O'Rourke has been cursing more lately

[left-of-center2012]

(O'Rourke is currently polling between 1% and 3% according to ‘Real Clear Politics’ 9/4/19)

I’m sure you’ve heard, but Beto O’Rourke has been cursing more lately, as he refocuses his campaign on guns, climate change, and immigration. “This is fucked up,” he’s said of gun violence. “Members of the press, what the fuck?” he’s asked.

The situation has produced recent headlines like, “Will the F-bomb save Beto O’Rourke?” and “Beto and the Profanity Gap” (linguist John McWhorter).

Currently, his campaign is selling gun control T-shirts, whose proceeds go toward gun control groups. These T-shirts read:
THIS IS F*CKED UPTHIS IS F*CKED UPTHIS IS F*CKED UPTHIS IS F*CKED UPTHIS IS F*CKED UPTHIS IS F*CKED UPEnd gun violence now.

On Friday morning, the campaign sent a fundraising email:
With all of this going on, how can you not be outraged? How can you not turn on the news, see all of this, and think “What the Fuck?” But we know that outrage alone doesn’t fix things. That’s why, while Beto will always call out wrongdoing, he’ll also always match it with a positive vision for making things right.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katherinemiller/beto-orourke-cursing

[Tipperary]

1. Meh.

I remember at the beginning of his campaign, he apologized for cursing so much and promised to stop after a supporter complained and called him out on it.

[Mike Nelson]

2. I've heard...

... and I really don't like Beto's use of the word and wish he would stop... I don't like what Biden said about his support of the Iraq War... I don't like Harris wavering on her health plan... I don't like stuff about a lot of politicians... but, compared to Crooked Donald, I LOVE them all!

[crazytown]

11. Did you like what Biden said about the ACA?

I did.

[Mike Nelson]

23. Yes...

... I think all the candidates want to improve health care. I think the other party would like to reverse the progress we've made.

[question everything]

3. We already have a president cursing a lot

As a matter of fact, the current picture on the homepage here is showing him using the same word.

We do want, among other things, to restore dignity to this office, don't we?

[dalton99a]

5. Tsk, tsk. No point to get upset over anything. He'd better quit before Jesus kicks his ass

[AlexSFCA]

6. his cursing is appropriate for the moment, no better way to describe the situation

this is not the time to be polite. This is a time to fight.

[snowybirdie]

7. Probably

thinks it makes him look cool and serious. Don't think I want my President to use the English language that way.

[NurseJackie]

8. I don't like it. But, whatever.

Personally, it doesn't strike me as being very presidential. It may be what we're all thinking, and it may be what I actually say out loud myself (yes... believe it or not, I swear... I know it's a shock to many people) but this is not the demeanor that I look for in the person I'm considering to be our party's nominee for president.

I'm sure that someone has advised him that swearing shows "passion" and it will generate cheers and fist-pumps from a certain segment. And that may be true... but in my opinion... it comes off as something that's PLANNED and FORCED. It's a gimmick that's getting to be a bit long in the tooth.

It's lost its impact and in the long run, I think this will hurt him.

Just my opinion.

[left-of-center2012]

10. It gets him attention

At 1 to 3 percent he needs all the help he can get.

[NurseJackie]

14. Agreed. When someone is polling so low, I guess ANY attention (+ or -) is needed.

At 1 to 3 percent he needs all the help he can get.

Agreed. When someone is polling so low, I guess ANY attention (+ or -) is needed. But, regardless of the type of attention he attracts from it, I do not believe it's something that's going to translate into additional meaningful support. It's unclear if someone is giving him bad advice TO swear a lot.... or if he's ignoring the advice to NOT swear so much. Either way, it suggests to me a campaign that knows its in trouble. It's a shame to see him go out that way.

[Tipperary]

13. I agree.

Completely.

[ecstatic]

20. I agree. nt

[Bradical79]

9. People are getting gunned down in his home

I'd be more concerned if he were constantly using typical carefully planned politician speech. He seems like a pretty genuine guy when it comes to caring about this stuff.

[dalton99a]

12. Our country and planet are in imminent danger

And people bitching about Beto using a 'bad' word

If you don't like him, don't vote for him.

Is his cussing disqualifying? NO

(FWIW Beto never used non-PC language while performing his duties as an elected official. Name one incident where he did.)

[BlueMississippi]

15. Doesn't matter ... it's not like he is forcibly grabbing p**** nt

[peggysue2]

16. Frustrated, perhaps?

I don't blame O'Rourke. He really has been treated with the shitty end of the stick when it comes to press coverage. And the recent twitter smear was beyond disgusting. I still think O'Rourke has a bright political future. Maybe not this time out but in the years to come, his will be a voice and presence to reckon with.

That being said, I can only imagine the frustration and bewilderment to have started as a rock star only to end as an after thought. That could be demoralizing. So, it speaks well of the man that he's still out there pushing and fighting.

As for the cursing? Doesn't bother me personally. However, it would be a turnoff for some voters--not considered presidential in nature. On the other hand, our present situation conjures up a lot of bad language. Fits the times.

[elleng]

17. Who the hell HASN'T been???

[dalton99a]

18. +1. We are watching a veritable shit show, but it's bad to mention "shit"?

And for people who never bothered to view that video, no, his "What the Fuck?” response in El Paso was not staged or preplanned by his campaign advisors. He spoke for millions on that day.

[MoonRiver]

19. He's MAD AS HELL! So am I. I applaud Beto for being honest.

[Gothmog]

21. I really do not care if Beto is cursing

I still like Beto and respect the job he is doing on the issue of gun control

[msongs]

22. if my campaign was toast I might curse too. or just accept reality and find a way to be

helpful

[Joe941]

24. A desperate candidate trying to get attention.