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 of Beto running for President.
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 and weightiness to him that we all knew this was something special. Not just political talent, but the judgment and understanding of history to do the job, and to rise to the occasion. Now I contrast that with Beto. He did amazing things in his race for Senate in Texas. He gave compelling speeches. He used social media and new voter outreach techniques. But he lost. And he didn’t just lose, he also didn’t ALWAYS rise to the occasion. Example one: debates. This is subjective, but he came off so light that he actually managed to make Ted Cruz seem like the more substantive and experienced candidate. It’s one thing to be young and inexperienced. It’s another to SEEM young and inexperienced. Obama was young but he never seemed it. He always came off as a heavyweight, never a lightweight.
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 led the battle to combat sexual assault in the military and much more. Joe Biden might run, don’t need to go through his credentials. Kamala Harris, who won multiple statewide races in the largest state in the country, led the largest state justice department, created multiple crime & societal-related programs in the state, some that have been the models for others across the country. Now a US Senator.
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 of someone who looks at this field after coming off a loss and thinking “I can do this job better and I’m more qualified.” Really? So please tell me why I’m wrong (and don’t tell me what he did in TX was amazing). I’m asking for accomplishments beyond ability to campaign even if it ended in a loss, because it’ll take a lot more.
Analysis and opinion by a News and Guts reader. We welcome submissions.