Biden Appears to Believe Beto Is Latino

Leah Barkoukis | January 17, 2020 9:30 AM

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden appears to believe former Rep. Robert “Beto” O’Rourke is Latino.

In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Biden was asked if he would consider former Rep. Robert “Beto” O’Rourke or former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro as a running mate.

"Yes, I would. I'd consider either or both of them," he replied before delving into a discussion about having Latinos in his White House.

"And look, I've spoken to each of them and spent some time talking to them. My plea to both of them is that they stay engaged. They are talented, talented people and there are a number of Latinos that have endorsed our former Secretary of Interior — whole lot of people who are going to — I can guarantee you that there’s going to be Latinos in my cabinet, guarantee you there's going to be Latinos in my White House, and both of them are qualified."

The second problem with his statement is that Castro was the former HUD secretary, not the former secretary of the Interior. But Biden forgets a lot and is easily confused so we'll let that slide. Thinking Beto is Latino is another story, however. Robert Francis O'Rourke is a fourth-generation Irish-American-- his nickname was given to him as a child by his father.

Wait. Does Joe Biden think that Beto O’Rourke is Latino? ?? pic.twitter.com/peUCubie7v
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) January 17, 2020

Uhh... Does Joe Biden think that Beto O’Rourke is Latino? In this clip he sure sounds like he thinks Beto is Latino. Someone on @JoeBiden’s team needs to tell him that @BetoORourke is Irish, not Latino and that his real name is Robert O’Rourke. ?? pic.twitter.com/MUeXruVBfF
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 16, 2020