Might be why he's not getting the African American vote.

Is this the result of his latest five hires? Just wondering.

These young men sat quietly and listened respectfully. They did not heckle or interrupt.

Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, who refuses to speak to, listen to the concerns of or take a photo with a voter who shows up to listen should NEVER be elected to ANY public office. Elected officials represent ALL constituents. These young men likely have asswipe parents. They are young. They are NOT hopeless and should NOT be written off. Period.

Also, attacking a candidate over this is stupid.

If he had shown Beto engaging with these guys seriously over a cup of coffee, hands out, explaining his message -- no smiles, no fraternal pats -- well, it still would have a no from me, but it would have been more along the lines of what you're talking about.

Instead, we see huge smiles, a warm embrace and big bro energy. There are all sorts of racists, bigots, abusers and plain old dumbasses who vote for Democrats. It doesn't mean a campaign has to center them in its marketing.

eom

Seriously? They went to a public event to hear a candidate speak and answer questions. At the end of EVERY townhall and event Beto stays until EVERYONE who wants to get a photo with him and say hello gets the opportunity. EVERYONE. EVERY TIME. Beto is a champion against discrimination against ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. He would NEVER discriminate against ANYONE in that photo line, not even a Trump supporter.

That's why you got "bullshit" for a reply.

But I'll say it again: Just because a candidate is willing to take his picture with anybody doesn't mean the campaign has to showcase a photo of the candidate with bigots.

By posting that picture it sent the message to other Trump voters that Beto shows up, is true to his word that he doesn't care who you voted for last time that we are all in the same boat now. Trump's appeal to the white working class rural voters and the rust belt was that they were TRICKED into thinking that he heard them and cared about them. For a lot of those people it's not even about the policy...they are pliable. It's about feeling HEARD. Beto O'Rourke IS the little guy's politician...he is what Trump FOOLED them into thinking he was.

Beto NEVER changes his message or policy, which is why his answer to the NFL kneeling issue went viral. According to people who were at that town hall...those guys were actually clapping at different times right along with everyone else in that room.

I could see the outrage IF he were actually pandering to those voters, but he is NOT. He is talking about the same progressive policies he always does. The took the time to come hear him and he ALWAYS takes the time for EVERYONE who comes out.

I might add...the BEST way to beat Trump is not to get into a stupid pissing contest with him...it's to poach as many of his voters as you can.

As for the hats...they are young and probably thought, let's wear these hats and piss people off and see if we can get on the news. They look like they could still be in highschool for crying out loud and may just want to be defiant and obnoxious little pissers.

Most of the people in this thread are the same ones that rarely, if ever, have anything good to say about Beto no matter what he does anyhow. Warren was lauded for going to Trump country and talking to his voters there. Biden is supposedly more electable because he can appeal to Trump voters. Apparently it's only a bad thing if it's Beto and frankly, that dumb shit is getting really old.

This shouldn’t be seen as a negative. My first reaction wasn’t negative. Specially because of their age.

He is not pandering to Trump supporters in anything he does or says. He is simply willing to talk to ANYONE who takes the time to show up. The fact that Trump voters are curious enough to show up and listen to and meet him is PROOF that Beto can take back the rust belt. Anyone who isn't willing to show up everywhere and meet everyone will just help re-elect Trump if they are the nominee.

I'd like to believe that O'Rourke engaged with Trump supporters and opened their ears and minds. If he had, he could have asked them to remove their hats before the pic. (Maybe replace them with Beto hats?) There's no reference to them having had a conversation, just the pic.

The MAGAt hats symbolize racism, sexism, white supremacy. Imo, it's like posing and smiling with guys wearing swastikas.

I think it was a poor decision for his Iowa comm director to post this pic.

The fact that they actually stayed after and waited in a line in order to meet and talk to him and take the photo implies that perhaps he did reach them. He isn't treating them any different than he treats everyone else at every single one of his events. Some candidates rush off but Beto stays until the LAST person gets the photo and gets to meet him.

If he reached them, they would have removed the white supremacist hats. Poor optics.

If they were trying to "punk" him then that reflects on them and not on him. Beto is 100% consistent with his message no matter who he is talking to. He is authentic. The fact that he wants to unite America makes him even more appealing to me. In fact, I've decided that for the primary I am voting for Beto no matter what. Even if he were to drop out before my state votes in the primary, I'll be writing his name in. I no longer have a second choice.

what is he supposed to do ? this is an area where over 80 percent went for Trump.

Beto had the same message he always has which is opposite of trump's.

who support other candidates. If someone can get the ear of Trump voters so they listen to him that automatically makes them more electable, but Lord forbid Beto prove himself to be more electable. Heads will explode.

photos shows a deep lack of understanding when it comes to optics.

and talk to Beto. Not sure why anyone thinks that's a bad thing.

Best case: Two new voters.

Worst case: A minute of his life wasted.

Secret Airport Meeting with GOP Agent Caught on Tape:

I see what you did there 😀

Whether he wins the primary or not, he is a force that can reach the soft Trump supporters and pull them away.

I'm not sure that he will reach MAGAt's (soft or otherwise ) but I think his is an important voice in our party. I hope that he will vigorously campaign for the eventual nominee, and be given a prominent speaking role at the convention.

... glad to see there is no Beto Derangement Syndrome.

to refer to anyone who criticized Trump for being a treasonous f*ckwit of having "Trump derangement syndrome."