If you’ve been online much the past few weeks, you may have seen a bunch of viral clips of Pete Puttigieg on Fox News. The former mayor and Democratic primary candidate has become a regular fixture on the conservative-leaning media outlet, gaining quite the reputation for his bold eloquence and laser-sharp responses.
There’s no question why Fox News keeps having him back—theviral clips that Buttigieg keeps producing are ratings gold for them. But why does Mayor Pete keep agreeing to step into hostile territory?
Ana Navarro spoke to Buttigieg on The View and pointed out his willingness to make appearances in places where Democrats aren’t heard from much, including Fox News. “You never waver from your calm delivery of the facts,” Navarro pointed out. “Why do you keep going on there and how do you stay so unflappable?”
“So here’s the way I think of it. Most of the viewers of Fox News don’t agree with me politically, and definitely the people kind of controlling the content on that network, in my view, aren’t always being fair,” said Buttigieg. “But I also know this. I can’t blame somebody for not supporting my perspective if they’ve literally never heard it. So it’s my job to get that view in front of viewers who are tuning in in good faith.”
.@PeteButtigieg on his frequent Fox News appearances: “I can’t blame somebody for not supporting my perspective if… https://t.co/1THKmF2Ugx— The View (@The View)1604425646.0
Turning to the light in all this darkness, Buttigieg added, “One of the good things coming out of our very troubled political moment, is that I think a lot of people are questioning old habits, including a lot of Republicans who are saying, ‘Okay, I’ve voted Republican all my life, but this is not what I had in mind.’ And now that we have this moment, this president, who has really offended conservative values as well as progressive values—really American values. I think that gives us a moment to build a different kind of coalition.”
Whoa Pete. You mean we don’t have to put everyone into two very distinct boxes that oppose one another no matter what and call one another evil? Where did you come up with such a notion?
He went on to describe how jazzed he is about the idea of getting people from across the political spectrum “on the same page” on big issues that impact us all.
“And I’m so excited about what could happen if we get some Republicans alongside independents and progressives and moderates in my own party and get us on the same page about some things,” he said. “the big issues, whether we’re talking about the climate or racial justice—certainly something like the pandemic. You know, the pandemic doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. The virus isn’t going to check your party registration. It is a threat to all of us, so we’ve got to build some common ground here. And to me, finding common ground doesn’t mean watering down your values or pretending to be something that you’re not. It just means taking other people seriously and sharing why you care so much.”
Seriously, I’m not sure if we even deserve Pete Buttigieg right now. But in a political climate marked by alternative facts and toxic partisanship, it’s refreshing to have someone who is not only willing to engage with people who disagree with him, but serves as an example of how to do so.
Thanks, Mayor Pete.