Barney Frank: Being gay helps Buttigieg get favorable coverage

[Hortensis]

2. It's certainly a reason. Innovative mayors aren't a dime a dozen,

but they're far from rare. Gay and innovative made Buttigieg stand out from that crowd long before he started talking about running for president.

And there's the personal conceit factor. People who pride themselves on being socially advanced often rush to display it, and of course purist and downright silly types to attack. As do media catering to socially advanced readerships -- positive articles are rewarded by being published and with clicks, critical ones less likely to be published at all.

We see that syndrome here on DU, where Buttigieg immediately became a darling among people who had no idea why he was considered a standout mayor but did know he was gay, relatively unimportant as that should be. And where I was foolishly accused of being an anti-gay bigot because I said I felt this would not be a good time to run a gay nominee, that in this passionate culture-wars era -- with our nation currently in the throes of a major right-wing backlash against LGBTQ equality -- it would probably stimulate stronger turnout against our candidate than otherwise.

I miss Barney Frank.

"The opposite of pragmatism is not idealism. It’s wishful thinking. ~ B. Frank"