At the debate, Beto O'Rourke shocked the pundit class & certain members of the Democratic establishment by boldly and clearly declaring “Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We're not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore"
The naivety from some on our own side about how Republicans might suddenly decide not to work with Democrats on gun control was a sad sight to behold. Reminiscent of Charlie Brown believing Lucy with the football. And now it has been shown that Trump and Republicans never had any intention of doing anything but the NRA's bidding on gun control.
Beto didn’t waver and he’s been strongly arguing the case for gun control, including mandatory buybacks on TV, in the printed press, and on social media. And barnstorming across the country holding multiple events a day, some roundtables focused solely on gun violence along with rallies covering many Democratic issues.
It's working.
Two national polls from mid-September along with one from Texas:
-NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll showed 45% support for mandatory buybacks maristpoll.marist.edu/…
-UT Tyler at 49.1% support for mandatory buybacks and 28.5% oppose in Texas
www.uttyler.edu/…
And now in the most recent national poll, Harris-HillX finds 59% support for mandatory buybacks thehill.com/…
The Overton window is shifting. Moms Demand and March for our Lives and millions of activists are a big part of this. I also give Beto credit for speaking out more strongly and repeatedly than any other politician. Typically there is only a three week attention span after a mass shooting, but Beto has been keeping this issue alive and being talked about.
Beto doesn't accept PAC money, he doesn't poll test issues to decide where he stands. Instead he relentlessly spends time grassroots campaigning talking and listening to voters about their concerns so he has a pulse on where the country is on many issues, including gun-control.
Beto has a strong moral compass and says it does what is right, not waiting for DC pundits to give permission. Even with death threats, he stands strong.
Beto has always been a leader in taking morally correct positions before they were politically popular:
-Beto in 2018 goes viral supporting kneeling NFL players while most politicians in blue states are silent 'I can think of nothing more American': Beto O’Rourke responds to question on NFL protests
-Beto last week called for Trump to resign. www.rawstory.com/…
“President Nixon did the right thing and resigned before it moved to a trial in the Senate,” said O’Rourke. “I’m calling upon those who are close to President Trump right now, the same ones who tried to hide the transcript or the notes from this phone call, who right now are complicit in what the president is doing, to advise him to do the right thing and to resign from this office.”
“If we’re talking about bringing together a very divided country, unifying once again around the great challenges that we have, then the most divisive president that we’ve ever had, one who is breaking laws with complete impunity right now, tearing this country apart, must step down,” continued Beto. “That’s the right thing to do. But should he fail to do that, the House must vote to impeach, and that trial must be held in the Senate. And I believe in this country, I believe in this country and I believe that we will do the right thing at the end of the day.”
Beto is a breath of fresh air
Please check out Beto’s vision and plans at BetoORourke.com and donate to his campaign — which is powered by people, not PACs or special interests or corporations — or sign up to volunteer.