Texas GOP attack on Beto O’Rourke completely backfires

The Texas GOP’s attack on Beto O’Rourke backfired because, well, he’s kind of hot. 

O’Rourke’s campaign for Ted Cruz’s Senate seat has been gaining support with young voters, thanks to his progressive platform that includes decriminalizing cannabis, single-payer healthcare, and immigration reform. 

SEE ALSO: Twitter drags CBS News for misleading headline, tweet about that viral Beto O’Rourke video

Oh, and he was in a punk band. 

The Texas GOP attacked O’Rourke by tweeting a photo from the Democratic candidate’s days as a bassist for the punk rock band Foss. “Sorry, can’t debate,” the text over the very punk rock photo says. “We have a gig.” 

The tweet was spurred by O’Rourke declining to debate Cruz on Friday. Last month, Cruz proposed five debates leading up to the election and sent an outline with locations, topics, and dates. 

According to O’Rourke, Cruz’s campaign has tried to dictate the debates’ moderators and talking points, and his own campaign is “trying to introduce more of a collaborative style to the negotiations than he [Cruz] may be used to.” 

Twitter users wondered why the GOP would think that O’Rourke’s punk past would deter potential voters. 

And others roasted Cruz for never being cool enough. 

If we’re going to talk about embarrassing pasts, there are pictures of Ted Cruz dressed as a mime. A BIBLICAL mime. 

Then the GOP doubled down by posting a mugshot of O’Rourke — he was charged with burglary in 1995 for jumping a fence and was arrested for a DUI in 1998, but is open about his past.

“Both incidents were due to poor judgement and I have no excuse for my behavior then,” O’Rourke said last year. “However, since then, I have used my opportunities to serve my community and my state. I’m grateful for the second chance and believe that we all deserve second chances.” 

“There’s always the chance that Robert ‘Beto’ O’Rourke won’t debate Senator Cruz because he got into a hazy situation,” the Texas GOP tweeted, as if people refer to the Republican senator as Rafael “Ted” Cruz. 

And if we’re being honest, the Congressman looks … kind of hot in this picture too. From the hair to the smolder to that slight pout, Beto O’Rourke a Democratic bass-wielding, criminal justice-reforming, pro-choice snack. 

Twitter agreed — the Texas GOP’s smear attempt backfired completely.

Here’s a recent picture of Beto O’Rourke from this summer, proving the punk rock Senate hopeful has aged like fine wine. 

The Texas GOP has not posted any more pictures of Young Beto since Tuesday.