Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Except for the fact that he went by Robert throughout college. Let's be real here. What was a nickname, Beto, became the name he used legally only once it became useful in politics. Fake.
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.
***Official*** Beto O'Rourke Thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mister CIA
- Start date
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Look, there's no fathomable way the guy doesn't get my vote over Trump but I'm really hoping the Democratic nominee is someone else.
The General
Footballguy
There are pictures of him as a tiny kid wearing a shirt with “Beto” on it. I read an article awhile back when he was running against Ted that said the local paper in El Paso researched it and found mixes of Beto and his legal name used throughout his life before politics.
Seems like there would be better issues to judge if he is genuine.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Of course there are. It's just one of many hints that the guy isn't very genuine. Other people here have said he comes off as fake and I agree. No one is disputing it was a nickname he had since youth. I wonder why he chose not to use it as his name until he got active in politics.
-fish-
Footballguy
This is what happens when people read news from one source. You repeat talking points instead of presenting facts. It's a vapid and uninformed argument that was debunked a year ago.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
So you're saying he began using Beto as his actual name prior to running for office? He went by Robert, Beto was a nickname. And don't even get into taking news from one source. I'm not a Republican. And I literally just posted on the importance of informing oneself via multiple outlets on this forum yesterday. You're assuming I'm a conservative because I don't like Beto. And you're the one using talking points such as "this is what happens when people read news from one source".
-fish-
Footballguy
When he played in a punk band in 1993, the album cover listed him as "Beto O'Rourke." Clearly, playing in a bad punk band and having his picture taken in a woman's dress for the cover was designed to further his political aspirations. Yes, people with nicknames sometimes use their full name and sometimes use their nickname. I imagine when he went to boarding school in Virginia, he probably went by Robert. Seems pretty normal for a kid.
I'm not assuming you're conservative. I'm sure you're uninformed and repeating a stupid talking point.
Last edited by a moderator:
The General
Footballguy
The article I read said there was records of him using the name Robert and Beto before he entered politics IIRC.
I don't know a great deal about him other than people like him, he's a good campaigner, and his voting record is pretty moderate. Have watched a few of his speeches and some Q/A's and he's a skilled communicator.
-fish-
Footballguy
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
I'll make like a parrot and repeat myself for a 3rd (or is it 4th) time. I know Beto was a lifelong nickname. And I've seen the same picture in the article you just linked. I also know he didn't start going by it in everyday life until he ran for office. No one now or previously is claiming he made it up when he decided to enter politics. They're just connecting the obvious dots as to why he made the change from nickname to actual name.
You question my depth of knowledge, I question your common sense and reading comprehension.
-fish-
Footballguy
So you are now changing the narrative to "he didn't go by it every day" until he ran for office. Guess what? He still doesn't "go by it every day." He signs some things Robert, other things Beto. Want to try repeating your talking point again? It's not going to be any better or any more informed.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
You clearly don't read and comprehend what others are saying. And my sources on everything I've stated here have been left-leaning. They like me have acknowledged he's had the nickname since childhood but went through college and beyond going by the name Robert in the professional sense. When he got into politics he began to professionally go by the name Beto. If you can't carry on a conversation without being disingenuous, there's no point carrying on with you.
Do you subscribe to San Antonio Express-News? (Incognito mode doesn't seem to be a viable workaround for me.)
Last edited by a moderator:
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Here's a good recap from Vox which is liberal leaning...
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/7/17091094/beto-orourke-full-name-ted-cruz-controversy
It mentions how the nickname has been around since childhood. It also mentions how he went by Robert until he got into politics. And finally it exposes the phony that Ted Cruz is as well and how he did the exact opposite name tap dance for ironically the same reason.
prefontaine
Footballguy
Pretty dumb discussion honestly. If he went by Bob, Rob, Bobby, or Robby would this get brought up? Of course not. It's silly and meaningless but here's the article. If you can't see it, the article has a different than the normal Beto t-shirt photo that states it is from preschool.
How about you call him Robert if Beto has you so thrown off your axis? I give him credit for planning his political career at age 5. Wow
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Like I said, I'll vote for the guy if he's the choice against Trump. I guess the sensitive ones here can't handle the guy being called phony. A label I'm far from the first, nor will be the last, to cast on him.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
What was that about talking points? Some sensitive flowers in here. Get used to it. Dems are going to be sniping at each other for at least another year before hopefully uniting against Trump. I'll do my best to remember this and not get too defensive when someone says something not so nice about Klobuchar.
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for the link. Other than the quote from Ted Cruz's jingle ad (which I do not consider to be a reliable factual source), I don't see anything in the article suggesting that "he went by Robert until he got into politics." If I'm missing the relevant passage, which is quite possible, can you quote it here?
-fish-
Footballguy
-fish-
Footballguy
That's what happens when you repeat talking points. Misstating facts with no support and claiming it's truth doesn't help you sound like a reasonable person.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Of course, given that Vox didn't dispute this...
Nor did they offer evidence opposite to the contrary that he signed legal documents as Robert prior to political office and began signing as Beto on his congressional letters after as shown by the two visuals in the article.
The article takes it as far as I do. They factually state that it was a nickname since childhood that became more than just a nickname and became his everyday "go by professionally" name when he ran for office.
Is it petty and small. YES. We all conclude things about people. I've concluded that he used the nickname to gain favor with Mexican constituents and I personally find him phony for that reason and others. Others won't hold it against him and that's perfectly fine. I'm not here trying to use loose evidence to have the man thrown in jail. I'm using loose evidence to conclude he's not genuine. And I've even stated I'll vote for him if he's the nominee. If others here like fish and JuniorNB are going to be this sensitive about one person using a flippant reason to not like a candidate, this is going to be a long year.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Calling someone phony is an opinion not stating facts. Please re-evaluate and be better.
-fish-
Footballguy
Your positions have no substance and are based on misstatements of fact. I have no reason to engage with you further. Vote for people because you don't like their name or the way they dress if you wish. That's your prerogative. But when all you have are repetitions of talking points from the Cruz campaign, I don't need to consider your points as serious in any way, whether you try to style them as opinion or fact. However, I'll happily argue to anyone interested in O'Rourke as a candidate that nobody should take the opinion of someone making this argument about his name seriously. It discredits anything else you have to say.
Thanks. I saw that part, but I don't think it supports the statement that "he went by Robert until he got into politics." Plenty of people go by their nicknames in casual situations but use the name on their driver's license for more formal matters. There are people who normally go by "Tim" even though they use "Timothy" for official term papers, etc. That's not weird.
I hate to ask you for another quote, but I don't see anything in the Vox article that makes any kind of distinction between before and after running for office. It seems like everything in the article is consistent with the idea that he's used both Beto and Robert for different kinds of things both before and after getting into politics.
Last edited by a moderator:
timschochet
Footballguy
I’m not a particular fan of Beto, but it seems to me like this argument part of a continual theme by conservatives: he’s not a real Latino. AOC lives in a luxury apartment. Obama sent his kids to private schools. Rosie O Donnell uses bodyguards with guns. Al Gore flew on a private jet.
They even had a derogatory term for it back in the 60s: “limousine liberal”. The inference is they’re fake. They don’t mean it. They talk about the poor, the minorities, but they don’t live like them.
They even had a derogatory term for it back in the 60s: “limousine liberal”. The inference is they’re fake. They don’t mean it. They talk about the poor, the minorities, but they don’t live like them.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
That's been the hard part in all of this. It's mostly reading between the lines. Like I said, my reason for thinking he's phony is flippant. I took the part about going as Robert on the row team as that's what his teammates referred to him as. That could be way off base. I also took the quote about the nickname coming in handy when he ran for his first office to mean he hadn't used it professionally prior. Vox didn't challenge the assertion. Again that conclusion I made could be wrong. But this is from a liberal source. If he had gone by Beto as his daily name and more than just a nickname in college and professionally prior to seeking office, I would expect them to have offered evidence. They didn't though. They clearly showed it was a near lifelong nickname. But they never showed anything to dispute the notion that he went full-on Beto when it was politically convenient. Which again is no crime. Just phony to me.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
This stuff is not mutually exclusive to one party or the other. Both sides use petty nonsense like this. Both sides go in the gutter. I'm owing up to my own shallow reason for not liking Robert.
Btw, I believe you called him a phony yourself. I could be mistaken.
Last edited by a moderator:
timschochet
Footballguy
I said his way of talking when he gives speeches sounds fake. I’m not especially a fan, though I agree with him a lot. I don’t care about the Beto stuff.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
Yep, I know. I guess just be glad your opinion of his way of talking didn't turn into a bombardment of your political leanings or depth of knowledge. You should also be thankful that your viewpoints are well known. I get to look forward to every time I criticize a Democrat being called a Trumper by the lynch mob.
Last edited by a moderator:
-fish-
Footballguy
I assume that his speechwriters are versed in neuro-linguistic programming, as Obama's were. It creates an odd, affected speech pattern when you're first learning it.
Mr Anonymous
Footballguy
timschochet
Footballguy
Well...it’s tough right now for a lot of people to criticize Democrats. Many really are worthy of criticism, but Trump is so awful that you feel like you’re letting down the side. The Democrats stand up to Trump (the only ones that do) so that makes you want to stay loyal to them.
It will be a lot easier for independent voices again once Trump is gone.
The General
Footballguy
From what I have listened to this guy is the most dynamic, engaging speaker the Dems have. I don't see where people are getting this phony vibe.
If he runs, seems pretty obvious he well, he's definitely a big boost to the primary process.
If he runs, seems pretty obvious he well, he's definitely a big boost to the primary process.
-fish-
Footballguy
It's also extremely effective once the speaker can stop drawing attention to it. One of the top trial lawyers in the country teaches classes on how to use NLP to influence juries. I'd have to know who his speechwriters are or read a few transcripts, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the "phony" quality that Tim is hearing is someone learning a specific type of speech that is meant to influence people on a subconscious level. When it's done poorly, it makes you feel sort of uncomfortable, like there's something wrong with the way they're speaking but you just can't put your finger on it.
Last edited by a moderator:
You read that differently from how I did. To me, it doesn't sound like it's saying anything about what his teammates called him. I figure it's more about how he's listed in the program.
I don't make that same inference. If you have a simple name like "Todd" (as opposed to "Maurile"), that comes in handy when the Starbucks barista asks for your name, but that doesn't mean that you don't use "Todd" in other settings as well.
It doesn't seem like the author of the Vox article interviewed his college friends, so I'm not sure what kind of evidence he's supposed to offer.
I'm sure there are plenty of legitimate things to criticize O'Rourke for. But the name thing really does seem like Barrack Hussein Obama to me.
Last edited by a moderator:
-fish-
Footballguy
Or Rafael "Felito" Edward Cruz, who was actually born in Canada and goes by Ted. Who cares what his name is (or why he needs so many names)--can't we just focus on the fact that he's the Zodiac killer?
timschochet
Footballguy
it's called a reach. When you have absolutely nothing else and someone seems too good to be true, just say that they're phony.
squistion
Footballguy
As do most people and someone like film producer David Selzick, who was not given a middle name at birth, is the exception (he did add a middle initial "O" at some point in his life, however nobody knows what it stood for). Jeffrey Dahmer had a middle name, Lionel, but I don't recall him ever referred to in print or on the news as Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer.
Last edited by a moderator:
Why do you think he ended up getting shivved in prison? Because he didn't follow the rules!
This sounds like something @Otis or @MrsOtis would have expert opinions on:
So the Cut convened to discuss whether Beto is A) calf-crampingly attractive, B) an average-looking man who happens to be tall, or C) totally kind of hot.
So the Cut convened to discuss whether Beto is A) calf-crampingly attractive, B) an average-looking man who happens to be tall, or C) totally kind of hot.
Stella Bugbee, editor-in-chief: Is Beto attractive? Some of the men in the greater New York Magazine orbit have pointedly “suggested” that the Cut weigh in on the matter. Anecdotally, I gather there seems to be some debate?
Anna Silman, senior culture writer: He is hot for sure.
Hayley Schueneman, beauty writer: Sorry, Anna. That’s wrong. “Floppy” is the adjective I would use to best describe him.
Izzy: I have spent my entire life being attracted to skinny indie rock guys and it’s really weird to see one run for president. I can’t tell if I’m horny for him or just horny for the opportunity to make Fugazi jokes in the year 2019.
Sarah Spellings, fashion news writer: He’d look better if he dyed his hair darker. But he’s hot.
Izzy: See, I find the desire for political power sexually off-putting in the exact same way that I find having been in an El Paso punk band to be sexually appealing, which I think is why Beto has me all scrambled.
Anna: Oh, interesting! I like the blind confidence and authoritativeness of a man in politics. Love a man with a plan. Even if that plan is completely stupid and misguided.
Hayley: Yeah, but I don’t get that vibe from Beto. He feels like he got swept up in something bigger than himself and he’s just riding it out. Not hot.
Kathleen Hou, beauty director: Beto is only attractive to me in a former-athlete-who-rowed-crew kind of way.
Izzy: Well, that’s the other thing. Rowers are tall. Maybe he’s just … tall …?
Aude White, publicist: Men-who-aren’t-attractive-but-are-so-tall-they’re-misconstrued-as-attractive is a real thing.
Allison Davis, feature writer: For me, Beto’s attractiveness is in the details — I weirdly like his extremely long teeth and he has nice feet, as evidenced in that Vanity Fair spread. I zoomed in on his bare feet and sent the picture to friends and said “Beto has nice, smooth feet.”
Stella: Allison. Why didn’t I get that text?
Hayley: He gives me, like, your friend’s weird dad vibes. Like he was the goofy one who would poke his head into your middle-school hangout and say, “You girls having fun?” and you’re like, “Ugh, yes, we are, Mr. O’Rourke.”
Kelly Conaboy, writer-at-large: It’s extremely unattractive how he misinterpreted our desire for him to win his election as a desire for him to try to be president.
Izzy: Yes! I feel like I’ve had an entire one-sided relationship with him over the past eight or nine months. I had such a crush on him, I donated to his campaign, he lost and I was sad … and then after he announced he was running, his campaign texted to ask me to donate again, and I found myself irrationally grossed out.
Hayley: Izzy, he’s the ex you believed in once who wants a second chance.
Kelly: Let it go, man … we don’t like you like that.
Anna: Since we’re opening up, I have to confess I also thought Mitt Romney was kinda hot.
Sarah: OMG me too Anna!
Izzy Grinspan: Wait, really? His favorite meat is hot dog.
Anna: No shame in that.
Sarah: I also thought Paul Ryan was hot in 2012.
Hayley: Paul Ryan was kind of hot to me, too, and I hate myself for it.
Anna: Who was that other guy from Utah running for president? Jon Huntsman. Wasn’t he also kind of hot?
Hayley: Anna, you should do a “Totally Kind of Hot Politician Edition” all by yourself.
Anna: To All The Politicians I Have Loved Before. Netflix, please contact me.
[Cut staffer who insisted on having her name redacted]: I can understand the Mitt appeal, sadly. A completely incompetent and stupid tall man — there is something endearing about that.
Anna: Use your name, you coward!
[Redacted]: I will not go on the record about thinking Mitt Romney could be hot, I’m sorry … this could ruin me. I need to protect the integrity of my mind palace.
Anna Silman, senior culture writer: He is hot for sure.
Hayley Schueneman, beauty writer: Sorry, Anna. That’s wrong. “Floppy” is the adjective I would use to best describe him.
Izzy: I have spent my entire life being attracted to skinny indie rock guys and it’s really weird to see one run for president. I can’t tell if I’m horny for him or just horny for the opportunity to make Fugazi jokes in the year 2019.
Sarah Spellings, fashion news writer: He’d look better if he dyed his hair darker. But he’s hot.
Izzy: See, I find the desire for political power sexually off-putting in the exact same way that I find having been in an El Paso punk band to be sexually appealing, which I think is why Beto has me all scrambled.
Anna: Oh, interesting! I like the blind confidence and authoritativeness of a man in politics. Love a man with a plan. Even if that plan is completely stupid and misguided.
Hayley: Yeah, but I don’t get that vibe from Beto. He feels like he got swept up in something bigger than himself and he’s just riding it out. Not hot.
Kathleen Hou, beauty director: Beto is only attractive to me in a former-athlete-who-rowed-crew kind of way.
Izzy: Well, that’s the other thing. Rowers are tall. Maybe he’s just … tall …?
Aude White, publicist: Men-who-aren’t-attractive-but-are-so-tall-they’re-misconstrued-as-attractive is a real thing.
Allison Davis, feature writer: For me, Beto’s attractiveness is in the details — I weirdly like his extremely long teeth and he has nice feet, as evidenced in that Vanity Fair spread. I zoomed in on his bare feet and sent the picture to friends and said “Beto has nice, smooth feet.”
Stella: Allison. Why didn’t I get that text?
Hayley: He gives me, like, your friend’s weird dad vibes. Like he was the goofy one who would poke his head into your middle-school hangout and say, “You girls having fun?” and you’re like, “Ugh, yes, we are, Mr. O’Rourke.”
Kelly Conaboy, writer-at-large: It’s extremely unattractive how he misinterpreted our desire for him to win his election as a desire for him to try to be president.
Izzy: Yes! I feel like I’ve had an entire one-sided relationship with him over the past eight or nine months. I had such a crush on him, I donated to his campaign, he lost and I was sad … and then after he announced he was running, his campaign texted to ask me to donate again, and I found myself irrationally grossed out.
Hayley: Izzy, he’s the ex you believed in once who wants a second chance.
Kelly: Let it go, man … we don’t like you like that.
Anna: Since we’re opening up, I have to confess I also thought Mitt Romney was kinda hot.
Sarah: OMG me too Anna!
Izzy Grinspan: Wait, really? His favorite meat is hot dog.
Anna: No shame in that.
Sarah: I also thought Paul Ryan was hot in 2012.
Hayley: Paul Ryan was kind of hot to me, too, and I hate myself for it.
Anna: Who was that other guy from Utah running for president? Jon Huntsman. Wasn’t he also kind of hot?
Hayley: Anna, you should do a “Totally Kind of Hot Politician Edition” all by yourself.
Anna: To All The Politicians I Have Loved Before. Netflix, please contact me.
[Cut staffer who insisted on having her name redacted]: I can understand the Mitt appeal, sadly. A completely incompetent and stupid tall man — there is something endearing about that.
Anna: Use your name, you coward!
[Redacted]: I will not go on the record about thinking Mitt Romney could be hot, I’m sorry … this could ruin me. I need to protect the integrity of my mind palace.
Gr00vus
Footballguy
Actually there didn't seem to be any kind of consensus, just a lengthy game of failed attempts at cleverness.
