Pete Buttigieg: Tucker Carlson, T.J. Maxx, and Kohl's

Non sequitur department: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addresses criticism of his job performance by asking the crucial question: 'You think Tucker Carlson knows the difference between a T.J. Maxx and a Kohl’s?' From CNN: https://t.co/mjLsy6o9rf pic.twitter.com/jl7pYI1DV0

— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 5, 2023

Pete Buttigieg is a terrible transportation secretary.

He's failed miserably in his post. Faced with disaster after disaster, he's responded inadequately again and again.

Calling attention to Tucker Carlson and questioning his familiarity with T.J. Maxx and Kohl's is idiotic.

From CNN:

Pete Buttigieg admits he got it wrong on the Ohio train derailment response.

But while the criticism is fair, he says, the critics are mostly not.

“It’s really rich to see some of these folks – the former president, these Fox hosts – who are literally lifelong card-carrying members of the East Coast elite, whose top economic policy priority has always been tax cuts for the wealthy, and who wouldn’t know their way around a T.J. Maxx if their life depended on it, to be presenting themselves as if they genuinely care about the forgotten middle of the country,” the Transportation Secretary said. “You think Tucker Carlson knows the difference between a T.J. Maxx and a Kohl’s?”

It's as if Buttigieg doesn't understand the gravity of the train derailment in East Palestine. Attacking Carlson's knowledge of stores doesn't instill any confidence in his ability to perform his job. It makes him look like a fool.

It's also quite condescending to suggest that people in middle America judge the validity of criticism based on the critic's knowledge of T.J. Maxx and Kohl's.

The forgotten men and women of America didn't dismiss President Trump because he likely doesn't shop where they do. Being a warrior for middle America is what matters. Being effective for them is what matters. That's what indicates someone genuinely cares.

Buttigieg should be concerned with helping the victims of the toxic train derailment, not presenting ridiculous characterizations of his critics.