"Mayor Pete" comes out swinging

Yet something different is brewing in South Bend.

"Then you look at Mayor Pete, who has literally come out of nowhere, and it feels much more natural," Brzezinski said. "It feels real. You hear him, and he touches you."

It does feel natural. Buttigieg first landed on my radar about a month ago, thanks to his sharp intellect. His answers during a March 10 "CNN Town Hall" were sophisticated but honest. I was impressed that he speaks multiple languages; this week, he expressed sympathy to the French people for the destruction caused by the fire in the Cathedral of Notre Dame -- in French. I loved that he learned to speak Norwegian so he could read a book in its original language.

But I wasn't sold yet. As I delight in telling Democrats who still don't understand how Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, running for president is not a spelling bee. The smartest person doesn't always win. I needed more.

For me, Buttigieg's brave and defiant remarks at the LGBTQ Victory Fund's annual brunch in Washington did the trick. He aimed his comments at the "Mike Pences of the world" -- a reference to Vice President Mike Pence, an opponent of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ civil rights. Buttigieg, who is openly gay, took no prisoners. A church-going Episcopalian, he said that marrying Chasten Glezman, a 29-year-old Montessori teacher, made him "a better man" and moved him "closer to God." He also opened up about coming out and said there was a time in his life when, if he could have identified what made him gay, he would "cut it out with a knife." Finally, he said to the bigots: "If you've got a problem with who I am, your problem is not with me. Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator."

Ouch. That's going to leave a mark.

Good for you, Pete. This is the kind of real talk that I've been hungry for. This is not how most politicians talk to the LGBTQ community -- or any community. But this is how regular people talk to each other.

With white privilege flaring in both parties, white nationalism camped out at a cable network, and white liberals trampling those they claim to represent, the race for president needs color. And what's more colorful than a rainbow?

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.