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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg offered the classiest response to Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, who made headlines earlier this week after she referred to him as a "weak little girl."
Maddock attacked Buttigieg in response to remarks he made about California’s ban on selling gasoline-fueled cars, which is scheduled to go into effect in 2035.
Earlier this year, Buttigieg moved to Traverse City, Michigan, the hometown of his husband, educator and activist Chasten Buttigieg. He recently indicated that he's "really interested" in California's ban on new gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric ones, saying that it is imperative "that this happens quickly enough to help us beat climate change."
Buttigieg's statements prompted Maddock to declare that the state of Michigan is "so blessed this weak little girl moved" to the state, adding that it is evident Buttigieg is "bringing all his California Dreaming here with him," suggesting the attempt to tackle climate change is little more than a lofty fairytale.
A rather poised Buttigieg issued the following response when asked to comment on Maddock's remarks by a reporter:
“I’m raising a little girl and little boy, and I’m going to raise them with better values than the chairwoman.”
You can hear what he said in the video below.
\u201cIn response to a homophobic tweet by @MIGOP @CoChairMeshawn calling Pete Buttigieg a \u201cweak little girl,\u201d the Transportation Secretary responds:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m raising a little girl and little boy, and I\u2019m going to raise them with better values than the chairwoman.\u201d\u201d— Ross Jones (@Ross Jones) 1663199923
Buttigieg was praised for his classy response while Maddock continued to face criticism.
\u201cWhile the co-Chair of the Republican party is hurling homophobic and anti-woman slurs, @PeteButtigieg responds thoughtfully and respectably. \n\nThis is a microcosm of the differences between today's Republican and Democratic parties.\n\nDemocrats are trying to build a better future.\u201d— Jeff Irwin (@Jeff Irwin) 1663263011
\u201cWith Republicans, outright homophobia isn\u2019t a bug, it\u2019s a feature. The GOP stopped identifying as the party of family values when it embraced Trump\u2019s bigotry. @CoChairMeshawn feels comfortable calling a war veteran a gay slur because her party rewards discrimination. #VoteBlue\u201d— Greg Buster (@Greg Buster) 1663268327
\u201cPete Buttigieg, a decorated combat veteran and proven public servant, is gay. So that means homophobic Republicans toss around schoolyard insults, because that is who, and what, they are.\u201d— South Dakota Standard (@South Dakota Standard) 1663248397
\u201cMuch credit here to @PeteButtigieg @SecretaryPete for refusing to engage in dehumanizing, politically traumatizing rhetoric.\u201d— Listen. Lead. Unite. (@Listen. Lead. Unite.) 1663211646
\u201cTaking on Pete with any nonsensical slur is an invite to a polite humiliation.\u201d— Jillian Holmes says Mean People Suck (@Jillian Holmes says Mean People Suck) 1663214254
\u201cI swear Pete Buttigieg is the epitome of class.\u201d— Mrs Z \u270c\ud83c\udffb\u2764\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Mrs Z \u270c\ud83c\udffb\u2764\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1663228673
\u201c#Republicans are incapable of debating an issue or policy. They need to resort to name calling, or in this case, homophobic tweets.\n\n#RepublicansAreDestroyingAmerica\n#VoteBlue2022 #DemVoice1 #BlueVoices\u201d— ElisaResists \ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udcaa (@ElisaResists \ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udcaa) 1663244978
\u201cSecretary Buttigieg responding with grace to the bigotry and homophobia of the Michigan Republicans. Meanwhile, the behavior of the Republican Co-chair has shamed our state.\n\nI don\u2019t think I could have been so diplomatic.\n\nPut bigots in their place. Vote Democratic in November.\u201d— \ud835\udd6e\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd95\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd97 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd89\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd97 (@\ud835\udd6e\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd95\ud835\udd8d\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd97 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd89\ud835\udd8a\ud835\udd97) 1663209124
Maddock has not responded to requests for comment but she has nonetheless been called out for her homophobic remarks by Michigan Democrats, including Jeremy Moss, who represents Southfield.
Moss told local news station WJBK that the homophobic remark is "just very on brand for what Meshawn Maddock brings to the Michigan Republican Party." Moss added Maddock's comment "doesn't also grow their party in any meaningful way when LGBTQ rights are at this incredibly supported and embraced part of where we are in our country."
Maddock is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump and was a prior board member of Women for Trump, as well as a participant in several pro-Trump organizations such as the Michigan Conservative Coalition. She previously received heavy criticism after she, along with 15 others, submitted false certificates to the federal government claiming they were Michigan's presidential electors for the 2020 presidential election.