Democratic Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has become well known for his talent for pushing back on right-wing rhetoric.
And in a new interview with Stephen Colbert, Buttigieg perfectly summed up the GOP's approach to democracy and shed light on their fascist impulses by doing so--and he only needed seven words to do it.
Buttigieg's comments, seen below, came during a discussion with Colbert on The Late Show about the upcoming midterm elections.
\u201c"When you lose, you accept the outcome." \u2014 @SecretaryPete on what it means to live in a democracy.\n\nSee more of Pete and @StephenAtHome's discussion tonight at 11:35/10:35c on @CBS or @paramountplus.\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
Looking ahead to November 8, Colbert asked Buttigieg about the enormous number of election-denying MAGA Republicans on ballots across the country.
"How do you feel about the fact that there are 300 Republican candidates on the ballot in just a few weeks who question the legitimacy of the last election and some who outright believe it should be overturned?"
Colbert then referenced a recent New York Times poll which showed that 71% of Americans believe democracy is in peril, before adding to his question.
He asked:
"How do you run for office... to a public that is losing its faith in the legitimacy, or at least the efficacy, of its vote."
As always, Buttigieg was at the ready with the perfect response, saying that "one of the most important principles in democracy is that":
"when you lose, you accept the outcome."
Yep, that pretty much sums it up!
Buttigieg went on to elaborate:
"The reason that's so important is because we expect the same thing from citizens, in terms of policy decisions."
"In other words, part of what it means to live in a democracy is that we have this process for getting decisions that all of us have to live by--those of us who agree with the decision, and those of us who were against it..."
"So if we all have to live with the outcome of each of these policy choices, it's only fair that the people who make them have to live with the outcome of when we choose which one of them is going to be in charge."
"That's how the bargain works."
On Twitter, people applauded the way Buttigieg perfectly laid out the GOP's anti-democracy philosophy without even mentioning them.
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus Pete eloquently speaks a truth that has slipped away from the practices of a percentage of our leaders, and our country\u2019s MAGA Republican electorate. #PeteButtigieg\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus I know what Pete is saying is true because I paid attention in 3rd grade gym class, and yet this lesson seems lost on millions and millions of Americans.\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus I totally admire +support Pete Buttigieg +actually want to see him president, but it is so depressing that we all get so thrilled at what is just BASIC COMMON SENSE. He is great at dispensing it, but how pathetic that it's now considered so special--shows how low USA has fallen.\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus So articulate, with such civility and compassion.\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @RMGarabedian @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus Brilliant\u2026again\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus Never heard the essence of Democracy explained this way - the duality and equality of leaders and citizens, the fairness. It makes so much sense. He explains fairness best!\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus Sad that this needs to be said, but I am glad that @SecretaryPete said it. The basics of democracy shouldn't be in question, but we'd better pay attention, because they are...\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus @SecretaryPete is so right and I can\u2019t understand why campaigning Democrats aren\u2019t talking about this more. Repubs keep complaining about the economy, inflation, crime, etc. but have no plan to solve these problems. They disagree with Dem\u2019s plans but have offered no alternatives.\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @JuddApatow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus This is the essence of democracy.\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
\u201c@colbertlateshow @SecretaryPete @StephenAtHome @CBS @paramountplus Secretary Pete is so good at this\u201d— The Late Show (@The Late Show) 1666658653
As November 8 closes in, many Republican election deniers are in tight races or even ahead, on track to win seats in congress or at the state level. Only a pro-democracy voter surge can block their path.
