# Is O'Rourke deliberately sabotaging the Dems? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 11, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637 "2019-10-11T16:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/1 "2019-10-11T16:33:07Z")
[Here he is](https://mobile.twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1182478492614742018), giving the Republicans more ammunition for the general election. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if this is intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/2 "2019-10-11T16:50:12Z")
When did O’Rourke change his name to Mary Marg Olohan? ---
**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:** [October 11, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/3 "2019-10-11T16:53:43Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Here he is](https://mobile.twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1182478492614742018), giving the Republicans more ammunition for the general election. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if this is intentional. He’s certainly entitled to hold that opinion. Since he’s very unlikely to get the nomination, I doubt it will get much play in the general election. One feature of the two-party system is that members of one party will advocate for things that members of the other party may disagree with. It doesn’t seem like a huge deal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/4 "2019-10-11T16:56:34Z")
I’m not worried. I figure Trump’s doing a far better job sabotaging the Republicans than O’Rourke is doing sabotaging the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/5 "2019-10-11T16:58:17Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Here he is](https://mobile.twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1182478492614742018), giving the Republicans more ammunition for the general election. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if this is intentional. I wouldn’t say that he is trying to sabotage his party, my guess is that he has accepted by now that he can’t retain a lot of support, let alone win, by sticking to the same platform as the more mainstream Dem candidates who are destroying him in the polls so he is now more focused on simply carving out his own niche within the Democratic Party, which he is betting might benefit his political future. Although I can hardly blame you for wondering that. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/6 "2019-10-11T16:58:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When did O’Rourke change his name to Mary Marg Olohan? It’s only the latest in a series of his “made-up nicknames.” \*Real \*nicknames are inherited through genes. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m not worried. But are you _concerned_? ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/7 "2019-10-11T17:10:11Z")
I don’t agree with his viewpoint here. Religious institutions should lose their tax exempt status, assuming they wouldn’t have that status if they aren’t religiously oriented, regardless of their opinion about same-sex marriage. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/8 "2019-10-11T17:14:58Z")
^ This ^ ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/9 "2019-10-11T17:24:31Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Here he is](https://mobile.twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1182478492614742018), giving the Republicans more ammunition for the general election. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if this is intentional. I think it’s more likely that he’s saying fairly outrageous things in order to stand out from the masses. I mean, if he’s not the candidate, then that statement gives the Republicans no ammunition for the general election, right? I mean, it would be tough for them to go with, “failed Senate and presidential candidate said that churches should lose their tax status if they don’t agree with him – this obviously represents the entire Democratic party and you should vote against them.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/10 "2019-10-11T17:43:23Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Here he is](https://mobile.twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1182478492614742018), giving the Republicans more ammunition for the general election. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if this is intentional. What a great and thoughtful thing to wonder! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/11 "2019-10-11T17:50:09Z")
1. He has nothing to lose; it’s all but certain that he won’t be the 2020 nominee. 2. Having nothing to lose, he is much freer to speak his mind than Biden or Warren. 3. He needs to find a way to stand out from the pack. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/12 "2019-10-11T17:52:04Z")
I don’t think he’s hurting a sane Dem candidate. He’s pretty much signed his political death warrant with that asinine “I’m coming for your guns” remark, but he’ll be largely forgotten after Iowa, if he even makes it that far. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/13 "2019-10-11T18:10:03Z")
> [@GoodOmens](#): > > I don’t agree with his viewpoint here. Religious institutions should lose their tax exempt status, assuming they wouldn’t have that status if they aren’t religiously oriented, regardless of their opinion about same-sex marriage. I and many others agree with you. My guess is Beto is just stupid. Advocating a political litmus test for church tax status illustrates a lack of knowledge about the subject, and a lack of common sense for answering the question in the first place. Those who approve of tax exempt status for churches may want someone else’s church to pay taxes, but usually they figure out the same laws would remove the status from their own church. The question is political fodder, there is virtually no call for this at the grass roots level, it’s the actual ‘gotcha’ type question\*, because only a fool would get involved. As long as so many people are or pretend to be religious in this will not lead to removal of tax exempt status for all churches, it actually reinforces the notion they should not pay taxes as people consider what would happen to their own church. \*“What do you read?” is not a “gotcha” question. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/14 "2019-10-11T18:25:09Z")
> [@GoodOmens](#): > > I don’t agree with his viewpoint here. Religious institutions should lose their tax exempt status, assuming they wouldn’t have that status if they aren’t religiously oriented, regardless of their opinion about same-sex marriage. Agree. It would have generated less controversy if it were all or none. Sure, many Christians oppose churches being taxed no matter what. But what Beto said here is akin to a pro-lifer saying, “Abortions for white women, but none for women of color!” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/15 "2019-10-11T18:57:05Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Agree. It would have generated less controversy if it were all or none. I doubt it. Saying “we should tax churches based on a litmus test” is not significantly more or less controversial than “we should tax churches”. Both show a breath-taking combination of ignorance of the First Amendment, and political suicidal tendencies. Every so often, a politician, especially one with nothing to lose, says what he means. I think that’s what Beto did here. Which is why he is not referred to as Senator O’Rourke, and will never be referred to as President O’Rourke. Reminiscent of the New York Post cover, when the various Dem candidates were asked if they wanted to provide illegal aliens with free health care - [Who Wants To Lose The Election?](https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2019/06/29/fiasco-ny-post-cover-captures-the-first-democratic-debates-with-one-solid-headli-n2549170) There’s such a thing as shooting yourself in the foot. There is also such a thing as taking a chainsaw to the said appendage. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Northeast\_Refugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@Northeast\_Refugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northeast_Refugee)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/16 "2019-10-11T19:00:40Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Reminiscent of the New York Post cover, when the various Dem candidates were asked if they wanted to provide illegal aliens with free health care - [Who Wants To Lose The Election?](https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2019/06/29/fiasco-ny-post-cover-captures-the-first-democratic-debates-with-one-solid-headli-n2549170) Jesus fucking Christ and his apostles! What a bunch of unhinged morons… This is serious, folks. While chances are small, one of these traitors might become our next President. God help us all. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/17 "2019-10-11T19:10:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I doubt it. Saying “we should tax churches based on a litmus test” is not significantly more or less controversial than “we should tax churches”. Both show a breath-taking combination of ignorance of the First Amendment, and political suicidal tendencies. While tax exemptions for religious institutions has been upheld, I don’t think anything in the 1st amendment compels tax exempt status. The Congress could pass laws to tax churches like any other organization and not run afoul of the 1st amendment. It’s not been the practice since the country’s founding, but given that tax exempt status can be revoked based on criteria, it stands to reason that this is an available option. I’d prefer the entire structure of not for profit entities be eliminated. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/18 "2019-10-11T19:12:23Z")
O’Rourke is polling at around 3% both nationally and in Iowa. He’s not exactly gathering a big following among Democrats. Maybe he just needs to rebrand with more distinctive headwear. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/19 "2019-10-11T19:52:56Z")
> [@Northeast\_Refugee](#): > > Jesus fucking Christ and his apostles! What a bunch of unhinged morons… > This is serious, folks. While chances are small, one of these traitors might become our next President. God help us all. Really!?! Calling on religion to demand the inhumane treatment of others? It is treason to think ethically about giving health care to other human beings? > **[Why We Should Care for the Undocumented](https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/why-we-should-care-undocumented/2008-04)** > > We must not pit immigration policy and health care needs against one another. We need better policy on immigration, and that policy should confront immigration at the workplace and at the border—not in the hospital emergency room. > [@](#): > > Why We Should Care for the Undocumented > Ron J. Anderson, MD > > Health care for undocumented workers and their families has become an emotionally charged subject in my community. As the leader of a tax-supported public health system in Texas, I often find myself defending the provision of hospital care for the undocumented—a position that is not only rooted in the health system’s legislative mandate but is consistent with its founding vision and mission statement and with federal and state law. Moreover, I believe our approach is economically prudent because it applies public health interventions to a vulnerable population, thereby diminishing the burden of illness and preventing higher costs to the community. > > It is my position that our health system should in no way allow the care of someone who is seriously ill or injured to be compromised because of citizenship status. We have a clear mandate to provide medical care to all who enter our health system. > [@](#): > > Providing health care to undocumented workers and their families also makes good business sense. Consider that every dollar we spend on prenatal care allows us to avoid spending at least four dollars in neonatal intensive care services for low-birth-weight or premature babies. Regardless of parentage, the babies that we deliver in our hospital are American citizens, and it is important that they be healthy children who have the best chance of becoming productive and contributing members of our community. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637/20 "2019-10-11T19:53:00Z")
> [@Northeast\_Refugee](#): > > Jesus fucking Christ and his apostles! What a bunch of unhinged morons… > This is serious, folks. While chances are small, one of these traitors might become our next President. God help us all. While the word “traitor” has been on everyone’s mind lately given Trump’s actions, it’s good to remember it is not synonymous with “person with policies I don’t support.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-orourke-deliberately-sabotaging-the-dems/841637.md?page=2)