Floridians begin early voting Monday in some counties, and rarely have the state’s Democrats faced a more consequential choice for their presidential nominee.
Three-plus years of Donald Trump have wreaked havoc on American institutions, norms and unity.
The president has perverted the Department of Justice, sought revenge against those who place country over presidency, solicited foreign interference (multiple times) in our elections, cheapened the value of truth on a daily basis and divided this nation in ways we couldn’t have imagined in 2016.
Some Americans enjoy the daily spectacle of a reality-TV president unrestrained by civility, unburdened by guilt and uncaring of consequences.
Another segment of the population is just exhausted. These Americans want to stop cringing whenever the president opens his mouth. They want someone capable of reflection, knowledgeable of history, respectful of fact and truth, and able to convey a point without resorting to bombast and bluster.
They want an adult in the White House.
Good news — Democrats have just such an adult on the ballot: Pete Buttigieg.
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has displayed the qualities of a president from the beginning of this campaign.
When other candidates make debate points by yelling, Buttigieg calms the storm, conveying ideas clearly, reasonably and respectfully.
When other candidates talk about war in the abstract, Buttigieg speaks from a position of experience.
When other candidates take outlandish positions this nation can’t possibly afford or get through Congress, Buttigieg remains grounded in fiscal and political reality. From health care to immigration to defense, we find his policies to be progressive, but also mostly pragmatic and achievable.
Yes, his political experience consists of two terms as mayor of a mid-size city.
But lack of political experience didn’t stop America from electing a no-term reality TV star.
And yes, he’s only 38 years old, about the same age as Emmanuel Macron when he was elected president of France in 2017.
So what? If we’ve learned anything during these long three years it’s that age does not always correlate with maturity. Buttigieg doesn’t pitch Twitter tantrums and doesn’t dream up childish nicknames for opponents, as Trump did when he likened the Democrat to Mad magazine’s mascot, Alfred E. Neuman.
….who got them there. Chris Wallace said, “I actually think, whether you like his opinions or not, that Mayor Pete has a lot of substance…fascinating biography.” Gee, he never speaks well of me – I like Mike Wallace better…and Alfred E. Newman will never be President!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2019
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(Buttigieg’s sharp-witted response on Jimmy Fallon’s late-night show was almost Churchillian: “I guess the fact that I inspired him to make a literary reference, maybe for the first time, is something.”)
Buttigieg is not the ideal choice, we know that. We would prefer a candidate with more political experience at a higher level, and a candidate with broader appeal to the constituencies that Democrats need to defeat Trump in November. We are particularly concerned about Buttigieg’s failure to connect with African-American voters.
If nominated, time would be on Buttigieg’s side. He’s unassuming, he listens, he’s humble and he’s self-aware. Those qualities would grow on the public as the campaign progressed, bringing into sharp relief the differences between Buttigieg and Trump. It would be a sight to see on the debate stage the unflappable young war veteran who speaks multiple languages sparring with a blustering draft-dodger who barely tries to articulate himself.
We recognize that our recommendation in this contest is not necessarily the candidate who — today at least — appears best positioned to win the presidency.
Joe Biden has name recognition and the confidence of more African-American voters. Bernie Sanders has his rabid supporters, who want to tear the system down and rebuild it. Mike Bloomberg has his billions and experience as a government and business executive. Elizabeth Warren has her experience, passion and sharp intellect.
But Biden seems lost at times. Sanders is the front-runner but his political baggage is too weighty (ugh…those Fidel Castro comments) and his ideas too far left for many voters. Bloomberg is a latecomer with baggage of his own. Warren, like Sanders, takes positions that too many Americans can’t swallow.
All that said, we would take any of them over Donald Trump, the most destructive, corrosive, loathsome force American politics has seen in generations.
If this is how Trump is willing to govern as a first-termer, it’s hard to imagine what he’s capable of as a lame duck with nothing to lose, protected by an obsequious Senate.
America needs a fresh start with a fresh face on the scene. Democrats have that opportunity with Pete Buttigieg, if only they’ll take it.
Editorials are the opinion of the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board and are written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Mike Lafferty, Jay Reddick, David Whitley and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.
