Melissa S. Razdrih
Beto O’Rourke will be in Tampa on Monday to meet with Florida veterans. He’ll follow that up with a Thursday visit to the migrant detention center in Homestead.
The 2020 presidential candidate Rolling Stone once called Ted Cruz’s “punk-rock problem” will be at Brew Bus holding a roundtable to address veterans concerns in the Sunshine State.
His office told WFLA News Channel 8 that O’Rourke wants to learn about the unique challenges that face veterans, their families and advocates.
O’Rourke’s civil disobedience propelled him into the limelight when, as a little-known member of the House in Texas, he live-streamed a 25-hour sit-in to advocate for gun control, after then-Speaker, Paul Ryan, ordered C-SPAN stop broadcasting.
However, it was his awe-inspiring campaign against Cruz that made O’Rourke a household name and an important contender in the 2020 presidential race. The country watched with anticipation as O’Rourke ran the closest Senate campaign that Texas has seen in 40 years but ultimately lost to the incumbent opponent, Cruz.
Now, O’Rourke is trying again, launching a new campaign for an even more high-profile seat, President of the United States.
On Monday, O’Rourke will make his first official visit to Tampa as a 2020 candidate, seeking insight from veterans and their families. The roundtable will take place at the Brew Bus Brewing establishment on North Florida Avenue at 10 am.
O’Rourke, who joined the presidential race in March via a video statement on Twitter, will go up against 24 Democratic opponents for the nomination, including forerunners Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, and other prominent hopefuls like Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg.
O’Rourke’s official website doesn’t offer much additional insight as to the candidate’s views on veteran’s issues, but O’Rourke served on the Committee for Veteran’s Affairs during his time in the House of Representatives, where he cosponsored 13 bills in the 2017 – 18 congressional year.
After his stop in Tampa, O’Rourke will head to South Florida ahead of the debates to participate in an AFT Votes Town Hall in Miami.
He will be joining an existing roster of speakers that includes AFT President, Randi Weingarten, Florida Education Association President, Fed Ingram, United Teachers of Dade President, Karla Hernandez-Mats, and other educators connecting to address student issues like public education, health care and economic concerns.
Tuesday’s event is by RSVP only and will take place at the Cagni Park Gymnasium at North Miami Middle School at 4:30 pm.
And on Thursday, O’Rourke will become the first 2020 Democratic presidential candidate to visit the Homestead detention center.
According to his campaign schedule, O’Rourke will attempt to visit the center at 10:30 a.m. It’s unclear whether he’ll be allowed to enter the facility, as lawmakers have been denied access on multiple occasions.
16 comments
Karen
June 22, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Not a single president or presidential candidate before Trump cared anything about our vets.
This phony jerk has a lot of nerve coming to our state to talk about vets!
Florida patriots don’t need or want him here!!!
Dana
June 22, 2019 at 5:28 pm
Mu husband is a Vietnam Veteran who fought in the jungles as a Marine. We have many friends who fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Beto has helped all of them. We live In Texas and know from first hand experiences that Beto has been working and fighting for veterans for many years.
Teresa
June 22, 2019 at 7:36 pm
I love Beto and I live in Florida. My husband is a Vietnam Vet and is now 100% disabled. He also supports Beto.
Jim Donelon
June 23, 2019 at 6:28 am
Karen, where did you learn to lie like that. Oh yeah, from the LIAR IN CHIEF -TRUMP !!!!
gary3
June 22, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Beto is a leto NO
scott braymer
June 22, 2019 at 4:07 pm
Beto worked across the aisle with Republicans in US Congress to pass legislation that was signed into law by Trump on behalf of veterans on multiple occasions during his 6 years in the House of Representatives. He is admired by many Republicans in the House with whom has selflessly served on behalf of all veterans.
Jeanne Stewart
June 22, 2019 at 7:02 pm
Beto cares very much for Veterans aside from his stance on immigration, Veterans are right along side that. He passed bills for Veterans while in Congress. There is a heartfelt video on YouTube with him and an ex marine who contemplated suicide. She put up his voice mail message to her up on You tube. It is what made me fall in love with him. I have three step sons that are Veterans with TBI and PTSD and the way Beto cares for them absolutely melted my heart. He was asked by one gentleman to help his wife get benefits and he came through in one month for her. It’s on video somewhere. He has done a lot for Veterans and will continue to do so. He’s been a man of his word and does have policies on Veterans affairs.
Reva
June 22, 2019 at 9:13 pm
My father is a Veteran and is now able to get the care he needs thanks to Betos relentless drive in Congress. He has done alot to help. Look up the No Hero Left Behind Act and Valor Act.
Katie Ryan
June 22, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Beto fought for years to get health care benefits extended to veterans who weren’t previously eligible. He got mental health care providers to come to the El Paso VA hospital by personally picking up the phone and recruiting them. Check his record and decide for yourself.
Ginger McIntosh
June 22, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Beto has a distinguished career in Congress with many accomplishments for veterans. He has won an award for his service to veterans. He also has several excellent policy statements on his website. He’s the one! I’m voting Beto all the way.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.caller.com/amp/1765681002
Veda Kull
June 22, 2019 at 11:57 pm
Many stories have been told by veterans or their families throughout Texas about Beto helping them. They did not all live in his Congressional District, but if they needed help, he did what he could do. Veterans for Beto is a significant group backing him. Melissa S. Razdrih, would love for you to do a follow-up on these sites or stories mentioned above. Lauren Withrow is the veteran in the video that someone mentioned. All of Beto’s campaign videos from the past are still on his Facebook page and many have been posted on YouTube.
Jim Donelon
June 23, 2019 at 6:31 am
This is just the kind of candidate needs to nominate. Young, untarnished by Washington, with experience, who speaks his mind and tells the TRUTH!!
Donna Compton
June 23, 2019 at 10:29 am
Beto is relentless in his support for Veteran affairs. Take a look at his congressional work on the issue. Beto cares for everyone!
Steve Bridges
June 23, 2019 at 11:13 am
This is from the Veterans for Beto Facebook page.
Veterans deserve a President who will stand for and uphold the values that we wore the uniform of our country to defend, and who will challenge us to live up to our full potential as a people and a country. We believe Beto O’Rourke is the candidate who can unite Americans around this shared vision of what we can be as a country. All veterans, and supporters of veterans, are welcome to join us.
https://betoorourke.com/
@VeteransForBeto
Rosalinda
June 23, 2019 at 4:59 pm
Beto O’Rourke has consistently worked hard for veterans ensuring veterans receive healthcare and mental healthcare they deserve!
Joe
June 24, 2019 at 8:18 am
I wouldn’t vote for this assclown even if he was the only one on the ballot but then again after tge dems behavior after 2016 I will never vote for a democrat or libtard ever again
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