webfact Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Gay Indiana mayor joins field of Democratic presidential hopefuls By John Whitesides FILE PHOTO: Pete Buttigieg, the Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, U.S. in an undated photo provided January 4, 2019. City of South Bend, Indiana/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pete Buttigieg, the Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, launched an underdog 2020 bid for the White House on Wednesday, aiming to stand out as a problem-solving Midwestern outsider who would be the first openly gay nominee of a major U.S. political party. The relatively unknown Buttigieg, 37, a two-term mayor of the Rust Belt city of about 100,000 people, said he represented a new generation of leadership with fresh approaches to the country's problems. In an email and video to supporters, he offered a sharp contrast to Republican President Donald Trump's nostalgia-driven message invoking an America of the past. "My generation is the generation that experienced school shootings beginning when I was in high school, the generation that fought in the post-9/11 wars, the first generation to have to deal with the reality of climate change, and the first generation not to be better off than our parents materially - if nothing changes," Buttigieg said. "Only a forward focus - untethered from the politics of the past and anchored by our shared values - can change our national politics and our nation’s future." Buttigieg enters what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field of candidates vying for the right to challenge Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, in 2020. The mayor formed an exploratory committee to begin raising money and hiring staff to compete for the Democratic nomination. He will face a tough task raising funds and building a coalition of support in a race that will feature many candidates with greater name recognition and bigger donor networks. Other Democratic rivals for the nomination include U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, as well as U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and former San Antonio mayor and U.S. housing secretary Julian Castro. Speaking to reporters in Washington, where he was attending a national mayors conference, Buttigieg acknowledged the odds but touted his unique candidacy. "When it comes to experience right now, nothing could be more relevant than leading one of America's turnaround cities," he said. "I belong to a party whose characteristic has always been to look for fresh voices, new leadership and big ideas, and I think that's what 2020 is going to be about." As mayor of South Bend, a blue-collar town that is home to the University of Notre Dame, Buttigieg made redevelopment a top priority and was named mayor of the year in 2013 by the website GovFresh.com. He signalled his White House run in December when he announced he would not seek a third term as mayor. Republicans dismissed Buttigieg's candidacy as a waste of time and said he should focus on South Bend's problems. "His bid isn't just bad news for residents, it's more proof that Democrats are about to endure the most crowded, divisive, and contentious primary in history," said Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Ahrens. Buttigieg began building a national profile in 2017 with an unsuccessful run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Former President Barack Obama mentioned him in an interview shortly before leaving the White House as a young Democrat with a bright future. The Harvard graduate and former Rhodes Scholar returned to his hometown of South Bend and was elected mayor in 2012 at the age of 29. He served a seven-month Naval Reserve tour in Afghanistan while mayor and came out as gay in a 2015 column for the local newspaper. He married in June 2018. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Ginger Gibson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Tom Brown) -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 His demographic play is much less about being gay than about being a young millennial. Being a Midwesterner doesn't hurt either. Very long odds but stranger things have happened. (See current president.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorG Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Do not know anything about him but, unless he has some dark secrets, he seems like he would make a good candidate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyezhov Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 1 hour ago, DoctorG said: Do not know anything about him but, unless he has some dark secrets, he seems like he would make a good candidate. Two terms of leading a city with one of the highest crime rates in the nation (which has doubled under his watch), a high poverty rate, a high unemployment rate, poor streets maintenance and the usual failures of urban leadership. Perhaps a few more years of trying to gain experience in running things would help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burma Bill Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Definitely a "job for the boys"!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Definitely a "job for the boys"!!Was that a joke because I didn't get it. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Do not know anything about him but, unless he has some dark secrets, he seems like he would make a good candidate. It's a wide open field. Even the big name so called front runners like Warren and Biden are hardly sure things. I haven't heard him speak. If he's very charismatic and develops attractive to democrats policy positions he could get a small foothold based on that plus his new young face demographic appeal. As far as homophobes democrats won't get their votes regardless of who they put up. So sure there could be a gay president but not likely him. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burma Bill Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Jingthing said: Was that a joke because I didn't get it. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Yes, a joke! It is a UK expression that means "favoritism" when applying for a job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Yes, a joke! It is a UK expression that means "favoritism" when applying for a job.I don't see that applies to this topic.The candidate in question is the longest of long shots. Not so much because he's gay but because he has no name recognition and very thin experience to be running for president. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLover Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 He looks like a priest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeyrobot Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 So would his partner be called the first MAn ?.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 So would his partner be called the first MAn ?..Or spouse or gentleman or something like that. Trivial detail. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 He looks like a priest. Or a mature choirboy. People might want a fresh face but he's arguably too fresh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanaguma Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Seems like a decent enough fellow, but he might want to perhaps take the time to move up the ranks of national politics a bit before reaching for the Big Chair. You know, perhaps state office first, perhaps Congress, get on a few committees, Governor/Senator, then aim high. The last two Presidents have been relative political neophytes and things haven't worked out too well. I guess all it means is that the Democrats are supremely confident that whoever gets the nomination is guaranteed the presidency if they are running against Trump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Seems like a decent enough fellow, but he might want to perhaps take the time to move up the ranks of national politics a bit before reaching for the Big Chair. You know, perhaps state office first, perhaps Congress, get on a few committees, Governor/Senator, then aim high. The last two Presidents have been relative political neophytes and things haven't worked out too well. I guess all it means is that the Democrats are supremely confident that whoever gets the nomination is guaranteed the presidency if they are running against Trump.It means a lot of people are running is all and before so very long the names will be winnowed down to reveal a much smaller group of contenders. Of course Buttigieg doesn't expect to be nominated. He has his reasons. Maybe it's partly about early representation of a gay presidential candidate that will actually happen 50 years from now. Kind of like the gay version of Shirley Chisholm.Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DM07 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 5 hours ago, Nyezhov said: Two terms of leading a city with one of the highest crime rates in the nation (which has doubled under his watch), a high poverty rate, a high unemployment rate, poor streets maintenance and the usual failures of urban leadership. Perhaps a few more years of trying to gain experience in running things would help. Current President of the USA: 2 times divorced, 6 times bankruptcy, known liar, misogynist, racist...do I have to go on? Because I could! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulic Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Harvard graduate, Rhodes scholar, 7-month Afghanistan Naval tour. Actually a strong CV, but I just don't see it. Of course, stranger things have happened. So far I see the Democrats that have announced are more left than left. We shall see what comes to pass. I would have thought a centrist would make mor sense but I guess Meghan Trainor is right, "It's all about that Base" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Harvard graduate, Rhodes scholar, 7-month Afghanistan Naval tour. Actually a strong CV, but I just don't see it. Of course, stranger things have happened. So far I see the Democrats that have announced are more left than left. We shall see what comes to pass. I would have thought a centrist would make mor sense but I guess Meghan Trainor is right, "It's all about that Base" No. The democrats are going more left this time. Bernie led the way though its not likely to be Bernie. Left in US politics is relative though. Obviously US left is to the right of European left and often significantly so. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champers Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 I don't see any specific policies mentioned and you sometimes have to wonder if it's a case of style over substance. That said, his youth could help him. The likes of Sanders, Warren and Biden come accross as a bit jaded and out of touch. Some fresh blood can appeal to younger voters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 I don't see any specific policies mentioned and you sometimes have to wonder if it's a case of style over substance. That said, his youth could help him. The likes of Sanders, Warren and Biden come accross as a bit jaded and out of touch. Some fresh blood can appeal to younger voters.Yeah but fresh is relative. Harris and Klobuchar are fresh compared to "trump" and Biden. I still think Biden of he runs has a chance at the nomination but Bernie not so much. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Yeah let's face it the only reason he's getting any press attention is because of the novelty of being openly gay. While the US has had possibly gay presidents before I think he is the first openly gay candidate to run in a major party. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 7 hours ago, Nyezhov said: Two terms of leading a city with one of the highest crime rates in the nation (which has doubled under his watch), a high poverty rate, a high unemployment rate, poor streets maintenance and the usual failures of urban leadership. Perhaps a few more years of trying to gain experience in running things would help. You're lying. In fact through 2016 Gary's violent crime rate fell to its lowest rate since 1999 and maybe even further back. And property crime is also below the level it was at when he took office. https://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/indiana/gary.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 11 minutes ago, bristolboy said: You're lying. In fact through 2016 Gary's violent crime rate fell to its lowest rate since 1999 and maybe even further back. And property crime is also below the level it was at when he took office. https://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/indiana/gary.html I just don't get this, why the need to make things up, especially in a discussion about a new, unknown candidate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolboy Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 1 hour ago, stevenl said: I just don't get this, why the need to make things up, especially in a discussion about a new, unknown candidate. Some people just can't help themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 I just don't get this, why the need to make things up, especially in a discussion about a new, unknown candidate.DDS? Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Meet Pete. https://www.peteforamerica.com/meet-pete/ Then probably forget him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 9 hours ago, Jingthing said: No. The democrats are going more left this time. Bernie led the way though its not likely to be Bernie. Left in US politics is relative though. Obviously US left is to the right of European left and often significantly so. Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app It will be very interesting to see how this new left of left plays out. I keep wondering when the more moderate democrats outside of the east and west coasts will revolt and say the new left is not where I want to be. It must be a real balancing effort for democratic representatives in rural states to run for office when there are the idiots like Ocasio-Cortez spouting off that the world will end in 12 days if we don't address climate change. Homeless living on streets in all the big cities and this is her priority? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeray Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Almost every politician gets dressed in the morning, looks in the mirror, smiles and says to him/herself, "I should be president". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLover Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 If Darth Vader was a homosexual; would it make his imperialist conquests palatable? No..... so more of the same from this 'canditate'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLover Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 13 hours ago, DM07 said: Current President of the USA: 2 times divorced, 6 times bankruptcy, known liar, misogynist, racist...do I have to go on? Because I could! Please don't, regurgitated news opinions are boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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