Pete Buttigieg Blasts Trump And Shows What Real Leadership Looks Like
Pete Buttigieg said that Trump and other people like the president who are trying to exploit political violence are hurting the country.
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Pete Buttigieg has been a voice for clarity and reason since he first arrived on the national political scene while running for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Given that Buttigieg has a reputation for clear-eyed and level-headed criticism, it was not surprising that he had a problem with the way that Donald Trump has led the country after the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Meet The Press played video of Trump saying:
My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country.
Kristen Welker asked Buttigieg for his reaction to Trump:
I want to be really clear about this. This is an example of something that is hurting. We're not getting the leadership that we need to bring this country together from the White House. And in order to turn the tide of political violence, yes, we have to reject those who commit political violence. Yes, we have to reject those who celebrate or promote political violence.
But also, in order to deprive political violence of its power, we have to reject anyone who would try to exploit political violence. The response to this cannot be for the government to crack down on individuals or groups not because of violence but because they challenge the government politically.
We need to have free and open political debate and a healthy political process in this country. And by the way, just like an overwhelming majority of Americans reject violence, an overwhelming majority of Americans, left, right, and center, believe that the government should not be cracking down on its political opponents because they are political opponents. Not in the United States of America. Not ever.
Video:
Pete Buttigieg was correct. The way that Trump has reacted to the Charlie Kirk shooting, which was the first to try to exploit, and then, when he could not use the shooting to his advantage, stop talking about it, has not been what a president should do.
Trump has failed the United States in a lot of ways, but the one that has impacted our culture the most has been his total refusal to lead in a bipartisan way as he sees everything through a partisan lens that he uses to demonize people that he views as enemies.
Some of the most substantial criticisms of Trump after the Kirk shooting have come from Democrats like Buttigieg, who are thought to be 2028 presidential candidates.
A president is supposed to lead.
Even with all of the bad policies, corruption, and self-dealing, one of the most glaring aspects of Trump’s sinkhole presidency is that he is disinterested in leading the country in a bipartisan way.
Buttigieg’s comments highlight this failure that Trump is incapable of not using an issue to divide.
America needs leadership to be restored the presidency, and that can only happen without Donald Trump.
Pete would be a great president. Very smart, articulate, gracious, clear sighted, organized, strong, diplomatic. Perfect candidate.
Pete is right, but it’s more than that. This is deliberate. Trump and MAGA are not only gaslighting all of us, they’re are still using “they” as though this assassination was a vast left-wing conspiracy; and worse, they are now lionizing and memorializing Kirk as a US hero. Military carrying his casket on Air Force Two with Vance. He’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a separate ceremony that will build on this man’s legacy.
Moreover, this should scare us the most. The more they treat him like MLK Jr., the more our youth will be curious and look him up on social media.
And therein lies the rub; all the social media platforms are operated by MAGA. They will magnify his and many other right-wing influencers who will tell the world that radical lefties were responsible. They will show misleading clips of him as this uniter and free speech warrior.
And this is occurring at a time when all other voices are being silenced. People are being fired, and everyone else is either cowering in fear, or self censoring.
Bottom line: The real dangers are just beginning. And it’s not just here, these messages are being spread throughout Europe which already has its issues with their far-right that is growing and multiplying daily. Not to mention, throughout the Americas as well. IMHO…:)