During the Democratic debate in South Carolina this week, Bernie Sanders became a popular target among the remaining field of candidates. Pete Buttigieg prepared a zinger to go after Sanders’ reverence for the “revolutionary politics of the 1960s”, and it’s not sitting well with many queer voters.
“I am not looking forward to a scenario where it comes down to Donald Trump with his nostalgia for the social order of the 1950s, and Bernie Sanders with a nostalgia for the revolutionary politics of the 1960s,” Buttigieg said at the debate, drawing what many view as a false equivalence between the fear-driven nationalism Trump exploits and the passion of the left to affect change.
Buttigieg was clearly pleased with the line, as evidenced by him repeating it on Twitter:
But then he deleted the tweet.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Why?
It could have something to do with this response:
pete buttigieg hating on the "revolutionary politics of the 1960s" that gave us the voting rights act, the civil rights act, second wave feminism, the anti-war movement, and the stonewall riots is pic.twitter.com/MkvQpluyAX
— comfortably dumb (@pobrexito) February 26, 2020
Pete Buttigieg wouldn't be able to run for president as an openly gay man but for the "revolutionary politics of the 60s."
I'm an openly gay elected, and I thank Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson for the revolutionary politics they put into action in June 1969. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/UuM2L15qVE
— Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa? (@CDRosa) February 26, 2020
Hearing the first gay presidential candidate condemn the "revolutionary politics of the 1960s" is uhhhhhhh something pic.twitter.com/YdouVzxq4M
— Gillian Branstetter (@GBBranstetter) February 26, 2020
From my perspective, Buttigieg has defended Chick-fil-A, defended the Salvation Army, devalued queer media, and now dismissed the importance of Stonewall. I'm not mad about "how gay" he is; I'm angry because of how much he's shit on so much of my work and advocacy.
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) February 26, 2020
Hey @PeteButtigieg, the "revolutionary politics of the 1960s" that you hate so much is what has paved the way for you to run for president as a gay man. pic.twitter.com/ZSdeSdmim1
— Simeon Huff (@SimeonHuff) February 26, 2020
STONEWALL – 1969 pic.twitter.com/bNNesJeLLS
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) February 26, 2020
Literally gay liberation grew directly from the “revolutionary politics of the 60s.” @PeteButtigieg is able to stand on that stage because of revolutionary queers. #NotMeUs #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/aHk2HGYAZi
— ? Clark Feels The Bern (@Clarknt67) February 26, 2020
Jack
Obviously he realized the oopsie on that one. The people that were offended definitely have a point. Pete has to be careful about attacking the past generations. They ARE the ones that actually show up to vote and they DID live through the battles.
dinard38
I agree with you. And that was a big oops!!!!
jayceecook
Keep pulling back that curtain Dorothy!
frapachino
What was once the great democratic party is now a complete and deplorable MESS.
jayceecook
It’s actually been that way for a long time. People have been too blind to see it. Unfortunately now, it’s on public display in ways it never could be. I’m not even sure if the last few debates count as debates or just old fashioned playground hair pulling, eye scratching, and name calling brawl.
Vince
Yet sill they had time to impeach this traitorous president and pass almost 600 bills during all this. So messy.
Den
Perhaps it is if seen that way through the eyes of the right wingers who worship authoritarian leaders and outright corporate manipulation and corruption.
The democratic party is having difficulty defining who its diverse and totally American core is in the 21st century. But the Republican party has decided to turn its gaze back to the late 19th, when graft and corruption were rife. It actively urinates on the constitution, on our ideals and on the people at the margins of society (gay republicans like you seem really into being on the receiving end of that though).
Mack
Not really. There are many different ideas and opinions as to how this country should run. Personally I don’t like the idea of a Socialist Independent running on a Democratic Ticket. Unfortunately people are thinking short term and not long term and it’s going to cost the middle class in the long run if the wrong person gets elected. People have to be realistic as to what they want and the consequences that comes with it. Say for example if a miracle happens and Bernie gets elected and by even greater miracle his “Medicare for All” and/or “free college for all” get passed what happens when a new president after him is elected and they do away with them like Trump did ObamaCare? The union employees loses their medical that they’ve worked hard for, seniors would probably lose Medicare completely and students wouldn’t have scholarships to fall back on since they would probably be done away with because of “free college”. Think with the big head for a change.
Hey, at least we’re not sitting here comparing little hands and little dicks as the Republicans did 4 years ago. And because of their stupidity as well as the Bernie Bros who supported Jill we’re stuck with Trump.
Echo1Echo2
Still never been even remotely as bad as the Republican Party though.
ShiningSex
Democrats may be eating each other, but the republican party is a POS party that caters to the KKK, Pro-Lifers, anti-LGBT, anti-Women’s Rights.
I’d rather be in the democratic party any day over the other crap.
Jared MacBride
Mayor pete showing his true colors; he’s a Log Cabin Republican who signed up with the Democrats to get elected.
Vince
He’s for medicare for all so hardly a log cabin aka uncle tom candidate.
Jared MacBride
@Vince – You do realize that Medicare is very expensive insurance, which almost always requires a supplemental policy which is also expensive. If bernie and his troop of clowns want people to be well insured they should offer us the same coverage Congress people get, and at the same price.
Den
Were he a Log Cabin Republican he would be on his hands and knees begging for crumbs from the table he would never be allowed a seat at.
And obviously he would not be running, as he’s be just another Trump toady.
CurtisIsTheOne
Jared MacBride Please don’t open your mouth if all that comes out is lies. Medicare is HARDLY expensive. My premium bill for Medicare is $129/month. Which is damn cheap. So where did you come up with your statement that “Medicare is very expensive insurance” – from one of Donald Trump’s talking points or from out of your butt? Get real and stop spreading lies.
Hussain-TheCanadian
@Jared
Yeah it is expensive, bring back the one trillion dollar tax cut Trump the Clown gave himself and his rich buddies PLUS hit them with another trillion dollar tax to clog their corporate loopholes, and BAM you got your annual funding for healthcare.
See Jared, all it takes is a bit of research into your economy to find out why is your national debt hiting 23 trillion dollars.
Jochicago60640
Have you shown your true colors publicly?
Jochicago60640
Hey Jared,
What, exactly, are you fighting for or against that’s making any difference? Have you taken any risks comparable to what Mayor Pete has and is taking?
DuMaurier
On the Medicare thing, ‘expensive’ is relative. When I was caregiver for my late mother, she had Medicare, a good supplement, but once when we were picking up her prescriptions I said, “You know, even with all your coverage, if you were poor this would be really tough for you.”
Note to one poster: Bernie’s plan comes with NO premiums, deductibles or co-pays.
Polaro
Jared, you are clueless.
SMJOE
He obviously was not referring to civil rights/gay rights. He was referring to the Cold War era and the politics of that time. Come on, do you honestly thing a gay man running for president is going to speak out against gay rights? Queerty, you should be ashamed for not pointing this out.
pharaon.em.joe
Yes, he already did.
DuMaurier
No one’s saying he’s opposed to “gay rights”; even Log Cabin Republican support all the major “planks”. What he’s doing is dismissing a time of revolutionary consciousness of the Left, of which gay liberation was but one element; the kind of identification with socialist regimes Bernie had was intertwined with that.
It’s easy to separate from that now and even try to blank it out, but that’s the pool gay rights emerged from.
Aromaeus
Anyone who does any kind of analysis of Pete’s actual policies and rhetoric will find he’s just another shallow neo-liberal politician not actually fighting for any fundamental change. He’s also got a lot of internalized homophobia he needs to work through because this is just one of many other comments he’s made that shows he’s not quite at full acceptance of himself.
SMJOE
Unless you know him personally it is not fair to make that kind of assessment about him personally. The man got married to his partner. He has referred to his sexuality publicly. That he doesn’t choose to run around waving a rainbow flag is his choice. There are a LOT of us that just live our lives quietly in a way that you would think we have “internalized homophobia”. We are living our lives. Period. Again, this was all taken out of context but that doesn’t matter as this article is click bait. If anyone is following the candidates and debates, you would know exactly what Pete meant. I am not an avid supporter of his but I think this is all ridiculous and is playing into what we have been witnessing in these last two debates.
Den
He kisses his husband publicly at campaign events.
He responds forthrightly to questions regarding his homosexuality.
He is a midwestern man, and more decorous than a great many big city gay men.
That does not indicate internalized homophobia, that is much more intrinsic to right wingers who follow a party that actively thinks them lesser than “normal people”.
It simply makes him more like many, if not most Americans
pharaon.em.joe
@den smile for the cameras!
alterego1980
You could not be further from the truth, and obviously have not read any of his policies…next!
ShiningSex
HE’S STILL BETTER THAN ANY REPUBLICAN. REPUBLICANS ARE VERMIN.
bambamboom777
You may not like his policy stands and ideology, but to say that he has internalized homophobia is beyond absurd. He’s the first openly gay man running for president as a top tier candidate of a major political party. To be that open about your sexuality in front of the whole world is not a sign of internalized homophobia. Quite the opposite. That takes an enormous amount of confidence and courage. Give credit where credit is due.
SoCalDave
Pete running for president was cool for a second when you first heard about it. Then you learn he’s the type of person who snarks and rolls his eyes about the Stonewall era as if Stonewall isn’t the reason he can run for president as an out gay man in the first place.
It’s unfortunate the first out LGBT presidential candidate in one of the major parties ended up being the type of person where if your friend brought them to a party or social gathering, by the end of the night you’d quietly take them aside and politely asking that friend not to bring them back next time.
fur_hunter
WRONG!!!!…..WRONG!!!!!……WRONG!!!!….Read SMJOE’s comments. He put it quite well.
SoCalDave
fur hunter: Yeah because nothing says “my point of view deserves to be taken seriously” like screaming in all caps with multiple exclamation points.
fur_hunter
So you don’t like criticism? Well, excuse me! Have you actually listened to any of Pete’s interviews? Go read SMJOE’s comments. It might help you out.
astew0867
All this gay anger at Pete baffles me. He obviously wasn’t “rolling his eyes at Stonewall”. I’ve never once heard him attack past generations. He was, as stated above by SMJOE, “referring to the Cold War era and the politics of that time”.
But Wow, just Wow. Talk about bitterness. Why are so many gay people ready to tear him apart? I don’t get it. If you disagree with his politics, or prefer Bernie over Pete, no problem, I respect your opinion. It’s your right as an American. But, here we have an openly gay man with his husband running for president and he’s consider a serious contender. Can’t we, for just moment, celebrate that victory? That’s amazing. I would have never believed that’s something I would see in my lifetime. Yet, there he is!
Battling his own internal homophobia?? All of us in the LGBTQ community spend most our adult lives learning to accept ourselves. Learning to release the shame, pain, and anger we suffered through growing up. We ALL deal with it. I’m sure he does too. But, he gets the added bonus of dealing with that on a national stage. Can you imagine all the crap he has to go through? All the homophobic shit that gets throw at him everyday. Can we cut him some slack and give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s not always perfect? That things don’t always come out the way he means for them too.
Some might say “he should have known what he was getting into”. Well, I’m sure he did. He was a freaking Rhodes scholar. He knew EXACTLY what he was getting into. And yet, he did it anyway. And because of that, young LGTBQ people are watching a gay man hug and kiss his husband, celebrating their marriage, on national television. And, hopefully, they are able to get a sense of pride from that. A sense of belonging.
In the end, I don’t believe that he will be president. I still haven’t decided if I think he should be president. But, I admire what he’s doing. I’m proud to have him represent our community. I appreciate the sacrifices he’s making. He’s making history right now. And, I’m grateful for that.
Den
I didn’t even need to post what I did as you made all my points better than I did.
Except for one.
He is not a big city gay boy, he is not cosmopolitan. His belief system, his social behavior, his sense of decorum, his claimed faith…all of that is classic small town, traditional centrist-liberal American.
He will not win the nomination, but that kind of personality might be exactly what this country needs to stop the relentless and destructive shift to the right.
SoCalDave
He’s the one who decided to jump on the national stage way before he was ready. This ain’t running for mayor of a small town (yes I know small city and rural types think they’re the only real Americans blah blah blah). If he’s so inexperienced that he can’t stop himself from publicly crapping on the Stonewall era and saying things like “If I could take a pill to not be gay I would” then he shouldn’t have run. It really is a shame that the first LGBT candidate is so unqualified.
Joshooeerr
Precisely. Trying to characterise such an inoffensive statement as a misstep or misjudgement is such over-reach, and transparently desperate. If that’s the worst you can throw at Pete, he’s pretty near bulletproof.
fur_hunter
Thank you.
Mack
Den, I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately there are too many misplaced LCR and Bernie Bots putting down Pete.
jasentylar
Amen.
sillyme
Hey guys look in the mirror and take a good look to see if you would be willing to be that open in the front to millions across the nation and even in some area’s world news to be as open and happy as Pete is right now for 1 making history as he is right now for running for office for the Presidency of our country. 2 make national mistakes and then see yourself own up to them and apologize about them for the way it came out and not just what the tv says about you but what he truly meant to say and how it didn’t come out right, 3 kiss your own husband on a national political stage in front of the world and admit that your married to a man and happy to be so? If you can do this with regards to how you were raised by what ever means and be ok with all that and not have any resentment or hatred about anything then by all means get out there and start doing it, otherwise shut the hell up you closet cases if your not.
fur_hunter
Thank you.
Jochicago60640
So, all of you bitter queens who are attacking him from behind your computer screens: Have you done anything bold, public, and risky as an our GBTQQ person? Or, are you out registering voters? If not, your sniping is just empty words. Come back and comment when you have some battle scars.
Yes, I’m a 60 year old who was around and active during the 80’s and 90’s before being an out presidential candidate was remotely safe.
fur_hunter
Excellent comment. Yes. I was 24 when Stonewall happened and I remember the times VERY WELL.
SMJOE
Thank you Joechicago60640. I was right there with you.
While these people are slamming Pete for this, they need to take a look at what our current “president” is quietly doing to undo the rights we have. Back then we would have immediately rallied together. Now, everyone thinks a social media post is all they need to do. Maybe ten years ago but now it is so over saturated that it probably could not get Betty White on SNL like it did years ago. And we didn’t just jump on bandwagons. We did our research and knew what was going on and hit the streets.
What more do people want from this man on the gay front? We marched and protested and rallied back then for equal rights. To not have to do all of those things and lead a normal life like everyone else without having to watch our backs. Nobody is perfect and he has made his missteps but he is pretty much what we fought to be.
Wolfie
As is the ultra woke social justice warrior queers of today would ever go out and march, protest, and riot. Pffft.
SMJOE
Exactly Wolfie.
Matthew Rettenmund
He deleted it because he was referencing the CUBAN revolutionary politics, not U.S. politics. Uninformed, self-hating queens are a dime a dozen — and none of them is named Buttigieg.
fur_hunter
Matthew………Thank you.
pharaon.em.joe
To everyone trying to absolve Pete… it is not his first misstep. I wonder how many “missteps” will it take for you to realize his true colours? Truly naive. Just because he is gay then we should support him… hah.
alterego1980
Who is your preferred candidate? I can name a dozen missteps by anyone else on that stage. So why are you so down on Pete? The idea that he has to be perfect, or is perfect or has to be anything else than who he has been, is totally ridiculous and unfair. His policies are progressive and his composure amazing. You and all the other haters don’t like him because he isn’t cut from your cloth, he may not have struggled or been hated on, or had a militant revolutionary phase where he tried to f-ck the establishment. You resent him just for being who he is. Which is what we should all be fighting against!!!!!
Those gays need to check their martyr complexes and appreciate the historic nature of his candidacy!!
pharaon.em.joe
you haven’t answered my question. Answer it first then maybe I will answer yours :).
SMJOE
Nobody is saying we HAVE to support him. But don’t just jump on a bandwagon and slam him when you don’t (not you directly) understand what he meant when he made the statement. And it is obvious that even though it has been explained in a few comments here, people still don’t, or don’t want to, understand. They would rather go with the masses and slam him.
ryanM
pharaon.em.joe asked “I wonder how many ‘missteps’ will it take for you to realize his true colours?”
Maybe we’ll answer your question if you’d ask a sensical nuanced question. As is, your question is simplistic, “naive” and undeserving of a thoughtful reply. First, what exactly is a “misstep”? And who defines it? Secondly, you seem to simplistically think all “missteps” have equal weight. I don’t, so an absolute count is meaningless. I’ll forgive 20 silly unsubstantial missteps over one large consequential one. Care to show me Buttigieg’s large consequential missteps?
And how arrogant of you to assume that we don’t already “realize his true colours”? That stupid question is based on the megalomaniacal assumption that everyone shares your values and yardstick for what is disqualifying. Based on your posts, let me tell you that I certainly don’t share your judgment on this issue. So grow up and realize it’s a big tent.
Taiyoken
I’m not voting for Pete. Not because of his gaffs, like this one, and not because of his dark money donors(well I admit it’s a factor), and not because I have any sort of internalized homophobia, But because of his policies.
I hate how hardly anyone looks at policies anymore. People don’t understand labels or issues, and don’t bother to research them. Issue by issue people who would rather vote for Pete, Bloomberg, or Biden, would be happier voting Republican.
rosetank
Im’ a little ignorant! What are his dark money funding, can you please share where I can see reputable resources? Which policies don’t you support? Are you okay with current policies, or did we just waste a ton of time and money with back biting and politics as usual? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I believe decisions should be based on facts and not rumors and inuendo! Her probably won’t be a choice when it comes November, but if he is an honest candidate he may be a better choice than what we have. Either way, I am not a die heart Democrats I prefer to vote for the best, sometimes it’s the least of two evils!
Taiyoken
Which dark money? Three words “Wine Cave” and “Shadow” Though the point was more about Pete’s corruption, Did you know Pete was originally for universal health care? Then he started taking donations from health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, like Pfizer and Cigna, and suddenly he’s against it.
Which policies don’t I like? “medicare for all who want it” It’s a roundabout way to keep insurance companies in charge of our healthcare. In other words spout empty platitudes but fix nothing.
Also his mandatory military service position is just awful, yet somehow everyone overlooks it. And the fact that he doesn’t support K-16 education or wall street reform or fixing our favor-the-rich tax system.
Of course I don’t like current policies, which is why I wont vote for Trump, but for now we have five choices, Pete is only one of them, and not the best option. Bernie has the most policies that I (and most people) agree with. So why vote for Pete when Bernie would actually do more for the people? Plus Bernie has a lot more Support behind him, a lot more momentum, and does the best in match-up polls against Trump. Bernie is most likely to beat Trump. Assuming anyone cares to beat Trump.
jasentylar
Bernie doesn’t have the support of Congress. Those policies he proposes will NEVER be passed because Republicans and some Dems won’t allow it. Bernie doesn’t know how to compromise or come to the center so it’s a stalemate and more empty unfulfilled promises.
Taiyoken
@jasentylar And therefore we should never try to fix anything. People only die and go bankrupt because of our broken healthcare system, no big deal, especially if corporate dems and republicans like it that way, oh well, why bother. Bernie has already stated he’s willing to use his position as the most popular politician touting the most popular policies to primary any members of congress who try to block his populist agenda.
But you do raise one good point, It’s important not just to vote for president but to vote out the corrupt dems and republicans.
Frank Treadway
My oh my…some commenters are just so happy to take things out of context and go forth. I met Pete at a rally and he’s not a straight man disguised as a gay man. We come in all flavors and Pete has his own take on when and how he should have come to terms with himself; leave him alone. His take on the Revolution was all about Cuba and the re-education regime at that time. I’ve been to Cuba and it’s still another world and no comparison to our system. Those who didn’t like it now live in Florida. Those who remain are quite happy and healthy. Pete may be on a learning curve, but one that is giving us positive kudos from the world who never thought a person could run for the leader of the free world so successfully as Pete is doing. The tenderness between Pete and Chasten is an example of what love is all about between two persons, even if they’re both males.
ShiningSex
I’LL VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT. WHOEVER THAT WILL BE. ANYONE BUT TRUMP IS FINE WITH ME. IF YOU VOTE THIRD PARTY BECAUSE YOU’RE BUTT HURT OVER YOUR PICK NOT GETTING THE NOM THEN YOU’RE A MORON AND SUPPORT TRUMP.
james7
Pete is bright and articulate and a positive roll model for young gay men. Let’s do everything we can to support and encourage him. America needs him.
triguykeith
This is the BS I CANNOT STAND coming from really uniformed people! You damn well know the difference between comparing communist/socialist ideology (which clearly is what he meant) not the good things that came out of the social and political unrest of the 60’s and 70’s To compare the two as if he’s anti LGBTQ rights or unsympathetic to the strides we’ve made then you need to listen more. Cut the guy some slack and maybe be a bit more supportive of WHOMEVER becomes the candidate. We don’t want another scenario like 2016 when a bunch of Bernie fanatics refused to vote for Clinton because Bernie wasn’t the nominee! How’s that decision not the vote working out for you? Yeah……. Just what i thought Bernie fanatics, you need to grow up! This is the real world
Taiyoken
Your diatribe against “uninformed people” might have more weight if you didn’t suggest Bernie was a communist or a socialist or imply the two are the same by putting a slash between them. or by thinking Bernie voters didn’t vote for Hillary just because Bernie wasn’t the nominee.
SoCalDave
Exactly, tri. Very few if any people in this thread have said they’re supporting Bernie but the frothing Pete-bots jump to conclusions.
ryanM
SoCalDave … er, but most of those tweets in the are indeed from Sanders supporters. Just look at their accounts.
IAMSONICE
Bunch of bitter wannabe’s hating on Pete. I can’t rationalize how you can throw hate at a gay presidential candidate while clutching your proverbial pearls because he isn’t gay enough or doesn’t represent city homos. Bag of diapers you all are.
triguykeith
Thank you! I think a lot of Bernie supporters would rather burn the entire house down then vote for a candidate that ISN’T Bernie!
rosetank
People are critical of his accomplishments, not that I am with him, but at least he has more balls than some of our biggest Machos here! No, I believe he is a young man who wants to make a difference. Recall how Obama was attacked, nothing like this from his own party! Standing up as a public figure is no easy thing to do. Making a decision that takes you out of your comfort zone is definitely a life changer. Instead of criticizing him, you should applaud him. Unfortunately, leadership in this country accompanied by honest are very difficult to find. I honestly don’t know who to vote for, it’s only February. Chances are Bernie will get the Democratic nomination, but that does not mean he’s a sure pick, at least no yet for me!
bambamboom777
I voted for Bernie in the 2016 primary and my ideological views are much closer to Bernie’s than what Pete has been presenting, however, this is a really unfair accusation and obviously is taking what Buttigieg said out of context. Some people may have forgotten or not be old enough to remember but there were radical extremists on the Left back in the day whose actions caused a backlash that led to Ronald Reagan and decades of conservatism that we continue to suffer from.
The Red Army Faction, Weather Underground, Patty Hearst and the S.L.A., Baader-Meinhof gang, Stalinism, Maoism, Pol Pot, Ceaucescu, the East German Stasi, the Berlin Wall, numerous proxy guerrilla wars led by Marxist-Leninist groups, bombings and terrorism around the world, nuclear arms race – these are all archetypes deeply embedded in the collective conscious of America that have been largely dormant since the fall of the Soviet Union but which the Republican right-wingers are salivating to bring out and use as boogeymen to scare American voters. And it will work on a vast number of the voting population. Bernie is popular in polls because people are angry and they see him as the anti-Hillary or the anti-Democratic establishment, not necessarily for policy reasons. The Republicans have been demonizing Hillary for 30 years. When they get done with Bernie it’s very likely they’ll feel the same way about him. A lot of them already do.
And I don’t personally have a problem with socialism. I think it would be great, but Bernie and a lot of his supporters seem to want to make this election a referendum and vindication of Socialism instead of putting the focus on Trump. This is so not the year to do that. One need only look at what happened to Jeremy Corbyn in the U.K., a country much more friendly to the idea of socialism than the U.S., to see what’s going to happen. Even if Bernie could win enough electoral votes to get in the White House, he would need large majorities of Democrats in both houses of Congress to get anything done. Not only Democrats, but Democrats who would be in favor of his policies. Currently there are only a handful and he doesn’t have a good track record of working with the Democratic Party.
Even if he did have the full support of both houses, four years of Trump and McConnel have stacked the courts with right-wing judges who are going to make it very difficult if not impossible. Another four years of Trump would stack the courts so heavily with right-wing extremist judges that we won’t live to see the end of Trump’s legacy, even if we consistently won every election.
On top of that, the wealthy Republicans who control our economy will use every trick in the book to sabotage a Sanders presidency. They have an unlimited supply of money, their own media empire and the power to pull strings to make a Sanders administration look like the biggest failure in history, whether they deserve it or not.
If a Sanders presidency is made to look like a disaster to the American public then you can forget about any type of progressive ever being elected again, at least for a long long time. This country will take a hard shift to the right and what can happen then should be cause for concern for everyone, especially the LGBTQ community. Trump himself is too egotistical and short-sighted to be an insurmountable threat, but the precedents he is setting and the changes to our political and social systems are setting us up for someone like a Mike Pence or even worse to come in and put us in some serious danger.
And Bernie puts economic progressivism above everything else. The Far Left is not necessarily progressive when it comes to social issues. There is a lingering homophobia still present among certain sectors of the Left. It’s true that the gay liberation movement started out on the Left in the 1960’s, and at that time it was seen as a radical move, but since then some sectors of the left haven’t always been as quick to embrace the newer incarnations of the LGBTQ community as liberals, moderates, centrists and independents have.
Too many Bernie supporters are letting their idealism lead them in irrational and reckless directions. It doesn’t matter how great your ideas are if you can’t make them a reality. Voting only based on uncompromising principles may make you feel good, but if you can’t win then it’s just a pointless and selfish form of ego masturbation. And they sure don’t help their cause by being so hostile and rejecting of anyone who doesn’t fall lock-step with what they want. That said, I really hope I’m wrong and Bernie or someone like him could win and turn everything around in this country and fix all the numerous problems. That would be awesome, but a democracy requires compromises with others, unless there’s an actual armed revolution to put these policies in place by force. That usually doesn’t turn out well.
stallionmaster
Super well written and well thought out. I agree with you completely. It actually frightens me that Democrats (and gays) are so quick to eat their own. I am not a fan of Bernie, but you can bet your ass that I will vote for him. Btw, I am even less of a fan of his “followers” than I am of Bernie himself.
BerlinQueen
I agree, very well written. I may be far left of left, but I am not with Sanders. However, I will vote for whoever it is that ends up opposing trump. Quite unlike the “Bernie or Bust” stance which was part of the reason the national tragedy we have endured since 2016 exists. I do not like populists most of the time – it all depends on the context. In my Mexico, regardless of how much worse things are getting (the economy is worse and violence has gone up and the president’s goons are amassing fortunes) people still tend to approve of the populist in power. They think he eats like them, dresses like them and he even takes selfies with them, etc. He has been referred to as a kindly uncle figure. Sound familiar? He like Sanders made many lofty promises and told people what they wanted to hear. None of these promises have been concreted for the most part. I feel political affiliation should be a rational choice and not one coming from the heart. In my time, I have never seen any candidate worthy of my trust – Sanders included. He is alienating people in the party he latched onto. I don’t understand why he is using the Democrat name brand in the first place, if he well knows what the Democrat good old boy clique are capable of – if it is true the DNC betrayed him in 2016. Something is just not right with Sanders. He looks like an opportunist to many.
Regarding believing in candidates, there is a time and place for everything. Maybe during the American Civil War, World War 2 or the Mexican Revolution it would be appropriate but not in our current situation. A Moderate candidate makes far more sense in this context we are in and I am referring to Warren, Pete or Klobuchar. Many have said here that we need someone that can sway mid western Moderate Republicans and the like. I agree. Sanders has been dubbed a “radical” which is silly I admit (if he really is a socialist, he has adopted an outdated political system which was devised way back in 1848 by two white males in a Europe that had far less ethnic diversity, and had far different socioeconomic realities – hardly radical to anyone but people who believe all socialists are commie authoritarians by default), but I bet that the voting block I just mentioned doesn’t agree it’s silly and are quite apprehensive. I am not afraid of socialism by the way. In Europe it may be working well, but they have higher literacy rates, have smaller and less ethnicaly diverse populations, longer and far more successful histories of worker’s rights, etc. Totally different context.
Even if Sanders were to win, he will not get very much done. We could not even get trump impeached, which is small potatoes compared to dismantling the power of big pharma and insurance companies. Worse than a fruitless period in power, is what was cited earlier that we will regress to the conservative abyss Reagan ushered in – but far worse – it is so bad now that even trump’s talking head minions on TV have begun to announce that domestic White Supremacist terrorism is surpassing foreign terrorism in this country. They are referring to the same people trump referred to as “very fine people” in Charlottesville. Scary stuff.
I do not like Moderate politics ideally. However, Democrats have tended towards the right for a very long time now anyway – Obama included. Why should anyone be alarmed by Warren, Pete or Klobuchar? However, anything is better than what the trump regime has brought us. Someone said it will only get worse. People far worse than Pence will arise. I agree.
I like Pete because of what he represents as a gay man close to achieving political success, just as I liked Hillary for the potential of breaking the glass ceiling once and for all for women seeking a place in politics on the level she sought. However, would I like to hang out with them as people? Not really. Politicians are meant to do their job. In the present context, that would be defeat trump and then anything else. That is about it. They are not supposed to be our buddies anymore than any other professional we seek help from like doctors, therapists, etc. If Sanders and Pete were not politicians and I knew them personally I would likely prefer to chat with Sanders. That does not mean I think he is the man that will be able to deliver us from the looming Conservative abyss in the short run and far more importantly in the long run.
I like that Pete has let the nation know he is gay, that he is married to a man and that he kisses him in public. That is what I call breaking a glass ceiling for all of us in the LGBTQ community.
Regarding his critique of 60s politics I agree he was not throwing the baby out with the bath water. I’m sure he knows about the legacy of many movements in the 60s. On the other hand, some people need to be a little less uptight about defending the sanctity of anything. It’s a free country and everyone has a right to express their opinion. Furthermore, instead of blindly proclaiming Stonewall as the start of it all, maybe you should go to an LGBTQ museum and see that Stonewall was not the start. For example, in Los Angeles:
“In 1967 the aftermath of a brutal police raid on the Black Cat Tavern, a Silver Lake gay bar, became the impetus for unprecedented resistance among the gay community and most visible example of the city’s simmering gay rebellion. But long before that incident, Los Angeles had been the site of dozens of “firsts” in gay history. It was home to the earliest known lesbian publication (Vice Versa, 1947), first official gay rights organization (the Mattachine Society, 1950), first homosexual magazine (ONE Magazine, 1953), first gay motorcycle club (the Satyrs MC, 1954), first Supreme Court decision in favor of gay rights (One Inc. v. Olesen, 1958), and first mention of a gay riot in response to police harassment (Cooper Do-nuts, 1958).” Taken from “Before Stonewall, the Queer Revolution Started Right Here in Los Angeles” By Jason McGahan – May 29, 2019 in LAMag.com
Gary Q VV
Everyone’s on pins-and-needles these days, especially Pete Buttigieg. You’ve got to realize he made that stupid remark about the 1960’s as a zinger towards Bernie Sanders. Why?-Why?-Why?… Pete, are you making so many a faux pas mistakes? Are you who you claim you to be, or a gay man not suited to lead America in a better way than other candidates. Shape-up soldier and take command of this country.
cliche guevara
Arguing about Buttigieg is largely a waste of time. He has not path to become the Democratic candidate for POTUS. He consistently comes in 3rd or 4th nationally and isn’t in the top two (or three really) in any of the states currently being polled. Congrats to him for a good showing in Iowa and New Hampshire but it’s over for him.
ryanM
Buttigieg is right. The things on that list — “the voting rights act, the civil rights act, second wave feminism, the anti-war movement, and the stonewall riots” — were EVOLUTIONARY, not revolutionary. They evolved from existing rights, and EXPANDED into otherwise discriminated populations. No new (aka “special”) rights were given or requested, and no revolutions occurred. This was/is actually a good thing because conservatives are always claiming that minorities, especially gays, are asking for “special rights.” Nope, gays and everyone else are just asking for the rights and protections given to everyone else. And that included gay marriage.
Even the anti-war, or pacifist, movement was hardly “revolutionary.” They existed in WW1 and WW2, and probably the Korean War as well. And it didn’t come out of the blue. It EVOLVED from religious pacifism, e.g Quaker, and was heavily influenced by Gandhi and by the late 60’s, Eastern mysticism.
Revolution was the Communist takeover of China, Russia and Cuba. None of those movements stated above are in any way comparable to those true revolutions. And yes, the 1960s had its revolutions, e.g. the Révolution Algérienne, but none in America. There were, however, revolutionary politics, as Buttigeieg correctly states. Posters of Che Guevara, Lenin and Mao adorned many dorm rooms.
Given Buttigeieg’s views on health care reform, for example, it’s clear the he;s okay with EVOLUTIONARY (and expansionist) politics, e.g. modifying Obamacare, and perhaps eventually EVOLVING into Medicare for All. He’s just against the unyielding confrontational absolutism of Sanders. Revolutions, are by definition, unyielding, confrontational and absolute. As such, I found Buttigieg’s tweet to cogent, eloquent and intelligent. It’s just too bad that others without a nuanced knowledge of history choose to twist his words out of historical context.
whynot8queerbait
Eloquent ?????????
whynot8queerbait
I guess eloquent if you’re a goddamn psychopath. Then yes.
whynot8queerbait
I might be an idiot. Trump is president. I voted for him. He’s gonna be president again. ?
ryanM
whynot8queerbait, for a Tweet, it was absolutely an eloquent use of the English language. It’s certainly more eloquent than your pathetic posts here.
whynot8queerbait
You guys are neat. If a dude can marry a dude, and a lady a lady, I should be able to marry a goldfish or a bumble bee right?
ryanM
Er, perhaps you don’t understand the term, “consenting adult” or “age of consent.” So tell me, how does a goldfish, cork or bumble bee give consent? DUH!
THINK before you post.
whynot8queerbait
What about a cork? Can I marry a cork? It’s a liberal cork. Hates freedom and junk. Would that be ok? The cork is so queer it might even run for president.
ryanM
You are a great asset to the LGBTQ movement. It’s people like you who demonstrate the ignorance underlying homophobia. Indeed, you verify studies that repeatedly correlate gay acceptance to educational level. The more educated one is, the more likely s/he is to support gay rights. So keep at it. Give people, especially millenials and GenZs, more reasons not to be associated with you or homophobia, You’re already fighting a losing battle, as polls among the younger generation proves. But it never hurts to have one more idiot to expose the moroninc foundations of homophobia.
whynot8queerbait
When God made Adam and Steve, do you think Steve had to pick the peanuts out of their butt baby’s hair, or maybe people didn’t eat peanuts then?
whynot8queerbait
Ryanm, why so sad? If you were on fire I would consider spitting on you if I knew you wouldn’t like it. Millennials deserve everything and it’s just ruthlessly absurd for them to have to work for it. I certainly hope you feel better, maybe color a coloring book? You could also find comfort in the ars of your same sex partner, or inside out hotdog or whatever.
whynot8queerbait
Sooooooooo, what’s going on with LGBTQWTF today? Any person get their privates rearranged or munch on same sex body parts?
whynot8queerbait
I bet ryanm did. Oh……..I bet he did.
whynot8queerbait
If I teach a bird to say yes, can I marry said bird ryanm? Seems reasonable right? I would have to do the math regarding age of a bird and what not, but that could be neat right? I just have to make sure the bird has a dick so we can proudly display our rainbow flag. I will totally do that bird queer style in his queer bird butt and then we are gonna go vote for mayor Pete who tweets eloquently. You know the definition of eloquent right? Oh I’m sure you do.
BigJohnSF
He’s not “hating” on the politics of the 60s – he’s pointing out that we have moved beyond those politics. Throwing bricks at cops is not the right strategy for 2020. It’s amazing how the self-loathing queers love to twist his every word.
whynot8queerbait
Eloquent
whynot8queerbait
You nasty ryanm!
Taiyoken
@ryanM
I’m sorry, Ryan, but you seem to have forgotten one of the most important rules of the internet: Don’t feed the trolls.
whynot8queerbait
Eloquently put Taiyoken LGBTQWTF.
whynot8queerbait
I guess we agree ryanm just isn’t educated.
ryanM
Taiyoken, thanks for the reminder! Will do as advised.
whynot8queerbait
Anybody got a cucumber I can have? I would ask ryanm but I’m sure it’s a gross pickle.
whynot8queerbait
That’s a short leash ryanm, good for you though.
whynot8queerbait
Anybody know what animal I should put in my butt? I’m thinking a sneaky snake but the old fashioned in me suggests a gerbil. Any thoughts? Hardcore ryanm would suggest a porcupine but I’m not comfortable with that.
whynot8queerbait
A gazelle? Roof rat? Butt squirrel? You guys are a bunch of fags
J W G
The 60’s was a different time. I marched in the first gay pride in NYC in June 1970. I was there. It was a different time. I also saw the liberal factions in the country flee from us like we were lepers in the 80’s when being gay was not so gay and HIV was detected in our tears while not knowing what to do with our dead loved ones because we were untouchables. Gays need to get out of bed with the Libs cause I know a lot of queer rednecks and they’re an honorable sort. I happen to like Bernie myself but if Mayor Pete wins he’s got my vote.