Texas U.S. Senate hopeful Beto O'Rourke has been gaining attention for his progressive views, and for being a Democrat who stands a chance at representing red Texas on the Hill.
O'Rourke was recently feted by supporters when he eloquently explained to a group of Texans exactly why Colin Kaepnernick kneels for the national anthem. He broke it all the way down until it could not be broken anymore, and it was especially significant because his skin resembled his audience's. Maybe now they'll get it? We shall see.
The Senate hopeful also visited a black church in the wake of the Jean killing, and advocated for police reform.
O'Rourke's opponent in the race, Senator Ted Cruz, tweeted a video of O'Rourke speaking at that church during their much-anticipated debate on Friday, Buzzfeed News reports.
In Beto O'Rourke's own words #TXSenateDebate
pic.twitter.com/uUzW7DSqgo— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 21, 2018
"In Beto O'Rourke's own words," Cruz captioned the tweet he posted on Friday.
"How can it be, in this day and age, in this very year, in this community, that a young man, African American, in his own apartment is shot and killed by a police officer? And when we all want justice and the facts and the information to make an informed decision, what is released to the public?" O'Rourke asked. "That he had a small amount of marijuana in his kitchen. How can that be just in this country? How can we continue to lose the lives of unarmed black men in the United States of America at the hands of white police officers? That is not justice. That is not us. That can and must change. Are you with me on this?"
The church was with O'Rourke, but Cruz was not, and tried to use the speech to attack his opponent.
Instead, the long-time senator and former presidential candidate seems to have given his rival a free advertising boost. According to Vox, Cruz's effort to paint O'Rourke as anti-law enforcement gave him a fundraising boost as well.
I just gave $100 to Beto. Thanks for the inspiration Ted.
— Broc Skaggs (@brocskaggs) September 22, 2018
You literally just made him look better…. lol https://t.co/VhZeQsEW96
— Aaron B (@benavidez_aaron) September 22, 2018
Just wait until he posts videos of Beto saving clubbed baby seals while reciting the Bill of Rights….that’ll show ‘em. https://t.co/ficablaGFR
— YS (@NYinLA2121) September 22, 2018
Senator, you are a Grand Master of the Self-Own.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) September 22, 2018
Making the tweet a triple loss for Cruz, some Twitter users accused the senator of being racist:
Wow. Ted Cruz posts a video of his opponent being cheered in a church for opposing unarmed black men being shot dead, in the hope it whips up a racist backlash against him in Texas. https://t.co/0qNXb7uW5A
— Owen Jones???? (@OwenJones84) September 22, 2018
It is so absurdly revealing that Ted Cruz thinks that this video of Beto O’Rourke saying that unarmed Black men shouldn’t be shot in their own homes by police officers for no reason…is somehow bad. https://t.co/Ll8dvVLyUX
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) September 22, 2018
Cruz may have thought he had a slam dunk, but it turns out the tweet looked something more like this:
Now, check these out:
5 Things I Care About More Than Botham Jean Having Bud In His Crib
