Remember this embarrassing interview ABC’s Paula Faris gave to “rockstar” Beto O’ Rourke right before he lost in the Midterm elections last Fall? Well, Faris was back Thursday on Good Morning America to rejoice over the news that O’ Rourke had officially announced his presidential run for 2020. Like the rest of the media, Faris couldn’t contain her enthusiasm for the “rock n’ roll loving” Democrat who had a fan base in Hollywood and on social media.
Anchor George Stephanopoulos led into the report touting O’ Rourke as a brand new 2020 candidate and “social media phenom” (imagine them using that language to describe President Trump!). Faris was on location in Iowa where the Democrat was starting his campaign.
Giggling before greeting Stephanopoulos, Faris touted, “He's expected to hold his first official campaign event here in Iowa a little bit later today and he promises to run a very positive campaign.” Faris spoke glowingly of O’Rourke, who “skyrocketed onto the national political scene when his Senate race caught fire in 2018.” (The media couldn’t have had any part in O’Rourke’s celebrity, right?)
Beaming, she played up how cool and hip “the star politician” was with the “younger generation” on social media, even winning over celebrities like Beyonce and Oprah:
Despite his loss to Ted Cruz, the rock 'n' roll loving 46-year-old caught the nation's attention. His offbeat social media posts appealing to a younger generation, even taking us skateboarding at Whataburger. His Senate candidacy winning the endorsement of celebrities like Beyonce and now he's appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Faris told Stephanopoulos at the end of her report that O’Rourke had denied that he would run for president in the past, but things had changed. She saved the conservative criticism for the last lines of her report, but declined to mention any of O’Rourke’s scandals such as fleeing from a drunk driving accident in the past.
The media’s love affair with Beto hasn’t waned after his loss to Ted Cruz in the Senate last fall, if anything, it has just became more nauseating in its Obama-like fervor.
To read the transcript, click expand:
ABC’s Good Morning America
3/14/19
7:13:24-7:15:42 AM EST
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Now we’re going to go to that breaking political news, a brand-new Democrat in the race for the White House. Former Texas congressman Beto O' Rourke, the social media phenom who lost his race for the Senate last year joining the growing field just moments ago He’s campaigning in Iowa today and ABC's Paula Faris already there in Des Moines. Good morning, Paula.
PAULA FARIS: Good morning to you, George. Beto O' Rourke is now the 15th [sic] Democrat to put his name in the hat. He's expected to hold his first official campaign event here in Iowa a little bit later today and he promises to run a very positive campaign.
O’ROURKE: Amy and I are happy to share with you that I'm running to serve you as the next President of the United States of America.
FARIS: This morning Beto O' Rourke is joining the 2020 fray.
O’ROURKE: The only way for us to live up to the promise of America is to give it our all.
FARIS: The former Texas congressman skyrocketing onto the national political scene when his Senate race caught fire in 2018.
O’ROURKE: Thank you, El Paso, thank you, Texas.
FARIS: Despite his loss to Ted Cruz, the rock 'n' roll loving 46-year-old caught the nation's attention. His offbeat social media posts appealing to a younger generation, even taking us skateboarding at WhataBurger. His candidacy winning the endorsement of celebrities like Beyonce and now appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair. The star politician weighing his options saying you can probably tell that I want to run but until now his indecision on a White House bid even left many including Oprah asking the question:
OPRAH: By God, when are you going to know the answer?
FARIS: When I caught up with him at a Dallas rally in October he told me he would never run. Is there a scenario where you run for president in 2020 or beyond?
O’ROURKE: No.
FARIS: No? Unequivocally, you will never run for president?
O’ROURKE: No, punto. No, period.
FARIS: I guess things have changed. You know, conservatives have called him a shiny new penny and they are already coming for him saying he drips with white male privilege and wealth and some Democrats are wondering whether or not he's the street fighter they want or need. But there will be two big parts of his platform, those will be healthcare for all, and climate change.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And you will see him in action today. Paula thank you very much.
