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Democratic Primaries
Showing Original Post only (View all)'He's white, male and gay': Buttigieg hits obstacles with black voters [View all]
PoliticoJoe Darby, a prominent pastor in Charleston, S.C., was discussing the Democratic presidential field with fellow clergymen when Pete Buttigiegs name came up. A fellow pastor quickly interjected.
Isnt that the dude who kissed his husband on TV? the person asked skeptically, according to Darby.
The exchange highlights a major obstacle for Buttigieg, whos vaulted into the top tier of Democratic candidates without gaining traction among African Americans, according to recent surveys of national and South Carolina Democrats. But as the mayor of South Bend, Ind., devotes more effort to campaigning for black votes in the South and elsewhere, he will have to break down some resistance over his sexual orientation, particularly among older voters, according to interviews with more than a dozen African American activists, political strategists and clergy, as well as a review of public polling.
Buttigieg and his campaign are well aware of the issue. As he skips from sold-out fundraisers to overflowing rallies around the country, Buttigieg set aside time last week for a smaller gathering of black LGBTQ faith leaders and activists in Houston. Gathered around a glass coffee table, Buttigieg opened up to the group of a dozen about his record with African Americans as mayor in South Bend, Ind. an area that has generated some criticism as well as his agenda for black voters and his experience as an openly gay candidate for president, including the challenges he may face.
Hes white, male and gay, all three of those things are going to create obstacles for various communities specifically, I think, the white and the gay, for the black community, are definitely going to be obstacles for him, said Harrison Guy, a Houston-based choreographer and LGBTQ activist who led the discussion with the mayor. Hes very aware of that.
Isnt that the dude who kissed his husband on TV? the person asked skeptically, according to Darby.
The exchange highlights a major obstacle for Buttigieg, whos vaulted into the top tier of Democratic candidates without gaining traction among African Americans, according to recent surveys of national and South Carolina Democrats. But as the mayor of South Bend, Ind., devotes more effort to campaigning for black votes in the South and elsewhere, he will have to break down some resistance over his sexual orientation, particularly among older voters, according to interviews with more than a dozen African American activists, political strategists and clergy, as well as a review of public polling.
Buttigieg and his campaign are well aware of the issue. As he skips from sold-out fundraisers to overflowing rallies around the country, Buttigieg set aside time last week for a smaller gathering of black LGBTQ faith leaders and activists in Houston. Gathered around a glass coffee table, Buttigieg opened up to the group of a dozen about his record with African Americans as mayor in South Bend, Ind. an area that has generated some criticism as well as his agenda for black voters and his experience as an openly gay candidate for president, including the challenges he may face.
Hes white, male and gay, all three of those things are going to create obstacles for various communities specifically, I think, the white and the gay, for the black community, are definitely going to be obstacles for him, said Harrison Guy, a Houston-based choreographer and LGBTQ activist who led the discussion with the mayor. Hes very aware of that.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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'He's white, male and gay': Buttigieg hits obstacles with black voters [View all]
brooklynite
May 2019
OP
But he is honest and won't be pandering to one group at the expense of another
leftofcool
May 2019
#2
And he is not the candidate if he can't make some inroads in this important constituency,
Demsrule86
May 2019
#7
What do you think he needs to do to make some inroads in this important constituency? nt
Autumn
May 2019
#13
Being white and male most definitely does not seem to be hurting Biden with PoC at all
Celerity
May 2019
#3
It may also be the police chief thing...sealed records are always suspicious in a community
Demsrule86
May 2019
#8
almost no one (Buttigieg included) outside of the FBI, the US attorney, and the other 2 parties
Celerity
May 2019
#16
I think the tapes thing may be hurting him a wee bit, but I do not give it anywhere near primacy
Celerity
May 2019
#20
Yes, it probably could have been handled better, but because the tapes were illegally made
Celerity
May 2019
#36
As I have elaborated upon in countless posts, Pete did nothing inherently wrong in that
Celerity
May 2019
#14
I didn't say they WOULD. I didn't say they WOULDN'T. Don't put words in my mouth.
The Mouth
May 2019
#38
Biden has the benefit of Obama's seal of approval, which carries immense weight with all Dems.
LonePirate
May 2019
#15
Being white and gay will be a problem for bigots in that community: Bible thumpers
CurtEastPoint
May 2019
#4
More important than any of that, he doesn't have a long history of working with the black community.
SidDithers
May 2019
#21
Obstacles of bigotry are meant to be broken. Bigotry SHOULD be broken. And kudos on Mayor Pete
Maru Kitteh
May 2019
#23
When it comes down to A-A voters (especially in the South) I unfortunately have to agree
Celerity
May 2019
#28