Jacob Ogles
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg savaged a bizarre video promoted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.
“I’m going to leave aside the strangeness of trying to prove your manhood by putting up a video that splices images of you in between oiled-up shirtless bodybuilders,” Buttigieg told CNN’s State of the Union.
The station played a video distributed on social media by DeSantis’ official campaign. Initially released by the third-party Proud Elephant account, the video attacks former President Donald Trump for promising to defend LGBTQ people from terrorists. Trump made that commitment during his nomination speech at the Republican National Convention months after the Pulse shooting left 49 dead at an Orlando gay nightclub.
The video has drawn wide-ranging criticism, including for the peculiar use of video of Christian Bale portraying Patrick Bateman in American Psycho and Brad Pitt playing Achilles in Troy. It also uses the Giga Chad meme, black-and-white photos of muscular bodybuilders, popular among right-wing social media influencers.
As of Sunday afternoon, the video had nearly 19 million views two days after the DeSantis campaign posted it.
Buttigieg, the first gay member of a presidential Cabinet, appeared on the Sunday talk show in his capacity as leading the Department of Transportation. He said that required him to refrain from too much political commentary.
But Buttigieg suggested the video did highlight a significant difference between President Joe Biden’s approach to the presidency and that promised by DeSantis. He called that the bigger issue exposed by the odd video.
“Who are you trying to help, who are you trying to make better off, and what public policy problems do you get up in the morning thinking about how to solve?” Buttigieg asked.
He said the Biden administration is focused on making Americans better off and cited several projects funded by the infrastructure package Biden made a priority. He noted he visited rural Kentucky this week to kick off a dam project in flood-prone Appalachia.
Most in politics, Buttigieg said, got into the process to find ways like this to make life easier for Americans.
“I just don’t understand the mentality of someone who gets up in the morning thinking that he’s going to prove his worth by competing over who can make life hardest for a hard-hit community that is already so vulnerable in America,” he said.
On the same show, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who faces Trump and DeSantis in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, also said he wasn’t comfortable with the video.
“It certainly doesn’t make me feel inspired, as an American, on the Fourth of July weekend, to have this type of back and forth going on,” Christie said.
13 comments
SteveHC
July 2, 2023 at 2:28 pm
He’s simply pissing away donors’s money. I could certainly think of a million far nicer ways to bring one’s own political career to a close…
Real Thomas Kaspar
July 2, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Buttigeg show focus on the messed up airports and trains no gives a damn about his bathhouse parties .
Michael K
July 2, 2023 at 11:40 pm
Sick. Seek help for your obsession with sex.
Victor vick
July 2, 2023 at 4:53 pm
Richard Grenell is the first openly gay person to hold a Cabinet-level position, not Pete.
Get your facts.. Straight ;D
Michael K
July 2, 2023 at 11:42 pm
He was an acting director (appointed) and ambassador. Pete is senate confirmed.
Dont Say FLA
July 2, 2023 at 5:59 pm
I’m at a complete loss for words, so I will just offer my LOLs @ Suicidal Rhonda
Earl Pitts American
July 2, 2023 at 7:11 pm
Good evening America,
I was not aware that Chris Christy was also a homertestical. Well that explains a lot. Maybe Christy will get some sort of Ambasador appointment out of all his help in keeping the left in The White House.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts American
Chris The Big Boy
July 2, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Guilty as charged Earl your g@ydar is fully operational. It was at that Hurricane Sandy hug on the beach with BHO when the g@y bug bit me. Ahhhh Barack…”Love soft as an easy chair…love fresh as the morning air…warm love that is shared by two… I have found with you”…Ahhhh Barak…
Ed Slaveen Liberation Movement 👍
July 2, 2023 at 10:45 pm
DeSantis is a hate speaker and far right troll. In the end, he will fail because of his stunts and fetid brand. Orange Hitler already poised to wipe him out even under indictment for crimes against humanity.
Michael K
July 2, 2023 at 11:57 pm
And how does DeSantis’ vile hatred of a group of Americans help make other peoples lives better?
I take pity on him. One of these days, karma will catch up. In the meantime, he is simply burning other people’s money – including yours as Florida taxpayers.
Beth
July 3, 2023 at 6:55 am
DeSantis did not go into politics to help people or to improve the state. Little Ronnie cares about one thing only, himself. He has no moral compass and will do or say absolutely anything for power or money. He has no platform and could not be more ignorant about the serious issues this country is facing. Just like his hero trump he does not understand anything about the economy, human rights, world diplomacy, or how our government works, nor does he care. He is truly a vile excuse for a human being. The only place this fool belongs is on the trash heap of history.
Casey
July 3, 2023 at 9:43 am
DeSantis just outed himself! The video shows him opposite grotesquely muscled weight lifters, heroic male movie stars in bizarre costumes, big boy athletes with photos of himself interspersed closely with the pictures.
It is the gayest political ad I’ve ever seen! The governor is gay as a three dollar bill — just like many men who obsess about their uncertain sexual orientation.
Thanks big guy. Now we know ya’
Dont Say FLA
July 3, 2023 at 11:01 am
Yeah I saw the ad and was dyin’ and was like WHO did that to stupid Rhonda? I just about fainted when I learnt it Rhonda’s own ad.
I suppose it’s Leaker Casey sabotaging Rhonda yet again, in her attempt to land the title of Mrs Elon Musk for herself.
Good luck with that, Casey. Mrs Grinch is more attainable for you, Casey. Maybe try for that, but whatever your goal, you go girl, keep sabotaging Rhonda.
Girl you keep us all in stitches, laughing at Rhonda. So I want to say thank you, Casey. Thank you. We cannot wait for your next great idea for Rhonda’s campaign!
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