wasn’t asking questions with no emotional component, like she normally does. This was personal.

R415, thanks!

I must have seen a different show because to me Rachel, throughout the whole interview, continuously provided Pete a platform for him to expand and clear things up, which he did astonishingly well - to utmost perfection.

And asking him about the delay coming out to me was no different than asking him about many other controversial issues he’s bound to face in interviews (yes, even from other supportive gays) so he could have an uninhibited forum in which to explain himself.

But then again, I must have seen another version of the show.

I agree, she seemed fine, he seemed better

Wasn't sodomy illegal in Indiana until he was like 21? So why the fuck is she riding his ass on this? No wonder he rails against the coastal elites when they're so disconnected from the rest of the country.

[quote]The only thing posters are complaining about is that Rachel asked Pete repeatedly why he didn’t come out as a teenager like she did.

Except this didn't happen. Did some of you not even watch the entire segment let alone the same show? You are all starting to sound like defensive Trump loons going after everyone for attacking "dear leader". She literally said that waiting that long to come out would have killed her and then they talked about the difference like any two gay people in America would have talked about it. Her hand off to O'Donnell, with Pete still sitting there, was moving.

[quote] She literally said that waiting that long to come out would have killed her

Such empathy for others' situations!

r429, she seemed really cunty when she said that she was the FIRST OUT RHODE'S SCHOLAR and implied you Mr. Mayor do not have the courage of a cunty lesbian.

Yep she was a cunt, but a cunt that only a lesbian cunt talking to a formerly closeted gay man could cunt.

When Rachel was in college she was involved in AIDS activism and I think she did her thesis about it or something. So her Rhodes Scholar application got attention because she was this out lesbian and activist and very young. I think part of it may have been affirmative action. Not to say she isn’t smart, but she had a very high profile and I think that helped her.

I don’t think that Pete’s situation was the same. He wasn’t out then. I’d like to know what his circumstances were then and why he won it.

Because he's a genius, R423. Seriously, I'm convinced that he's somewhere near the 200 IQ mark.

[quote]Wasn't sodomy illegal in Indiana until he was like 21?

I wish.

It would be fun to see Pete and Guy Benson debate the issues.

Rachel was just jealous Pete had her identical haircut and it looked better on him.

R422 I am borderline Tourette's and the word cunt is a fave!

When she sits down to interview Pete she’s not the smartest person in the room anymore. That’s gotta smart;)

She's always been the youngest high-achiever in the room, and she was just a touch miffed by this upstart. It does hurt to get old and to not be the star.

You all sound insane attacking Maddow. I wouldn't be surprised if most of you are discord trolls.

She was one of the cuntiest cunts who ever cunted with him — just beyond all perspective and logic. My reaction was the same as that of R410.

I have watched Rachel since her debut. She is so overly solicitous and obsequious with EVERYONE — "did I get that right?" "will you stay with us after the break?" — that her seemingly judgmental, borderline disdainful tone with Pete was jarring BECAUSE it left room for it to be interpreted as chilly, judgmental or borderline disdainful.

Not only when compared to her basic super-jovial day-to-day style with Joe Blow Interviewee, but compared to what you might expect from someone who knows that coming out is a fraught process and did her graduate work on AIDS policy back in the mega-homophobic '80s.

From that interview, I'm left questioning Rachel's everyday motives, more that I am Pete's. I saw it as sad proof that we truly will eat our own when threatened by our own somehow.

R432, rewatch it because that's not what happened at all and you sound nuts.

Well, I'm not nuts, R433 — I'm not the only person who came away with that impression, not on DL, not on social media, not among media people I've talked with.

Hollering "crazy" and "insane" does not make it so. That's a Trump tactic.

Sorry, R431, I've always felt that she's overrated, and almost deified by liberals these days.

R434, where, exactly, do you think the trolls go? Right where you've described. Rewatch it. They had an amazing political discussion. They laughed. They agreed. And, then it ended with the handoff to O'Donnell, with Pete still sitting right next to her, where she talked about how gays and straights view coming out so differently and how two gay people discussing coming out have so much more behind their stories because it's not just a one moment in/out thing, it's the end of a long process that defined their lives in every way for a very long time, much of that time spent hating themselves and coming to terms with being different and how straight people can't understand that which is why that was the burning question she wanted to ask Pete because they both share that unique perspective.

You, and the others you are citing, are discord trolls.

No, R436, I'm actually a gay man in my 40s who grew up in the Midwest and went through it, and I've been subjected to similar treatment by foes and alleged friends alike.

I'm slightly older than Pete, slightly younger than Rachel. And she was glaringly out-of-character with him.

I know self-loathing and eating-one's-own when I see it. Keep coming at me. I welcome this discussion.

I would have said, "At least I never put on earrings, pearls, and a dress," but I am not as good a man as Pete.

Can we let this go please? At least in this thread? Bottom line is, she asked him quite interesting questions. And aside THAT topic I think her questions really got the best out of him, whether she intended that or not. I appreciate that he can answer difficult questions without gaffs, and without losing his authenticity.

R439, DL misogyny and sexism can't help itself.

R437, my description of exactly what happened on the show is accurate. Yours is not. Watch it again, all the way to the handoff to O'Donnell. You keep describing what you felt, not what was actually on the screen for a half an hour. It has colored your memory.

R440, your description is your INTERPRETATION.

As is mine.

A number of people agree with you, I guess. I'd say more agree with me.

Deal with it. The fact that Rachel's treatment of the first openly gay person to advance this far in presidential politics leaves room for such interpretation ... well, it speaks volumes.

And it would take a gay to spot how subtle her change in temperament was.

And she KEPT SMILING.

So telling.

tell me more

At least she did not scream MAN ON THE LAND, MAN ON THE LAND when Pete was there.

I felt that she went way overboard, Lawrence came on, and then when she wasn’t alone with Pete any more, she suddenly realized she came across as too strident and reigned it in very abruptly. She didn’t want to say during the handover to Lawrence, “can you believe this asshole here?” so she pulled it way back.

Lawrence was obviously oblivious and gushed about how great it was that a LBGTQ person was questioning another LBGTQ person. And if would have been great, except she seemed offended by him from the get go.

[quote]And it would take a gay to spot how subtle her change in temperament was.

What site do you think you're visiting, exactly, R442?

A GAY site? A site that A GAY might visit?

Russian troll.

I meant to say, it’s like she suddenly realized she had lost her composure live on the air, and tried to cover for herself by going back to her good girl persona during the handoff.

Meanwhile, whoosh right over Lawrence’s head.

r446, Соси мой член, дурак.

And it would take a gay to spot how subtle her change in temperament was LIKE THE MOTHER FUCKING CUNTS ON DL.

STRAIGHT people would have missed it, YA CUNT.

I saw it the exact same way as r437. The hand off to Lawrence was bizarre. She had no problem forgiving her good friend Joy Reid for her YEARS of homophobic posts and disparaging comments on her radio show. Her exchange with Pete was personal and hostile and totally unprofessional and perhaps all is forgiven on his end but I know what I saw and it was ugly.

Pete retweeted every part of the Rachel interview except the part about his coming out. Don't think he appreciated it either.

R449 brings up a good point.

Rachel went OVERBOARD defending her good friend Joy Reid, who was caught using homophobic (and what would today be called transphobic) language against an allegedly closeted male elected official in the past.

But she was cool to the point of perceptibly disdainful toward an openly gay elected official, a veteran, a hugely popular Democratic mayor in homophobic Indiana who is openly married to a man — someone she should have celebrated in her segment. But she spent most of it asking him why he was in the closet until he was 33, while she — THE FIRST OPENLY GAY RHODES SCHOLAR — would have DIED if she'd been closeted that long!

From the Washington Blade:

[quote]He has embraced his husband on the campaign trail and this week talked openly with Rachel Maddow about his experience coming out late in life, in a remarkably moving interview.

Guess there aren't any gays at the Washington Blade, huh?

r452, spin ya cunt, spin

Did he marry the first guy he dated? Something about his husband bugs me and no it's not jealousy.

R454, No he didn’t!

I don't think he considers hookups to be "dating." So he may have married his first actual boyfriend

Oh, well a LOT of people do THAT, so it’s not unusual at all.

I tried watching her show last night and realized for the first time how fake she is and changed the channel. I bet I didn’t miss a damn thing. Twitter was ablaze with praise for her but it was mostly straight white women posting. I have to admit it kind of made me sick. There was nothing moving about that interview. She has NOTHING to be proud of. Tried watching Hayes too. Same reaction. I think I have finally gotten over my MSNBC addiction. Thanks Rachel.

He’s about to be on Morning Joe right after the commercial break, so those of you fussing over MSNBC better switch to Fox News.

I don’t have a problem with the daytime hosts. I love Stephanie and Hallie. I am watching him right now on Morning Joe and Joe asked him about coming out to his parents. The difference with how Joe approached the subject and Rachel? Joe wasn’t seething with barely contained self-righteous anger. I thought the entire interview was great. They asked tough, pointed questions about his stand on abortion and healthcare and his faith. His answers were thoughtful and honest. He always impresses.

What is his stance on abortion?

A choice all the way til third trimester, r461

I’m impressed

He is scheduled to be a guest tonight on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Hope Seth doesn't make Mayor Pete look sad for even a second or you all are going to start running out of things to watch. Oh, I forgot, Seth is a man so your naturally sexist and misogynistic reactions will be muted.

Why do you assume that everyone posting here is a MAN, r465?

R466, I was talking to the sexist fucks all over this thread for the last day. Where did I say I was addressing it to men?

Don’t be disingenuous, r467. That would be DISHONEST.

There's always one butch woman who wants to be accepted by men and spews sexist shit to fit in.

Here's a preview of Pete on Late Night (if the link works.)

I know the white shirt with rolled up sleeves is his thing but can he, maybe, just try another color on occasion?

R471 Pete is a masc dudebro, and masc dudebros don't care about clothes.

I also want to apologize to Pete. I've ignored his thread the last two days, because I've been on the Schock thread. Because the gobbler only makes me angry, I am unfollowing his thread, and only posting on Pete's, who is a breath of fresh air!

r471, I suppose you'd like to see him wearing a Robert Graham shirt with popped collar and turned up sleeves? I like Pete's style...no fuss.

It’s surprising how many people are angry that a white man is running for Resident. You’d think no white man has ever run for President before.

I would like to mention that Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are the two front runners in every poll and they are both white. Also Beto O’Rourke is white. I’ve heard a lot of people complain about all three of them but the complaint does not seem to be that they are white. Only Pete is criticized for being white.

Is Pete extra-white or something? The others also seem white to me.

I think they see his sudden rise as a huge threat, R474. That's the problem, not the whiteness.

The demand against white men seems to come far more from white liberals than voters of color.

I think they see him as knocking Kamala out of the box. Before the race really started, a lot of people thought she would be a front runner, if not the front runner. Then Pete came along, and Kamala is not doing as well as people thought she would. Those two things may or may not be related, but Kamala fans are looking for someone to blame that’s not Kamala. And they’ve settled on Pete. Probably because he was an unknown and everyone else was already known and accounted for. Then he shows up out of nowhere and “takes her place.”

I think the reality is she’s a poor campaigner. Some of the other women are not doing well either. Maybe that just shows people don’t want a female candidate. Hillary was swimming upstream the whole time, people may not want to take a chance when Trump is there.

Everyday people, myself included, don't want a leader who believes they're better than everyone else, and I get that vibe from Kamala. She plays well on Twitter, but Twitter and "twitter outrage" doesn't play well with everyday Americans. A leader doesn't lead via soundbites.

Just the opinion of a typical flyover gay, who hopes the Dem candidate comes to visit my state.

#PeteforAmerica

I think there’s a disconnect between loudmouths on twitter and the people answering the polls. The idea that people want a moderate is pooh-poohed, but who’s at the top of the polls? Three white males, Biden and Pete are both moderates.

I think if Biden doesn’t do well, Pete is the closest to him as far as being a moderate, and he may get most of those votes.

Pete isn't as moderate as you think. He's progressive (although not as far left as Bernie the hippie) with a moderate tone.

Does the mayor have siblings?

No, R481. Only child.

[quote]Pete is a masc dudebro, and masc dudebros don't care about clothes.

Those shirts are blazing white with perfectly starched looking collars and perfectly rolled sleeves and a perfectly tied tie. He cares a lot. Either that or Chasten is dressing him all the time.

I love his argyle socks.

[quote]Everyday people, myself included, don't want a leader who believes they're better than everyone else,

Um... have you listened to our current President?!

r480, that is what a traditional Liberal looks like.

That's exactly my point, R485.

I tried to stay up for Pete's interview on Seth Meyers last night, but he was doing a ridiculously long show for some reason and I bailed. It was almost 1am and Seth hadn't interviewed his first guest.

His appearance on Late Night has been released in two parts.

Part 1

Part 2

Cuties

He has said in an interview that he's very sensitive to his appearance. That came in a context where he wanted to go out to the store one day without shaving, but figured that he didn't want to be seen as the slob mayor.

Aww, is Pete self conscious? He just gets more relatable and adorable.

R491 I'd love to see him all scruffy

His eyes are so blue each day.

He's clearly is image conscious

As are all politicians.

so it goes

R477 Pete’s going to win CA. It’ll be a huge embarrassment for Kamala.

It's quite possible that she could end up technically coming in first narrowly in California, but still have fewer delegates then the front runner the next morning.

He needs to tone down on his marriage. It might sound progressive and novel now but it soon will turn a lot of voters off as many dont care who he is married to and how good his marital life is. They want to hear him talk more about economy, immigration and international relations

He can talk about his dogs

He talks about all of it, R500. Sharing your personal story is important and makes people more invested.

Sharing is caring

R500, he's still a newlywed and you know how annoying they are about the loooove.

r495, he does it out of respect for the job.

Not really a vanity thing.

Yeah, he mentioned that he doesn't like to shave, but feels like people in his city would judge him if he walked around unshaven. That was pretty much it.

That doesn't explain the perfect outfits he wears every single day. It seems like he likes the idea of a uniform. Maybe it's a holdover from his military days.

He should grow a beard! Twitter would lose its mind!

He doesn't have the strongest chin or jaw, so a beard would work for his face.

It's probably just for simplicity. Black pants, white shirt ... you can combine them with every tie.

He seems to only own a couple of navy ties.

We all know Pete's gay, now back to regular programming - healthcare, economy, security, etc.

This is a gut who wants to be seen as a good politician not a fashion icon. Good for him.

He is avoiding all gay stereotypes.

A beard would separate him physically from the other white guys running.

And mutton chops, just like Chester Arthur!!!

R513, him being a foot shorter than all of them will take care of that.

I had an epiphany last night as to why so many on here become so vicious every time someone seems to slight Pete is some way. You're not supporting him. You're falling in love with him.

I think I'm guilty a little, r515, though I'd say it's more of crush. He just seems perfect. The kind of man I look for, but never seem to find.

r515, that is exactly what happens with a charismatic candidate.

R517, I think it's different with Pete and DL. I think the gay guys are falling in love with him as a person, not just a candidate. Like R516 said, it's like they have a huge crush on him. People fell in love with Obama's enthusiasm or his energy or his charisma and newness, etc. but I think a lot of gay guys are actually falling in love with Pete, the person. I don't think a huge number of people were saying, "Ooh, I wish Obama was my boyfriend!" but that is what is happening with Pete on DL. It's understandable being that he seems like an accessible gay guy who you could have met in a bar five years ago and actually had a chance with. It's not a bad thing but it explains the huge defensiveness that comes up when people criticize him.

[quote]He should grow a beard! Twitter would lose its mind!

What do you mean would?

The internet loves beards.

Just today, the internet is in a tizzy over Jason Momoa shaving his beard.

Well, I have a Nana crush on him. I just want to pinch his cheek and serve him cocoa. With marshmallows.

I think saying the only reason people on DL like Pete is because they’re in love with him is patronizing. There are plenty of lesbians and others on this site and they’re not in love with him.

I think people like Pete for the same reason they like Obama, because he’s likable. Just because you like someone doesn’t mean you want to jump in their pants. I like Michelle Obama, but I have no interest in her pants.

I didn't say all the people on DL, R522. I said the gay guys who get really defensive about every perceived slight to him and are acting like protective boyfriends are falling in love with him. There just happen to be a lot of them on DL.

R511

Tried to watch Maddow tonight and shut her off 15 minutes in.

I'm done with her after the way she treated Pete in their interview. Can't look at her the same way.

And I've literally been watching the show since her first month in 2008.

Don't laugh, but Pete makes me want to be a better person. Not that I'm terrible or anything but rather, what can I do to help others.

It is a great episode. She went through and showed how each of the unprosecuted obstruction cases is substantiated for future prosecution.

r526, charisma doll, charisma.

Waiting for her to ask Swalwell if he is the straight answer to Mayor Pete. She’d like that.

People can support Pete as a candidate AND have a crush on him. We'll be a better country if he is elected, and any man would be lucky to have a guy like him.

R525 and R526 are exactly what I'm talking about.

You're talking out of your ass more than you're talking *about* anything, R531.

Thanks R532 for proving my point. See how defensive they get when you call out their little crush.

Unless you ARE talking out your ass.

Go away.

Who is "they," R533?

If you're coming onto a gay board to divide gay people into "us" and "them," your presence is not wanted. You are dismissed.

So Kamala gets the first guest spot on Seth Myers tonight, while Seth had Pete play second fiddle to Amy Sedaris last night? Ridiculous!

Pete with a beard

Pete is perfection! ❤

R535, as I've explained multiple times, the "they" is the guys on DL who are crushing out on Pete and acting like you and R538 when called on it. Are you drawing little Pete hearts on your notebooks and writing your name with Buttigieg after it over and over? It's really hilarious. It's even more hilarious that you all keep just proving it post after post while simultaneously attempting to tell me I'm talking out my ass.

R538 here, I was commenting on the cute pic of scruffy Pete at r537. I wasn't replying to you r539, or any of your posts.

R531, read my post again. I was talking about me and what I'm inspired to do. I didn't wax poetic about Pete. I don't love him. I do like what he represents, though. Perhaps you are projecting?

r541 here, sorry, I thought I was posting to the "My cats are suddenly terrified of my bedroom" thread

First it was the evil Rachel Maddow who dared to talk openly to Pete about their shared experience of coming out. Now, it's the horrible Seth Meyers who dared to put Pete on after someone else! Like I said before, it's understandable that some of you are getting crushes on him and that's fine. It's the ones getting hyper-defensive and attacking people about perceived slights to Pete while pretending its not due to their crush that are turning people off. First came the BernBros. Then, the Betoboys. What are the Pete worshippers going to be called? It's turning into the same thing as with the other two where I like the candidate (although I've come to hate Bernie) but can't stand his reactive acolytes.

Quit hating, r543!

#PeteforAmerica

#WeLovePeter

#TeamBigButti

Oh my. Pete with a beard. This is a game changer. Nice.

R543 seems more obsessed with Pete than most of the posters in here.

All right, Mr I-Hate-Pete, then what else?

Biden and Bernie are too old. They both probably have enough unvetted skeletons in their closets to open a medical school. Especially Bernie. Joe’s include all the fifteen million tapes of him smelling women’s hair and groping people. I even saw a haiku yesterday about Biden smelling women’s hair in a conservative Washington paper. Then there’s Anita Hill, credit card bills, his son leaving his wife for the dead son’s wife, etc. I don’t see how he can drag his family through this knowing the Republicans are going to drag both families through the mud. Ugh. There’s months of drama-filled negative ads set up there.

Kamala: not doing as well as predicted and not catching on as a personality. I have yet to hear anybody say they like her as a person. She’s mostly an option for people who are obsessed with identity politics and insist on a token minority that’s a woman.

Beto: right now at least people think he’s a good-looking lightweight that likes to stand on top of things and doesn’t have much else going for him. They’ve taken another look since his match with Cruz and are starting to think there’s no there there. Could it change? Maybe, but Beto is going to have to step it up.

Booker: just no.

Klobuchar: way down in the pack and not catching on. Seen as unlikable by many.

Gillibrand: very low in the polls and people are still mad about Al Franken.

Warren: has some fans but also polling in the neighborhood of Pete, only she’s been around a lot longer and is much better known. Should be doing better. Can she beat loud mouthed, pushy Trump, or even hold her own with him at a debate? Maybe. Can she hold her own against Trump with blue collar, beer-drinking swing voters? Oh sure, longshoremen want to have a beer with Elizabeth Warren. And they want some squeaky-voiced woman telling them what to do. Uh-huh.

So what have we learned really? One, surprisingly polls show voters want a white man for President. The vast majority of the polling is going to Biden, Bernie, Beto or Pete. That surprised me honestly but look at every poll there is. Once people figure out the women can’t get a good percent of the polling, their money is going to dry up.

This is why Pete is getting traction. Voters looked at all the others and weren’t really happy with any of them, and here comes this shiny new thing without a ton of negatives. And he’s likable, which many of the others are not, if you think about it.

Smelling women’s hair does not make you likable to the #metoo generation. Neither does bashing your own party members (Gillibrand), coming across as cold and calculating (Harris), or referring to your wife like she’s an appliance and asking people to feel sorry for you because you’re running and it’s your “service to the country” (Beto). I think eventually Beto is going to show himself to be a raging narcissist, too many comments about the fam that make them seem like employees or a burden.

Bravo, R546!! You nailed it.

If Pete emerges at the front runner, hurrah and terrific... but all the dismissals in R546 are somebody with a candidate they prefer... not a clear headed analysis. The polls at present are not fiction. Biden has strength. So does Sanders. There's a big difference between what you want and reality, some times.

R548, honestly, that’s what concerns me the most. Biden and Sanders are frontrunners and they both have terrible negatives and are very vulnerable to negative ads. And both are old and could have health issues on the trail. Almost two years of campaigning is tough on even a young man.

Then, both are one termers if they do win the election, and we have to just hope the VP can get traction against some Republican that may be a star of his party, after the Democratic VP is weighed down by being held responsible for whatever negatives the Democratic President proceeding him did, which isn't fair to that person. We could lose after the one term. That’s a hell of a risk to take when you could just pick a younger person that can run for two terms.

Then there’s the point the negative ads will make, so you want an 80 year old as President? What if his mind goes? Anything Trump does himself will not stop those ads from running. If he is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they will say it even more.

I think Biden and Bernie are past their sale date and it would just be opening up the nominee to some really horrific negative ads we can avoid by picking somebody else.

The Young Turks have got a new anti Pete video up. Be sure to give it a downvote.

Just judging from that photo alone, I would automatically discount whatever they’re saying. That guy looks like a Class-A asshole.

R548, yes, look at current polls. Thank good we don't vote tomorrow! Do get it now? Polls change.

We need to win this one election. I don't give a damn who can do it, so long as they can do it.

It’s early days yet. You know what I think will happen? At some point, Biden and/or Sanders will have health issues and they will dog them the rest of the campaign, like Hillary tripping on the icy steps or coughing phlegm into her glass during a speech.

Remeber all the photoshopped stuff online about Hillary on her last leg? I just saw something yesterday about Hillary being thrown into a van after fainting. And it’s years later!

What do you think they’re going to do if Bernie/Biden faints in the heat, or slips in the snow? The rest of the campaign will be, Democratic candidate ready to kick the bucket right up until Election Day. A sneeze will be depicted as certain death. Facebook and the Enquirer will run photoshopped pictures of Biden looking gray with dark circles under his eyes like they did with Hillary, saying, Months to Live! Then the cartoons showing Bernie with a cane, bent over, etc.

People have to realistic, that’s just handing it to them on a platter.

Beards or bust!

Look at it this way. Let’s say somebody like Kamala or Beto falls down on the campaign trail and breaks their leg. People will say, oh well, too bad. The candidate will gamely hop around on crutches and get applause for being tough.

Ok, let’s say Bernie or Biden falls down and breaks their leg. People will say, he could have broken a hip and then he’d die!

Perception is everything.

To secure the nomination, Bernie will shave his head.

elizabeth will make amends

Karen will make popcorn

An earlier, angrier, more defiant, and more emotional version of his Victory Fund speech that sparked the current war with the Vice President and religious right.

I'm sure as governor and a mayor of a major city in Indiana, Pete and Pence met. I wonder if Pete got some up close gaydar pings.

They did meet and Pete has been criticized for being civil to Pence and not standing on a chair and saying “Eeeek!”

[546] That was an excellent overview of the candidates.

Yes, I'm another one of those guys who's besotted with Pete. And with good reason. He's the guy the country needs NOW, not ten years from now. And more and more people realize that every day.

Big money is pouring in for Pete, and he's going straight to the top. So suck it, all you miserable Pete-haters, No One Will Vote for a Faggot defeatists, and Russian troll farmers.

A group of five former ambassadors who served under former President Obama are lining up behind Pete Buttigieg, giving the South Bend, Ind., mayor a jolt of institutional fundraising support amid his meteoric rise in the Democratic presidential primary.

The Obama diplomats — Timothy Broas (Netherlands), John Phillips (Italy), Tod Sedgwick (Slovakia), David Jacobson (Canada) and Bill Eacho (Austria) — raised millions of dollars for the Obama-Biden ticket in 2008 and 2012.

The ambassadors are now planning a fundraiser for Buttigieg in Washington, D.C., in May.

Jacobson is also planning a Chicago fundraiser, putting Buttigieg’s fast-rising campaign in position to tap into Obama’s deep network of wealthy donors.

“I am all in with Mayor Pete. No one else. I don’t see anyone else who comes close,” said Eacho. “His ability to come across as authentic, honest, and trustworthy; his ability to connect emotionally with the American people, are qualities I have not seen in the other candidates. And of course I like the way he frames important issues. He is all about making progress without a flame-thrower approach.”

There is building buzz in Obama World around Buttigieg, a military veteran, Rhodes scholar and gay millennial leader.

Many top former donors see parallels between Buttigieg and Obama, because of their fast rise, their political and rhetorical skills, and the potentially history-making nature of their campaigns.

“I see in Pete many of the same things I saw in Barack Obama back in 2006 and 2007,” said Jacobson. “I see incredible intelligence, great common sense and a dignity that befits the office of the presidency. Those were qualities that all of us involved in the Obama campaign saw early on. With Pete, the more you see him, the more you like him. That was very much the case with Barack Obama.”

Jacobson told The Hill that he didn’t take Buttigieg’s campaign seriously when he first announced his exploratory committee in January. But he said Buttigieg’s CNN town hall in March was a “watershed moment” for the campaign. That town hall earned rave reviews from Washington insiders and generated enormous online interest in Buttigieg, which continues today.

Buttigieg has since seen a surge in support in public opinion polls, going from a relative-unknown into the second tier of candidates, alongside former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

But Buttigieg started raising big money even before the Obama fundraisers got behind him, hauling in $7 million in the first quarter and another $1 million in the 24 hours after he officially launched his campaign last week.

He’s been the subject of glowing media profiles and has a propensity for viral internet moments, such as when he offered condolences in French after the Notre Dame fire.

Buttigieg also raised his national profile by picking a fight with Vice President Pence over LGBT issues and by battling anti-gay protesters on the campaign trail.

Some of Buttigieg’s backers say they’re gobsmacked by the swiftness of his rise. Colorado businessman David Friedman, who raised more than $1 million for the Obama-Biden campaigns, said Buttigieg wasn’t even on his radar until recently. Now, Friedman’s all in and working with the ambassadors to raise money for Buttigieg.

“I didn’t know Buttigieg existed two months ago,” Friedman said. “I heard him speak a few times and saw him interviewed and I just decided, he’s the one. He’s inspiring. He has that fire in his belly. He appeals to your heart and your head.”

He seriously needs to grow a beard again. This was a good look.

That Young Jerk is dressed in a couch cover from 1955. Hard pass.

R563 nice encouraging post

I wonder if this means Obama is quietly endorsing him behind the scenes. Obama never endorses anyone publicly until they’re the nominee. But these are unusual times.

Is Chasten pronounced chess-ten or Chase-ten?

I think its Chass ten

Chess-t'n

r545 = Rosario Dawson

That Northern Michigan nasally clip probably forces it out as Chess-t'n

Beto is worth $5-$10 million dollars and the wife’s family is worth $500 million.

I wonder if that’s got something to do with his kind of entitled attitude. When he said running for President was his service to the country, that rubbed me the wrong way. He thought it was a sacrifice similar to serving in the military apparently. That’s incredibly immodest and sounds bad when there’s at least one other candidate who actually did serve in the military. I can imagine how vets took it.

So she’s only half a billionaire heiress. That changes everything. He has Daddy issues. Don’t we all but we are not running for president and like George W. he thinks he has something to prove. This isn’t a serious guy.

Actually, the article at the link at R573 says her dad may be worth more but nobody knows. He’s a real estate mogul

“Last week the New York Times published a story about Congressman Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke of Texas, focusing on how a decade ago he supported a plan backed by his real estate tycoon father-in-law William Sanders to redevelop a blighted El Paso barrio neighborhood. The gist of it: O’Rourke, a city council member at the time, didn’t object when the mayor of El Paso threatened property owners with having their properties seized under eminent domain and sold to a real estate investment trust started by Sanders.“

Beto now says he’s against imminent domain to build the wall. I can see him being called out for hypocrisy.

Shitty

I am from Texas and I loved that Beto challenged Lyin' Ted, though too bad he didn't win. I was turned off when Beto claimed he "was born to run.".

Pete has a fire that Beto can't

At this point, after years of Trump’s egomania, I think a lot of people are going to be turned off by one egomaniacal statement after another from Beto. And a lot of those statements and actions have been poorly received already. As time goes on and they accumulate, it will become apparent that he’s a narcissist.

“Born to run.”

“She (his wife) is raising the kids, sometimes with my help.” He walked that one back but people were offended.

Running for President is a sacrifice.

Announced with the wife gazing adoringly and not saying one word. Can you see the Obamas doing that?

A long time ago, I heard some politician say, if you run for President, people are going to find out who you are. You’re on the campaign trail all day and you can’t hide who you are forever.

Oh wow, r579. Yeah, he's an empty suit.

I bet Pete has never berated a staff member for forgetting utensils, nor eaten a salad with a comb to rub it in.

He’s for workers!

Pffft. He ain't a 2 scoop guy

From The Hill report "Five Former Obama Ambassadors back Buttigieg"

[quote] Colorado businessman David Friedman, who raised more than $1 million for the Obama-Biden campaigns, said Buttigieg wasn’t even on his radar until recently. Now, Friedman’s all in and working with the ambassadors to raise money for Buttigieg. “I didn’t know Buttigieg existed two months ago,” Friedman said.

[quote] “I heard him speak a few times and saw him interviewed and I just decided, he’s the one. He’s inspiring. He has that fire in his belly. He appeals to your heart and your head.”

Well, that was awkward. I focused on the faces of the workers and they weren’t really feeling him. He said all the right things and there was no response from the people behind him. Haven’t watched the Biden tape yet but I am guessing he got more of a response from them but he knows how to speak working man. Even if sometimes his actions don’t fit the yada yada. He couldn’t wait to get away. I don’t blame him.

Mother Jones has an interesting article On Beto and his FiL in the current mag.

Interesting what you can do when you marry the daughter of a guy whose ranch is larger than the state of Oklahoma.

Those strikers may not know much about him.

South Bend was a company town that had a Studebaker plant that closed in 1963. Since that plant closed, nothing replaced it and the population slowly declined until by the time Pete took office, the population of South Bend had declined 25%. There were empty houses everywhere. It was like a mini Detroit.

People would go to college and never come back. No jobs, no future. Incomes were minuscule. There’s a lot of crime.

Pete has not solved every problem, but he helped create a lot of jobs, revitalized downtown and made it possible for mom and pop business to get foot traffic on the main drag, and brought in a bunch of investors. He used the town’s budget to help poor people repair their run down houses and help remodel the Studebaker plant into a business park. The former empty, rundown hulk is now a sign of revitalization and pride to the locals.

A guy who grew up in a town where the main landmarks were a rotting auto plant and empty houses falling down, understands about working class people being the backbone of a town.

I love those old timey places

[quote] I was turned off when Beto claimed he "was born to run.".

Turned me off too... not completely but he's got earn back my confidence in his motives. It seemed a very vain thing to say. I think the Vanity Fair article was a mistake for him... he came across as too much about Beto and we all know how the slick crowd plays in politics these days.

I don’t think the problem was that it was Vanity Fair, I think the problem was that when Vanity Fair does in-depth interviews like that, they get to the core of the person. They do a good job.

In this case, it was the core of a narcissistic person.

r585, those mics were not for some sound system like at a rally. They probably couldn't hear him.

Chasten needs to work on the tech

Pete and Chasten hit it out of the park on CBS Sunday being interviewed by big Christian John Dickerson.

Link?

Here ya go.

Cuties.

I kinda like that Chasten is kinda plump. It sends a message to all the gays who aren't welcome at Fire Island or Coachella.

r597, are you saying Chasten is full figured? ...because that's just rude.

Well, full figured by gay standards, but not fat like you.

R353 and others - I agree - his coming out should not be a major part of any interview. He is running for president. He happens to be gay. He should not hide from it - but when skanks like Maddow go personal about it he should find a way to gently shift the conversation. The fight has been long and hard and the right for gay marriage is won so his coming out story is irrelevant IMHO.

Mayor Pete likes 'em thicc.