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Was thinking about what makes Beto O'Rourke such an impressive candidate; what's the quality behind the intangible "it" that he possesses, other than the undeniable charisma and sense of innate goodness and decency that makes people gravitate towards him?
It occurred to me that as Beto's campaign for president has played out, with his "go everywhere, engage everyone" philosophy, and in particular the events that have unfolded after El Paso, Beto has taken on the stance of less a candidate and more that of an advocate and activist.
Well, you might say, what's the difference, don't all candidates at one point or another advocate for various issues and to create change? The answer is yes, but I don't think we've seen it yet at the level that Beto has reached and certainly not with his kind of authenticity.
When Beto resumed his campaign and said that he would be going to all the places Trump is terrorizing and vilifying, he returned to the trail with an activist mindset, one that took him first to Mississippi to visit with families of those who had been rounded up by ICE.
Many scoffed at the wisdom of running a non-traditional campaign that isn't laser-focused on the early states, but I believe Beto's decision goes way beyond strategy into personal conviction that where he can best serve is to amplify the voices of the powerless and disadvantaged.
It's this conviction that helps to explain why he's even more committed to telling the stories of those ordinary Americans he meets on the trail. Storytelling is not something presidential candidates are known for, but it's a potent part of Beto's appeal and his activism.
This conviction has led Beto to make bold calls for mandatory buybacks of assault weapons, championing the efforts of groups like Moms Demand in their tireless work for gun reform. It's led him to prioritize the victims of mass shootings & to center their stories in his campaign.
We've seen his activism on race and social justice lead him to places like Black Wall Street in Oklahoma, to the Progressive Club in South Carolina and to the Islamic Society of NH, to name a few. He doesn't shy away from discussing reparations and the need to repair the past.
As we see the heartless images of Bahamians being taken off ferries because they don't have visas to the US, it's important that Beto was the first candidate to call on the Trump admin to grant them TPS in seeking refuge from their islands that have been mostly destroyed.
When it's said that Beto is the antidote to Trump, it's because he replaces cruelty with kindness, lies with honesty, cowardice with leadership, appeals to fear with appeals to courage and hope and a consistent reminder that "it's on us" to get this right.
With so many crises and challenges facing the next president, I think having someone who is not tied to polls and pundits, but is leading with moral clarity and purpose, represents the best chance for a return to the kind of values that future generations will be proud of. //
