Dems trying to make Buttigieg the new Obama, that is, someone whose identity makes them appear to represent change--to get support from progressives, but who actually represents business as usual. With Obama's recent "too far left" comment, I can tell *I was blind but now I see.*
It WAS historic to elect a Black president. But racism he faced from the GOP who clobbered him at every step made him look more progressive. We (Black people like me) could believe that without all that opposition, he would've been the socialist they insisted he was. He was not.
It was a brilliant Dem trick. They tried it again with Hillary in 2016, but it didn't work, because A) she wasn't chill+personable like Obama B) she was tainted w/ her husband's legacy C) the sexism she faced, and ultimately because sexism doesn't work the same way as racism.
Liberal racism needs the "Black best friend." Everyone is falling over each other to prove they're not racist by association. Sexism is different. Everyone has a mother (usually one with whom they have issues) & men were not falling over each to elect the first woman president.
Liberal men bullshitted their way through "I'd elect a woman, just not HER." They pledged to support Warren, til she was actually running. Now they'll vote for a woman, just not HER. Basically, they'll vote for an imaginary woman in the future but not a real woman in the present.
So Obama could take advantage of liberal racism because white people wanted to be down with him. But liberal sexism worked against Clinton because so many liberal men resent their mothers and take women for granted.
Liberal heterosexism won't be enough to elect Buttigieg either.
Liberal heterosexism won't be enough to elect Buttigieg either.
Mayor Pete is young+handsome w/ a cute husband. But he has a POC problem. He has a history of racist policies+his campaign has made huge racist missteps. He doesn't have the LGBT vote, he has the *white* LGBT vote, b/c most LGBT POC think intersectionally in terms of race/class.
Poor+working class LGBT folks+LGBT POC have watched upwardly mobile middle+upper class white gay men throw them under the bus FOR DECADES. So Mayor Pete is gets support from affluent gay men+that homophobic uncle who says he likes the gays like Mayor Pete who don't "flaunt it."
Liberal homophobia+heterosexists trying to score cool points isn't as much of a thing as white liberals trying to prove they're not racist. Obama's face with CHANGE under it made a statement. Pete is so assimilated that he just reads like another clean-cut white guy candidate.
The moderates first put their support behind Biden, but he's such a horrible candidate that even they can see he's a disaster. But Buttigieg can't pull off the Obama effect. First of all, because there are some very credible progressives running in 2020 who have real momentum.
Second of all, b/c he needs POC+we see his racism. Third of all, b/c being Mayor of a midwestern city isn't actually enough experience to be an effective president. His ability to listen plays well in small town politics, but as president, you need to know what you're doing.
People like me, who always supported the moderates in the general--lesser of 2 evils--are raising our expectations. We want REAL progressives. I personally vacillate between Warren+Sanders, liking them each for different reasons. I say #ProgressiveDem2020 #NotBiden #NotButtigieg
A big piece of this swing to the left is really about the #ClimateCrisis. We don't have time for lesser of 2 evils. Because if we need a #GreenNewDeal candidate who fundamentally challenges the fossil fuel industry+makes huge changes starting in 2021. So it's time to go all in.
