Representative Lauren Boebert is staying on brand with her criticism of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Lauren Boebert, known for her firebrand style, appeared on Fox News’s Unfiltered to vent some frustration with Buttigieg.
The comments were patently Boebertian – meaning the comments were stupid and demeaning but also pretty funny.
Lauren Boebert Being Herself…
“[Buttigieg] said he lost his train of thought, while Americans are losing many things under his leadership as the Secretary of Transportation and I think he needs to watch more of Thomas the [Tank] Engine to really understand how our infrastructure works,” Boebert said.
The comment hits on the perception that Buttigieg was never qualified to serve as Transportation Secretary – a perception that was fairly accurate.
Buttigieg had no relevant experience when took the reigns of America’s transportation system.
Buttigieg had served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana and had run unsuccessfully for Democratic National Convention chair and president.
But Buttigieg was chummy with Biden and was favored amongst the kingmakers in Democratic circles. Despite not having any relevant experience, Buttigieg was appointed to a prominent position within Biden’s cabinet, where Buttigieg has been able to maintain national visibility, as he postures for future positions at the highest levels of government.
Lauren Boebert had more to say about Buttigieg on Fox. Here she is with another diss.
“But wasn’t Pete Buttigieg saying we have too many white, male construction workers and here he is dressed in cosplay as a white, male construction worker while President [Donald] Trump was delivering real victories for the American people, providing the needs that they needed in that moment and that time.”
First, the cosplay comment is hilarious. I doubt Buttigieg ever said “we have too many white, male construction workers.” That’s pretty specific.
I assume Boebert is referring to the left’s general tendency to malign white men. So, Boebert’s premise is dependent upon inaccuracies and hyperbole but if we accept the premise of her diss at face value, or even as a general critique of left “woke” culture, it’s pretty funny.
Buttigieg, a Harvard and Oxford graduate, all dressed up with his hard hat and high-vis vest is ridiculous and false. It is cosplay, the construction worker part at least.
Buttigieg is not cosplaying the white, male part).
Actually, the whole thing reminds me of Buttigieg’s military service – when he joined the Naval Reserves and went on a photo-op style tour of the Middle East (where he kind of looked like Mike Dukakis in the tank) that he can’t stop talking about.
Granted, any form of military service is worthwhile and honorable – but one can’t help getting the sense that Buttigieg served to increase his political capital.
Lauren Boebert ruins her punch line, however, when she pivots into a stock endorsement of Trump and his “real victories,” when he was “providing the needs” that Americans needed at “that moment and that time.”
“That moment and that time” is perfectly vague, so I have no idea what Boebert is referring to. I also have no idea what “real victories” she is referring to.
Trump has been out of office for 25 months – during which his only real accomplishment is not being charged with anything.
Buttigieg Criticism
Buttigieg has become something of a punching bag in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment that released toxic chemicals into the environment.
Buttigieg has pushed back against the wave of criticism, citing Trump administration decisions to roll back railroad safety regulations, which of course has triggered Trump die-hards (like Lauren Boebert) to unleash a fresh wave of criticism against Buttigieg.
The derailment issue has become (like seemingly everything these days) highly politicized and highly partisan. We’ll see to what extent Buttigieg’s reputation is truly damaged.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
