Former Texas Congressman, failed Senate candidate and now Presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke paid a visit to Central Pennsylvania this morning on a stretch of campaign stops through the midwest and on the way to New Hampshire.
Right off the bat, O’Rourke was pressed on a new litmus test for 2020 Democrats: late-term and post-birth abortion:
My question to @BetoORourke @penn_state on third trimester abortion. Story coming up @dcexaminer. https://t.co/oGqqpmBbYe
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) March 19, 2019
A signature aspect of Beto’s campaign is pandering to his audience, and the young, progressive crowd was no exception; he jumped on the nearest elevated surface and began Penn State’s iconic ‘We Are’ chant in attempt to appeal to the audience:
.@BetoORourke ends his trip to Penn State with another “We Are” chant and a promise to return pic.twitter.com/nKkQ6nrjVR
— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) March 19, 2019
As all candidates seeking a viable shot at the Democratic nomination will inevitably have to succumb to, O’Rourke welcomed the common left-wing talking points, despite unyielding attempts to paint himself as a moderate during his Senate bid.
“We are, screwed,” the candidate said of global warming and climate change.
O’Rourke mirrored the alarmist narrative coined by far-left politicians and pundits who push the Green New Deal:
“There are 12 years left to us to take bold, decisive action together,” he said in an emotional beginning sentiment.
O’Rourke then jumped right to a favorite talking point on the left, demonizing corporations and the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC ruling:
“We have to make sure that corporations, which have been equated with people, and money, which is equal to speech in Citizens United, that allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in our elections…”
The candidate then pledged to not accept a dime from any Political Action Committee, which is a growing precedent for progressive candidates.
During the question-and-answer portion of his visit, following a vague speech with no real, concrete policy proposals O’Rourke was pressed on his position on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY-14) Green New Deal, which would cost nearly 93 trillion dollars. O’Rourke responded by praising Ocasio-Cortez and the Sunrise Movement’s ‘bold’ actions, and the idea of government control, without explicitly endorsing the Green New Deal:
“I think AOC, the Sunshine Movement, young people and old people alike, who have come together and said that this country must act. And we must act in the boldest way possible. It must be government action,” he said.
A rally attendee then pushed O’Rourke on his fundraising haul, reaching over 6 million in just 24 hours, and plans for transparency of campaign donations and concrete policy proposals, both of which O’Rourke currently lacks.
Beto O’Rourke was the first of the crowded field of 2020 candidates to pay a visit to central Pennsylvania, which will be crucial in the fight for the Keystone State in the Democratic Primary.