Pete Buttigieg Challenges J.D. Vance’s Vision of America at Democratic Convention
By Jake Beardslee ·
August 22, 2024
On Wednesday night, former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, delivering a speech that contrasted the Democratic vision with that of the Republican party.
Buttigieg didn't hold back in his criticism of former President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance. Mike De Sisti-USA TODAY
Buttigieg opened with a touch of humor, stating, "Here is a sentence I never thought I'd hear myself saying: I'm Pete Buttigieg, and you might recognize me from Fox News."
He went on to emphasize the choice voters face in the upcoming election, contrasting the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz with their Republican counterparts. Office of Governor Walz & Lt. Governor Flanagan / Wikimedia
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, took aim at Trump's rhetoric on law and order, stating, "Donald Trump rants about law and order as if he wasn't a convicted criminal running against a prosecutor, as if we were going to forget that crime was higher on his watch." Adam Vander Kooy/Special to The Daily / USA TODAY NETWORK
Buttigieg reserved particular criticism for J.D. Vance, Trump's running mate, describing him as "one of those guys who thinks if you don't live the life that he has in mind for you, then you don't count. Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Buttigieg stated, "When I deployed to Afghanistan, I didn't have kids then. Many of the men and women who went outside the wire with me didn't have kids either. But let me tell you, our commitment to the future of this country was pretty damn physical." Jasper Colt-USA TODAY
The speech pivoted to a more positive message, with Buttigieg advocating for a "better kind of politics" that is "empowering, uplifting" and can even be "a kind of soulcraft." Mark Hoffman / USA TODAY NETWORK
He contrasted this vision with what he described as the Republicans' message of "darkness," stating, "I believe America is ready for a better kind of politics." Jasper Colt-USA TODAY
Buttigieg shared personal anecdotes, including the challenges of parenting, to illustrate the real-world impact of political decisions.
He referenced the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights, noting that his own family life "went from impossible to possible, from possible to real, from real to almost ordinary in less than half a lifetime." Jasper Colt-USA TODAY
In his closing remarks, Buttigieg called on Democrats to "choose our president, choose our policies, but most of all, we will choose a better politics." Jasper Colt-USA TODAY
He urged the audience to "embrace the leaders who are out there building bridges and reject the ones who are out there banning books," ending with a rallying cry: "So let's go win this." Megan Smith / USA TODAY NETWORK
