Call it “Boy Meets World.”
Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg, the youthful former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, got a rude awakening Tuesday during a campaign stop at a union event in Charleston, South Carolina.
It didn’t go as planned – unless Buttigieg planned on being taunted by protesters, then basically chased to his waiting vehicle while trying to conduct a harried television interview.
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Pete Buttigieg confronted by minimum wage, racial justice protesters at South Carolina union event https://t.co/wgTGtedRao pic.twitter.com/crr82Htmj3
— TIME (@TIME) February 24, 2020
As WCBD reported, Buttigieg joined a group of McDonald’s protesters demonstrating for a $15 an hour minimum wage – more than twice the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
Showing off his regular-guy side, Buttigieg wore no jacket and had his sleeves partially rolled up for the occasion, pledging his support for a higher minimum wage.
He got a fair reception at first from the crowd — which had a marching chant of “We work! We sweat! Put 15 in our check” — but things soon went south, as U.S. News and World Report noted.
“He can’t be our president! Where was 15 in South Bend?” some protesters chanted.
Here’s the video again, skipping the preliminary speech.
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The sight of a presidential contender being hustled away from a crowd of working-class voters is never good. It’s especially bad when that presidential contender is a Democrat trying to convince his fellow Democrats that he really understands the problems of the poor.
(Considering the 38-year-old Buttigieg thinks his scant – so far – career of a military service and the mayoralty of Indiana’s fourth-largest city qualifies him to be the commander in chief of the world’s greatest military while presiding over a nation of more than 300 million souls, Buttigieg probably thinks he understands everything, including the problems of the poor.)
And the reception on social media was the kind that must make campaign managers want to stay in bed with their blankets over their heads.
“Pete can’t be our President, where was $15 in South Bend?” The protesters continued until Buttigieg cut his remarks short after just five minutes and started to leave.https://t.co/tx1OHwyAlB
— Zero G Badillion (@ZeroGBadillion) February 25, 2020
They ain’t having Pete. He runs to his car, shielded by women. The chant: Pete can’t be our President, where was 15 in South Bend? https://t.co/qacRzXkHLU
— Vivien Bledsoe (@chipmunkedy) February 25, 2020
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Airport chaos erupts after driver suddenly smashes through fence, hits plane and tractor: police
Breaking: US Forces Decimate Iranian Launchers, Stop IRGC’s Attempted Retaking of Hormuz
Urgent search underway for more than 20 people after Grand Canyon flash flood
DC public schools face special grand jury probe into attendance, truancy and graduation records
It was a photo op for Buttigieg. He didn’t even mention worker’s rights or $15 when spoke, he did his campaign spiel. 😆
Hear them ask him?
— Janet Iannarone (@JanetIannarone) February 24, 2020
😁😁 Pete fighting for 15,… Minutes of fame. #DemDebate2020 #FeelTheBern2020 https://t.co/jCLQJfVVJF
— SirCosmoKramer (@sircosmokramer) February 25, 2020
But many of the responses bashed the protesters, too.
Open the borders and flood the US with workers and watch what happens with supply and demand in minimum wage jobs, lots and lots of supply, will keep wages low. – But reality has no place in politics.
— Ed Jackson (@Roderickoooo) February 24, 2020
What union is that? All you can eat union?
— Dude (@dudeisback4) February 24, 2020
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Inside the dangerous US mission that cleared Iran’s mines from Hormuz shipping lanes
Abdul El-Sayed shares dozens of donors with ex-GOP candidate at center of antisemitism controversy
Marine Le Pen’s last stand: National Rally leader polling far ahead for 2027 presidential election after three previous defeats
Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says
Duffy teases ‘unprecedented fraud crackdown’ announcement with DHS, DOJ
Accused NC killer mom plans insanity defense — as retired judge says more may follow Lindsay Clancy strategy
Beloved Texas chiropractor, hiking group among those unaccounted for after Grand Canyon flash flood
California mom has both legs amputated after suspected impaired driver plows into her restaurant lunch table
Airport chaos erupts after driver suddenly smashes through fence, hits plane and tractor: police
Breaking: US Forces Decimate Iranian Launchers, Stop IRGC’s Attempted Retaking of Hormuz
Urgent search underway for more than 20 people after Grand Canyon flash flood
DC public schools face special grand jury probe into attendance, truancy and graduation records
I guess he’s not getting the black McDonald worker vote. Let’s go to John King at the Magic Wall. John…what percentage does the black McDonald’s worker vote total in the US? pic.twitter.com/urHzkqt1C9
— Josh Michael 🌈 ⚽️🏈⚾️ (@JoshMayhugh1) February 24, 2020
Basically, it was a clash of naiveté – or opportunism.
The phrase “Fight for 15” might sound good on a Democratic Party to-do list, but the experience where it’s tried shows just how job-killing it is.
Buttigieg might know that, but it’s not stopping him from attempting to pander to the union vote – an all-important voting bloc in a Democratic primary.
The protesters might or might not know it, but if they do, they just think they’re going to be one of the lucky ones who gets the higher-paying job.
But above all, it was a public relations disaster for Buttigieg’s already presumptuous presidential campaign, which at 9.8 percent isn’t even in the double digits in voter support among South Carolina voters, according to RealClearPolitics.
(Former Vice President Joe Biden is in first place in what amounts to a do-or-die contest for him with 26.8 percent support. Vermont’s socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders is in second with 21.7 percent and climate activist/billionaire Tom Steyer is in third with 14.7 percent.)
With Saturday’s Democratic primary in the Palmetto State fast approaching, public embarrassment isn’t going to help much.
Major mainstream media are likely to bury the story – if it had happened to a Republican it would be leading every nightly newscast – but video and audio of a boy prince who wants to be king being hounded out of an event by a group that’s among his party’s biggest supporters is not the look Buttigieg wanted in South Carolina.
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‘Jesus was a radical’: Progressives invoke Christ to sell left-wing agenda on campaign trail
Inside the dangerous US mission that cleared Iran’s mines from Hormuz shipping lanes
Abdul El-Sayed shares dozens of donors with ex-GOP candidate at center of antisemitism controversy
Marine Le Pen’s last stand: National Rally leader polling far ahead for 2027 presidential election after three previous defeats
Grand Canyon flash flood leaves 1 dead and several missing or unaccounted for, park service says
Duffy teases ‘unprecedented fraud crackdown’ announcement with DHS, DOJ
Accused NC killer mom plans insanity defense — as retired judge says more may follow Lindsay Clancy strategy
Beloved Texas chiropractor, hiking group among those unaccounted for after Grand Canyon flash flood
California mom has both legs amputated after suspected impaired driver plows into her restaurant lunch table
Airport chaos erupts after driver suddenly smashes through fence, hits plane and tractor: police
Breaking: US Forces Decimate Iranian Launchers, Stop IRGC’s Attempted Retaking of Hormuz
Urgent search underway for more than 20 people after Grand Canyon flash flood
DC public schools face special grand jury probe into attendance, truancy and graduation records
Boy met world on Monday – and the world wasn’t a welcoming place.
Story cited here.
