On Monday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was back on CBS’s The Late Show to join host Stephen Colbert to warn about the future for democracy if Republicans win the midterms.
Colbert, before Buttigieg, lamented that “71 percent believe democracy is in danger” and that only 7% of them identified it as the biggest problem facing the country. It’s hard to fix any other problem without a functioning democracy.
Colbert compared those numbers to someone who sets fire to their car by smashing it into a tree and then calls 911 to have their six CD changer repaired. Colbert said, “These poll results have raised concern that democratic erosion may be sending many citizens on a downwards spiral of feeling powerless. But what can you do? It doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter to me. By the way, Snap, Crackle and Pop were originally called ‘Powerless Apathetic, Disconnected, and Disconnected.
Although 71% of respondents agree with the statement, it is not proof that 71% agree with Colbert. However, he returned to the poll during his second segment featuring Buttigieg. Buttigieg was the first to be a snarky about him. “You’re an excellent communicator.” I thought you were a great choice for 2020.”
Then he asked: “How do you feel about 300 Republican candidates appearing on the ballot in just weeks? Some questioning the legitimacy of the previous election, while others believing it should be overturned?” According to a New York Times poll, 71% of Americans believe democracy is at risk. How can you run for office in a country that is losing faith in its vote’s legitimacy or efficacy?
Buttigieg responded that “So, one the most important principles of democracy is that you accept the outcome …. and the reason that’s so significant is that we expect the same from citizens in terms policy decisions.”
He continued to say that accepting the results of elections that you lose is like accepting legislation or court decisions that don’t go your way. This is a fine statement in a vacuum but ignores the history of Democrats calling elections, and court cases that don’t go their way, illegitimate. Colbert didn’t press Buttigieg about that point.
Volkswagen sponsored this segment.
Here’s a transcript from the October 24, 2018 show:
CBS The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
10/24/2022
11:39 PM ET
STEPHEN COBERT: So, 71% believe democracy is in danger, but only 7% identify that as the biggest problem facing the country. It’s hard to fix anything without a functioning democracy. My Pontiac just ran into a tree and is now on fire. Can you please send someone right away to fix my six-CD changer. Yes, I still have the 6-CD changer. Dire Straits. Why Brothers in Arms? Yes, he got the action.
These poll results raise concerns about democratic erosion, which may have led to many citizens feeling powerless, apathetic and disconnected. But what can you do? It doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter to me. By the way, Snap, Crackle and Pop were originally called “Powerless, Apathetic and Disconnected”.
…
10/25/2022
12:16 AM ET
COLBERT : You’re a great communicator. I thought you were a great 2020 candidate. You know, if you ever decide to run for office again in the future, it will be two years from now or 18 month from now. How do you feel about the fact there are 300 Republican candidates on this ballot who question the legitimacy and others who believe it should be overturned?
According to a New York Times poll, 71% of Americans believe democracy is in danger. How can you run for office in a country that is losing faith in its vote’s legitimacy or efficacy?
PETE BUTTIGIEG – So, when you lose, you must accept the outcome. This is something I have had to do. I find winning more enjoyable than losing. I have done both. But when you lose, you accept the outcome. This is because citizens expect the same from policy makers.
In other words, living in a democracy means that we have a process for making decisions that all of our lives must follow. This includes those who agree with the decision and those who disagree, regardless of whether it’s a court or congressional decision on the law.
So if we have to all live with the consequences of each of these policy decisions, it’s only fair for those who made them to also have to live in the aftermath of our choices about who is going to be in control. This is how the deal works.
