To avoid addressing her questions about the coming calamity in East Palestine, Ohio, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg allegedly grabbed a selfie of a reporter from The Daily Caller News Foundation before telling her he needed to “take some personal time.”
Jennie Taer and the other Foundation investigators tracked Buttigieg down in Washington, DC, and questioned him at length about his ordeal on the train and the chemical burns he sustained. What would Mayor Buttigieg tell his neighbors who were worried about the quality of the air and water where they lived? It was a question Taer wanted to be answered.
Once, when I inquired about East Palestine, I believe Secretary Buttigieg grew upset and took my picture. Taer tweeted, “The opposite is true; I’m merely doing my job.” Taer showed a tape of their conversation in its entirety.
Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Tom Henry talked with Daily Caller News Foundation reporter Jennie Taer. In what ways may you bring comfort to the people of East Palestine, Ohio?
Buttigieg said to a reporter on the street, “Well, I’d direct you to probably a dozen interviews I’ve given today, and if you’d want to schedule a discussion you should reach out to our press office.”
Your answer, “You don’t have anything to tell them?” is fair. The pressure was applied via the taper in this instance.
He told the reporter, “I have informed the press several times today, so I encourage you to listen to what they have to say.”
They politely requested her permission to take it for their use.
Instead of meeting her gaze, Buttigieg referred her to his press release and said, “Right now I’m spending some personal time and heading down the street.”
When Taer asked, “Do you have any plans to visit East Palestine?” the Transportation Secretary said, “Yes, but I can’t say when.”
He froze and turned around to look at her once again. When I’m ready, I’ll let you know. That is to say, if it’s all OK with you, sir, I’d like to snap your picture.
Fox News contributor and Media and Politics pundit Joe Concha has said that the media’s unwillingness to address the topic is to blame for its lack of attention.
This is the reaction of the well-off to any form of danger. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the media’s coverage of the incident.