Perennial Texas candidate Beto O’Rourke was accompanied out of a press conference about the Robb Elementary school shooting on May 25th after shamelessly heckling current Governor Greg Abbott, opportunistically hijacking the moment to cynically score political points. O’Rourke declared that the shooting, which left 19 kids and two adults dead, was “totally predictable” and that the Governor was “not doing anything.”
“Families are broken apart, hearts are forever shattered all Texans are grieving with the people of Uvalde, and people are rightfully angry about what has happened,” Abbott said during the conference, adding that, “events like this they tear at the fabric of a community.”
“Our job is to ensure community is not ripped apart,” Abbott continued, before providing more information about what occurred during the horrific catastrophe.
Abbott fought back tears as he explained how prior to the massacre at the school, the shooter had actually shot his own granny in the face and she called 9-1-1.
“Anyone who shoots his grandmother in the face, has to have evil in his heart,” Abbott said. “But it is far more evil for someone to gun down little kids. It is intolerable and it is unacceptable.”
As Abbott went to pass the microphone to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, O’Rourke stood, started yelling, and started to approach the stage.
Beto O’Rourke interrupts ongoing press conference by Texas Gov. Abbott and other officials. pic.twitter.com/qa8YY0ghQy
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 25, 2022
“This is on you”, O’Rourke stated, pointing at the governor.
Officials on the stage tried to yell the Democratic prospect down and demand that he leave the structure.
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin was heard calling O’Rourke a “sick son of a bitch” for his shenanigans.
O’Rourke was escorted out of the building moments later.
Abbott reacted by asserting that “we need to think of something other than ourselves, think of the people who have been hurt. And help those who have been hurt.”
While lots of asserted that his actions were unsuitable, others on the left provided praise and urged people to be more confrontational– including Texas State Rep. Gene Wu.
I'm proud of @BetoORourke!
How are we supposed to be polite while our children are murdered?
We have to stop accepting this slaughter as par for the course.
Confront every state leader! https://t.co/qvZLTBR5h5
— Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) May 25, 2022
“I’m proud of @BetoORourke! How are we supposed to be polite while our children are murdered? We have to stop accepting this slaughter as par for the course. Confront every state leader!” Wu tweeted.
Fred Guttenberg, the dad of a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the Parkland, Florida school shooting, likewise applauded O’Rourke and referred to him as a “hero.”
You are my hero @BetoORourke. From the bottom of my heart, for my daughter Jaime and all victims of gun violence, thank you. pic.twitter.com/zW3msBSmo3
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 25, 2022
“You are my hero @BetoORourke . From the bottom of my heart, for my daughter Jaime and all victims of gun violence, thank you,” he wrote.
Former FOX news commentator Monica Crowley accused O’Rourke of political grandstanding, which was the obvious view of many on the right “The murder of children is a singular evil. Beto O’Rourke saw it as an opportunity to score political points,” Crowley posted in a message. “What a despicable POS.”
The murder of children is a singular evil.
Beto O’Rourke saw it as an opportunity to score political points.
What a despicable POS.
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) May 25, 2022
