“A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury” ― John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
A case study in giving an interview
Pete Buttigieg is effortlessly brilliant and charmingly imperturbable in interviews — even in the enemy stronghold, Fox News. In a chat with Fox’s Shannon Bream, he promoted Biden’s rigorous border policies in the face of Republican intransigence — and contrasted Democratic efforts to address immigration with Republican do-nothing, political cynicism.
He said nothing Shannon could rebut. So she just asked her prepared questions and watched Pete flay the do-nothing GOP for their prattling non-action.
In the conversation about who was doing what on the border, Buttigieg started by dismissed finger-pointers as a waste of oxygen.
“We can do a Washington blame game all day. And you can tell there are some folks in the Capitol who would rather do that rather than roll up the sleeves and solve the problem.”
He then called out the gum-flappers for the contrast between their dystopian rhetoric and their crisis-enabling obstructionism.
“But anybody who opens their mouth about this issue should first have to explain, any politician should first have to explain why they stood in the way of a border bill that could be passed tomorrow, and the president would sign it.”
Bream did not take issue with Buttigeg’s characterization of the GOP as legislative anarchists. She also agreed that Republicans were not going to be constructive.
“Should he take executive action, knowing that’s not going to happen?”
Pete then extolled Biden’s flexibility and can-do attitude.
“Well, he’s taking executive action right now and will continually reassess what needs to be done based on law, and based on facts on the ground.”
Shannon then brought up a conservative talking point to imply Biden was weak on the border. In addition, in typical Fox fashion, she assigned a position to border patrol agents with an unsourced quote.
“Would he reinstate "Remain in Mexico" which a lot of folks say that's responsible for millions of people who get here, check a box. You hear border patrol agents complain ‘we are not even law enforcement offices anymore. We are facilitating people’s entry into this country. Letting them go. And not knowing where they will turn up again’.”
At this point, Buttigieg could have pointed out to Bream she had referenced a policy that only ever applied to immigrants seeking legal asylum — and that ‘Remain in Mexico’ has nothing to do with people trying to enter the country illegally. People who the Biden administration is working to keep out while the GOP fiddles — as Buttigieg points out.
“Which is why Congress should listen to the president and send more resources there, both to adjudicate cases for those who are involved in that side. And to get the technology and the personnel.”
He then politely throws Bream’s unnamed — maybe imaginary — border patrol kvetchers back in her face. He also reminds the host that inaction on the border is a Republican, not Democratic, policy.
"Remember, the Border Patrol union, not exactly big supporters of President Biden, endorsed this border bill. And yet, Congressional Republicans killed it. So again, we can continue to indulge in a Washington blame game or actually get something done."
Buttigieg then generalizes Republican obstructionism. He enumerates the policy areas where Biden and his congressional teammates have taken action despite corporate hostility and the GOP’s slow rolling. His coup-de-grâce was a kill shot aimed at the MAGA godhead.
“And I would add, you know, this is in context with so many areas, where there’s been talk for years — talk, talk, talk, — and no action. President Biden has taken action to finally let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices, over the objection of Big Pharma and Congressional Republicans.
He took action to make sure we have a stronger economy, which is why more jobs have been created on his watch than any other president in American history. He took action on an infrastructure bill, where the prior president, the former president, promised it every year and failed to get it done.”
In conclusion, he again pointed out that Republicans talk tough but do nothing.
“So we can talk about language, we can talk about words, or we can talk about action.”
Buttigieg was polite, even-handed, responsive, and factual while being absolutely clear about who the villains in the immigration debate are. I imagine Bream was thankful she was not interviewing the usual Fox guest — a dissembling loudmouth, banging an ideological saucepan with an alternative-fact stick.
For video of the interview, click HERE.
Coda
Margaret Thatcher once opined: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Let us update that: “If you want something said, ask a MAGA; if you want something done, ask a liberal.”
Bonus material
Campaigning in 2020, Pete Buttigieg went on Fox News for a conversation with Chris Wallace. In answer to a question on reproductive freedom, he defended late-term abortions so empathetically he received ovations from a Fox News audience.