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.
