Yesterday, in reporting on the latest straw poll, Kos commented, “Pete Buttigieg is the opposite of Warren. He doesn’t even have an issues page on his website—still.” In what I’m sure is just a coincidence (Kos doesn’t have THAT much influence), I got an e-mail from the campaign today announcing there is now an issues page on the campaign website. True to his messaging, it is organized around his three key themes of “Freedom,” “Security,” and “Democracy,” with specific topics under each of the headings — 27 total topics by my count.
Under “Freedom” he addresses Health Care (“ ‘Medicare for All Who Want It’ as a pathway to Medicare for All”), Higher Education, Infrastructure, Consumer Protections, Racial Justice (including “Create a commission to propose reparations policies for Black Americans and close the racial wealth gap”), Investing in Our Teachers, Gender Equity, Reproductive Rights, Organized Labor, and LGBTQ Rights.
Under “Security,” he addresses Climate Change, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Gun Laws, Election Security, Minimum Wage, Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice Reform, Veterans, and Extremism.
Under “Democracy,” he addresses Voting Rights, Special Interests, Gerrymandering, Political Representation, the Electoral College, the Judicial System, and National Service.
I haven’t really had time to digest it, but it seems like a thoughtful, substantive, and solidly progressive platform, not as far left as Warren or Sanders, or as detailed (no surprise there). I’m not sufficiently up on the platforms of the different candidates to make specific comparisons at this point. I’m sure this sharp-eyed community will find things to complain about, but I hope this will put to rest the suggestion that Buttigieg’s campaign is lacking in substance. By comparison to the remaining two front runners, I’ve oddly been unable to find an issues page on Harris' website, and Biden doesn't seem to have a website (although there is a stealth anti-Biden site using his name real estate).
I’m not putting this out there because I’m a committed Buttigieg supporter. For what little its worth, at the moment I think a Warren/Buttigieg ticket would be fantastic. But I do think this is important information for the community to have. I’d love to hear any thoughts anyone has about Buttigieg’s platform in the comments.