What People Are Saying About Pete Buttigieg's Debate Performance
“Passionate and on point…So freaking smart...insightful concepts...the most mature...strong...drew applause…the best answer...right on...far and away the most important answer of the night.”
Key Excerpts
New York Times: “Drew applause with the prediction that Republicans would brand the eventual Democratic nominee as a wild-eyed extremist no matter what policies that person endorsed.”
On Twitter:
Ezra Klein @ezraklein: Pete Buttigieg's answer on structural reform is far and away the most important answer of the night. If you want to get *any* of this stuff done, you have to start with structural reform so that popular majorities can make policy. Otherwise it's all going to die in the Senate.
Harry Litman @harrylitman: Mayor Pete has a way of crafting sound bites that don't sound like sound bites--they sound original, smart, not trite. He also very rarely fails to say something worthwhile and interesting -along with Warren the highest % there. And he never loses his cool. Really impressive.
Jake Miller @politicalmiller: Man is Pete Buttigieg having one hell of a night. Fully deserving of his top-tier status. #DemDebate
Gretchen Carlson @GretchenCarlson: Agree with you @PeteButtigieg — kids shouldn’t have to worry about being shot while they are at school. #CNNDebate
Ron Elving @NPRrelving: Pete Buttigieg may be youngest person on stage but often seems the most mature.
Jason Johnson @DrJasonJohnson: Mayor Pete is the first person to talk about DC Statehood on the debate stage - Big points for @TheRoot Black Power Rankings since that essentially creates a black run state #DemDebate
CBS News @CBSNews: In the wake of yet another deadly mass shooting, Mayor Pete Buttigieg delivered a powerful response about gun violence at the #DemDebate (link: https://cbsn.ws/2KhTgus) cbsn.ws/2KhTgus
Muriel Bowser @MurielBowser: I see you @PeteButtigieg #DCStatehood.
Emily L. Hauser @emilylhauser: Ok @PeteButtigieg's "crazy socialists" line was good & also very accurate
Jane Lynch @janemarielynch: @PeteButtigieg passionate and on point.
Adam Wren @adamwren: .@PeteButtigieg's sounded most different from the rest of the field so far as he talked about instituting major structural reforms and gun control.
Charles M. Blow @CharlesMBlow: Like Buttigieg’s answer on constitutional change. That was strong. #DemDebate
David Rothkopf @djrothkopf: @PeteButtigieg best answer on border by far.
Hilary Rosen @hilaryr: “High school is hard enough without worrying if you are going to get shot” Two insightful concepts of in touch @PeteButtigieg #DemDebate #CNNDebate
Charlotte Clymer @cmclymer I was 12 when Columbine happened. Anyone who was a teenager that day--like Pete Buttigieg--knows exactly that dull frustration in hearing those in power talk on end for the last 20 years about gun violence but do nothing. Our generation knows that frustration. #DemDebate
Tiffany Cross @TiffanyDCross: And I’ll say this about @PeteButtigieg - the guy is genuine. Even when it comes to his shortcomings. He, and anyone on stage tonight, would be better than the current situation.
Dan Baer @danbbaer: .@PeteButtigieg is right. We have now produced two school shooting generations and we cannot we cannot we cannnot (sic) produce a third.
We need to get money out of our politics so that we can pass the common sense gun safety reforms that our country needs. #DemDebate
Jess Mcintosh @jess_mc: “Pretending to be disabled” is a really great way of describing Trump’s bone spurs. Mayor Pete has had some really good lines tonight.
Brian Fallon @brianefallon: Thank you @PeteButtigieg for plugging structural reform of the Supreme Court.
P.G. Sittenfeld @PGSittenfeld: My two favorite candidates on tonight's stage:
- @ewarren: she knows exactly why she's running for President and what she wants to accomplish for the country
- @PeteButtigieg: he thinks and speaks with a clarity and a freshness that would serve America very well right now
Lauren Ober @OberandOut: Shoutout to Mayor Pete for talking about DC Statehood in the #CNNDebate. FYI people in DC pay federal taxes and have no voting representation in Congress. Which is unconstitutional.
Greg Pinelo @gregpinelo: Buttigieg is so freaking smart.
Mindy Finn @mindyfinn: Buttigieg is spot on that barring structural change, the extreme poles of America will continue to dominate policy debates and block popular solutions.
Elie Mystal @elienyc: I like that @PeteButtigieg is straight up talking about amending the constitution. I really like that. It's a better answer than "omg, the NRA you guys." #DemocraticDebate
Preet Bharara @PreetBharara: Mayor Pete takes every opportunity to emphasize his youth. Eg, I was a junior when Columbine happened (what??). What will be criticized as a weakness he aggressively wields as a strength. He’s just 37 and owns it.
Mark L. Keam @MarkKeam: Yes @PeteButtigieg is right. And I can think of several constitutional amendments that will make America a More Perfect Union: overturn Citizens United, get rid of Electoral College, . . . and pass Equal Rights Amendment!! #WinTheEra #CNNDebate
Max Burns @themaxburns: Buttigieg was right on. We've allowed conservatives to set the terms and declare things like Constiturional (sic) amendments off-limits. It's time to put every tool back on the table.
Maria Cardona @MariaTCardona: . @PeteButtigieg has a great point: we will deal w Climate Change if and only if we win the election. That is the case w every issue Dems are discussing.
Alex Morash @AlexMorash: Mayor Pete is hitting it out of the park. #DemDebate
Brad Cromes @BradCromes: .@PeteButtigieg SLAYED with that. Helluva case for his candidacy. #DemDebate
Max Burns @themaxburns: Damn, @PeteButtigieg straight up calling @realDonaldTrump
a coward who faked a disability to avoid serving in Vietnam. Wow, turn it up I love this song. #DemDebate
