Beto O’Rourke, a Democrat running for Governor in Texas, spoke at a pro-gun control rally outside the NRA convention in Houston Friday, where he sent mixed messages to the crowd.
Within the first 5 minutes of his speech, O’Rourke said, “To those who are attending the NRA convention across the street, you are not our enemies. We are not yours.”
Then, no more than 5 minutes later, O’Rourke urged the protesters to break the opposition of Republicans to gun control by “getting in their faces” before “another child is shot in face.”
Many have accused O’Rourke of using the Uvalde school shooting tragedy to gain traction for his campaign. For example, despite allegedly wanting to “reach across the aisle” and work with Republicans, O’Rourke has begun to post campaign advertisements slamming his opponent, Greg Abbott, for failing to “save lives” during his time in office.
Twitter users slammed O’Rourke for his tasteless speech outside the NRA convention.
“Beto O’Rourke doesn’t care about the crime surge around this country, border, inflation, high gas prices, food shortages & baby formula shortages. He only cares about being Governor of Texas & he’s trying to use every opportunity to try to be Governor of Texas. Don’t be fooled,” one user wrote.
“He [Beto] should have just put a stake thru the heart & soul of the folks in Uvalde who were raw w/grief when Beto O’Rourke decided he would make it political & interrupted the press conference by Gov Abbott. BAD MOVE BETO,” tweeted another.
Beto O’Rourke, who ran a failed presidential campaign in 2020, made headlines earlier this week when he approached current-Governor of Texas Greg Abbott during a press conference in Uvalde on the school shooting that left 22, including the gunman, dead. You can read more about that encounter by clicking here.
