Running with Beto

As someone living in Austin, I had every intention of watching this documentary. That was until the makers of this documentary held a dinner at the restaurant I was working at and were incredibly rude, belittling, and entitled. I have waited on high maintenance parties and groups on more than one occasion, but this was by far the most disrespectful group of people I have ever had the unpleasant experience of hosting. After being treated as an ignorant, unintelligent waitress for three hours by the production crew of this film, I can't bring myself to watch it.

Very surprised as I WAS a Beto fan before I saw this "behind=the=scenes" documentary. Somehow, I think, the director of this presentation was trying to tell O'Rourke somethings wrong. The disconnect he has with his children who are very, very young is glaring. The kids adore him and only once did we experience (with his very young daughter) a genuine hug and connection. I don't think he cares for his little boys at all. Ditto, same for his wife. So, this documentary is excellent as Beto drives himself all over Texas running against Ted Cruz for US Senate in 2018. The documentary highlights some of the committed volunteers and the energetic crowds. Political campaigns are quite raucous and this film captures this aspect quite well. I will still vote for Beto if he gets the nomination. But, anybody but Trump!

Running with Beto was enthusiastically received by hundreds of supporters at its world premiere at the Paramount Theater at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. The film is mostly warm liberal embrace for Beto O'Rourke and his ultimately unsuccessful progressive campaign to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 election. It isn't a very serious academic campaign film. It is mostly a soft and supportive portrait of the enthusiastic candidate and his young family. It paints a portrait Beto, his enthusiastic staffers and his dedicated volunteers. It is a fun film for all those who put their heart and soul into the Beto crusade. Folks who loved Beto and the daring grassroots campaign to turn Texas blue will love the film. Ted Cruz supporters will probably hate it. In Austin, the audience absolutely loved and especially loved when Beto and his wife and daughter showed up on stage with the director at the end of the film. If you are looking for affirmation about what could have been you'll enjoy this entertaining campaign film. Of course, Beto O'Rourke's campaign failed to win, but it did begin a process of remaking the Texas Democratic party (through his effort to visit all 254 counties) in Texas. If Texas ultimately does turn blue, people will come to understand that it all began with Beto's grassroots campaign.

Virtually no candidate outspends their opponent 2.4:1 (direct speding 2:1, dark /527 money 3:1 ) spending or more and loses, but "Beto" managed to do exactly that. There is almost no mention of the fact that his opponent, Cruz had an actual grass roots campaign, based in Texas, whereas nearly 80% of Beto's money came from outside Texas. In fact open Secrets (the most prestigious camaoing spending website) shows 81% of Beto money came from outside of Texas.

by the way this worshipful film out to be considered by the FEC to be campaign spending for his presidential campaign.

This a very important issue for the future of the Demoratic party in Texas, which Beto harmed, and for it nationally. Thankfully in the 2020, he has been relegated to nothing. When you have fellow Democrats call him "the ultimate empty suit."

When people care, when people go out of their way to make changes happen for the better, strive hard to improve conditions for others and to help lift the community, you see that fire in their eyes. I hope Texas turns blue some day. The world spins forward, and doesn't matter how hard you wish it, nobody's going back. Thank you Beto for running in Texas.