Pence defends joke about Buttigieg’s maternity leave , but doesn’t apologize. Good for him.
“Pete is the only person in human history to have a child and everyone else gets postpartum depression,” Pence said Saturday at the Gridiron Dinner.
That’s a good joke. After taking two weeks to tweet about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Buttigieg confirmed that he doesn’t feel any duty to do his job. He’s just in it for the perks.
“The Gridiron Dinner is a roast. I had a lot of jokes directed to me, and I directed a lot of jokes to Republicans and Democrats,” he told reporters. “The only thing I can figure is Pete Buttigieg not only can’t do his job, but he can’t take a joke.”
I’m not used to Pence taking a stand. Like he say, it’s the Gridiron Dinner, toughen up. Pete’s response is weak beer.
“I spoke up because we all have an obligation to hold people accountable for when they say something wrong, especially when it’s misogynistic, especially when it’s homophobic, and I just don’t take that when it’s towards my family, and I don’t think anyone else would, especially when you bring a very small, medically fragile child into it,” he said.
Buttigieg’s bullshit answer tries to make him sound principled. It isn’t about women or gay people, so it isn’t misogynistic or homophobic. It’s about Pete not giving a shit about anyone or anything, but demonstrating his prestige by taking two months off while the air traffic control system was shutting down and travelers were stranded at airports.
When Pence didn’t apologize, Buttigieg realized that a nice, establishment, family guy is calling him out. That can’t feel good.