PETE BUTTIGIEG SAYS 'NO' WHEN ASKED IF HE THINKS GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS INCLUDES

[Uncle Joe]

ENDING CLOSED-DOOR FUNDRAISERS WITH BILLIONAIRES

(snip)

During a campaign event over the weekend, student activist Greg Chung asked Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, directly about the concerns. "I wanted to ask if you think that taking big money out of politics includes not taking money off of billionaires and closed-door fundraisers," Chung asked, in a clip that has circulated on social media.

Answering immediately, Buttigieg responded: "No." The candidate then walked away to talk to other attendees at the event.

(snip)

Another attendee pointed out that as a candidate, Buttigieg could just direct his staff to open the fundraisers. The mayor agreed. "Why haven't you done that?" the person asked.

"There are a lot of considerations and I'm thinking about it," he said.

(snip)

https://www.newsweek.com/pete-buttigieg-money-politics-billionaire-fundraisers-1476189

[TexasTowelie]

1. Pete must be passing Bernie in the polls.

Otherwise there wouldn't be so many attacks on him today. The coordinated effort is noted.

[LonePirate]

5. Why are you more concerned by an alleged coordinated attack than by the issue at hand?

It suggests you are perfectly fine with these closed door fundraisers and you have no interest in candidates being transparent.

[Uncle Joe]

7. An astute observation LonePirate.

[TexasTowelie]

8. Because I'm not stupid.

Nobody is being fooled by this malarkey.

[LonePirate]

10. Some might say opposing transparency is stupid so are you sure that's your defense?

[TexasTowelie]

11. It's a shame that we can't be really transparent about reality in this forum. nt

[BootinUp]

12. Lol. Nt

[Act_of_Reparation]

24. It sure is.

Politics is cynical business. Candidates will press the advantage where they see it. That's a given.

Just because they're saying it for their own selfish reasons doesn't make what they're saying wrong.

[zentrum]

15. Exactly.

[stopdiggin]

18. I'm concerned with winning elections and beating Republicans

not so much with student activists. I'm okay with how Pete (or any of the others) wants to run his campaign. If this constitutes a disqualification for office in your mind, you're welcome to that opinion.

[LonePirate]

21. You think a lack of transparency is the path to a winning ticket? Wow!

[stopdiggin]

22. I think fundraising is often a pathway to a winning ticket

I know it's old school, but ... I'll forego the purity tests in favor of winning in 2020.

[LonePirate]

25. You're opening the door to massive corruption with that stance.

I guess the lesson of 45 has not been learned.

[brooklynite]

36. Obama won with the same "lack of transparency"...

I spent $25,000 to go to a DNC dinner with him; want to know what we talked about?

[BeyondGeography]

40. And then Donald Trump beat us by 74 EV's promising to drain the swamp

Times change.

[stopdiggin]

48. as if "draining the swamp" had ANYTHING to do with

people voting for Trump. And then to tie that in to the ethical record of Obama, his administration, or his campaigns ..... Now there's some real chutzpah. I'm quite breathless with admiration.

[BeyondGeography]

49. It was a ploy

It worked.

He’s going to try it again, too. That’s why most every Democrat has adjusted. Ask Joe Biden why he was careful not to give any paid speeches to investment banks.

Oh well, here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-joe-biden-avoided-hillary-clintons-wall-street-problem-183759498.html

[ritapria]

13. This is a fight between Liz and Pete , not Bernard

[TexasTowelie]

16. No it isn't

and I wasn't born yesterday.

[msongs]

14. coordinated effort - its like tag team lol nt

[TexasTowelie]

19. It certainly is.

There is a ten-letter word that starts with "r" which aptly describes what is occurring. It's shameful.

[booley]

2. The more I hear Buttigieg's policies, the less I want to vote for him

I dont think he's yet explained why he did a 180 on Medicare For All.

OR a few other things that could be mentioned.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. I hear ya booley... I was as BIG Mayor Pete fan, but lately he's been disappointing.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BuffaloJackalope]

33. this

[unitedwethrive]

39. I don't understand why people want a representative who never changes their mind.

Real, thinking people are always adapting to the environment in which they find themselves. Clearly a 180 turn on any issue would be a red flag, but gradual changes that come from learning more about an issue are to be welcomed, IMO - particularly when the movement is toward inclusivity.

[AngelicaHora]

42. Because the 180 never happened

See this short video:

Link to tweet

[LonePirate]

3. Must be some shady stuff going on if he is unwilling to open up those doors.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

29. It does make one wonder... I didn't expect this from Mayor Pete.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[FreeState]

35. How so?

All donations are in the public domain and individuals can only give to the same amount regardless of wealth?

Sounds like Democrats eating their own to me...

[crimycarny]

45. Shady like Obama?

Obama held closed fundraisers as well, many of them. So I guess Obama was shady too?

It's all moot now anyway as Pete just responded that he will open those closed fundraisers:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-buttigieg-to-allow-access-to-closed-door-fundraisers/

[Sherman A1]

4. He certainly does not impress me

and I would have a hard time voting for him even in the general election.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. I wouldn't go THAT far... Mayor Pete would be INFINITELY better than Dolt45!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Uncle Joe]

31. I agree InAbLuEsTaTe. n/t

[Sherman A1]

44. A cardboard box 📦 would be better than Dolt45

So that’s a pretty low bar.

I prefer someone who starts with a plan and reasoned policy proposals, beyond “I think I’ll run for President.”

[bluedovepdx]

6. Thanks

for posting. I think this is quite relevant. Not that long ago Pete supported Medicare 4 All. Now he's getting the big $ in closed fundraisers and from bundlers and he disparages (lies about) Medicare 4 All. We should know what Pete is saying to (promising) those big $ people and the special interests represented at those fundraisers. We should know which candidates have been bought....applies to all candidates. No more business as usual.

[Uncle Joe]

9. One thing about "Medicare for All Who Want It"

the for profit "health" insurance corporations and Big Pharma won't want it but as a result of leaving those industries in power for future lobbying purposes even if M4AWWI were to pass they would work relentlessly 24/7 at every level to undercut and weaken it just as they did against the ACA.

[crimycarny]

46. Obama held closed fundraisers all the time

Did that bother you?

[tritsofme]

17. ALL CAPS HEADLINE MUST MEAN ITS IMPORTANT!

[Recursion]

20. It doesn't. People have this wrong.

Moneyed interests don't come up to unsuspecting legislators and hand them money to change their votes. People misunderstand this entirely.

Moneyed interests come up to legislators who already agree with them, and hand them money to change our votes. Candidates can't exactly spend contributions on hookers and blow, remember: they can only spend that money on changing our minds. We are the ones being bribed.

[unitedwethrive]

23. I have vowed to support any Dem that gets nominated, and I HOPE they take big money!

Yes, it would be great if all political candidates were forbidden to have undisclosed donations, and none from corporations or billionaires, but as long as the other side does it, we need to as well in order to keep up and hopefully win.

If we ever again have all three legislative branches, then laws should be passed to try and get rid of Citizen's United.

[lastlib]

26. My number-one criteria for every candidate for every office.....

...from president to dog-catcher is support for overturning Citizens United, and getting big money out of politics thru campaign finance reform. So I am ruling out Buttigieg for the nomination. That said, if he is nominated as the D-party candidate for president, I WILL support him over anyone else.And I hope he takes all the big money that comes his way to defeat AnusMouth. I am not a purist to any extent that will put that POS back in the White House.

[Uncle Joe]

28. I am in general agreement with you on this lastlib

with one difference being I'm incapable of narrowing down my #1 criteria for my list of number ones is tragically too long.

[lastlib]

32. I chose that issue....

...because getting rid of CU will enable a lot more issues to be fixed by weakening GOPee opposition. I think that is the linchpin issue that will swing a lot of others to a more progressive resolution. At least, that is my hope.

[Uncle Joe]

43. I understand the logic of your choice and don't disagree with it

but my list is still full of un-dividable number ones, the ever growing tragedy of anthropogenic climate change, a barbaric health care system more concerned with making profit than actual health care, critically dysfunctional income/wealth disparity, I see each of these systems as in real time either making life miserable or non existent for millions of people while simultaneously reinforcing one another.

To my way of thinking the best way to solve massive structural dysfunctional systems is to promote policies that are not only equal to the legislative law task but the moral plane as well, lifting the people while growing the universal movement into an unstoppable political force; should that happen Citizens United will be overturned.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. Pete Buttigieg IS against Citizens United, and has stated uniquivocally that it must go.

Perhaps you haven't seen him saying this, but I make a point of watching as many interview and town halls etc as I can, and he has stated this over and over.

He very much wants to defeat the yellow blob and start this nation towards healing all the citizens.

[Quackers]

47. You do know Pete said that he does support overturning CU, even going

As far as saying we need a constitutional amendment to stop it. Don’t take my word for it, look it up.

[brooklynite]

34. A billionaire at a closed door fundraiser pays the same $2800 I do...and gets the same face time

[FreeState]

38. +1000

This is a distraction for distractions sake.

[BeckyDem]

41. Good to know.

Thanks for the thread, Uncle Joe!