Few Democrats navigate the pitfalls of access-driven mainstream media better than Pete Buttigieg. The former Secretary of Transportation has won admirers for the way he is able to turn around the mainstream press’s both-sides form of questioning and make reasonable points that appeal to a broad number of Americans.
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One of my personal criticisms of Democrats during this midterm election campaign is that it appears much of the DC elite Democratic leadership doesn’t spend much or any time around real people and understand their life concerns.
There seems to be a good bit of talk about the issues that matter most to voters, but it also includes buzzwords and talking points. I don’t always sense authenticity from some Democrats.
A lot is gained when a person is able to travel around the country and talk to real people about their lives and needs.
Kristen Welker asked Buttigieg on Meet The Press to respond to the allegations Trump made about Democrats at his convention.
Pete Buttigieg said:
Look they're doing that because they cannot defend their results, and they cannot defend their unpopular agenda. I just heard on your program Speaker Johnson hemming and hawing because even he can't endorse what President Trump has been saying, like this idea that everybody's gonna get $5,000.
I think that tells you everything you need to know, that's just not going to happen. And the tragic thing about it is that extra cash would mean a lot to a lot of families that are hurting in the Trump economy.
….
You can't fool people about what's going on in their own lives. They see that this economy is worse. Diesel right now is at the highest price ever recorded in American history. And they've seen so many broken promises from Speaker Johnson, House Republicans, and this White House, that they are ready for change even in districts where I didn't think we'd be able to compete if you had asked me six months ago.
When Welker asked Buttigieg about Sen. John Fetterman, he turned the tables.
