February 8, 2020

Biden's new anti-Buttigieg ad — with just a soupçon of race-baiting and homophobia.



ADDED: Without first reading my post, my son John wrote his own blog post making the same observation that led me to write this post. Under the heading "Is there a homophobic undertone to Joe Biden's attack on Pete Buttigieg?," John wrote:
Now that Pete Buttigieg has been victorious (yes, victorious) over fourth-place Joe Biden in Iowa, and New Hampshire polls show Buttigieg continuing to gain momentum heading into the first primary, Biden has released an attack ad that paints Buttigieg as a mayor with misplaced priorities.

Biden's ad says Buttigieg "installed decorative lights under bridges" to create "colorfully illuminated rivers," and he "la[id] out decorative brick" on sidewalks.

So Biden is repeatedly trying to associate the word "decorative" with Buttigieg, the first openly gay candidate with a serious chance at becoming president.

The repetition of that word — "decorative" — could not have been an accident.

One of the oldest stereotypes about gay men is that they're interested in interior decorating.

Yes, I know: someone's going to say I'm reading too much into it, oversensitive, etc. I know that response.

I also know that political attack ads are designed to operate on a subtle and sometimes subliminal level.
ALSO AT JOHN'S POST: The music playing when the ad talks about Buttigieg sounds an awful lot like "The Sugar Plum Fairy."

249 comments:

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Curious George said...

What's for sure, both candidates suck, and your eldest is a fucking idiot. Thank god he is following your lead into Democratic government service, or he would be in your basement yelling "Hey Mom, the Meatloaf!"

Rabel said...

What if Biden comes out as Gay?

That's probably already been discussed.

Ken B said...

The Extended Meadehouse Analysis Project — How Every Word About Buttigieg Is Homophobic

“Lightweight” — light in the loafers
“Inconsequential” — like a limp wristed pansy
“Ineffective” — ditto
“Book learning” — effete
“Polished” — hairdresser

Ken B said...

Now that you front pages it I will say how off putting is JAC's screed, especially the bit “I've heard that before.” Well, I have heard snide, prejudiced preemptive dismissals before so I guess we are even. None shall question his judgement! But JAC is the one who *explicitly* argued people should vote for Buttigieg because he is gay. Now he is objecting that repeating the word decorative — as in merely decorative and not substantial— is a disgusting display of prejudice about homosexuality. Heads I win, tails you lose.

Or is saying head homophobic? What about tail?

Ken B said...

A commenter above asked a key question. If Buttigieg were straight would the same ad be effective? The same ad, word for word, would it work, would it fit? The answer is yes. But if Buttigieg were *black* would it work, would it fit? No, it would not and it obviously, grotesquely would not.
I think that difference is important.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Rabel said...
What if Biden comes out as Gay?"

DNA tests show he is 1/138th Gay.

effinayright said...

So Biden is repeatedly trying to associate the word "decorative" with Buttigieg, the first openly gay candidate with a serious chance at becoming president.
**************************

Myself, I would go with "festive", along with "When Pete flounced onto the debate stage...."

Gets the job done.

MAJMike said...

Nice to see the revolutionaries eating each other. Starting to become entertaining.

Doesn't really matter. I won't vote for any of the DemCong.

Jon Burack said...

Hard to be surprised at Biden choosing to go after Buttigieg on his being gay. Meanwhile, Buttigieg gets a pass for wanting to let in illegal immigrants will-nilly, pack the Supreme Court with six new justices and abolish the Electoral College. Only in the world of Democratic fantasies is Pete a moderate. Gay is the least of his problems.

Ralph L said...

Them bridge lights sure are fruity-colored. Mayor Pete is OK with colored lights, but colored officers, not so much.

Of the 20 or so who have run, 2 (Van Buren and Bush) have been elected

And John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"That's not homophobia. It's finding gays amusing"

In fairness, gays do have a penchant for dolling up their localities with gay heraldry. That's hardly a controversial claim. Which is why, yes, there is a homophobic subtext in Biden's ad.

Sprezzatura said...

“Thank god he is following your lead into Democratic government service, or he would be in your basement yelling "Hey Mom, the Meatloaf!"”

These seems like a dumb statement.

I’m sure plenty of D gov service folks still live in mom’s basement.

PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...

Blogger Ralph L said...

Of the 20 or so who have run, 2 (Van Buren and Bush) have been elected

And John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.


in my comment I specifically excluded "founding fathers". I think they are special cases. They were also elected VP before the 12th Amendment which changed the rules on electing VPs.

Jefferson was elected VP because he ran for Prez and came in 2nd. To Adams.

Also no popular vote at the time for Prez.

John Henry

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

And in the meantime, Biden and Steyer got into an argument during the debate about how many blacks they have:

"Biden and Steyer kicked off the debate, with Biden telling Steyer that he had “double the blacks,” and Styer saying “no you don’t.”

Two white Democrats arguing over the number of blacks they have.

Is it 2020 or 1820?

Lurker21 said...

This is why I always thought the first gay president would be a tough combat veteran or ex-cop, somebody opponents couldn't charge with being effeminate, and probably somebody more or less celibate. Maybe a lesbian, but definitely somebody who couldn't be accused of being weak or a sissy.

But then I thought the first Black president would also be a tough combat veteran or ex-cop, and things didn't quite work out that way.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

Mayor Pete's listing of accomplishments is just 'window dressing'

D'oh! Forgot any reference to aesthetics is Homer-phobic

Ken B said...

Exiled
But does he have them in binders?

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

"We asked Buttigeig for his position, but he evaded the question

... we think Mayor Pete's just stonewalling.

Dog whistles! Dog whistles everywhere!!

See how many common words/phrases aimed at politicians will now
be OFF-LIMITS when applied to the Mayor of Bend South

Greg the class traitor said...

Blogger PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...
Blogger Bay Area Guy said...

Biden is Toast. It is remarkable that he didn't run in 2016 as a sitting Vice President, but chose to run in 2020.

Besides everyone knew it was Hillary's turn. Biden didn't want to end up dead.


I expected that the FBI was actually going to investigate Hillary's crimes. I figured she'd get arrested in April, and then Biden would step in and take the nomination.

It never occurred to me that Obama would have so little loyalty to Biden, that he'd let Hillary skate

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

how can that be good for the process?
Shielding a candidate from normal speech, or retroactively
ascribing "Phobias-N-Isms" to what has been said...

"They said X!!! To us, that's just like using the N-word!!!"

litter the political landscape with PC landmines to keep critics at bay


Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

It's not hard, see
to free
"La Cedille"

TJM said...

Monsieur Kerry speaks deplorable French, so does the Fudge Packer from South Bendover

TJM said...

Mayor Pete is an evil, sick man whose “brain” is in his anus

docweasel said...

At least they didn't say "gaily coloured lights"

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

ahem.

"lights of color"

Crazy World said...

I do believe they will all be back to their previous lifestyle very soon, except the excellent President of the USA.

Christopher B said...

Lurker21, my thought too.

At least Jeb (or Trump) got Christie to take out Rubio in 2016. If this takes out Buttigeig it's not likely to rebound to Biden's benefit. I'm betting that it will be Warren. It's not likely to be Sanders. From what I saw coming out of Iowa Buttigeig seemed to be the choice of the UMC that had probably abandoned Warren.

David Duffy said...

I'm guessing John is gay.

David Duffy said...

The advertisement isn't a stereotype of gays. John's reaction to the ad is stereotypical of gays.

Derve Swanson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
exhelodrvr1 said...

Mayor Pete's homosexuality isn't a problem, it's that it has allowed him to get pushed to near the front of the line sooner than appropriate. Same with Obama and his race, and Hillary and her gender.

tim maguire said...

It’s hard to say how to take that. Clearly, it’s trying to contrast Biden’s big accomplishments with Buttigeig's small accomplishments, but Buttigeig's accomplishments were appropriate to his role. Those are the sorts of things I want my mayor doing. So he comes across to me as effective at his job.

Plus I don’t believe Biden played a key role in any of those things. It sounded to me like he was trying to take credit for Obama’s accomplishments.

wendybar said...

Good thing Trump didn't put that ad out, or they would send up articles of impeachment!!!

Curious George said...

"Is that other guy Pete's bride or his husband?

I've never understood how that worked."

Ignorance is bliss.

rhhardin said...

Teabaggers were insulted as queers. Nobody knew what it meant. No colored lights or decorated sidewalks to give it away.

Meade said...

"I'm calling it. Buttigeig-Biden 2020"

Bu-Bi 2020. Very good.

Ralph L said...

Bernie-Biden
Bergen-Belsen

Kansas Scout said...

what an unbelievable reach for an "offense". I'm surprised Ann went there.

Unknown said...

So, let's assume a Democrat running for president in a few years likes sex with animals. We can't make fun of that? Well guess what? Maybe in fashionable cocktail parties in NYC and Beverley Hills everyone is cool with queers and LBGtYFDRHL but tens of millions of Americans are not.

I don't "celebrate" queers,fags, bestiality, etc. Don't like it? Tough.

David Begley said...

Crime and murder is through the roof in South Bend.

Paco Wové said...

"what an unbelievable reach for an "offense". I'm surprised Ann went there."

You must be new here.

Rusty said...

Like watching two homeless guys fighting over a parking space.

SDN said...

Meade:

"Shorter Biden: I'm not light in the loafers like some small-town mayors around here are. Just sayin'."


Me:
Actual Biden: The only thing light about me is the "Vacancy" sign shining from my ears.

Jim at said...

You are the arrogant bitchy character that assumes that others don’t know exactly what they are doing and why.

This is just beautiful. Glorious, in fact.

Inga wrote that. About somebody else.

Greg the class traitor said...

tim maguire said...
It’s hard to say how to take that. Clearly, it’s trying to contrast Biden’s big accomplishments with Buttigeig's small accomplishments, but Buttigeig's accomplishments were appropriate to his role. Those are the sorts of things I want my mayor doing. So he comes across to me as effective at his job.

Biden attacks "Mayor Pete": He's a lightweight who's never had to accomplish anything.

Tim "defends" "Mayor Pete": Of COURSE he's a lightweight who's never had to accomplish anything. That's what it means to be Mayor!

You might want to work on that defense.

1: "The job of Mayor" extends to a lot more than decorative lights and pavers. At least, it does if you're doing it right. For Mayor Pete, it extended to getting his street repaved early. If you want to actually defend him, I'd suggest coming up with some accomplishments of his as Mayor that were more substantial than the ones Biden mocked.

And, if you can't, I suggest dumping him now. Because otherwise Trump will happily take him apart.

2: Found this: https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/06/19/requiem-for-a-lightweight-the-mayor-pete-factor/

Pete might be able to quote The Federalist papers on the impeachment articles or recall some details of Richard Nixon’s resignation, but don’t vote for the mayor if you want someone who can rein in the Pentagon, talk trash to the Saudis, or increase appropriations for more corridor rail service.

Why? Because Mayor Pete is a Potemkin candidate, a mayor of symbolism, and his constituency is one of ego and self-love. Like Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island—yet another itinerant midwesterner trying to reinvent himself in the East—it can be said of Pete that he “sprang from his Platonic conception of himself.”

FIDO said...

Condescending yes. Dismissive, yes. Thing Three, my expert on things LGBTQ, can't see homophobia either.

Like Abortion, there are trigger issues

Lurker21 said...

Why? Because Mayor Pete is a Potemkin candidate, a mayor of symbolism, and his constituency is one of ego and self-love. Like Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island—yet another itinerant midwesterner trying to reinvent himself in the East—it can be said of Pete that he “sprang from his Platonic conception of himself.”

Good article:

Ask him about the budget deficit, and sooner rather than later his answer will allude to the fact he is neither a Millennial nor Generation X, but on the cusp of the two astrological iForces shaping the future of the country.

Ask him about Iran, and pretty soon he will switch the answer to his gay marriage and his faith.

Ask him about the economy, and eventually you will get an earful about his deployment to Afghanistan or the English town Gatsby calls Oggsford.


Buttigieg does to Capehart what Obama did to David Brooks. An intellectual snow job. A little display of rehearsed or impromptu mock erudition. No doubt Pete is better at it than Obama, who only had to drop Reinhold Niebuhr's name, but Pete has less experience than Obama (or at least less experience than Obama's team) and is more likely to trip himself up. He doesn't understand that in politics you don't want to always show how much you (think you) know.

They are already saying Pete is "an old person's idea of what a young person should be like." Sound familiar? It was Michael Kinsley's take on a young Al Gore.

Lurker21 said...

Mayor Daley had the Chicago River dyed green.

Was that a gay thing?

Unknown said...

Doesn't seem offensive to me....

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