MSNBC and Fox on Monday pushed the idea that Mayor Pete Buttigieg is a moderate. However, the facts simply don’t back this up when it comes to the 2020 presidential candidate. In fact, Fox’s Harris Faulkner even lumped in the radically pro-gun control Michael Bloomberg as another “moderate,” saying: “After months of watching the Democratic Party move farther to the left, moderates are now looking to regain control of the 2020 race. But can two new candidates and Pete Buttigieg's recent rise change anything?”
Faulkner added, “Progressives like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are getting a lot of attention lately. However, moderates could be on the upswing. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has jumped into the primary, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg potentially is launching a bid, as well.”
Moderate? Buttigieg is radically pro-abortion. He’s pro-gun control and wants to pack the Supreme Court in order to protect Roe v. Wade. Michael Bloomberg was a liberal New York City who is probably best known for his efforts to restrict the Second Amendment. How are any of these people moderate?
(For more on how Buttigieg isn’t a moderate, and examples of another network, CBS, calling him that, go here.)
On MSNBC, Monday, Kimberly Atkins of WBUR appeared on MSNBC. She echoed, “The fact that we have these two new more moderate candidates getting into the race, the fact that donors and others seem to be worried about whether [Joe Biden] can carry that baton over the finish line.”
Partial transcript are below. Click "expand" to read more.
Andrea Mitchell Reports
11/18/19
12:27KIMBERLY ATKINS (WBUR senior Washington news correspondent): I think I'm going to be watching Joe Biden most of all. I think all the movement in recent weeks is about Joe Biden, the fact that we have these two new more moderate candidates getting into the race, the fact that donors and others seem to be worried about whether he can carry that baton over the finish line. I think he needs to give a really strong performance or else you'll see him continue to lose support to people like Pete Buttigieg. I think that's the key here. He really needs a very strong performance in order to quell some of these concerns.
HARRIS FAULKNER: After months of watching the Democratic Party move farther to the left, moderates are now looking to regain control of the 2020 race. But can two new candidates and Pete Buttigieg's recent rise change anything?
...
FAULKNER: Progressives like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are getting a lot of attention lately. However, moderates could be on the upswing. Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick has jumped into the primary, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg potentially is launching a bid, as well. We say potentially because it hasn't happened yet. A new poll shows moderate mayor Pete buttigieg overtaking Warren in a new Iowa poll.
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KAYLEIGH MCENANY: Just because were left of a socialist doesn't mean you're moderate. Each one of these candidates, Deval Patrick literally said, "I'm not running on a moderate agenda, not mine running on a "woke" agenda.
