As a gay man, I’m hesitant to give a full-throated anything to another gay man automatically. Hmm, before you take this the wrong way, I mean an endorsement for elective political office, of course.
Let me be clear.
By my estimation, Pete Buttigieg, current Secretary of Transportation, has demonstrated exceptional skill and talent in the art of politics. And like Pasadena’s Sally Field when she famously proclaimed at the Oscars: “You like me, you really like me!” Buttigieg seems to be having his own Sally Field moment as a potential nominee for VPOTUS. Americans like him, they really like him – early polls say.
In my opinion, the very essence of the pursuit of excellence in the office of the presidency was demonstrated by President John F. Kennedy. And although he was a handsome rascal and rumored to be a philanderer, I now recall the poetic prose in the speeches he delivered the most. It was hard not to take them to heart whether you agreed with the policies or principles behind the words or not. Oh, and Kennedy’s deft handling (understatement of understatements) of the Cuban Missile Crisis and our standoff with the Soviet Union that saved the world from nuclear holocaust was pretty remarkable.
As you might guess, for me, JFK is the high-water mark in the practice of the art of politics, but as Lloyd Benson famously said of Dan Quayle during the Vice Presidential debate in 1988, “You’re no Jack Kennedy…” I’m only saying Pete Buttigieg reminds me of JFK in a certain exceptionalism I believe they both share.
Also, like JFK, Buttigieg has faced resistance as a result of identity politics. Kennedy overcame a lot of resistance for being young, inexperienced and a Catholic. At the same time, Buttigieg faces a lot of resistance for being openly gay, married with children, and from the Midwest in Indiana, dispelling the myth that we ‘gays’ don’t come from ‘fly over’ country, only from the two coasts – as far away from the ‘heart of the country’ as you can get.
Holy Moley! Another stereotype bites the dust
Although our only previous (perhaps) gay president, James Buchanan, wasn’t ‘man enough’ to prevent or prosecute the Civil War, Buttigieg’s honorable military service in Afghanistan should quell any doubt that he’s ‘man enough’ for the job. And, of course, what really counts is effectiveness, not masculinity.
Pete’s political resume as mayor of South Bend, Indiana and Secretary of Transportation for the past three and a half years does not necessarily fully capture his ability to draw you to him with his carefully articulated thoughts and ideas that so remind me of JFK. It is this steadfast and calm strength that our country needs at this historic juncture when talk of the Civil War permeates social media and the airways. The last thing we need is another flame thrower in the mix of this election cycle.
Most powerfully, Pete can re-frame the very premise of a question or have a particularly insightful take on an issue while respecting the ideas he is strongly but convincingly challenging. It is first-rate statesmanship, plain and simple. If you want to be taken seriously, assume your audience will want to engage with you intellectually as your equal. Buttigieg, simply being on the national political stage, emanates equality and access for all.
As of the publishing of this article, Buttigieg has the highest name recognition and favorability of anyone on Harris’ VPOTUS shortlist.
There is a relationship between Pete and the electorate—a compact of mutual respect, even in disagreement. Our country needs more of that, especially now.
As of the publishing of this article, Buttigieg has the highest name recognition and favorability of anyone on Harris’ VPOTUS shortlist.
And as of the last week of July, he was the second most favored by rural and suburban voters in the Marist Poll. The number one pick in the poll was Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who says that she is not interested in the job.
Regardless of whether Pete Buttigieg is Harris’ VP pick or not, I consider him to be the best pound-for-pound political horse flesh today, bar none. And no, this is not a ‘love letter’ to him; it’s recognition of the power of this man to help us heal America by example at a time when we need role models as leaders.
If not now, when?
