Beto O'Rourke's rich father-in-law has both helped and complicated his career - PBS NewaHour

[question everything]

EL PASO, Texas — Beto O’Rourke was running for the El Paso City Council in 2005 when he asked to meet with the illustrious real estate investor William Sanders.

Sanders had earned a fortune in Chicago before returning to his remote hometown on the West Texas-Mexico border. He thought O’Rourke wanted a donation.

But O’Rourke, now vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, was actually seeking permission to marry Sanders’ daughter Amy. And after he secured it, his future father-in-law began talking at length about her previous boyfriend.

“It was a very awkward — very, very awkward — conversation,” O’Rourke recalled in a phone interview.

Worth at least $500 million according to a conservative Forbes estimate, Sanders has helped make Beto and Amy O’Rourke millionaires. O’Rourke won his city council race and briefly supported an ambitious, though controversial and ultimately unsuccessful, plan to redevelop downtown El Paso that Sanders was leading. Later, Sanders’ timely donation helped transform his son-in-law from longshot primary challenger to congressman, setting him up to nearly upset U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz last year and catapult him into the presidential race.

O’Rourke’s campaign says Sanders plays no role. Still, O’Rourke might never have made it on the national stage without the help of the intensely private tycoon.

More..

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/beto-orourkes-rich-father-in-law-has-both-helped-and-complicated-his-career

I think that it is scheduled to be aired this evening.

[PatrickforO]

1. Very interesting.

It doesn't disqualify him, but he will need to answer for the scope of the role played by his father in law.

[George II]

4. Why? Was it illegal?

[PatrickforO]

6. Ah, George! How are you?

No it's not illegal, but it is part of the overall vetting process. To better explain my position, I just posted this on a thread about Biden, your candidate:

The thread is about Joe saying he doesn't plan to hold his opponents' pasts against them. Here's what I said. See what you think:

The best predictor of what you WILL do is what you HAVE done.

That said, all the senators and governors running have advocated the interests of people in their states, and this advocacy sometimes goes counter to the interests of the whole country. But they are doing their jobs because that is how our system works.

So on the one hand, I'm inclined at first blush to give them all, including Joe, a pass, with the caveat that they'd all better explain why they have evolved on those particular issues.

In terms of Biden, the example is that he was in fact one of four Dem Senators to support the 2005 bankruptcy laws. The mitigating factor was that Biden was the Senator for Delaware, and Delaware is where these credit card companies are all incorporated. So of course, if Biden is being a good Senator, he's going to support them. That is certainly what I'd expect from a Delaware guy.

However, as a presidential candidate, I equally expect that Biden would back off on that position, because if elected, he won't just be representing Delaware and its financial services companies, but all of America, which means all of the American people and all of the American businesses. So what I want to hear from Joe, is how he stands now on these bankruptcy laws, on predatory lending practices, high interest rates, student debt and so on. Because people ARE suffering because of that 2005 bankruptcy law.

You know who I really admire, because his honesty blew me away? Buttigieg. When Rachel asked him that hardball question about race problems in South Bend, he gave a completely honest response. That doesn't mean the problems are going away, but it does mean that people with integrity will now watch to see what he does now. He's got a tough row ahead with African Americans and may not make it, but you've got to admire his honesty, and pull for him to make successful strides forward with the AA community.

That's what I want to see from ALL these people. If Biden came out and said, "Yes, at the time I was one of the Senators from Delaware, and many of the credit card companies are incorporated and have substantial offices there. They were my constituents at the time and so I supported those bankruptcy laws. At this point, here is my position as a presidential candidate..."

That goes for all of them - Warren, Harris, Sanders, etc. They have all done it, and since it is in their records they must answer a) what I did then and why, and b) what I will do as president and why.

Do that, and we'll have a hell of a lot more solidly vetted bunch of candidates.

[PatrickforO]

7. A second thought...

I was watching a political show the other day or week, maybe Maher, and someone on it said the Dems have to remember that they aren't running against a run-of-the-mill Republican, but against a genuine monster, a dictator wannabe, guilty of numerous crimes against humanity.

So anything I say, certainly, has to be considered in that light, with an appropriately-sized grain of salt. Because I think we can expect the corporate-owned media to give Trump a pass for pretty much everything, including his speech yesterday, but will hold our people accountable for all sorts of gotcha types of things.

An irritating example of this to me is the question: Will a Medicare for All system make private insurance illegal?

Or the ever popular: Will a Medicare for All system take away employer provided healthcare for people who like it?

The answers to both of those questions are quite easy.

Now, I know you are not for Medicare for All per se, but maybe fixing the ACA and adding a public option. And, honestly, though I want the former, I realistically expect what will happen is the latter. And I'm fine with that. But we have to reverse all the Republican sabotage.

[Indygram]

10. The very limited role/scope was widely discussed in senate race

when Beto was more vetted than any other candidate running. Nothingburger.

[dalton99a]

2. All of this was well known during his Senate campaign

And he has been speaking against the super wealthy and their tax cuts for many, many months.

I'm fine with him not having to worry about putting food on the table.

[George II]

3. Is there anyone here who, if they had a "rich father-in-law" would turn down help from him?

[stonecutter357]

5. why do you hate rich people ?

[murielm99]

8. Did Beto take a sudden surge in the polls?

People here tend to attack the strong candidates.

I have no problem with Beto. I would vote for him.

[left-of-center2012]

9. O'Rourke is at 1% to 2% in latest polls

I doubt any criticism of him will matter.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/democratic_nomination_polls/