How do you know Pete Buttigieg is seen as a real threat to Kamala Harris and other "diverse" candidates seeking the Dem presidential nomination? Because he's coming under attack by the MSM's diversity crowd.

Joy Reid devoted a segment of her MSNBC show this morning to decrying what she framed as the excessive attention being paid to "the B's": Biden, Bernie, Beto and Buttigieg. MSNBC political contributor Jason Johnson [also editor of the racial-grievance websiteThe Root] singled out "Mayor Pete" for criticism. Here was Johnson:

"It's Beto, Biden and Buttigieg. I mean, everybody's been kissing his butt, too. It's amazing to me. It's because—let's be candid. Most of the reporters are white. And they're looking for a white guy who makes them feel good about themselves."

Johnson went on to disparage Buttigieg's credentials: "basically, he's got a Rhodes scholarship, he was the mayor of a small city. He's just a white, gay version of Cory Booker. Right? And at least Cory Booker's in the Senate." He insisted this "reflects a lack of diversity in the media."

Johnson omitted one way in which Buttigieg is different from Booker. Whereas the senator from New Jersey might see himself as Spartacus, Buttigieg served eight years in the Navy reserve, including a six-month stint in Afghanistan.

Let's be clear: "Mayor Pete" is no moderate. Among other lefty positions, he supports the Green New Deal, wants to abolish the Electoral College, and has indicated support for packing the Supreme Court. But it's possible that some of his supporters--in the media and elsewhere--sense that his military service and low-keyed Midwestern vibe could appeal to some voters who might otherwise disagree with his policy positions.

The white reporters that Johnson accuses of favoring Buttigieg because of the color of his skin are largely the same white reporters who adored Barack Obama to the detriment of person-of-pallor Hillary Clinton. So who are the real race-obsessed members of the media: fans of Buttigieg or the likes of Jason Johnson and Joy Reid?

Here's the transcript.

MSNBC

Joy Reid Show

4/7/19

10:35 am EDT