Thank God for Pete Buttigieg, the Christian right's kryptonite Even if you don't plan on voting for [View all]

[applegrove]

Thank God for Pete Buttigieg, the Christian right's kryptonite Even if you don't plan on voting for him, the contrast between Buttigieg and Trump will only help the Democrats

AMANDA MARCOTTE at Salon

https://www.salon.com/2019/04/25/thank-god-for-pete-buttigieg-the-christian-rights-kryptonite/

"SNIP.....

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has drawn criticism for running for president in a crowded field of Democrats that includes many women and candidates of color who have a great deal more political experience than he does. But there's one reason Democratic voters should be glad he's in the primary race, even if they don't plan on voting for him: Every day Buttigieg remains in the national spotlight he exposes the hypocrisy of white evangelicals. In doing so, he's helping to diminish their still-formidable political power.

Buttigieg is what most white evangelical couples dream of in a son — except, of course, that he's gay and married to a man. And because of this, Buttigieg is able, both in his rhetoric and identity, to expose on a daily basis how the evangelical talk about "family values" is simply cover for their misogyny and homophobia, and how evangelical "sexual morality" is just a weapon to terrorize anyone who isn't a straight man.

The contrast between the thoughtful and devoted Buttigieg and Donald Trump, whom most white evangelicals voted for, is comically vast. Trump seems to have used fraud to evade military service. He's half-literate and his attempts at faking Christian beliefs are insultingly lazy. And he's a compulsive adulterer who has blown up two marriages and cheated on his current wife with a nude model and a porn actress.

Despite his Boy Scout demeanor, Buttigieg isn't afraid to contrast his wholesome life with Trump's truly awe-inspiring levels of sleaze. He's specifically singled out Vice President Mike Pence, who built his career using religion to shame women and sexual minorities for daring to have a sex life, for being "the cheerleader of the porn star presidency.



.....SNIP"