O'Rourke Calls Texas Gov. Abbott an Authoritarian

MAR 13 2022·Updated MAR 14 2022

Story

Image credit: Getty Images for SXSW [via The Guardian]

The Facts

The Democratic candidate for governor of Texas, Beto O'Rourke, labelled his opponent, the Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, an "authoritarian" and a "thug."
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The remarks came as O'Rourke, a former Congressman and failed candidate for both the Senate and presidency, spoke at the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX.
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O'Rourke offered a broad analogy between Abbott and Putin, suggesting that both leaders were allied with oligarchs who profited from natural resources and both were intent on "rigging" elections.
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As governor, Abbott has signed strict laws and executive orders related to abortion, LBGTQ+ issues, and voting practices.
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In Feb. 2021, during Abbott's term in office, severe winter weather led to the collapse of the state's energy grid, which cost hundreds of lives.
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O'Rourke is currently being sued for defamation by Kelcy Warren, the founder of an oil pipeline company, and one of the supposed "oligarchs" singled out by O'Rourke.
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Sources Split

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The Spin

Democratic narrative

Abbott has made a hard pivot to the right to try and stave off his Republican primary challengers, which explains his signing an order to classify medical treatments commonly provided to transgender adolescents as "child abuse" just days before the election. With this kind of cynical pandering to the GOP base, Beto faces an uphill climb in November.

nytimes

Republican narrative

O'Rourke is a frustrated former folk singer and serial election loser who promised Texans that, if elected, he would take their guns away. Now he's criticizing a popular Republican Gov. for failing to predict a winter storm. Only the lefty masses would fall for this nonsense.

PJ Media