{"id":553623,"date":"2023-02-18T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-18T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-buttigieg-is-drawing-so-much-gop-scorn\/"},"modified":"2023-02-18T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T17:00:00","slug":"why-buttigieg-is-drawing-so-much-gop-scorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-buttigieg-is-drawing-so-much-gop-scorn\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why Buttigieg is drawing so much GOP scorn"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2a04f98f680\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2a04f98f680\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-buttigieg-is-drawing-so-much-gop-scorn\/#Why_Buttigieg_is_drawing_so_much_GOP_scorn\" >Why Buttigieg is drawing so much GOP scorn<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Buttigieg_is_drawing_so_much_GOP_scorn\"><\/span>Why Buttigieg is drawing so much GOP scorn<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/buttigiegpete_013123ap-john-minchillo_buttigieg.jpg?w=900\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is increasingly in the eye of the GOP storm in the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that spilled toxic chemicals.<\/p>\n<p>The disaster, which came just a month after a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> of embarrassing air <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> issues that snarled plans for millions of Americans, is prompting renewed scrutiny of his tenure atop the department.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>But Democrats charge those aren\u2019t the only reasons Buttigieg has become the target of such ire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore, if you got your flight delayed, you weren\u2019t like \u2018oh that damn Elaine Chao,\u2019\u201d one Democratic operative said, referring to the Transportation secretary under former President Trump. \u201cThat\u2019s the downside that comes with being such a good public figure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Republicans, for their part, point to Buttigieg\u2019s role as one of Biden\u2019s top surrogates and his potential aspirations for higher office as central to their frustrations. They say he\u2019s not paying enough attention to his current job when there are plenty of high-level issues on his plate.<\/p>\n<p>And as an example, they blasted him this month for taking 10 days to make a statement about the crash in Ohio, which occurred Feb. 3, and are turning up the heat on Buttigieg and his department over what caused the derailment and the agency\u2019s response.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand that the secretary is politically ambitious, and he\u2019d like to move to government housing in Washington right up the street, but he does have a job to do,\u201d Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking member on the Senate Commerce, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> and Transportation Committee, told reporters. \u201cMaybe instead of focusing on gun control and denouncing freeways as racist, he should focus on addressing the enormous challenges we have on our railways, with multiple derailments where the secretary has been AWOL.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Buttigieg on Wednesday raising questions about the department\u2019s oversight of the U.S. rail system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>And Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) floated impeaching Buttigieg over how he has handled the derailment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hope he does resign, and if he doesn\u2019t, there\u2019s a long list of impeachment criteria,\u201d Davidson told conservative outlet\u00a0Real America\u2019s Voice\u00a0Thursday. \u201cI never would have thought we\u2019d see a point where we need to impeach a Secretary of Transportation, but\u00a0daggon, how many failures have to h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>en on his watch before we call it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Transportation (DOT) has defended its overall response as it assists the\u00a0National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s (NTSB) investigation into the crash and the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s handling of the fallout from the toxic chemicals that have ravaged the eastern Ohio town.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>In a statement, the department said its staff\u00a0\u201cwere on the ground hours after the derailment\u201d in support of NTSB\u2019s probe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s no surprise to see some playing politics with every crisis, even something as serious as the impacts of a global pandemic on our transportation systems or a train derailment,\u201d a Department of Transportation spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson added that Buttigieg and the department is continuing to \u201cfocus on getting results\u201d on a number of topics, including requirements for airlines to cover hotel and food expenses for stranded travelers and overseeing the implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure package.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, the issues with Buttigieg run deeper for Republicans. In addition to his political aspirations, multiple senators argued that his priorities at the department are out of place and that his level of outreach with committee members is far off from those of other cabinet members.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr4_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>\u201cThe thing they want more than anything else is competence, particularly in the midst of crisis. My sense is that he, like many others in the administration, are not the types of, sort of, hands on managers that you need at a time like that,\u201d said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who is also a member on Commerce Committee. \u201cI think part of it too is just the efforts he makes. \u2026 Some members of the cabinet, particularly on the relevant committees, the committees of jurisdiction, do a really good job of outreach and I don\u2019t get that from him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), another Commerce member, told The Hill that Buttigieg\u2019s \u201cphilosophical push for everything to be climate and politically correct\u201d is at the heart of the issues for GOP members.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have practical matters we need to do like permitting and building new roads and having new constructions and he pretty much puts his foot down on a lot of that stuff,\u201d Capito said. \u201cHe\u2019s just not leading and I think that\u2019s the frustration.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr5_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>The Transportation Department disputed criticisms from the two lawmakers, noting that Buttigieg has had more than 100 interactions with GOP members of Congress since taking on the role.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The department added that it is \u201ccommitted to building more resilient infrastructure,\u201d including roads, bridges and evacuation routes \u201cthat can withstand extreme weather and climate events,\u201d pointing to a\u00a0program unveiled last year\u00a0alongside Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) that would \u201chelp states and communities better prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Buttigieg, 41, has been one of the most visible administration officials over the past two years. After a surprisingly strong but ultimately failed presidential bid, he was a vocal and often-seen proponent of Build Back Better and crisscrossed the country to tout the White House\u2019s bipartisan infrastructure law.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr6_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>He also drew public condemnation last year from right-wing pundits \u2014\u00a0though not from lawmakers \u2014 for taking paternity leave to care for the newborn twins he welcomed with his husband.<\/p>\n<p>Among cabinet members, Buttigieg is one of the precious few who is considered a potential White House candidate in the coming years. Democrats far and away believe that is the main genesis for the attacks from Republicans and argue that he is an invaluable member of the administration.<\/p>\n<p>The intense criticism led the White House to weigh in on Thursday. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden has \u201cabsolute confidence\u201d in the secretary who has turned out to be one of the White House\u2019s most trusted voices in defense of administration policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr7_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>A number of Commerce Committee Democrats have also dismissed attacks against him. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the panel\u2019s chairwoman, said that the criticisms are intense because some consider him \u201cthe future of our party.\u201d Others pointed to his key voice in the administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s smart and he knows the English language very well, so he represents himself very well under pressure. \u2026 He\u2019s pretty damn good, I\u2019m always impressed,\u201d Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) told The Hill. \u201cThe issues with the flights and all that stuff \u2014 he\u2019s secretary of Transportation. He\u2019s going to get some shit, that\u2019s the way it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Buttigieg\u2019s political stature coupled with the fact that the areas he oversees \u2014\u00a0infrastructure and air travel, for example \u2014\u00a0affect Americans daily creates a perfect storm for attacks by the GOP.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The derailment in Ohio has also led to some strange political bedfellows as Republicans are not the only ones criticizing the former South Bend, Ind., mayor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Progressive Change Campaign Committee joined the chorus on Wednesday, hitting him for not reinstituting Obama-era safety regulations that were nixed during Trump\u2019s presidency, saying that he has \u201cdone nothing in two years to reinstate them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Some, however, have held off. When <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fericmgarcia%2Fstatus%2F1626000481486008321%3Fs%3D46%26t%3DytHVQDjqF05-VScHl9tH8w&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRZilbermints%40TheHill.com%7C5d1e9eb9ff7b489cddd608db112183d2%7C9e5488e2e83844f6886cc7608242767e%7C0%7C0%7C638122607859264857%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=QYLA9RVsncKKL%2BzL%2B1PXR2dutJeQeeokoBMeFmqXnkA%3D&amp;reserved=0\">asked if Buttigieg shared any of the blame<\/a> for the crash in East Palestine, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)\u00a0told\u00a0reporters, \u201cWas he driving the train?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/transportation\/3863877-why-buttigieg-is-drawing-so-much-gop-scorn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Buttigieg is drawing so much GOP scorn Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is increasingly in the eye of the GOP storm in the aftermath of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that spilled toxic chemicals. The disaster, which came just a month after a series of embarrassing air travel issues that snarled plans for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":553624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/buttigiegpete_013123ap-john-minchillo_buttigieg.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[134344,134417,134343,73798,70610,133498,134614],"class_list":["post-553623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-administration","tag-blog-briefing-room","tag-campaign","tag-defense","tag-finance","tag-in-the-know","tag-judiciary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=553623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/553624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=553623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=553623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=553623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}