No, Mayor Pete, the deficit drops under Democratic presidents; it rises under Republicans. In fact, Obama nearly sank his presidency in his Geithner-induced obsession with austerity.
Adam H. Johnson tweets that Buttigieg “frames his billionaire donor suck up position on “deficits” (e.g. opening up space to gut Medicare and social security) as edgy truth telling.”
Dean Baker weighs in : “It would be great if a reporter would ask Buttigieg whether he is completely ignorant of the debates over deficit among progressives for the last dozen years or whether he is just saying this to curry favor with wealthy Wall Street types.”
Julia Conley at Common Dreams reviews progressives’ response to Buttigieg mouthing oligarchic cant.