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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Republicans resurface Beto O’Rourke DUI mugshot in St Patrick's Day attack | Republicans resurface Beto O’Rourke DUI mugshot in St Patrick's Day attack |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| In an attempt to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and attack a political rival, the Republican party tweeted a mugshot of the Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke emblazoned with a green leprechaun’s hat and the words “please drink responsibly”. | In an attempt to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and attack a political rival, the Republican party tweeted a mugshot of the Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke emblazoned with a green leprechaun’s hat and the words “please drink responsibly”. |
| O’Rourke, 46, is a former US representative from Texas who narrowly lost a US Senate race against the Republican Ted Cruz last year. He announced his White House run this week. | O’Rourke, 46, is a former US representative from Texas who narrowly lost a US Senate race against the Republican Ted Cruz last year. He announced his White House run this week. |
| The mugshot is more than 20 years old. In September 1998, O’Rourke was booked for driving while drunk, at what a witness called “a high rate of speed”, on a Texas interstate. He lost control of his car and hit a truck. | The mugshot is more than 20 years old. In September 1998, O’Rourke was booked for driving while drunk, at what a witness called “a high rate of speed”, on a Texas interstate. He lost control of his car and hit a truck. |
| According to a witness, O’Rourke attempted to leave the scene. After he completed a court-approved diversion program, charges were dismissed. | According to a witness, O’Rourke attempted to leave the scene. After he completed a court-approved diversion program, charges were dismissed. |
| He was also arrested by University of Texas El Paso police in 1995, for jumping a fence. Misdemeanor burglary charges were dropped. The arrests have been used to attack O’Rourke before, by opponents in both parties. | He was also arrested by University of Texas El Paso police in 1995, for jumping a fence. Misdemeanor burglary charges were dropped. The arrests have been used to attack O’Rourke before, by opponents in both parties. |
| The picture tweeted by @GOP on Sunday was captioned: “On this St Paddy’s Day, a special message from noted Irishman Robert Francis O’Rourke.” It was followed by a more traditional attack, which called O’Rourke “a failed member of Congress [with] a far-left liberal record”. | The picture tweeted by @GOP on Sunday was captioned: “On this St Paddy’s Day, a special message from noted Irishman Robert Francis O’Rourke.” It was followed by a more traditional attack, which called O’Rourke “a failed member of Congress [with] a far-left liberal record”. |
| On this St. Paddy's Day, a special message from noted Irishman Robert Francis O'Rourke. pic.twitter.com/JRjMEXhZRY | On this St. Paddy's Day, a special message from noted Irishman Robert Francis O'Rourke. pic.twitter.com/JRjMEXhZRY |
| “Beto”, a Hispanic diminutive of Robert, is O’Rourke’s nickname, given as he grew up in the border city of El Paso. Republican attacks on the Democrat around his name are also common. | “Beto”, a Hispanic diminutive of Robert, is O’Rourke’s nickname, given as he grew up in the border city of El Paso. Republican attacks on the Democrat around his name are also common. |
| Sunday’s @GOP tweet met with fierce condemnation. Matthew Dowd, chief political analyst for ABC News and formerly chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 Republican presidential campaign, tweeted: “As an Irishman this is deplorable. As an American it is unpatriotic. As a human it is racist.” | Sunday’s @GOP tweet met with fierce condemnation. Matthew Dowd, chief political analyst for ABC News and formerly chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 Republican presidential campaign, tweeted: “As an Irishman this is deplorable. As an American it is unpatriotic. As a human it is racist.” |
| Brian Lowry, Washington correspondent of the Kansas City Star, asked: “Irish Americans are actually a pretty big segment of the electorate. There’s 30m of us. GOP’s social media team thought it was a good idea to dunk on Beto by promoting negative Irish stereotypes on our holiday?” | Brian Lowry, Washington correspondent of the Kansas City Star, asked: “Irish Americans are actually a pretty big segment of the electorate. There’s 30m of us. GOP’s social media team thought it was a good idea to dunk on Beto by promoting negative Irish stereotypes on our holiday?” |
| Jack and Zane skateboarded in to join us for breakfast in Madison. pic.twitter.com/5mGiHWENEI | Jack and Zane skateboarded in to join us for breakfast in Madison. pic.twitter.com/5mGiHWENEI |
| In a campaign appearance in Madison, Wisconsin, on Sunday, O’Rourke said there was “nothing” he had not already revealed about his past that could hurt his candidacy. | In a campaign appearance in Madison, Wisconsin, on Sunday, O’Rourke said there was “nothing” he had not already revealed about his past that could hurt his candidacy. |
| After signing a skateboard, the candidate was asked if he had ever taken LSD. He said he had not. He also promised to stop saying “fuck” while campaigning, especially in front of his children. | After signing a skateboard, the candidate was asked if he had ever taken LSD. He said he had not. He also promised to stop saying “fuck” while campaigning, especially in front of his children. |
| “Great point,” O’Rourke said. “I don’t intend to use the f-word going forward. Point taken, and very strongly made … We’re going to keep it clean.” | “Great point,” O’Rourke said. “I don’t intend to use the f-word going forward. Point taken, and very strongly made … We’re going to keep it clean.” |
| In his concession speech to Ted Cruz last November, O’Rourke spoke of the importance of tolerance and inclusion. In conclusion, he said of his supporters: “I’m so fucking proud of you guys.” | In his concession speech to Ted Cruz last November, O’Rourke spoke of the importance of tolerance and inclusion. In conclusion, he said of his supporters: “I’m so fucking proud of you guys.” |
| About 400 people listened in a coffee shop as O’Rourke spoke. Wearing a St Patrick’s Day necklace featuring green cabbage, the candidate said he had coffee not beer with his breakfast. | About 400 people listened in a coffee shop as O’Rourke spoke. Wearing a St Patrick’s Day necklace featuring green cabbage, the candidate said he had coffee not beer with his breakfast. |
| “Although,” he said, “it can be justified as an O’Rourke on St Patrick’s Day to do that.” | “Although,” he said, “it can be justified as an O’Rourke on St Patrick’s Day to do that.” |
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