Meet Beto O'Rourke, the Berniecrat running against Ted Cruz!

[FDRsGhost]

Go Beto!

This Texas Democrat thinks he can beat Ted Cruz using Bernie Sanders' playbook





More--- http://www.cbsnews.com/news/beto-orourke-launches-texas-senate-campaign-against-ted-cruz/

[a kennedy]

1. and hope he can kick ted's arse......

[comradebillyboy]

2. I'd sure like to see a DEMOCRAT run against Cruz.

One doesn't make a big impact being the Lone Ranger and shitting on the folks in one's own party. That's what the term Berniecrat conjures in my mind.

[FDRsGhost]

4. Bernie doesn't shit on folks

Seriously? The guy is out there busting his damn ass like nobody else. The Bernie disillusionment lately is stunning.

[FDRsGhost]

14. Nothing nice to say?

Legit criticism is how we move the party forward. He's the most popular politician in America, think about it. Do you want to win elections or lose?

[Adrahil]

17. Yes, tell me all about how...

The party doesn't care enough about the working and middle class, and how he doesn't think the Deplorables are racists. And he couldn't wait to drop the D from his name after the Primaries. He holds the party in contempt. Screw that!

[FDRsGhost]

18. Watch and learn

That's a Trump voter.

[Adrahil]

20. I watched that....

... and frankly it does not counterbalance the damage he did to HRC by continuing to foster resentment among some of his supporters well after he lost. Or the kind of crap HE JUST SAID. He had a chance to matter in the party after the election. He could have remained a Democrat and become part of the conversation. But as usual, he wants to have his cake and eat it too. I'm done with him, unless he drops this bullshit.

[FDRsGhost]

53. Are you for real?

.. and frankly it does not counterbalance the damage he did to HRC by continuing to foster resentment among some of his supporters well after he lost. Or the kind of crap HE JUST SAID. He had a chance to matter in the party after the election. He could have remained a Democrat and become part of the conversation. But as usual, he wants to have his cake and eat it too. I'm done with him, unless he drops this bullshit.

Seriously? I'm getting sick of this talking point how Bernie supposedly damaged Hillary. It was a primary not a baking show and apparently many have forgotten just how nasty the primaries were between Hillary and Obama in 2008. They were a LOT nastier than what Bernie ever tossed her way. You say it was him but remind us who paid trolls online to harass Bernie supporters and made up things about throwing chairs? Let's be real here. This was a primary. It came from both sides.

Bernie could have remained a Democrat would have gone against the people who elected him as an indy. The kind of crap he just said? Because nobody has ever criticized the party before? How do you suppose we start winning back over a 1,000 seats we've lost, the governorships, the millions who have left the party and both the house and the senate if we can't look inward and see what needs to be changed? It doesn't just happen out of pixie dust and the same old same old is NOT going to work unless you like continuous losses. I don't. To say Bernis isn't part of the conversation is completely not based in fact when he very much is so, so much so he has a leadership position within the party itself.

He wants his cake and to eat it to? No, he wants everyone in devouring that cake. You can be done with him all you want but it doesn't change the fact he's the most popular politician in America today. Ask yourself WHY he is and ask yourself what our party could learn.

[Act_of_Reparation]

63. Unbelievable, isn't it?

Treating politics like team sports... there's a strategy for success.

[FDRsGhost]

66. No kidding

It says a lot and we are going to get our asses kicked bad if this crap continues

[Act_of_Reparation]

78. Yep. Tribalism does us no good in a winner-takes-all system.

Our system favors a bipartisan arrangement dominated by two umbrella parties, each representing constituents of varying political viewpoints. The truth of the matter is many people who are Democrats are Democrats by circumstance -- because if you are a liberal there is no viable alternative party. If we start playing stupid loyalty games with these people we risk alienating them and losing political at a time when we can ill afford to lose it.

The purity trolls have chosen a lonely hill to die on. I can only hope they don't take us with them.

[Cha]

96. Yes, he's for real.. Many are

getting tired of his insulting the Democratic Party with "feeble" "can't fight back", "the party of the elite".. and trying to normalizing trump voters..

Like Charlie Pierce..

Charlie Pierce.. "..I am sick of the useless posturing, the vain heckling, the shined-up counter-narratives that have nothing to do with the damage that is being done now... "

A plea to liberals as the Trump administration self-destructs

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a54271/trump-self-destruct/ …

[synergie]

58. Then how is it that one is not allowed to criticise the Independent Senator from VT?

Think about it, do we win elections by not being "rigid" on basic principles of the party or jettisoning them based on the will of one Senator who, despite promises to the contrary, left the party?

[Cha]

84. Excellent question, synergie..

[Ken Burch]

95. Bernie isn't the problem.

And of course you can criticize the guy...your wing of the party vilified him throughout the primaries...it's just that you can't expect others to say nothing when the "criticism" is excessive or undeserved-for example, when Bernie is blamed for an election result he bears no responsibility for and did nothing to cause.

Criticize away...just don't expect special deference when you do.

[synergie]

9. There is no disillusionment, merely people who are hearing his words and his

repeated attacks for what they are.

Also, we're not fractured, we're pretty unified about how pissed we are at those trying to fracture the party and failing miserably. We stand Indivisible in our Resistance and we're out there busting our asses while outside forces are attacking us trying to sow discord.

We're also really getting tired of all of our hard work being credited to people who aren't doing it and whose aim seems to be to silence our voices and the issues that matter to us.

Insisting that our basic human rights are something that Democrats don't need to be so "rigid" about? In what way is that not shitting on people? No Democrat is out there busting their ass to help the anti-choice GOP like that. If this "Bernocrat" is doing that, what's the difference between him and Cruz? Since that's not a term anyone else has applied to him, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, and hope he's not going to take the "shitting on on Democrats" (as you so eloquently put it) route.

[still_one]

28. some of his supporters sure did. There were plenty of them last year calling Hillary and President

Obama every vulgar name in the book

[FDRsGhost]

67. And there weren't for Hillary?

C'mon now, let's be honest here.

[still_one]

70. Not even close. You can still view that venom over at JPR, where it is alive and well

[FDRsGhost]

72. And you can view the venom here aimed at Bernie

Either this shit stops or we are going to get our asses handed to us like nobody's business.

[still_one]

74. Hillary was called the "c" word, and every other sexist vulgar term they could come up

President Obama was called a "POS used car salesman"

Don't feed me your false equivalency because it isn't there.

Were you even here at DU last year?

[still_one]

76. Maybe you should put your bias away, because the characterizations used were far worse, and more

numerous than what you are suggesting against Hillary.

[Cha]

85. Tell BS to stop this kind of rhetoric..

"We need a Democratic Party that is not a party of the liberal elite.."

He called us "feeble" and "can't fight back"..

I would have no problem with him if he hadn't kept trying to "marginalize" us.

[synergie]

87. A deficiency of adulation is not "venom" and yeah, it would be great if the

shit would stop, but that doesn't seem to be the goal of some folks. We, the liberals, the progressives and the Democrats are busy fighting the GOP and Trump. Those who keep seeing venom whenever anyone questions the actual words by certain Senators, well, they're too busy attacking us to understand where the fight actually is.

Either help or step aside, we don't have time or energy to waste on the nonsense that has erupted around here in the last week. It's hard to learn that the sources one had put so much faith in were not what they purported to be, but the level of provocation and the attacks really need to stop.

If it's okay to criticize Democrats like Manchin and Heitcamp for the things they're saying, then we need to be able to do the same with Independents who caucus with us. These double standards and the not exactly "friendly" fire need to stop, enough damage has already been done and we have a LOT of work to do.

Despite the media narrative, the Democrats are not divided, or are we "feeble". We're the ones out there getting shit done, while dealing with interference of folks like Cenk and his brigade of folks that seem to be all about attacking Dems.

Enough already with the divisiveness.

[Cha]

42. We have Dems who are busting their ass against

the Fascistrumps and they don't deserve to be called "feeble" and "can't fight back" and "elite" like he goes around spouting off.

So don't try to rewrite history.

[FDRsGhost]

68. Don't try to say the party isn't above legit critism

Especially when we have lost so many seats.

[Cha]

81. Don't try to call that legit..

[JTFrog]

79. Don't take the bait Cha!

You've seen this act manny, manny times before!

[Cha]

82. Woo Hoo!

[obamanut2012]

91. o, that would be Maxine Waters, Al Franken, and a few others

Not the man who keeps going on TV and trashing the Dems, and still making dogs at HRC.

You are ten months too late to be doing this.

Try harder.

[SaschaHM]

7. Beto endorsed Hillary in the primary. Labeling him a "Berniecrat" is a bit of Opportunism by the OP

[FDRsGhost]

15. perhaps you may want to read this

To beat Ted Cruz, Beto O'Rourke plans to throw out the Democratic playbook

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/03/31/to-beat-ted-cruz-beto-orourke-throw-out-playbook/

[SaschaHM]

24. THat still doesn't make him a "Berniecrat". Bernie Sanders didn't just wise up and invent these

things in 2016.

[FDRsGhost]

69. Bernie didn't invent the term either

[Cha]

83. And, Beto O'Rourke isn't one.

[synergie]

90. To his credit, he doesn't USE it either, mostly cause it's a divisive and ridiculous

tag that seeks to divide Democrats for the sole purpose of mischief making. Makes one wonder about those who do use it, and what their goals are.

[LisaM]

77. Also, this "grass roots" movement worked best in caucus states with low turnout.

It didn't really bring millions more to the polls. In fact, the 2016 caucuses in Washington had far fewer participants than the 2008 caucuses (and both were lower turnouts than the primaries that the state also held both times, but which didn't count).

[Ken Burch]

97. Beto IS a Democrat.

The term "Berniecrat" simply means a Dem who agrees with Bernie on the issues.

And all Bernie ever did was hold this party to high standards.

It's not as though much of anything he advocates is unpopular, after all.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

3. I hate to say it but

If Jesus Christ, the Democrat, ran against any Republican for and STATEWIDE office in Texas, he would lose.

You cant imagine how much these good old boys in their pickup trucks hate liberals and Democrats.

I saw one with a bumper sticker yesterday that said " I love democrats - if properly prepared, they taste just like chicken." This is the most beautiful state, with so much potential, but the people are terribly under educated and over-indoctrinated.

[FDRsGhost]

5. Except there's one thing....

Trump May Help Latino Democrat Flip Congressional Seat on Texas Border



More http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/trump-may-help-latino-democrat-flip-congressional-seat-texas-border-n607211

[Vogon_Glory]

60. The sad epilogue was that Hurd defeated Gallego and was re-elected.

We'll have to do better.

[Gothmog]

89. That district is one of the congressional district found void by the redistricting panel

CD 23 is one of the congressional districts that will have to be redrawn due to redistricting panel ruling

[Vogon_Glory]

31. A lot of the good ol boys may hate Democrats right now, BUT

Thump's policies haven't started dealing out much pain to the average Texas voter yet. The Republican Party still has a year and a half to make the average Texas voters' lives miserable.

Texas is no longer an overwhelmingly white state. Thump and Pauly-boy still have plenty of opportunities to stick it to Texas' disadvantaged whites and Latinos, as well as to Texas Afro-Americans. And with their Oligarchical andI've got-mind mindsets, they'll probably take them.

[lamp_shade]

8. So is he a Democrat? A third party Berniecrat?

[SaschaHM]

25. He's a democrat. THe OP was just being opportunistic with the "Berniecrat" label.

Hell, he endorsed Hillary in 2016 and has been a solid D for most of his congressional career.

[Cha]

44. Exactly.. argh.

[NurseJackie]

51. That label is a way to emphasize and encourage division. It's cynical and suggests bitterness...

... and it's not helpful at all, in my opinion. We're Democrats. We're members of the Democratic Party.

[Cha]

43. O'Rourke is great Democrat who likes Hillary.,

lamp_shade

[blogslut]

10. Berniecrat? Seriously? That's the word you choose?

What I hear from Beto is what Texas Democrats have known for decades - we're on our own. Vast swaths of our state were completely ignored this last election. Bernie sure as hell didn't come to West Texas.

I look forward to seeing Beto O'Rourke come to my county.

[Blue_true]

11. He should make a point of hitting every county in Texas.

Even ones hostile to him. Use cool logic to talk to angry mouth breathers. Even pulling a hundred more votes out of a hostile county can make a difference statewide.

[blogslut]

13. That is his plan. All 254 counties.

http://www.mycentx.com/news/local/congressman-orourke-visits-waco/684354671

Link to tweet

@JTiloveTX Apr 1

.@BetoORourke throws down the gauntlet. He will visit all 254 Texas counties. (In Iowa @tedcruz did Full Grassley)

[FDRsGhost]

16. That's what he is is and campaigning on

He's literally using Bernie's platform to take on Ted Cruz. Obviously he watched the town hall between Bernie on Cruz on CNN. Populism wins.

[blogslut]

19. Really. He uses that word himself?

Can you cite where he uses that specific word?

As for Mr. Sanders platform, it's not like he invented the concept of removing big money from politics or favoring the needs of many over the needs of the few.

I think CBS' article painting Beto as a Bernie Saunders-type is lazy journalism. I think the term 'Berniecrat', used on this message board, is misguided.

[FDRsGhost]

22. I'm sorry you have the problem with the word "Berniecrat"

but it's been around for awhile now. I highly suggest you check /r/Berniecrats

Do you have a problem with "Warren Wing" as well?

[blogslut]

23. When posting on DU, I suggest you take advice from Henri Ducard:

"Always mind your surroundings."

I won't condemn you but I don't have to save you.

Good luck.

[FDRsGhost]

38. I didn't ask for a White Knight did I?

[Cha]

41. It's a turnoff.. especially when we know he likes Hillary.

[synergie]

62. Do you have a problem with the word "Democrat"? It's also been around for a while

and it's how Beto himself, and the article you posted refers to him, but you chose the incorrect and divisive term you coined instead.

[Orsino]

65. A candidate who refuses the easiest money and runs more on people power? Sure.

I guess even a Republican could do that.

[ananda]

12. Good! He's got my vote!

nt

[Yavin4]

21. In blood red states, the Dems need to run blood Blue Dems

Take them head on against their most ideological candidates

[mcar]

26. He's a good Democrat who supported our nominee

I wish him well.

[still_one]

29. You mean after the GE he didn't switch to independent, like someone I am aware of?

[FDRsGhost]

39. Let's put this to rest

Bernie switched back to indy because he was elected by the people to be just that, an indy.
Let's stop the stupid of "Bernie isn't a Democrat" and how it's something bad when he votes with Dems more often than many Dems do and holds a leadership position within the party.

[Cha]

40. Put "bernicrat" to rest.. it's divisive.

[NurseJackie]

50. Absolutely, it's divisive. It's a way of declaring "superiority" ... it divides and weakens us...

... it's arrogant, in my opinion. It needs to stop.

We are Democrats. We are the Democratic Party.

[Cha]

52. That's right.. "Meet Beto ORourke: A Liberal, Clinton-Loving Congressman

snip//

•O’Rourke was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton, saying she “represents the best opportunity for experienced leadership in the world’s most important job.”
•O’Rourke is such a big supporter of gun control that he joined the House floor sit-in last year.

https://www.americarisingpac.org/meet-beto-orourke-a-liberal-clinton-loving-congressman/

[NurseJackie]

56. He's a smart man, isn't he? Personally speaking...

... I prefer "wonky" politicians. I suppose it's all well and good if they're photogenic or if they're someone "you'd-want-to-have-a-beer-with" ... but that alone isn't enough. I want someone who is smart and clever and who is a quick-study.

I prefer candidates who EMBRACE being a Democrat, and who unite the party, and who seek to find common ground. I dislike any effort (from candidates or their supporters, from within or from without) to intentionally cause division and distrust among Democrats. Those things are counterproductive and weaken the party, don't you agree?

Happy Monday, Cha!

:kick:

[Cha]

57. I like this Beto O'Rourke... a brilliant Democrat!

I love the Aloha sign! Mahalo, Jackie!



Happy Monday Back@cha!

[synergie]

61. But he told all those people that he'd remain a Democrat, and run in the future

as a Democrat. But then did the exact opposite the moment he lost the nomination.

(as reported here: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/277086-sanders-will-be-democrat-for-life-campaign-says)

What's being "put to rest" here, that what he told all those millions of people something when he was courting their vote, including the people who elected him, and then changed his mind?

No one is saying it's bad that he chooses to vote with Dems, just that he has chosen to not be a Democrat, despite promises to the contrary, so it's kinds of stupid to be so upset when people acknowledge the reality that he's the Independent Senator from Vermont and not the Democratic Senator from Vermont.

[Alice11111]

27. I don't see it in Texas, not statewide. Best of luck!

I hate Ted Cruz, but he carried Texas against Trump even. Texas is gerrymandered so much that Austin, which is liberal, is Republican.

There was a time when Texas elected Ann Richards as Govenor, but the Repubs have made mincemeat out of it since then. Plus, with the exception of the inner city metro areas, and the Hill Country, Austin, and within 70 miles, it is very conservative, Obama hating, country. Perfect for Ted Cruz.

If they start hating DT, they might elect a moderste Dem, especially a Hispanic. I don't live in Texas now, but I go there frequently to see my liberal friends and conservative family. I was very active in politics there years ago. Hope I'm wrong and a Liberal Dem wins, but it won't happen.

[Vogon_Glory]

32. Excuse me, but gerrymandering only works for local races

Gerrymandering doesn't apply to statewide races. It is possible to live in a gerrymandered Republican state and elect a Democrat in a statewide race.

[Alice11111]

37. Thank you!

[nkpolitics1212]

34. Could a Henry Cuellar type Democrat win a Texas US Senate Race if he decided to run?

Cuellar is a Moderate Democrat and is Hispanic.

[Alice11111]

35. Maybe, if people were riled up enough to protest the Repubs

[Eko]

30. D e m o crat.

That is how you spell it.

[NurseJackie]

49. Yes please. Anything else is being intentionally divisive.

... in my opinion.

[DanTex]

33. Just so you know, O'Rourke endorsed Clinton in the 2016 primaries.

Not that it matters. The term "Berniecrat" is essentially designed to divide the Democratic party, and it is clear that this is the reason you are using it here. I support all Dems running against Republicans, regardless of who they endorsed in the primary.

[Alice11111]

36. Me too, all of them. However, I want someone who can kick the Rebubs ass to kingdom come

[Maven]

45. There is no 'Bernie party' so please stop with 'Berniecrat'. Thanks. nt

[NurseJackie]

48. Amen.

[panader0]

46. Great!

A Democrat. A great name, seriously. A great message.
Too bad there are so many here that want to dis him.
Thanks FDR.

[LanternWaste]

47. A registered Democrat who supports Clinton, eh?

A registered Democrat who supports Clinton, eh? No doubt, we tell ourselves what we need to.

[MineralMan]

54. O'Rourke is a DEMOCRAT, as the actual story correctly stated.

There is no such thing as a 'Berniecrat." This man is a Democrat running against a Republican. If I lived in Texas, I'd be supporting him as much as I was able.

If we are to win elections in 2018, we need to stop all of the in-fighting and get our party together. Divisive, made-up headlines will not accomplish that. GOTV efforts might, but only if everyone sticks together.

Bernie Sanders is an excellent Senator for his state. He is not a Democrat, by choice, even though he votes almost all the time with the Democratic Caucus in the Senate. He has chosen to be an independent. Beto O'Rourke is a Democrat, a Hillary Clinton supporter, and will need ALL the help he can get if he is to win against Cruz.

Please do not contribute to the breaking up of the Democratic Party. O'Rourke is a Democrat. Support him for who he is.

[NurseJackie]

55. "Please do not contribute to the breaking up of the Democratic Party." - Thank you so much for that!

That's the perfect way to describe it. I hope that person (and others) will see the truth of your words and the wisdom of your request.

[MineralMan]

59. I hope so, too.

I do not want a repeat of either 2014 or 2016. We need to come together and turn things around.

[tammywammy]

64. +1

[Dem_4_Life]

71. Well said thank you for that.

We need to all work together to be able to move forward. We cannot have a repeat of what happened in the past.

He is a refreshing candidate that is his own person. He is the start of the younger DEM that will help shape where the party needs to head towards in the future. I love his idea to visit all 254 counties in the state.

I would not be surprised if there are a lot of people in deep red counties that are democrats in hiding that will feel supported and encouraged by a democrat actually coming to their area. There are a lot of people even republicans in Texas that hate Ted Cruz.

Beto just needs to keep the momentum going. Also, the more that DT does to make the average Texas republican voter's life miserable then the more support Beto will have in the polls.

I already see this momentum in my county. I attended Joaquin Castro's townhall with somewhere between 400-500 people in attendance. My local city council "meet the candidate" meeting had 150-200 people (standing room only)! In the past you would have seen maybe 50 people if you were lucky. People are freaked out and ready for change.

[obamanut2012]

92. Some people like the infighting

And making it worse.

[bigtree]

73. k&r

[romanic]

80. Berniecrat?

Hmmm....I like the sound of that!

[obamanut2012]

93. Except the gentleman is a Democrat

[Tatiana]

86. I like him. May donate if Castro doesn't jump into the race.

Hillary only lost by 9 points here. This seat is winnable if the right candidate runs a great statewide campaign. Cruz is slime and even deep-red Republicans can't stand him. If we put up a likable candidate, center-right voters may vote for the Dem.

[Gothmog]

88. I would prefer one of the Castro brothers to Beto

I met him at the national convention and he is kind of goofy

[Ken Burch]

94. And he looks like a Chicano Bobby Kennedy!

Last edited Wed Apr 5, 2017, 06:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Damn...what's not to like?

[crazycatlady]

98. Can we stop arguing technicalities

And appreciate that we have a good Democrat ready to step up to the plate against Ted Cruz?

Apparently he raised almost 300K in his first weekend. I hope that momentum continues.