Beto O’Rourke 2020
By Megan Wallin
He Could Be a Contender
An eloquent and articulate speaker with a thin frame and the pledge to run a “positive campaign” goes head to head against a well-established member of the GOP—and loses. Except for that last bit, the tale sounds rather familiar, doesn’t it?
More White Maleness
It hasn’t been that long since the phenomenon of Barack Obama’s explosive crash landing on to our political center stage, and yet the nation already seems thirsty for another new face. This time, we have someone who would seem, by our nation’s historic standards of maleness and whiteness, to be almost too much of the good old boys. One of the club. One of the elite. I have heard him compared to Bobby Kennedy. I have listened to many Bobby speeches and there is a passion for the common man (woman) in the language of each man. Something that is sadly missing from today’s political hyperbole.
Privileged In All the Right Ways
His true first name is Robert. Beto is a Spanish nickname for Robert. Relating to Hispanic voters is definitely an advantage in Latino heavy Texas. But, everyone knows he is a white guy. People do not refuse to support him based solely on the color of his skin. He doesn’t have birthers spreading rumors about his heritage, allegiance, or religion. He didn’t run against a war hero. He didn’t even run against a popular opponent. But, he lost…to Ted Cruz.
A War Is Raging
Now, after a decisive loss in his home state, this man is one of the new favorites as a possible presidential candidate. What makes America thirst for a loser? A loser who might have lost the battle but could somehow win the war. Make no mistake: There is a war afoot, and it’s not progressive liberals versus traditional conservatives. This is a war between the past and future, the absolute and the ambiguous. And those deeply interested in America’s future and not longing for her past seem to collectively agree that O’Rourke, or someone like him, might be the type to take us there.
How A Loser Might Win
Meet Beto O’Rourke. Ever since his announcement in November 2018 that he would “not rule anything out,” the excitement surrounding his possible presidential campaign has been palpable. Before running against Ted Cruz, he was a relative nobody. Strange to say about a three term member of the Texas delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. O’Rourke has been in the House since 2013. But, in every dimension until his passionate Senate campaign, O’Rourke was an invisible man.
The Nation Took Notice
Then, with a campaign focused on honest donations from average supporters, he managed to raise over $70 million. He was compared by his rival to Bernie Sanders, which didn’t hurt him either. Even many of who dislike Sanders’ policies find him trustworthy, and in August of 2017, Newsweek was just one of many publications reporting him to be most popular U.S. politician. O’Rourke may well share the stage, taking moves from Sanders’ playbook.
AOC
More comparable at this precise time might be the phenomenon of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, although younger and female. There is a new “brand” of politics emerging, and people like O’Rourke are leading. At least, that’s one angle. The other has the simple truth that most politicians cannot live on mere supporter donations alone. By live, I mean of course win. The phenomenal money machine O’Rourke created raised over $70 million in small donations from contributors from all over the country. That is more money than many presidential candidates ever raise. That financial success got the attention of the DNC.
The Critics
Elizabeth Bruenig, a Washington Post columnist, published an article citing doubts about O’Rourke’s campaign, transparency, and commitment to progressive views. To say her piece was met with some hostility from the left would be an understatement. Liberals didn’t want her attacking the first “cool” candidate we’ve had in a while, one who listens to punk rock (he was even part of a band), uses occasional profanity in public, and wears a t-shirt in the snow and who’s charming lanky good looks set the donation button on fire. Bruenig, however, isn’t impressed with his cool stats. Although, as she states, it would make sense for progressives to try to return to an Obama-esque state in history, this isn’t necessarily what we would get with Beto O’Rourke.
He’s Not Obama
Unlike Obama, who had primarily fake controversy surrounding him—accusations about his church attendance, as well as some rather ludicrous birther claims—O’Rourke has some unlikely critics on the left. Bruenig points out that O’Rourke does not distinguish between oil and gas options and renewable energy, making him a green candidate only in terms of experience (not flattering). He is a businessman and in fact has many centrist views toward business and corporations.
Past Misbehavior
If you want to dig deeper into the comparisons being made, recall how much fuss was made over the possibility of Obama smoking weed in college, versus how often you hear about O’Rourke’s drunk driving or arrest for burglary in his early twenties. (According to W. Gardner Selby of Politifact.com, the burglary charges were dropped and the DWI addressed.) O’Rourke has been forthright about all of this, and yet the only place we really heard this splashed on the news was from opposing ads or his own mouth. He wasn’t demonized based on our fixation with his early life.
The Heart of the Matter
Forget Republicans and Democrats; Let’s address the real elephant in the room: Americans largely prefer their politicians and ideologies like their food: simple, overly processed, utterly consistent, and a little greasy. That may not be what we get. While it’s too early to judge O’Rourke as a person, the clock is ticking as we begin to assess his credibility as a politician.
Bottom line
If you found someone like Barack Obama too controversial, O’Rourke is not your man.
