Posted on Jul 25, 2019
'Headliners: Pete Buttigieg' On Military Service
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Before he emerged onto the national stage as a Democratic candidate for the presidency, Pete Buttigieg was the mayor of a midwestern city. How did his seven month tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Navy inform his decision to run for office? And what does he think of the current president's lack of military experience? Find out on an all new "Headliners: Pete Buttigieg" this Sunday at 10 P.M. on MSNBC.
Before he emerged onto the national stage as a Democratic candidate for the presidency, Pete Buttigieg was the mayor of a midwestern city. How did his seven month tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Navy inform his decision to run for office? And what does he think of the current president's lack of military experience? Find out on an all new "Headliners: Pete Buttigieg" this Sunday at 10 P.M. on MSNBC.
'Headliners: Pete Buttigieg' On Military Service
Posted from msnbc.com
Service
Sailors
Military service
Democrats
Posted >1 y ago
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Of several reasons (not the least of which were, and are my doubts about his ultimate goals) I "held my nose" while voting for Trump...was his deferral for Vietnam. A conscientious objector can hold my respect for sticking by principles and beliefs...and even some guy who bailed to Canada to avoid the draft at least made a choice. "Mayor Pete" has some of that "right" in this clip.
That being said, I don't think HIS (or anyone's) military service needs to be used as a counterweight to equally disparaging reasons why I couldn't vote for Buttigieg- nose held or not. Would I think any differently if he had been a SEAL, rather than an intel guy? No. Senator McCain was a fighter pilot and POW; neither of which guaranteed the wisdom or beneficial impact of his performance as a politician. Kennedy was a straight up hero...and a great president, neither of which made up entirely for him being a man of questionable morals. By that same logic, Andrew Jackson was nothing short of a true-blue warrior...and you don't hear too many people on either side vindicating the man who Davy Crockett parted ways with.
A politician's military service can provide a unique perspective on the decisions they may make, especially as Commander in Chief...but it isn't a credential to be bandied about to offset their policy decisions or intended platforms on a sweeping scale. Mr. Buttigieg took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, including both the 1st and 2nd Amendments; would he as President? He served during a conflict that highlighted the risks presented by an international, radical jihad...would he factor that into decisions involving our national security, to include the borders? As an officer, he benefited from an established hierarchy that rewards merit and chafes at manufactured egalitarianism...would he apply that to social and economic issues, or not?
To my mind, as much as I question what the true legacy of the Trump administration will be, he's at least doing one thing that all U.S. presidents should do...stand up for all the good that the flag represents, and has represented. The moment he perverts that into something truly dishonorable, he'll lose me too (and I'll admit that ice is thin as it is)...but I'll never vote for the policies and ideologies of the current incarnation of the Democratic Party.
That being said, I don't think HIS (or anyone's) military service needs to be used as a counterweight to equally disparaging reasons why I couldn't vote for Buttigieg- nose held or not. Would I think any differently if he had been a SEAL, rather than an intel guy? No. Senator McCain was a fighter pilot and POW; neither of which guaranteed the wisdom or beneficial impact of his performance as a politician. Kennedy was a straight up hero...and a great president, neither of which made up entirely for him being a man of questionable morals. By that same logic, Andrew Jackson was nothing short of a true-blue warrior...and you don't hear too many people on either side vindicating the man who Davy Crockett parted ways with.
A politician's military service can provide a unique perspective on the decisions they may make, especially as Commander in Chief...but it isn't a credential to be bandied about to offset their policy decisions or intended platforms on a sweeping scale. Mr. Buttigieg took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, including both the 1st and 2nd Amendments; would he as President? He served during a conflict that highlighted the risks presented by an international, radical jihad...would he factor that into decisions involving our national security, to include the borders? As an officer, he benefited from an established hierarchy that rewards merit and chafes at manufactured egalitarianism...would he apply that to social and economic issues, or not?
To my mind, as much as I question what the true legacy of the Trump administration will be, he's at least doing one thing that all U.S. presidents should do...stand up for all the good that the flag represents, and has represented. The moment he perverts that into something truly dishonorable, he'll lose me too (and I'll admit that ice is thin as it is)...but I'll never vote for the policies and ideologies of the current incarnation of the Democratic Party.
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