I’m trying to be open-minded and more positive, and I definitely don’t believe people need to wait for “their turn” and should run when they want. With that, I’m having a tough time not feeling put off – if not even offended – by
And it’s weird for me because I absolutely believe in the next generation running for office. And I want to vote for a 40-something or 50-something for President (and I will in the primaries). Yet, somehow…Beto for POTUS rubs me the wrong way. Best I can tell, here’s why:
First of all, no, I don’t think a former El Paso City Council member and 3-term Congressman is sufficient experience for President. I’m trying to square this with my support in 2008 for Barack Obama, who was a first-term US Senator and a multi-term state legislator. Sure…but Obama was, among other things, a constitutional scholar, President of Harvard Law review, the keynote speaker at the Democratic Convention 4 years earlier, and had the correct judgment on the biggest issue of the day: Iraq. That, and, he WON his statewide race. But moreover, he had
Why am I “offended” by notion fo him running? Because he now sees the field. He sees the candidates. And he (apparently) believes that he can compete with them on qualifications and readiness to be President. That makes me question his judgment. Let’s pick a few of the others running.
Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts, who literally CONCEIVED of the idea of a Federal government agency that has helped consumers to the tune of billions of dollars. She’s nowhere near my top choice, but substantive? For sure. Kirsten Gillibrand a multi-term Senator and former Congresswoman who managed to win multiple statewide races in the 4th largest state in the
Beto O’Rourke, ex-El Paso city council member, 3-term Congressman, and has never won a statewide election. Is there an issue or accomplishment I’m not aware of? The way we knew Obama had judgment thanks to Iraq, has Beto done something substantive and meaningful I don’t know about? That is not snarky, that is a legit question. I don’t doubt his motives, beliefs or positions. I don’t doubt his sincerity. I do doubt his qualifications. And I doubt
Analysis and opinion by a News and Guts reader. We welcome submissions.