Hey, Team Beto, Rachel here! This week, we’re traveling way back in time to August 2017, when Beto first called for Donald Trump’s impeachment. Beto called for Trump’s impeachment long before it was politically popular—and did so in Trump-friendly territory...repeatedly. But we shouldn’t be surprised, because Beto has never been swayed by polls or politics as usual—which may be part of why he got 500,0000 Republican votes and turned out more voters in 2018 than any Democrat in Texas history.
But before I get too deep into it, share this link with your friends and networks so they can get Writing No One Off delivered straight to their inboxes.
Roadrunner
We started out this week with my three favorite things: boats, Beto, and a barnburner of a speech. Yes, I’m talking about the 🥩Iowa Steak Fry 🥩.
Take a look at Team Beto *floating* above the rest of the field, the crowd standing up in support of Beto’s call for a mandatory assault weapon buyback, and Beto calling on those in positions of public trust to have no fear of doing the right thing:
Following his trip to Iowa, Beto visited Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where he shared his vision for America’s workers and families impacted by Trump’s failed economic policies and continued to lead the 2020 conversation around gun violence prevention.
In Ohio, Beto visited Dayton, the site of a mass shooting that occurred the same day as the El Paso tragedy, and continued his advocacy for a mandatory assault weapon buyback program. Because of the availability of assault weapons, Dayton saw 10 people killed in less than one minute, reinforcing the need to get these military-style weapons off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
Beto continued to advocate for ending gun violence during stops at college campuses across Ohio, where over a thousand students turned out to see Beto at Kent State University and Ohio State University. Check out the excitement from students across Ohio, and you won’t want to miss this hyperlapse video of Beto’s 🔥🔥 photo line at Kent State.
In Ohio and Pennsylvania, Beto also stood in solidarity with workers striking against General Motors for fair wages and increased opportunity, and shared his vision for supporting American workers impacted by President Trump’s failed economic policies.
Here are a few highlights of Beto’s visit to Ohio and Pennsylvania:
KDKA Pittsburgh: Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke Stumps At Pitt, While Drawing Comparisons Between El Paso And Pittsburgh
GoErie.com: O’Rourke in Erie: ‘It’s all about jobs’
The Vindicator: Beto O’Rourke: Middle class hangs in the balance
Here’s where Beto will be in the coming weeks 👀
September 28: Austin, TX: Beto to participate in the Texas Tribune’s TribFest, 8:30am CT. Watch the livestream here.
October 2: Las Vegas, NV: Beto will participate in the Gabby Giffords/March For Our Lives Gun Safety Forum in Las Vegas. NOTE: Beto is the only candidate to have signed onto the March For Our Lives Peace Plan, which includes a call for a mandatory assault weapons buyback program.
October 10: Los Angeles, CA: Beto to participate in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation/CNN Town Hall on LGBTQ issues. Watch live at 10pm ET!
🧐Looking to take action with the campaign? You can find an event near you on our map 🗺. And be sure to check the map frequently, as new events are added daily!
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Favorite Things
This week, we’re taking it back to August 2017, when Beto first called for impeachment of Donald Trump. Not only did he voice his support for Trump’s impeachment first in Waco County, which Trump won with over 60% of the vote, he reiterated his support in reliably-red communities like Kileen and Lubbock.
Take a 🌀 trip back in time 🌀 and see Beto’s two-year record of calling for impeachment for yourself.
April 2017: At a town hall in Waco, Texas, Beto said "if you're asking would I vote to impeach this president, the answer is yes."
April 2018: Asked by conservative radio host Chad Hasty in Lubbock County if he’s seen enough to vote for impeachment, Beto said, “The answer is yes, because I want to be straight with you.”
October 2018: When asked if Beto had changed his mind about whether he supported the impeachment of President Trump, a month prior to Election Day, Beto noted that he hadn’t. He courageously noted, “I know that this is not politically easy or convenient to talk about, but 242 years into this experiment, which is the exception, not the rule in world history-there's nothing that guarantees us a 243rd or a 244th. It's up to all of us to stand up for that democracy...I do think there's enough there for impeachment. And if asked, I would vote on it.”
March 2019: Beto noted in a CNN town hall in Des Moines, “We should begin impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump.”
May 2019: Beto reiterated his support for impeachment this Spring, noting: “There must be consequences, accountability, and justice,” he said. “The only way to ensure that is to begin impeachment proceedings.”
September 2019: And just this week, Beto didn’t just applaud Speaker Pelosi for opening an impeachment inquiry, he called for the House to cancel its two-week recess to begin impeachment proceedings immediately, given the devastating whistleblower account.
P.S. — Sign your name if you agree that the House should stay in session and start impeachment proceedings.
C’mon Everybody
This week, we want to know what’s the most important issue on your mind:
People Have the Power
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See you soon!
Rachel
@rachel_r_thomas