# I'd like to hear a Republican's retort to Beto's "take a knee" speech. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 23, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106 "2018-08-23T12:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/1 "2018-08-23T12:29:56Z")
[Four minutes of awesome.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGWmh-maevk) Great speech! Any Republicans on this board care to retort? šŸ™‚ Not looking to snark on anyone, I just really am currious what oneā€™s retort to this would be. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/2 "2018-08-23T12:54:24Z")
Iā€™m not a republican, more of a soft, left-leaning, little ā€œlā€ liberal. My take is that it is articulate, inclusive, coherent and probably reflects the views of very many people, republican, democrat or neither. I also think that he genuinely believes it and good for him for saying it. I very much like the fact that he started with the declaration that having a different view is valid as well. If only the tone of political debate was more in line with this than the divisive, polarising rhetoric ofā€¦others. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/3 "2018-08-23T13:01:38Z")
Ah, on reading more about him I see he is a democrat not a republican as I first believed. I did think it was a stand rather at odds with what I expected from a republican on that matter and I immediately wondered ā€œwow, if he can speak like that on this subject, where does he stand on others?ā€ I suppose this tells me a couple of things, at least I was able to judge someone on what they said rather than what political side they are on (I take comfort from that) but also that maybe the republican side are still unable to voice similar, sensible ideas (I take no comfort from that) Anyhow, from that short clip and a skim read he seems a good guy, what is his standing and prospects within the democrats? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/4 "2018-08-23T13:23:03Z")
Any chance you could link to a transcript, or quote the parts you found interesting? ā€˜Hereā€™s a youtube link, whaddya thinkā€™ is not best practice IMO. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/5 "2018-08-23T13:25:19Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Any chance you could link to a transcript, or quote the parts you found interesting? ā€˜Hereā€™s a youtube link, whaddya thinkā€™ is not best practice IMO. Second. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/6 "2018-08-23T13:36:30Z")
Third. Not going to watch the video. My stance on the matter, should it matter, as one who votes mostly Republican but is really more libertarian, is this: - You are welcome to express your views whenever and wherever you like - The government cannot, and should not, be able to infringe on that (except in cases such as falsely yelling ā€œFire!ā€ in a crowded place, liable, etc). - if doing so in a privately owned space, one should be prepared to accept whatever repercussions the owner(s) of that private space impose. - Lastly, and a bit tangentially, if one chooses to express oneself in such a manner that will A) obviously get one censured and B) likely not make a whit of difference in the real world, then I am perfectly free to mock that action/speech. IOW, say what you wish but be prepared to accept the consequences. Pretty simple, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/7 "2018-08-23T13:45:56Z")
I donā€™t think a transcript could do the speech justice. You have to hear the conviction in his voice and the reaction of the audience. He pretty much echoed my sentiments, except that he gives the opposing viewpoint too much respect. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/8 "2018-08-23T13:47:29Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I donā€™t think a transcript could do the speech justice. You have to hear the conviction in his voice and the reaction of the audience. He pretty much echoed my sentiments, except that he gives the opposing viewpoint too much respect. Agreed. The delivery matters. This man didnā€™t focus group this response. He feels it. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/9 "2018-08-23T13:47:38Z")
[Texas Monthly](https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/beto-orourke-nfl-player-protests-national-anthem/) has the full transcript. It really is worth watching the short clip, though. This is a politician speaking extemporaneously using full sentences\* and communicating a coherent position without [apparent] recourse to buzzwords or carefully crafted sound bites. (OK, maybe a lot of sentence fragments, in there, but good effortā€¦) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/10 "2018-08-23T13:51:22Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I donā€™t think a transcript could do the speech justice. You have to hear the conviction in his voice and the reaction of the audience. He pretty much echoed my sentiments, except that he gives the opposing viewpoint too much respect. This. If you donā€™t have the time or inclination to watch a 4 minute video, this probably isnā€™t a thread for you. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/11 "2018-08-23T13:54:39Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > [Texas Monthly](https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/beto-orourke-nfl-player-protests-national-anthem/) has the full transcript. It really is worth watching the short clip, though. This is a politician speaking extemporaneously using full sentences and communicating a coherent position without [apparent] recourse to buzzwords or carefully crafted sound bites. IANAR, but he starts out by saying ā€œreasonable people can disagree on this issueā€, so why would anyone need to say anything more than ā€œI disagreeā€? It is, apparently, a reasonable thing to do. Does anyone think that ā€œreasonable people can disagreeā€ about the non-violent civil disobedience of Civil Rights protestors like MLK back in the 50s and 60s? If not, then the comparison fails. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/12 "2018-08-23T13:58:32Z")
[off-topic] Iā€™d never heard of Beto but clicked the link. Bravo! Maybe thereā€™s still hope for this forlorn country. [on-topic] I inadvertently learned what Ted Cruzā€™s complaint is against Congressman Oā€™Rourke: When the video finished, YouTube started up another video automatically. Ted Cruz is running ads mocking the name ā€œBetoā€ ā€” Oā€™Rourkeā€™s birth certificate says ā€œRobert.ā€ CNNā€™s Chris Cuomo accuses Cruz of doing the opposite ā€” his name is ā€œRafaelā€ but he goes by ā€œTed.ā€ Cruzā€™s defense? _ā€œHave a sense of humor.ā€_ :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/13 "2018-08-23T14:06:07Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Anyhow, from that short clip and a skim read he seems a good guy, what is his standing and prospects within the democrats? Heā€™s behind in polls, but has been gaining in his race against Ted Cruz. Heā€™s very popular with Democrats, heā€™s held so many events that are often packed, heā€™s raised a lot of money, the primary disadvantage he has is lack of name recognition, Iā€™m hoping that this clip going viral will help. I saw Ellen Degeneres tweet she wanted him on her show in response to this tweet, that would definitely help in name recognition. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/14 "2018-08-23T14:42:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > IANAR, but he starts out by saying ā€œreasonable people can disagree on this issueā€, so why would anyone need to say anything more than ā€œI disagreeā€? It is, apparently, a reasonable thing to do. Does anyone think that ā€œreasonable people can disagreeā€ about the non-violent civil disobedience of Civil Rights protestors like MLK back in the 50s and 60s? If not, then the comparison fails. You probably _hate_ Marc Antonyā€™s ā€œlend me your earsā€ speech in _Julius Caesar_. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/15 "2018-08-23T14:54:45Z")
I come to bury Ted Cruz, not to praise himā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/16 "2018-08-23T15:07:17Z")
Weā€™ve got the link to the speech and a link to the transcript-still no response from Republicans about what he said? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/17 "2018-08-23T15:10:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > IANAR, but he starts out by saying ā€œreasonable people can disagree on this issueā€, so why would anyone need to say anything more than ā€œI disagreeā€? It is, apparently, a reasonable thing to do. Does anyone think that ā€œreasonable people can disagreeā€ about the non-violent civil disobedience of Civil Rights protestors like MLK back in the 50s and 60s? If not, then the comparison fails. I second this response. If the OP endorses Oā€™Rourkeā€™s sentiments, as [te](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/750/is-there-a-gender-neutral-substitute-for-his-or-her/) appears to, then te presumably accedes to the notion that reasonable people may disagree. I do disagree. I think that the nexus between the National Anthem and the complaints related to the goals of BlackLivesMatter are tenuous at best, and the choice of the Anthem as the moment to kneel gives reasonable rise to the belief that the protest goes to the pillars of our national identity, as opposed to the more narrow grounds articulated by some defenders of the protests. But, of course, since I also endorse the proposition that reasonable people may disagree, I donā€™t suggest my view is indisputably correct either. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/18 "2018-08-23T15:13:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > the choice of the Anthem as the moment to kneel gives reasonable rise to the belief that the protest goes to the pillars of our national identity If it doesnā€™t, you might help yourself by telling us something more thoughtful than ā€œI disagreeā€, leaving us to draw our own inferences about your reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/19 "2018-08-23T15:16:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I second this response. If the OP endorses Oā€™Rourkeā€™s sentiments, as [te](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/750/is-there-a-gender-neutral-substitute-for-his-or-her/) appears to, then te presumably accedes to the notion that reasonable people may disagree. > > I do disagree. > > I think that the nexus between the National Anthem and the complaints related to the goals of BlackLivesMatter are tenuous at best, and the choice of the Anthem as the moment to kneel gives reasonable rise to the belief that the protest goes to the pillars of our national identity, as opposed to the more narrow grounds articulated by some defenders of the protests. > > But, of course, since I also endorse the proposition that reasonable people may disagree, I donā€™t suggest my view is indisputably correct either. So when a kneeler tells you they are doing so to protest police brutality, do you think they are being less than honest? And what theyā€™re _really_ protesting is the things you stated above? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106/20 "2018-08-23T15:18:43Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But, of course, since I also endorse the proposition that reasonable people may disagree, I donā€™t suggest my view is indisputably correct either. There are several reasons to disagree I suppose 1) There isnā€™t a problem, 2) this wonā€™t help solve the problem, or 3) there is a problem and this will help solve it but it is somehow ā€œdisrespectful.ā€ Personally, since i believe 1) there is a problem and 2) this may, in some small way, help solve it, Iā€™m okay with a little disrespect\*. Reasonable people can reach different conclusions. \*Actually, now that I think about it, I donā€™t even see it as disrespectful. Itā€™s invoking core American values to help make America great again, so I think itā€™s respectful to our ideals and traditions. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-like-to-hear-a-republicans-retort-to-betos-take-a-knee-speech/820106.md?page=2)