Buttigieg Digs His Own Grave With Snobby Remark To Critics
Pete Buttigieg, President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Transportation, has come under fire for his recent missteps. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and the 2020 presidential candidate has been criticized for his tone–deaf response to the cargo crisis of 2021, his unannounced parental leave, and his vacation in Portugal last year as a rail strike loomed.
On Sunday, Buttigeg lashed out at critics, calling Fox News’ Tucker Carlson — who was born and raised in California — a member of the “East Coast elite” who did not understand the working class. This condescending remark is indicative of the Secretary’s elitist attitude, which was made clear during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
After the toxic train derailment, Buttigieg was heavily criticized for his failure to anticipate the political fallout. In an exclusive interview with CNN, he acknowledged his mistakes, but also defended himself, claiming that many of the problems he’s being blamed for are only partially connected to his portfolio and mostly out of his direct control.
A combination of 'It's not my job' and 'I need better messaging.' https://t.co/7MRK1vKwHf
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 5, 2023
Buttigeg’s 2020 campaign was driven by his status as the country’s first openly gay major candidate, and his success in raising millions from Silicon Valley. He was deeply resented by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–VT), who cast Buttigieg as an elitist whose policies reflected Wall Street’s economic priorities. An elite fundraiser held by Buttigieg in a “wine cave” in Napa Valley, California, only intensified this perception.
Here are some photos of the Buttigieg fundraiser in Napa — with the famous wine cave and the chandelier with 1,500 Swarovski crystals — that @BrianSlodysko wrote about.https://t.co/0sprQ3aDsy pic.twitter.com/3waO6jO93L
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) December 16, 2019
The episode is a reminder that elitism and entitlement are alive and well in Washington, D.C., and that the working class is too often overlooked by those in power. Buttigieg, who was recently appointed to a position of authority, has failed to demonstrate the humility and respect that is expected of public servants. His behavior is an affront to the American people and an insult to Carlson, whose career was built on hard work and dedication.