Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke. Photo / AP
The Republican National Committee sent out a tweet linking Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke's Irish heritage to his 1998 drink-driving arrest, in an attack that Democrats criticised as being based on stereotypes.
Republicans have previously sought to focus attention on O'Rourke's DWI arrest, but the tweet by the RNC
appeared to be the first time they have raised the topic of his ancestry. "On this St Paddy's Day, a special message from noted Irishman Robert Francis O'Rourke," the tweet states. It includes O'Rourke's 1998 mug shot with a leprechaun hat on top, along with the message: "Please drink responsibly." The tweet quickly triggered a backlash, with some Republicans joining Democrats in condemning it.
"Do better, @GOP," tweeted Representative Justin Amash, a libertarian-leaning Republican from Michigan. "Be better." Doug Stafford, a top aide to Senator Rand Paul, R, wrote: "If you think you're funny or clever by stereotyping and making fun of any race or nationality to score political points, you're an idiot, and you should probably not tweet." John Weaver, a Republican strategist, called the tweet "vile" and "indicative of the bottom feeding" Republican Party led by US President Donald Trump.
Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Notre Dame, said the tweet appeared to be an effort by the RNC "to try to neutralise the charisma of O'Rourke by using his formal name and Irish stereotypes."
Meanwhile, Trump is again training his fire on the late Senator John McCain, nearly seven months after the Arizona Republican's death from brain cancer.
