Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) revealed on Tuesday that he regrets launching his 2020 presidential campaign on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine because it reinforced the perception of his “privilege.”
On Tuesday’s “The View” on ABC, co-host Meghan McCain said she did not believe a female candidate would be able to get away with some of the things O’Rourke has said and done over the course of his presidential campaign, including the Vanity Fair spread. In the magazine story, O’Rourke is quoted as saying he was “born” to run for president.
O’Rourke confessed that he regrets the decision to make his launch announcement on the glossy society magazine and apologized for some of his past remarks.
“It reinforces that perception of privilege,” O’Rourke said. “And that headline that said I was born to be in this, in the article I was attempting to say that my calling is in public service. No one is born to be president of the United States of America, least of all me.”
A recent Twitter post said: “Beto O’Rourke on criticisms of his ‘Vanity Fair’ “born to be in it” remark: “I was attempting to say that I felt my calling was in public service — no one is born to be President of the United States of America.”
“I have a lot to learn, and I still am.”
O’Rourke was also asked to explain his comments in the magazine story about how he “sometimes” helps his wife Amy raise their children.
“In a real ham-handed way, I was trying to acknowledge that [Amy] has the lion’s share of responsibility in this campaign,” O’Rourke said. “Not only does she work, she is the principal caregiver to our kids, is supporting me, and campaigns with me.”
O’Rourke said he called his wife after the remarks ran and she told him that he could have made his point more elegantly.
“I have a lot to learn and I still am,” O’Rourke said.
O’Rourke is making the network and cable television rounds as he seeks to breath more life his flagging campaign.
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