# Buttigieg caught staging a blatant photo Op. (Debunked) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 3, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340 "2021-04-03T19:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/21 "2021-04-03T22:38:20Z")
Gotta admit, it feels refreshing to laugh at a Democrat for a change… … … and it’s a nice change to criticize a politician and _surprise!_ it’s not because they’re evil and want to hurt others. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/22 "2021-04-03T23:37:04Z")
I don’t think the question has been answered: if he is not allowed to bike for security reasons (which has not really been established), why do the 2-block ride at all? Sure, not as evil as some behaviors of some government names, but faking concern for the environment (which is what it seems to me, at least tentatively) isn’t going to do anything but harm. That would be a serious misstep, not a cute PR mistake. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/23 "2021-04-03T23:55:26Z")
It’s not faking concern. It’s stupidly faking an action of concern. I believe he has real concern for the environment. A fake action does necessarily mean a fake belief. It just really looks bad. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/24 "2021-04-04T00:12:05Z")
> **[Did Pete Buttigieg Stage a Bike Ride After Riding in SUV?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pete-buttigieg-bike-suv/)** > > The transportation secretary has been described as a “bike enthusiast.” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/25 "2021-04-04T00:21:49Z")
From the Snopes link: > In sum, no, Buttigieg was not caught staging a bike ride after riding in an SUV. Countless headlines, YouTube video titles, and tweets were misleading and false. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/26 "2021-04-04T00:36:53Z")
So, per the Snopes link (thanks, @mhendo), Buttigieg did in fact ride his back and forth between the Transportation Department and the White House. It was only racked on the SUV while he was in the White House. He didn’t ride in an SUV at all. But… It does appear that his security detail trailed him in an SUV, so…not as bad as biking the last couple of blocks, but still, him biking didn’t save any gas or prevent any pollution - the SUV still got drive. Even as symbolism, it didn’t really accomplish anything, since, again, there was apparently an SUV trailing him the whole way. Maybe it was a nice day and he just enjoys biking and wanted a bit of exercise? If so, there’s nothing wrong with it, but…it was just not good optics. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/27 "2021-04-04T00:37:45Z")
The parenthetical in the thread title should probably say, “Debunked”. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/28 "2021-04-04T01:30:10Z")
please, _please,_ PLEASE tell me I can get a tshirt of this someplace. eta, my phone screen is too small, that is Bernie Sanders, yes? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/29 "2021-04-04T01:36:13Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > Maybe it was a nice day and he just enjoys biking and wanted a bit of exercise? If so, there’s nothing wrong with it, but…it was just not good optics. Well pretty sure that any exercise at this point will have security trailing. I guess they could have been security on bikes? But clearly not a fake activity after all. I also ride my bike to work off and on. I don’t do it to save the planet. I like the ride and fitting in my exercise while commuting. This is his real actual norm and security now tails in an SUV? That is boringly just fine. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/30 "2021-04-04T01:37:27Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > please, _please,_ PLEASE tell me I can get a tshirt of this someplace. You can try here: > **[Woody Guthrie Center Shop | Shop Hats, Gifts & More](https://woodyguthriecenterstore.myshopify.com/)** > > The Woody Guthrie Center store sells merchandise celebratin the life, music and artistry of the influential folk musician while seeking to ignite a passion for social change and foster a world in which the values of justice, equality and... Or save the image here to your photos, then use Shutterfly or Snapfish, or even Walgreen’s online photo store to create a mug, tote bag or t-shirt for you of the building mural with Bernie in it. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/31 "2021-04-04T01:42:21Z")
ahh, Mucho Gracias BBB, and may it always be plentiful and green. ---
**Author:** ![Beesnest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@Beesnest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beesnest)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/32 "2021-04-04T02:07:24Z")
He will learn (because he can learn, not like some others) that he should not be guided by the groomers who are trying to manipulate the picture for today at the expense of the agenda for the future. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/33 "2021-04-04T02:12:20Z")
Did anybody read that the ‘photo op’ theory was debunked? As in the facts are not as it appears? You’re being whooshed? …In sum, no, Buttigieg was not caught staging a bike ride after riding in an SUV. Countless headlines, YouTube video titles, and tweets were misleading and false… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/34 "2021-04-04T02:21:30Z")
The video did look bad. There is really no need to mount that bike on the SUV. Glad the full story is coming out. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/35 "2021-04-04T02:28:01Z")
Really? Because, when you started the OP, it sure sounded like a “gotcha." ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/36 "2021-04-04T02:31:47Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Really? > Because, when you started the OP, it sure sounded like a “gotcha." - You’re not supposed to look back that far. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/37 "2021-04-04T02:43:57Z")
It did seem like a minor gotcha. A humorous human foible story. I expected the story to be forgotten in the next news cycle. Sometimes viral stories take unexpected turns. That’s why I waited quite awhile before posting anything. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/38 "2021-04-04T02:45:37Z")
Maybe check with Snopes _before_ you post. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/39 "2021-04-04T02:48:39Z")
Lesson learned. Check Snopes. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340/40 "2021-04-04T03:10:52Z")
It is indeed, and it was literally snapped on the barista’s phone as he was outside taking a break. Bernie was schlepping back to the car for his next appearance–this was during the '16 campaign. Has to be one of the most iconic unplanned pics of recent history, says so much in one simple image. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttigieg-caught-staging-a-blatant-photo-op-debunked/939340.md?page=3)