They used to be Beto O'Rourke fans. But allegiance to him has vanished as quickly as 'Beto-mania'

[DonViejo]

They used to be Beto O’Rourke fans. But Texans’ allegiance to him has vanished as quickly as ‘Beto-mania.’

By Jenna Johnson and Emily Davies July 13 at 6:00 AM


In March, Katie Baron decorates a Beto O'Rourke mural with items from the South by Southwest conference and festivals before taking a photo. Baron commissioned artist Chris Rogers to create the mural. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

AUSTIN — Just nine months ago, attorney Katie Baron was so inspired by Beto O’Rourke’s Senate campaign in Texas that she commissioned a sprawling mural on the side of a building in east Austin featuring the candidate in a Superman-like pose.

After O’Rourke lost race and began mulling a presidential campaign, the artist added a sweeping “2020” in blue paint — providing what seemed to be yet one more call for O’Rourke to get into the crowded race.

Now, four months into O’Rourke’s campaign, Baron wishes he had stayed out.

After the first Democratic presidential debate last month, Baron posted an altered picture of the mural on a Facebook page dedicated to the artwork. She had replaced O’Rourke’s face with Sen. Kamala D. Harris’s and wrote: “Don’t worry, still got PLENTY of love for Beto, but Kamala earned herself a little recognition too last night!” The comments filled with messages from angry O’Rourke supporters and a few excited Harris backers.

While Baron says she will be forever grateful to O’Rourke for inspiring her and thousands of others to become politically active, she doesn’t think he’s the strongest candidate for president, nor has he shown he can nationalize the magic of his Senate campaign.

“If the primary vote was tomorrow, he wouldn’t have my vote,” said Baron, 35, who likes Harris (D-Calif.) for her sharp intellect and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for her methodical policy papers.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/they-used-to-be-beto-orourke-fans-but-texans-allegiance-to-him-has-vanished-as-quickly-as-beto-mania/2019/07/12/0444a7da-a405-11e9-b8c8-75dae2607e60_story.html

[Indygram]

1. Being so dismissive of a candidate is to be dismissive of the supporters of the candidate

That is a very big part of why Trump was elected in 2016 and if Trump is re-elected it will be a big part of the reason why. Every time I see another article or post bashing Beto O'Rourke it makes me more and more angry at the national media and other Democrats than I am at Trump. If that's the goal of the media and Democrats in general they are doing a bang up job. And here I thought we were all supposed to be on the same team. Sure doesn't feel like it from where I'm sitting.

[UniteFightBack]

8. Are you for real? "It makes me more angry at nat'l media and other Dem's than I am at tRUMP".

Get a grip , Beto is not your brother he is a freaking politician. Talk about emotionally invested.

If you are 'upset' than be upset with VOTERS who are NOT breaking for him...somebody has to lose here.

[DesertRat]

10. +1

[Indygram]

28. So you don't expect better from Democrats and the media than you do from Trump?

Democrats and the media should KNOW BETTER and display a higher moral fiber. Yes, the fact that some are NOT behaving in a more ethical and honest manner than Trump makes me more angry with them than I am with him because they are SUPPOSED to be better.
If you, or anyone else, chooses to hold them on the same moral/ethical level of Trump that is your choice. I expect more and reserve my right to hold people who claim to operate on a higher moral plane at a higher level of expectations.

Asking if I'm "for real" and telling me to "get a grip," implying that I am too emotionally invested and using quotation marks around "upset" ooze of an attempt to imply negative connotation towards me. Are you really trying to imply that I am just some irrational woman who is too emotional and easily upset and to discourage others from taking what I write seriously? I certainly hope not because that would be against the TOS.

[Turin_C3PO]

9. C'mon, keep your anger focused on Trump.

I know that the media sucks and the primaries can be unfair but let’s keep our eyes on the prize and not forget who the true enemy is.

[Indygram]

11. I expect the lying and asshole behavior from Trump

Seeing dishonesty and bashing from the side that is SUPPOSED to be better makes me more angry because I expected more from them.

[left-of-center2012]

2. Has Beto yet announced his 2nd quarter earnings?

I've read on DU he's waiting so he can shock us with how well he's doing.

Come on Beto ~ shock us !

[BannonsLiver]

3. People like this are flaky and unreliable IMO

You go from being so in deep you’re painting murals to barely being able to stand the guy. That’s weird in my book. Flaky. They will likely all struggle to settle on a candidate regardless of what they say in the article. And might be potentially unreliable in a GE election as well if they’re unhappy with the nominee.

[Indygram]

5. I agree...and the national press is drooling like rabid dogs looking for anything

they can spin into bashing and attacking Beto O'Rourke.

I wish Democrats would wake up and realize what's going on. Republicans are TERRIFIED of Beto because he holds the key to Texas going blue in 2020. The Never Trump Republicans want Trump to lose but they are helping to push these attacks on Beto because, while they want Trump out, they don't want to lose Texas to Democrats forevermore. That's why Beto is being attacked. If he's the nominee Republicans may never win a Presidential election again and they know it. Democrats are too easily distracted and too quick to eat their own to play the long game.

A few of the candidates can beat Trump and win in 2020. One candidate can beat Trump and forever change the face of politics in the entire country and guarantee Democrats make PERMANENT gains for the foreseeable future. That is Beto O'Rourke.

[CTyankee]

14. I do like Beto and think he'd be excellent VP material for a woman president.

I truly believe Beto is the future of Texas in politics. Cruz, to me, is more disgusting looking than Trump. I cannot bear to look at him. By contrast, Beto is young, handsome and to me, delightful. I welcome his entrance to the Democratic lineup for the presidency. He has a lot to bring to the table.

[DesertRat]

18. If you think that Beto is the only one receiving scrutiny in the press, you aren't paying attention

Every top candidate has their turn in the barrel. It's naive to think otherwise. If this is your first primary season, be prepared because we have a long way to go! The 2008 caucuses/primaries were brutal and Obama emerged as a stronger candidate.

The upside to a competitive Dem. primary is that it teaches the candidates how to organize and respond to attacks that will come from the GOP.

[SharonClark]

30. Agree

I'm always leary of people who are overly excited about any politician.

[JI7]

4. the mural is stupid anyways

[Vogon_Glory]

6. I Campaigned For Beto When He Ran Against The Calgary Kid Last Year

and I still think we Texans would have been better served by a Senator O’Rourke than by Ted Cruz, But I didn’t jump on his presidential campaign bus. I didn’t (and don’t) think he has enough seasoning and name recognition to be a viable party presidential candidate yet. I think he should have stayed her in Texas and run for an office down here.

[Indygram]

7. The "seasoning/experience" argument is really bunk

Obama served in elected office for a total of 11 years, only 4 of which were in Washington. Beto has served 14 years, 6 of them in Washington. Mayor Pete, 7 total years, none in DC. Harris, 9 years and only 2 in DC. Warren, 7 years total in DC.

Beto has more political experience in an elected office than Obama had when he was elected. What is most important is LEADERSHIP ability and the ability to unite the country behind a common purpose and goal.

[bluewater]

12. nicely done

A very informative post on experience. Beto has as much experience as half of the top tier candidates.

The press seems more interested in pushing a "Beto is done" narrative rather than the truth.

[Indygram]

15. Thanks, and yes, they do

From the second he got in the race they have either ignored major accomplishments or denigrated him in one fashion or another. Before he even entered the race one of Trump's right wing PACs put out an ad and starting attacking him as if they were from the left. Very misleading stuff. Much of those attacks are often repeated on this site. As someone who supports him, watching this has left me so disgusted.

[dalton99a]

13. +1. It's utter bullshit

Just another "Beto, go away" article from the commentariat

[Indygram]

16. Straw poll results from the LULAC town hall shows who has the Latino/a vote

Last edited Sat Jul 13, 2019, 03:32 PM - Edit history (1)

This was a ONE vote per person by texting by phone. The live stream link was posted here, by me. Supporters of all candidate listed were watching and had equal opportunity to vote.

[DesertRat]

19. That was a poll conducted by text, promoted online by Beto supporters.

Non-scientific polls are meaningless.

Link to tweet

[Politicub]

17. Some folks are better at state-level politics for a while

If he ends up dropping out of the primary, maybe Beto will get a speaking slot at the convention.

And he could continue raising his national profile for the next run.

Not everyone was paying close attention to what was happening in Texas.

[Indygram]

20. He won't be dropping out

He is going to be the nominee.

[peggysue2]

21. I've been privately rooting for O'Rourke . . .

because the man does have a unique talent for inspiring his followers and bringing people together in common cause. I've always believed that if Beto could recapture that 'lightening in a bottle,' he'd take off like a rocket. In the early days, he was compared to Bobby freaking Kennedy!

But the flash hasn't happened. At least not yet. If O'Rourke can hang on until the fall? Who knows? The primary cards will be shuffled and reshuffled.

Personally, I support Joe Biden for his experience and what I perceive as his ability to win the GE. But if it were to come down to Beto as our nominee, I would support him in a heartbeat against Donald Trump.

Btw, I agree that there was a concerted effort by the Republicans to take O'Rourke out of the equation early on. I think he was absolutely seen as a threat after the close call against Cruz. That Texas election shook up a lot of GOP strategists. The Vanity Fair article that ushered in O'Rourke's official announcement was immediately pounced on, deemed 'offensive,' a statement of male, white privilege. That was nonsense IMHO. Nonetheless, it stuck and O'Rourke unfortunately went on a unhelpful apology tour. He didn't help himself with the live-streaming at the dentist office making it too easy to brand him as a lightweight.

That being said, he's still in the mix. Buttigieg captured a lot of O'Rourke's thunder but it doesn't mean he can't reclaim it.

Elections are strange animals, unpredictable in most ways. So, if Beto O'Rourke suddenly pushed himself forward, it wouldn't surprise me. As for people shifting their support/passion so easily? I don't get it beyond the sorry fact that elections are far too often ruled by emotion more than any real thought or analyses. Maybe it's the celebrity-driven age we're in which is short-lived and brutal.

One day you're in, the next day you're out, as they say.

Doesn't make much sense when we're picking a nominee for president. It is what it is.

[Indygram]

23. All his supporters want is honest and fair reporting, which is not asking too much

What's happening is ridiculous. When Castro went after Beto (very dishonestly so) many people here were actually sort of celebrating. When he criticized Biden for the same thing there was outrage. Beto is a damn GOOD person, a GREAT candidate and he has been treated in a completely disgusting way by some. If not for his live streaming there never would have been that massive gathering from the gun violence sit in. If not for him leading a massive protest to Tornillo there would have been more families separated. Because of him Texas is NOT safely red. He sure as hell deserves to be treated better than he has been.

[peggysue2]

25. I don't disagree with that, Indygram

Elections are ugly, nasty. They just are and always have been. People get ground up regardless of who or what they really are. The media is relentless in finding every fault line and flaw and competing candidates aren't much better. I often wonder why anyone would purposely throw themselves into the meat grinder. But every year they do and the strongest, luckiest, most well-funded candidates survive and push on to the finish line.

All of that said, O'Rourke is still in the mix. As long as he can maintain baseline support and funding, he has a chance in the race, a marathon, not a sprint. We're going to see a winnowing of candidates in the next several months, one way or the other. If Beto O'Rourke can keep his head above water until then, he still has a shot to show what he's made of and perhaps even recapture that excitement that was his alone in Texas.

We shall see.

[Indygram]

26. He needs one more poll to qualify for the fall debates

And he reached the fundraising requirement in the first 24 hours. His team hasn't yet announced his fundraising for the second quarter. He didn't release right away last quarter either...and he raised over $9 million in just 18 days. I really hope his numbers are huge and really shut up his detractors. Of course, even if they are it will be ignored and some petty thing will be used to attack him instead.

[peggysue2]

27. He needs one more poll to qualify for the fall debates

Well, there you go. He is still in the contest with that in mind. Right now? That's the only thing that matters because his voice and energy will still be out there when the September debates roll around. The fundraising is equally important because these primaries and generals are insanely expensive.

If O'Rourke keeps his head above water? Anything can happen. You just have to keep the faith. Like the rest of us.

[Indygram]

29. Oh I know he isn't going anywhere and I believe he will be the nominee in the end

I just used to believe the national media, at least all but Fox, were at least honest. Thanks to their dishonest reporting on Beto now I have realized that they aren't. It's very disappointing because now I don't feel like I can trust anything in the news at all.

[Devil Child]

22. A whole WAPO article devoted to one flaky supporter bailing on O'Rourke...

I regret clicking on this steaming pile of shite.

[Indygram]

24. Everything the do on Beto is crap

I'll never spend a penny on their rag again. I used to respect the WaPo but I'm really sick of them bashing O'Rourke on an almost daily basis. With all of the horrible and hateful things going on in this country they choose to print one hit piece on Beto after another. Screw them. I don't trust a single word they print anymore.