'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' known as '''Beto O'Rourke''' and formerly as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972), served from 2013 to 2019 as the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]]. He was the unsuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for the [[United States Senate]] in 2018.
BetoO'Rourke, who supports the [[Green New Deal]], accepted $476,325 from the oil and gas industry after taking the "No Fossil Fuel Money" pledge,<ref>https://freebeacon.com/politics/executive-producer-of-new-beto-doc-carbon-based-fuels-rule-the-world-thats-not-going-to-change/</ref> making him the second-biggest recipient of fossil fuel money in Congress.<ref>https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=E01++</ref> O'Rourke's [[white privilege]] has propelled him into the top ranks of [[2020 presidential election|2020 Democratic presidential contenders]].
O'Rourke was elected to the first of his three terms in Congress in November 2012. Earlier in the year he had unseated the incumbent Representative Silvestre Reyes, a fellow Democrat. Before his congressional years, the [[business]]man O'Rourke represented District 8 on the El Paso City Council.
Despite portraying himself as an "everyman," O'Rourke is more than twice as wealthy as Ted Cruz.<ref>Weissert, Will (October 10, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/10/beto-orourke-twice-wealthy-ted-cruz-net-worth-9-mi/ Despite everyman image, Beto O'Rourke twice as wealthy as Ted Cruz]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved October 11, 2018.</ref> During his campaign, he raised $70 million from Hollywood donors and spent $18 million on consultants despite promising not to spend any money on them.<ref>Mikelionis, Lukas (October 31, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/beto-orourke-spends-18m-on-consultancy-firm-despite-promising-not-to-hire-any-consultants Beto O'Rourke spends $18M on consultancy firm despite promising not to hire any consultants]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 31, 2018.</ref>
Beto O'Rourke supports the practice of [[abortion]] up until birth and more recently refused to support a law that would prevent [[infanticide]].<ref name="Ertelt2019">{{cite web |last1=Ertelt |first1=Steven |title=WATCH: Beto O'Rourke Refuses to Support Law to Stop Infanticide, Care for Babies Born Alive After Abortions |url=https://www.lifenews.com/2019/03/20/watch-beto-orourke-refuses-to-support-law-to-stop-infanticide-care-for-babies-born-alive-after-abortions/ |publisher=Life News |date=20 March 2019}}</ref> O'Rourke also has been criticized hailed the Soviet concept of [[separation of church and state]] and berated a Roman Catholic priest for his toxic masculinitydefending [[traditional marriage]]. <ref name="Kokx">{{cite web |last1=Kokx |first1=Steven |title=Video surfaces of Beto O’Rourke berating Catholic priest for defending male/female marriage|url=https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/video-surfaces-of-beto-orourke-berating-catholic-priest-for-defending-male-female-marriage |publisher=Life Site News |date=22 March 2019}}</ref>
==Background==
[[File:DQ-LmLAU8AAcRFsBeto O'Rourke.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Beto's mugshot.]]The Irish-American O'Rourke claims that his nickname "Beto" came from childhood as a shortened name for "Roberto" in Spanish; many of his friends are Hispanic , and El Paso is a predominantly Hispanic city. Beto is considered by many as the penultimate [[beta-male]].<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/411830-ex-trump-strategist-calls-beto-orourke-beta</ref> At [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]], at which he participated on the rowing team, he was known as "Robert" or "Rob". " O'Rourke's mother is the former Melissa Martha Williams. His father was El Paso County Judge Pat Francis O'Rourke, a political associate of former Texas [[Governor]] [[Mark White]], whose son, Andrew White, lost the May 22 , 2018, Democratic gubernatorial runoff election to the former sheriff of Dallas County, [[Lupe Valdez]]. The senior O'Rourke was killed in July 2001, when he was struck from behind by a vehicle while he was riding his bicycle across the state line into [[New Mexico]].<ref>Bill Lambrecht, "From border to brink of Senate run, ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2017, pp. 1, A9.</ref>
===Comparisons with George W. Bush===
Beto has been compared to [[George W. Bush]]: a rich kid from Texas cited for drunk driving. In 1998, O'Rourke was involved in drunk driving car accident and fled the scene. He later was apprehended and cited for [[DUI]].<ref>Adams, Becket (September 25, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beto-orourke-lied-in-his-first-debate-about-his-drunken-driving-crash Beto O’Rourke lied in his first debate about his drunken driving crash]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref><ref>Church, Nate (September 25, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/25/beto-orourke-claims-he-did-not-leave-scene-dwi/ Beto O’Rourke Falsely Claims He Did Not Leave Scene of DWI]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref>
===Hacker and poetsong writer===Among Beto's many attributes is his talent as a [[poet]]. In 1988, under the pseudonym "Psychedelic Warlord" as a member of the [[hacker]] group Cult of the Dead Cow,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke/ |title=Beto O’Rourke’s secret membership in America’s oldest hacking group |publisher=www.reuters.com |accessdate=|date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke/|title=Beto O’Rourke’s secret membership in America’s oldest hacking group|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=|date=15 March 2019}}</ref> Beto O'Rourke was the one to come came up with the name "Cult of the Dead Cow" for the hacker group in April 1985.<ref>[[TOTSE]], [https://totseans.com/totse/en/ego/cult_of_the_dead_cow/cdc079.html "cDc 079: The True Story of Cult of the Dead Cow by Psychedelic Warlord"]</ref>. Beto authored "''The Song of the Cow'':"<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/beto-orourke-wrote-poem-asking-a-cow-to-wax-my-ass-and-scrub-my-balls</ref> O'Rourke had an agreement with [[leftwing]] [[mainstream media]] [[journalist]]s to keep secret his involvement with the hacker group until after his [[Senate]] race against Ted Cruz.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BFgXuIX4vA</ref> Ted Cruz responded: {{quotebox|So [[Reuters]] had evidence in 2017 that Beto may have committed multiple [[felon]]ies—which Beto confirmed on the record—but deliberately withheld the story for over a year to help him win his Senate race? But when he’s running against Bernie etc, NOW it’s news?<ref>https://therightscoop.com/reuters-reporter-admits-to-colluding-with-beto-to-hide-story-about-his-illegal-hacker-past-from-ted-cruz-race/</ref>}} '''''The Song of the Cow'''''<br>
I need a butt-shine,<br>
The Cow has risen, <br>
Provide Milk.''
====Running over children fiction====
Beto O'Rourke also wrote some fiction, including a 3,300 word story where a driver and some kids got elated over the latter party being run over by the former.
{{quotebox|“One day, as I was driving home from work, I noticed two children crossing the street. They were happy, happy to be free from their troubles. This happiness was mine by right. I had earned it in my dreams. As I neared the young ones, I put all my weight on my right foot, keeping the accelerator pedal on the floor until I heard the crashing of the two children on the hood, and then the sharp cry of pain from one of the two. I was so fascinated for a moment, that when after I had stopped my vehicle, I just sat in a daze, sweet visions filling my head.”<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/democrat-2020-candidate-beto-orourke-wrote-fiction-piece-about-running-his-car-over-children_2839913.html</ref>}}
==Political career==
===U.S. House===
O'Rourke has developed a friendly relationship with [[Moderate Republican]] [[Will Hurd]] of Helotes, an [[African-American]] who represents Texas' 23rd congressional district. The two rode together by car in 2017 from Texas to [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>Bill Lambrecht, "From border to brink of Senate run," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2017, pp. 1, A9.</ref>Hurd won easily dispatched his conservative primary, [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] from Uvalde County. and then a third term in 2018 general election by about one thousand votes. O'Rourke supports [[amnesty]] for [[illegal alien]]s, [[LGBT]], [[gun control]], [[Obamacare]], and [[abortion]]. He opposes the War on Drugs and urges the liberalization of narcotics laws.
O'Rourke will be was succeeded in the House by fellow Democrat Veronica Escobar, who handily turned back the Republican challenge waged by Rick Seeberger in the November 6, 2018 general election.
===Senate campaign===
In an appearance on ''Real Time with Bill Maher'' on March 6, 2018, O'Rourke agreed with liberal host [[Bill Maher]], who labeled Ted Cruz "a giant ass-hole." O'Rourke claimed on the broadcast that voters would "never have to wonder who it is I represent or who I’m voting for. It’s going to be the people of Texas, every single time." O'Rourke said that Cruz has allegedly alienated himself from the mass of Texas voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/democratic-challenger-agrees-with-bill-maher-that-ted-cruz-is-a-giant-a-hole|title=Democratic challenger agrees with Bill Maher that Ted Cruz is a 'giant a--hole'|author=Katie Leach|publisher=''The Washington Examiner''|date=March 17, 2018|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Beto picking his nose.jpeg|left|275px|thumb|When he's not picking his nose, Beto usually is busy raising money from Hollywood [[elitism|elite]]s or diverting campaign funds to [[illegal alien]]s.]] The Hispanic pop artist Cruz Ortiz of San Antonio makes T-shirts which promote the O'Rourke candidacy with the message, "Beto por Tejas." His work adorns not only museums but [[Papa John's Pizza]] boxes as well. According to Gilbert Garcia of ''The San Antonio Express-News'', Ortiz is "that rare artist who can create cutting-edge work with mass appeal. ... That talent has turned him into a key player in Texas Democratic politics." He is also helping helped the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign of Andrew White, who faces the more liberal Lupe Valdez in the May 22 runoff, and the congressional race for Gina Ortiz Jones, who failed to unseat Will Hurdin the general election.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, Artist seen as force in Democratic politics", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 16, 2018, p. A2.</ref>
O'Rourke is a forceful advocate for illegal aliens. Conditions on the border can be enhanced, he says, if the United States treated people in border cities with “dignity and respect.” He claims that the border is secure and safe and hence opposes a U.S. military presence to thwart invaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/beto-orourke-southern-border-can-be-safer-if-lawmakers-treat-border-communities-with-dignity-and-respect|title=Beto O'Rourke: Southern border can be safer if lawmakers treat border communities with 'dignity and respect'|publisher=''The Washington Examiner''|author=Katelyn Caralle|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
In April 2018, O'Rourke addressed a gathering of five hundred at [[Texas Tech University]] in the usually Republican city of [[Lubbock]]. In his speech, he denounced what he called Republican "paranoia, the fear, the divisiveness, the smallness that distinguishes that kind of thinking and leadership." Instead, O'Rourke vowed to promote "confidence and a courage and a strength and a kindness and a big heart that can only come from Texas."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180408/orourke-town-halls-attracts-500-plus-at-texas-tech|title=O'Rourke town hall attracts 500-plus at Texas Tech|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=April 8, 2018}}</ref> At that same meeting, O'Rourke said that he had seen enough evidence to warrant the [[impeachment]] of President Trump. A few days later at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, O'Rourke denied that he is pre-committed to impeachment: "I never brought this issue up." O'Rourke described impeachment as "perhaps the most serious and solemn responsibility" for members of Congress and "not something we should trifle with or campaign on."<ref>Gilbert Garcia, "Promises to impeach Trump send wrong message for Democrats" (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 29, 2018, pp. 1, A2.</ref> Ultimately Cruz won Lubbock County, 58,709 (64.2 percent) to O'Rourke's 31,976 (35 percent).
[[File:Beto's immense appeal.jpeg|right|200px|thumb|Beto displaying his awesome popular appeal and immense social media skills.]]
By July, however, O'Rourke said that he could immediately vote as a House member to impeach Trump based on what liberals and the ]][[fake news]] media claimed was a disastrous summit appearance with [[Russia]]n President [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/397469-cruz-challenger-calls-for-trumps-impeachment-over-putin-summit|title=O'Rourke calls for Trump's impeachment over Putin summit|publisher=Thehill.com|date=July 17, 2018|author=Max Greenwood|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref>
Bssed on O'Rourke's successful fund-raising, large crowds at campaign rallies, and respectable opinion polling, the magazine ''Politico'' declared that "Beto-mania" was sweeping Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/09/beto-mania-sweeps-texas-218961|title=Beto-mania Sweeps Texas|publisher=''Politico'' magazine|date=July 9, 2018|author=Ben Schreckinger|accessdate=July 13, 2018}}</ref>
Having waged a vigorous campaign with huge funding assets, he came within 220,000 votes of unseating the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] in the November 6 [[general election]]. Cruz finished with 4,240,942 votes (50.9 percent) to O'Rourke's 4,017,851 (48.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=}}</ref>
Gilbert Garcia, the San Antonio journalist, notes that O'Rourke would immediately become mentioned as a future presidential possibility if he has had succeeded in upsetting Cruz. "With his Kennedy-esque looks and defiantly idealistic exuberance, he has that rare ability to inspire voters" while establishment politicians make voting a dull civic exercise not much different from "eating your [[broccoli]]".<ref name=feastorfamine/> Yet even in defeat, O'Rourke remains one of the three leading candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
==Presidential campaign==
In announcing his candidacy for the 2020 Democratic party nomination for president in March 2019, O'Rourke boasteed boasted of his [[white privilege]]: "I was born to do this."<ref>https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/beto-orourke-cover-story?verso=true</ref>Despite the high-profile liberal/communist media roll out of his campaign, Beto's run fizzled immediately with the rise of [[gay rights]] [[activist]] [[Pete Buttigieg]]. A critic described Beto's speaking style: {{quotebox| He talked in a fluid, energetic, run-on style that was interesting to listen to — at first. As soon as you thought you had caught up with one chunk of clever rhetoric he moved on to the next set-piece, so you could never really process what he was saying. The more he spoke, the more his phrases grew monotonous in aggregate, and his animated talking points merged into each other, a river of charming progressivism in isolation; overwhelming and almost incomprehensible when unloaded all at once.<ref>https://medium.com/@harrisonblackman/late-stage-betomania-in-reno-dfbbfb1b9713</ref>}} According to CNN, Beto beats President Trump in a head-to-head matchup by 10%. Willie Nelson, outed as a virulent racist who sings in celebration of public lynchings,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://psmag.com/news/country-hits-are-getting-more-misogynistic-according-to-new-research?fbclid=IwAR0L2NbDN6gHqxr8vnsjPyB6GZFuMbUxIjh-k9uFn74tSrvx9y-U_xc_OAk|title=COUNTRY HITS INCREASINGLY OBJECTIFY WOMEN AND GLORIFY WHITENESS|last=Jacobs|first=Tom|date=May 7, 2019|website=Pacific Standard|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>https://www.salon.com/2003/07/16/beer_horses/</ref><ref>http://newblackwoman.com/2008/07/31/toby-keiths-ode-to-lynching/</ref> is an enthusiastic Beto supporter.<ref>https://freebeacon.com/blog/prominent-beto-supporter-denounced-for-singing-pro-lynching-anthem/</ref> ===Prophet of doom===<center><big><font color="brown">{{days until|2029|12|31}} Days Until Final Destruction of the Planet'''</font></big></center>Beto has appealed to [[fear]] rather than [[hope]], claiming imminent destruction of the planet by [[capitalism]] is ten years. Beto's plan of salvation would double taxes and shrink the U.S. economy by 25% in ten years. O'Rourke introduced a plan to fight global warming that is larger than the federal budget.
==References==