'White male privilege': Top N.H. women fume over Buttigieg's Iowa speech

[RandySF]

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Pete Buttigieg returned to New Hampshire this week riding a wave of momentum generated by his surprisingly strong Iowa finish. But he was greeted by pushback from some of the most powerful women in the state, who saw a double standard in his declaration of victory in Iowa late Monday.

In their view, the 38-year-old mayor’s unexpected assertion — a calculated political statement delivered without any accompanying evidence at the time — smacked of “white male privilege,” “hubris” and a lack of equanimity that a female candidate would be criticized for.

“In a moment where he should show composure and measure, he’s not doing that,” said Jenn Alford-Teaster, a Sen. Elizabeth Warren supporter and Democratic activist running for state Senate. ”But he’s going to get away with it because that’s what happens when you’re a man. You can do whatever you want. For women, we’re held to a different standard and it’s demoralizing as a candidate and it’s demoralizing as a voter.”

In his speech to supporters in Des Moines on Monday night, Buttigieg went beyond where any of his rivals were willing to go in the wake of the vote-counting debacle, essentially claiming first place based on what his campaign said were internal numbers showing him edging out Sen. Bernie Sanders. He might be right — the Iowa Democratic Party is still trying to figure out the official winner. But even without those results, his performance exceeded expectations.

“We don’t know all the results,” is how he started his speech, looking downwards with a slight grin. “But we know by the time it’s all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation, because by all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious.”



https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/06/buttigieg-iowa-new-hampshire-women-111746

[Iliyah]

1. What? . . . .

[Croney]

2. What?

[madaboutharry]

3. This kind of thing turns me off.

It isn’t “White Male Privilege.” It is confidence. There is a difference.

Women need more confidence. There, I fixed it.

[oldsoftie]

8. Doesnt just turn you off; lots of folks

And i wouldnt doubt you get alerted for that simple sentence............

[UniteFightBack]

10. And now with the results in...it's a FACT. nt

[Loki Liesmith]

4. This is peak stupid.

[SMC22307]

20. ...

[58Sunliner]

5. Really?? How about Bernie? It just sounds like typical campaign rhetoric.

I love Warren, but I don't see the issue in this case.

[oldsoftie]

6. "Lighten up, Francis". nt

[dsc]

7. I am really beyond sick of this

women have been protected by federal law since 1964. Gay men still aren't. Women have been able to serve in the military since at least the 1940's gay men since 2010. Women, at least straight one, could marry the person of their choice since well since a long time, gay men 2015. Now as to the merits. He fucking won. 100% in and he fucking won. On what planet doesn't he get to say, it looks like we won (which is what he said), have it turn out that he fucking won, and somehow that is wrong.

[UniteFightBack]

9. What smacks of white male privilege? Talk about over reach Ms. Jenn whoever a

Warren supporter/activist.

[Mz Pip]

11. This is how we lose. N/t

[Pisces]

12. He won, 100% reporting

[DeeDeeNY]

13. He's guilty of giving an upbeat speech??

[highplainsdem]

14. What a petty, wrongheaded criticism of Buttigieg. And this doesn't help ANY female

candidates.

[Devil Child]

15. Whatever helps one cope I guess

However, claiming white male privilege probably won’t translate into more votes.

[ismnotwasm]

16. While white male privilege certainly is a a serious problem but

This isn’t an example of it


I had to explain to my husband that the pay gap is still real. He thought it was all better.

[FloridaBlues]

17. He did do a lot of chest thumping. Sanders and Pete are tied by all accounts

what a mess Iowa !

[emmaverybo]

18. Well, he's got a kinda cocky personality. He and his supporters can crow all they like, but

Buttigieg Is a long way from the nomination. Let him have his sugar-high. May give momentum that turns into a durable lead, which would certainly be surprising, more likely Iowa and NH not accurate barometers in the longer run.

Amy managed to assert. Warren can still come back and she’s no shrinking violet. Pete might be compensating for inexperience. He sure has made mistakes.

[dalton99a]

21. +1. Buttigieg is the least qualified among all candidates

The mayor has zero work experience at the county/state/federal level

[emmaverybo]

22. I think he believes his intelligence, life experience, personal charisma enables him to skip over

that dreary resume-building and go straight to the top. Well then, voters have only his mayoral record to go by.

[SMC22307]

19. Oh for God's sake.

We are going to fucking lose in November 2020 if this NEVER-ENDING whining keeps up.