Former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg made yet another stellar appearance on Fox News Sunday. This time, Buttigieg talked to host Chris Wallace about what President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris plan to do for the United States, especially when it comes to the novel coronavirus pandemic, because, as we know, COVID-19 numbers are once again skyrocketing. Buttigieg also got real about the big decision Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will have to make in the coming months and the Georgia Senate special elections this January. Let’s check out the exchange below.
Control of the Senate is on the line. Can you give $3 each to Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock?
As my colleague, Hunter, noted, the Trump administration is not expected to make any major moves when it comes to handling the pandemic before Donald Trump leaves office in January. On the other hand, as we count down the days until he takes office, Biden is likely to urge the American people to listen to health and science expert recommendations (what a breath of fresh air, eh?), including wearing face masks and practicing social distancing amid a literal global pandemic.
Wallace opens the dialogue by saying that Biden claimed the American people gave him a “‘mandate for action.’” Wallace then referenced the House’s slimmer majority and what he describes as the “likelihood” of a Republican-controlled Senate. Wallace asked Buttigieg, “The question is: What mandate?”
Buttigieg’s answer is nothing short of refreshing.
“Well, I think he has a mandate to deliver on the winning campaign agenda that the Biden-Harris ticket offered the country. This not only earned us the support of the majority of Americans who voted for him to be the next president, but also, we should remember that those who supported him, and a remarkable number of President Trump supporters support the agenda that Joe Biden is going to lead our country forward with.
In other words, the idea of getting serious on COVID and having a science-led approach, which he’s already underway on. The idea of raising wages and protecting workers. And making sure corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes. Taking climate seriously. Doing something about racial justice. As we look forward, whether we have a divided government or not, I know this. What Joe Biden wants for the country is what most Americans believe is right for this country. And that, I think, is where the real propulsion of his administration will be. Just as it’s been the propulsion of this campaign and led to this win.”
Here’s that clip.
On the subject of the Senate, Wallace asked if the majority leader is Mitch McConnell, won’t that hurt some of the “boldest” parts of Biden’s election promises? Buttigieg first stressed that Georgia’s runoff Senate races are likely to be extremely competitive, and if Democrats don’t win, McConnell’s caucus will have a decision to make.
“Is his purpose in Washington to defy the American people? Who, along with the president and the House of Representatives, will believe in expanding, not taking away health care, ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes instead of slashing their taxes, no matter what, raising wages, treating climate change as real?” Basically, Buttigieg posited, does McConnell want to move forward with progress or stop progress?
Perhaps the biggest takeaway? Just how very important the Georgia Senate special election really is. The double runoff will be held on Jan. 5, 2021.
The Georgia runoff is Jan. 5. Click here to request an absentee ballot. Early in-person voting starts Dec. 14. And REGISTER TO VOTE here by Dec. 7.
And give $3 right now to rip the Senate majority from Mitch McConnell’s cold dead hands.