How Beto Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Dropping F-Bombs

Beto 2.0 was on full display in Thursday’s debate. He probably won’t win the White House, but he’s a hell of a lot more fun to watch.

Andrea González-Ramírez
GEN

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A photo of Beto O’Rourke speaking during the Democratic Presidential Debate inHouston, Texas.
Democratic presidential candidate former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke speaks during the Democratic Presidential Debate at Texas Southern University’s Health and PE Center on September 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

It’s official: Beto O’Rourke has entered his fuck-it phase.

The former congressman and presidential hopeful didn’t mince words when talking about gun control in Thursday night’s debate. “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” he said to raucous applause. He boldly addressed the legacy of slavery in the country, and didn’t flinch before calling President Trump a white nationalist.

The candid comments marked the latest step in the evolution of O’Rourke’s campaign. With dreadful presidential prospects — he’s now polling at 3% — and with no political office to hold on to, Beto has veered into being his most honest self.

This new version of O’Rourke first manifested in a seemingly genuine form while he was fielding questions from reporters following the mass shooting in his hometown of El Paso, Texas. O’Rourke couldn’t contain his frustration when a reporter asked him if there was anything Trump could do better following the massacre. “Members of the press, what the fuck?” he asked incredulously.

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Andrea González-Ramírez
GEN
Writer for

Award-winning Puerto Rican journalist. Senior Writer at New York Magazine’s The Cut. Formerly GEN, Refinery29, and more. Read my work: https://www.thecut.com/