Pete Buttigieg, one of the top contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, is facing a bevy of criticism, including from his supporters, after he gave a largely incoherent answer about his preferred policy towards Israel and Palestine.

 

Over the past several weeks, the genocidal nature of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip has become undeniable to much of the world. Israeli leaders have openly discussed the goal of clearing the strip of Palestinians and, to that end, have inflicted a punishing blockade that has resulted in mass starvation.

 

Though official estimates from the Gaza Health Ministry put the death count around 60,000, many expert analyses have found that it will have likely eclipsed 100,000 or potentially 200,000 once all indirect deaths from disease and starvation are accounted for.

 

In an interview on Pod Save America, the former South Bend mayor and Biden transportation secretary was asked if he would support efforts backed by a majority of Senate Democrats to halt weapons sales to Israel.

 

Buttigieg began by acknowledging that taxpayer money should not be going to "things that shock the conscience," adding that "we see images every day that shock the conscience" out of Gaza. 
 

"So much of this is complicated," he continued. "But what's not complicated is that if a child is starving because of a choice made by a government, that is unconscionable."

 

After this brief acknowledgment, however, Buttigieg proceeded to give an answer that Gal Debored of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft called "a beautiful example of sounding like you care about genocide while actually saying nothing at all."

 

Buttigieg spent the bulk of his time discussing how Israelis were being affected.

 

He discussed the necessity of "including the voices of those who care about Israel, who believe in Israel's right to exist, who have stood with Israel in response to the unbelievable cruelty and terrorism of October 7th."

 

Full: https://www.commondreams.org/news/just-tell-us-what-you-believe-buttigieg-torched-over-non-answer-on-israel-palestine

1 event. 1 day. versus decades of terror. Pete Bootybump can go f*ck himself

No suprises here, unfortunately

Pete has such potential to do great for the US... it's a shame to see him waste it by camouflaging himself in eloquence while saying nothing.

He's absolute trash 

19 minutes ago, The7thStranger said:

Pete has such potential to do great for the US... it's a shame to see him waste it by camouflaging himself in eloquence while saying nothing.

It has always perplexed me why so many people like him. I hear the same thing from all of them: "he's one of the best speakers on our bench." Okay? And what's his record beyond being an Obama-esque orator?

 

He was the mayor of a small city before Wall Street randomly funded his national debut as a 2020 contender to be president - which was odd since at the time police brutality was a major election issue and as mayor, he did nothing to address police brutality in his own city. Then as a consolation prize he becomes transportation secretary with 0 credentials in the area of transportation…

 

Being a good speaker doesn't mean a person is fit to govern the nation. All he does is practice Bill Clinton style politics and virtue signal to conservatives. He's a chop! 

They're all spineless unfortunately 

First he threw trans people under the bus, now….

 

i don't get what his strategy is, being a milquetaost centrist is no longer cute  

I like Pete but these stock answers are not gonna help us take back anything in 2026, let alone 2028.

 

I don't get why Democrats don't just answer more explicitly that we should not be funding Israel's evil actions. Isn't it a majority opinion among most Americans now anyways?

18 minutes ago, jakeisphat said:

It has always perplexed me why so many people like him. I hear the same thing from all of them: "he's one of the best speakers on our bench." Okay? And what's his record beyond being an Obama-esque orator?

 

He was the mayor of a small city before Wall Street randomly funded his national debut as a 2020 contender to be president - which was odd since at the time police brutality was a major election issue and as mayor, he did nothing to address police brutality in his own city. Then as a consolation prize he becomes transportation secretary with 0 credentials in the area of transportation…

 

Being a good speaker doesn't mean a person is fit to govern the nation. All he does is practice Bill Clinton style politics and virtue signal to conservatives. He's a chop! 

He has absolutely proven himself to be a chop, especially given his awful performance during the Biden administration (which really comes down to his poor decision-making and him thinking he could have ever fulfilled that role properly to begin with).

 

He's a good wordsmith, but that's really all there is at this point. And unfortunately, the words coming out of his mouth as of late are all empty and confused because he's not fighting for equality, but rather fighting to uphold a vision of stale version of America from 2008. Pete got ahead because his biggest superpower was bridging the gap. But now he's only able to get those results by catering to the troglodytic side of the political spectrum as opposed to enticing them over to the side of actual justice. His constant playing to both sides isn't moving him or anybody else forward.

 

Dare I say his husband has done more for the community than he has.

Edited August 13, 2025Aug 13 by The7thStranger

Dont fall into the same trap we did with Kamala. 

 

If push comes to shove, I have no doubt that Pete  wouldn't allow the forced exile of Gazans to South Sudan. 

 

The winner of the Dem nomination is not going to be a Momdahni - we dont have the national support. 

Just now, SeeingStars1515 said:

Dont fall into the same trap we did with Kamala. 

 

If push comes to shove, I have no doubt that Pete  wouldn't allow the forced exile of Gazans to South Sudan. 

 

The winner of the Dem nomination is not going to be a Momdahni - we dont have the national support. 

Oh my God. It's not 2016 anymore, we can actually push for a decent candidate who believes in things. 

It's hard for Americans to do much for other parts of the world when we ourselves are losing rights and standard of living under right wing administrations. I refuse to be a one issue voter and lose the country that has provided so much to me and my family.

Just now, Whocarres said:

It's hard for Americans to do much for other parts of the world when we ourselves are losing rights and standard of living under right wing administrations. I refuse to be a one issue voter and lose the country that has provided so much to me and my family.

Why are you guys already telling us to settle for Buttigieg? He won't win a primary for a MULTITUDE of issues, and being wishy washy on a 90/10 issue for the Dem base is a MAJOR PROBLEM. 

11 minutes ago, SeeingStars1515 said:

Dont fall into the same trap we did with Kamala. 

 

If push comes to shove, I have no doubt that Pete  wouldn't allow the forced exile of Gazans to South Sudan. 

 

The winner of the Dem nomination is not going to be a Momdahni - we dont have the national support. 

I think Pete needs to live up to that potential and regain some of the trust he's lost over the years. I wouldn't right him off entirely, but he needs to do better to be better.

 

I mean, I wasn't thrilled with Kamala as a candidate, but I still voted for her because there was literally no other option come Election Day. I think a lot of people feel that way. It's good to want to strive for better, and you need somebody with the ability to get there.

Edited August 13, 2025Aug 13 by The7thStranger

Being a door mat isn't a good strategy if he's planning on running in 2028

6 minutes ago, The7thStranger said:

I think Pete needs to live up to that potential and regain some of the trust he's lost over the years. I wouldn't right him off entirely, but he needs to do better to be better.

 

I mean, I wasn't thrilled with Kamala as a candidate, but I still voted for her because there was literally no other option come Election Day. I think a lot of people feel that way. It's good to want to strive for better, and you need somebody with the ability to get there.

He's not viable. He was part of the historically unpopular Biden administration which involved a coverup of Biden's health, and he failed to connect with young and ethnic minority voters in 2020. He is such a bad candidate. He'd lose worse than Harris imo. 

1 hour ago, Aden said:

I like Pete but these stock answers are not gonna help us take back anything in 2026, let alone 2028.

 

I don't get why Democrats don't just answer more explicitly that we should not be funding Israel's evil actions. Isn't it a majority opinion among most Americans now anyways?

Because the AIPAC money and terrorizing the middle-east via Israel is more important to them. Pays well to be a terrorist sell-out

 

I know corporate dems haven't been paying attention to the state of their party since the election, but this kind of vague, pandering bullshit is not going to get them any support from voters so they might as well say they support Israel and move on. Let your base know where you actually stand so they can make their decision (and respectfully drop you, for the third time). 

i am never ever voting for this man

45 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

He's not viable. He was part of the historically unpopular Biden administration which involved a coverup of Biden's health, and he failed to connect with young and ethnic minority voters in 2020. He is such a bad candidate. He'd lose worse than Harris imo. 

I think his chances at the moment are lower than low. But I could see him having a comeback in forty years, but only if he puts in the work to act more and talk less.

 

He's not a good candidate as he stands right now, though, I do agree with you. He's not even a good activist with him up here entertaining right-wing falsehoods about trans people. Disgusting.

Trash. Good thing he'll never be president.

I think this issue could be #1 on the litmus test to choosing a nominee in 2028 much like the Iraq War was in 2008. Hillary initially supporting and voting for it while Obama stood out as one of the few who voted against it,  is what I believe the very thing that pushed him over the finish line. 

Pete is fully a chop and needs to get a job as a realtor and stay out of public office. There is literally nothing to him and there never was.