Gotta say, I've been going door to door in this same barrio the last week, and Beto is extremely popular! Credited for being accessible and responsive - "he brought the lighting to my street" etc. And people do not like Trump or the wall or the rhetoric. Been nice if NYT would have talked to people in this barrio of their opinion of Beto and this race today. You'd be hard-pressed to find a Cruz supporter. And they are voting enthusiastically for Beto.
10
I've been a reader of the New York Times for almost 20 years and I wanted to say that this is the best comments section that I've been a part of in a very long time. It has been great to see my fellow readers actively stand up and call out in a direct and clear yet still civilized and well thought-out manner an example of flawed and biased reporting. The paper itself clearly needs to go back and take a long look at itself over its material and timing, but I'm most proud right now to be part of such a strong and coherent readership. These readers that are the voters and activists that will help America's democracy to stand up on its feet again.
7
I recall another elected US official who ran a dubious real estate company before entering the White House. Clearly it's not an issue for Republicans.
8
This is disturbing and disqualifying.
2
So Ted Cruz then? Please people! THINK!
14
Not sure why this story now. It’s not even all that terrible a story. What I found interesting is Beto marrying a billionaires daughter.
5
The timing and opening sentence of this story ("billionaire real estate investor") seems to me a bit clever by half.
My guess is that Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and the Laura
Ingraham who occupy the 8,9 and 10 o'clock slots on FOX will
all mention this piece tonight. As Church Lady would say "isn't that special!"
Ted Cruz is a darling of the Adelsons. Sheldon is a serious billionaire...like about 45 Billion. He is a very resourceful and determined individual.
I quickly perused the latest Forbes List of American Billionaires. They showed 1810. I didn't see William D Sanders. Ms. Saul did not provide a link to document her assertion
Now, I don't want to sound full moon paranoid, but I have observed that when something happens that brings great joy to
Mr. Adelson there is at least some possibility that Sheldon caused it to happen. Like, for instance, the election of Donald Trump.
I can't watch FOX tonight because the Patriots are on. But, if Sheldon is behind this story, the story will keep on running.......
It plays right into the FOX sweet spot..."the hypocrisy of the Left!"
14
Now that it looks like Beto has no chance to win, I guess it's time to start blaming him for our failure to capture the Senate?
7
Interesting. Didn’t know about Beto’s rich father in-law or the redevelopment proposal. Too bad he wouldn’t comment either. But I do understand gentrification isn’t all benefit and no cost, and many can fairly question the distribution of both. The article makes it clear, albeit weakly, that Beto or his family’s role wasn’t illegal or even unethical, just controversial—par for the course in these matters it seems. But we expect the NYT to shoot better than par, especially this close to that particular election.
10
Please! For one the writer waits until the end to say that Beto stepped back from the plan. This seems like a very slanted essay to me.
Plus- how many times have fact checkers found that Cruz has not told the truth?
This not to say that Beto is a perfect guy. However with each one’s faults considered, there is a huge difference between them with regards to ethics.
21
It doesn't matter. He's still miles ahead of Cruz. Vote for Beto. You'll appreciate the improvement from Day 1
13
Eh, you can't please all the people all the time.
1
Sorry it can't be as bad as his opponent.
5
You all have to realize that the NYTs would rather have fascism than true progressives. Their focus is to protect the corporate owners of the country. They fear expansion of the social safety net. They are against medical coverage for poor people and the middleclass. It's always about money. They will push for another fake liberal New York State politician to be the next democratic candidate. They have already shown their love for Gillibrand, knowing that she is going to keep the corporations safe from progressive policy.
11
The people in El Paso are real "rocket scientists." If they remember what they had for breakfast, or know who their congressman is, I'd be amazed.
I've heard that Beto stole a pair of shoelaces from Walmart when he was eight years old. Yep, must be so.
Give us Cruz and Goldman Sachs. Got it.
6
Old story, old news. Beto has net and talked with thousands of Texans. I have never seen Ted in person in 6 yrs and live in Houston, the Canadian's "home town". Everytime I have called, emailed, written Ted, I get a firm letter reply. When I have called his office, they don't take my concerns down bc they can't read it back to me. I would vote for squashed road kill before Cruz. luckily, I had another choice #turn TEXASblue.
15
The headline should have read: "Beto O'Rourke Once Supported His Billionaire Father-in-Law's El Paso Real Estate Deal."
Non-Texans won't get this but real Texans will: Beto is big hat, no cattle.
By the way, I have observed a number of "urban renewal" projects, and I can assure you that the poor people who are displaced almost never get better housing and almost always harbor ill feelings toward those who displaced, or tried to displace, them.
5
Beto is the darling of manipulative, moneyed elites of El Paso, both Anglos and Hispanic. That unholy alliance has kept political and economic power in the hands of Beto's socioeconomic class that just want to anglicize (gentrify) a city that has been historically, culturally and demographically Mexican. It is that heritage that gives El Paso its unique identity. It is not another San Antonio, and the Rio Grande doesn't have enough water to turn it into another Paseo del Rio. But Beto's financial backers have the strange idea of developing the region by bringing massive changes to that identity and displacing people in the neighborhoods that have been in El Paso long before the O'Rourkes came to town. Neither his background nor his social and economic outlook is good for Texas, particularly for working class Americans of Mexican descent in El Paso, the very people who stand to be displaced from their neighborhoods. Before giving him a vote one should look his record, it is hard to find an initiative that Beto has sponsored to benefit the Texas-Mexico border area, much less the people he purports to represent. To put it in simple terms, the border region still is one of the most economically disadvantaged parts in the United States, where many Mexican Americans still live in "colonias", without even potable water, and decent jobs. They don't deserve another opportunistic politician who was born with a silver spoon.
3
Eventually a candidates true colors come shining through!
1
Say what you will, he is an educated young man that returned to his home town. He could have gone anywhere and done anything with his credentials. I recommend reading his bio. His father, Pat was very progressive.
16
Most people who live in El Paso, which is about 70 percent Hispanic, believe in strong borders but fair and just and compassionate immigration laws.
I lived there for most of my life, and El Paso and Juarez are sister cities to a large degree. O'Rourke's opponent Sylvestre Reyes was a chief of the Border Patrol in El Paso before he ran for Congress. Reyes started tough border enforcement through "Operation Hold the Line," which involved more Border Patrol officers posted along the Rio Grande.
One issue for strong borders was the heavy illegal immigrant traffic going through the Segundo Barrio, particularly Chihuahuaita area.
Reyes ran for Congress and won, and was elected for eight terms.
El Paso is one of the safest cities in the nation. Juarez, however, was at one time a narco-traffico war zone.
In the 30 years, I was there, I can only recall one Border Patrol agent killed along the El Paso Sector border. What does that say about the millions upon millions of people who have crossed the border there illegally? This is not an invasion of dangerous people like the GOP racists are trying to sell. It is just another caravan of hundreds before it. It has been going on for decades, and most are desperate and terrorized people seeking a safe harbor to work and keep families safe like it was for millions at Ellis Island for decades.
9
Here we go again. Thank you, Mr. Comey...
What’s happened to the grand ol’ Gray Lady of yesteryear? The one that once refrained from publishing hit pieces on any candidate so close to an election? The issue discussed here is far more complex than what has been written up, with bias. And with little time to go into it. But the damage has been done.
14
If this was meant as a hatchet job on Beto O'Rourke, it's pretty feeble. Come on NYT, can't you do better than this?
16
So Beto, years ago, sometimes supported, but other times did not (abstained), a project that never happened? Shame on you, NYT! Your headline (which is all many people can be bothered to read) is misleading & you do not need to do hatchet jobs on Democratic candidates to try to show your disinterest & journalistic impartiality! This non-event didn't happen 12 years ago, but the NYT doesn't cover it until a week before the election?! I suppose you can't find anything negative to publish about potus's boy, "Lyin' Ted Cruz."
36
So Beto is not perfect? Okay.
24
@Jenny - Nope. He tried to help the city of El Paso attract business investment. Heaven forbid!
7
Fake populist. Why is the political class in this country so corrupt? Ted Cruz or Beto O'Rourke? No thanks, to either.
2
@bikegeezer if you stay home on Election Day, you will be complicit in the chaos gripping this country. Someone once wrote, "politics is not a pursuit for angels". It's true. These are human beings. But the attitude that they're all equally corrupt, rotten, and that it makes no difference whatsoever who you choose so you might as well not vote, is far more dangerous than an imperfect Democrat. And while we're at it, this disagreement about urban development is hardly the stuff of scandal, let alone deep character rot. Time to question your stereotype of politicians.
10
If you’re biking in Moab you might support a Senator that will protect public lands. That ain’t Ted Cruz.
Seriously- time to think past boredom and small issues and consider a Big Picture.
4
Cruz would probably be more than willing to shoot someone on 5th Ave, or probably anywhere, if it meant he could get the same 80% support rate from his constituents that Beto enjoys from his.
11
For good and ill, gentrification is happening all over the country.
I see nothing wrong with what Beto did.
If I lived in Texas, I'd vote for him in
I see nothing wrong with what Beto did.
If I lived in Texas, I'd vote for him in
22
..“We used to be happy here in our barrio,” she told him, “even with all its defects.” ..
This attitude is prevalent in many Hispanic communities throughout the Southwest. They prefer to live in squalor rather than transform their communities into safe living spaces for themselves and family.
It's a tactic they use to keep "outsiders" from entering. How dare they stand in the way of progress and development. Beto should have knocked the place down when he had the chance.
This attitude is prevalent in many Hispanic communities throughout the Southwest. They prefer to live in squalor rather than transform their communities into safe living spaces for themselves and family.
It's a tactic they use to keep "outsiders" from entering. How dare they stand in the way of progress and development. Beto should have knocked the place down when he had the chance.
11
Why didn't you do a story on why Beto DIDN'T accept PAC money and why Cruz is owned by NRA and oil companies?
27
@M
Because, as the article clearly states, he DID accept PAC money.
1
Now that the election is upon us, we find out about this. Beto is one of our own, yet we must now impugn him because he is imperfect, perhaps, flawed in these ways? The Republican Party continues to benefit from the Democratic/progressive/left of center circular firing squad.
12
What precisely is the point of this story? Twelve years ago, Beto voted (and sometimes abstained) from a development in which is father-in-law was involved. The project went nowhere.
Where is the story on how Ted Cruz is in the pocket of the Koch Brothers, etc. That to me is far more dangerous.
Where is the story on how Ted Cruz is in the pocket of the Koch Brothers, etc. That to me is far more dangerous.
18
From reading these comments it's very clear that the paying customers of the New York Time would like to see a similar 'attack' piece on Ted Cruz published to counter this piece of ancient news being released a few days before the election. The timing of this article reminds me, and apparently many others, of Comey's announcement that the FBI was re-opening their email investigation of Clinton days before the election, while saying nothing about Trump being investigated for possible ties to Russians interference in our sovereignty.
How about an article about where Cruz gets the money for his campaign? How many millions have 'big oil' and the NRA invested in his campaign? I think the supporters of Beto in Texas will see Ms. Saul's article for what it is- a misleading and suspiciously timed 'hit piece.'
19
It is infuriating that you A) decided to run this so close to the election and B) buried the lede so far down. (Lede being a focus on the Cruz-derived smear .
The story was covered better by Texas sources, and now you've done this, we expect to see a piece between now and Election Day detailing Cruz's dark money and far right connections, which are of far greater relevance to the office of Senator. when nothing ever came of the plan.
The only way to slow down the T train to Germany, 1938, is for Democrats to win a majority in Congress. You haven't helped.
The story was covered better by Texas sources, and now you've done this, we expect to see a piece between now and Election Day detailing Cruz's dark money and far right connections, which are of far greater relevance to the office of Senator. when nothing ever came of the plan.
The only way to slow down the T train to Germany, 1938, is for Democrats to win a majority in Congress. You haven't helped.
23
Amazing that most of us are only hearing about this now. In light of all the hero worship and fawning over Beto in the media, it doesn't surprise me one bit.
6
There is an old saying : " Never let the perfect be the enemy of the good." One by one I see democratic politicians brought down by their own base for not being perfect, while Republicans will fight to the death for candidates who are simply no good at all. This is the problem with the democratic party it's too fractured, made up of dozens of disparate groups with all kinds of grievances, held together by thin string, while the republicans are a united white front. The democratic party is doomed to disaster
8
@artfuldodger - Except that it's not "the base" that's trying to bring down O'Rourke, it's a journalists at the NY Times.
5
Thanks NY times. Your timing is impeccable. This story has been told before but you feel compelled retell it on the front page one week before election? Too bad, we have been working hard in a state dominated by corrupt politics and dealmaking far far worse than this for generations. My Democratic voice has been silenced by gerrymandering and underhanded Republican deals for 20 years. We just want one voice to represent us. I am disappointed. Hopefully the people I have been canvasing don't read the NY Times. It is about future policy for a neglected population in Texas. Please give us a break!
15
Democrats need to stop demanding perfection from our candidates. No one can possibly live up to the ideal. The result of tearing apart our own reasonably good and decent people is that we end up being governed by a bunch of Republicans who are ethically much, much worse.
7
Change comes and it is often very painful. Change is the one thing you can be sure of. When Henry Ford introduced his Model T, he reportedly told a reporter from the Detroit News, "those guys will not be in business much longer". He was referring to blacksmiths. Anybody here miss blacksmiths? They were everywhere once.
2
What is the point of this story? You were given the assignment to try and find some negative information about O'Rourke? This is it? What a ridiculous story, filled with innuendo and signifying absolutely nothing.
18
Really very pathetic how many commenters believe the NYT should basically be a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party.
4
@Nyalman on the contrary, we're decrying what amounts to lip service for the Republican Party. Where is the analogous expose on Ted Cruz? Why is this twelve-year-old non-news being placed front and center a week before the election? I guess when one guy is 99 percent worse than the other, you'd better make sure to spit-polish that one percent apology lest you be called a shill for the left. A progressive newspaper--god forbid!
10
Not everything has an analogous expose on the other side.
What a “Hit” piece by the Times. Talk about a nothing burger! A new low for the Times. But lets see: elected officials and business leaders make a proposal to revitalize El Paso. The proposal is put up for review and voters reject it and the proposal is scrapped and the subject is shelved. Later on many of those same voter elect one city official involved in the now defunct project and make him their elected representative. Sounds like democracy to me.
PS. What has Cruz every done for El Paso? That’s
the real story.
25
Why are you sticking this out there one week before election day? The Dallas Morning News told this entire story back on September 18 (look it up) when Cruz was using it to attack O'Rourke. The Dallas Morning News conclusion: much ado about nothing. The same conclusion Ms. Saul makes once you grind your way to the last few paragraphs.
29
Beto O'Rourke betrayed his constituents and his family profited from it. He's worth just under 10 million and give him a few years I'm sure he'll be worth 100's his father in law not withstanding. Pretty good it or a failed heavy metal wanna be. Are we getting tired of rich kids finding themselves before they take their rightful place in the world?
We all know about Cruz but have mercy on us poor Texans. What choice do we have: Lying Ted or an Irish Bernie Sanders. At least Cruz knows what state hes running in. O'Rourke is running as a bi-coastal Democrat. He checks off on every hot button issue the nytimes editorial board say is important but has nothing to say about Texans needs.
A nytimes Opinion writer said Trump supporters were looking for a Savior. Not true most of them already have one. The progressives here have a greater need for one and they found one in Beto O'Rourke. They are looking for a FDR or a Kennedy but what they found was a John Kerry. He might even run for president against Trump after he loses against Cruz. Trump could even call him backtracking Beto. 70 million and they whine about buying elections.
Stop worrying about bad press for your sacred cows. The nytimes has to do their job once in a while. The Republicans embrace it. Or doyou find the guy to embarrassing to talk honestly about him?
6
@JoeG, Beto has a lot to say about most Texans needs. That is why he has gathered a lot of support.
BTW, there is nothing in this story that discredits Beto.
5
@JoeG No one betrayed anyone, you need to read through the article again to get past all of the insinuations to the truth at the end. In almost any other state in the Union, there would be no contest here. It is baffling that half of your state seems to be willfully blind to the fact that you have a future president who is driving himself in a van across your entire state in order to understand and make a meaningful difference for the state and the people that he is clearly so passionate about.
1
@CR
You believe the nytimes version? It's not the only source to this old news.
I saw the debates. Driving thru every county in Texas is nothing more than a publicity stunt. I seriously doubt Texans are going to buy his line of "Hope".
If you like vote for him.
Let the coronation begin.
Every time someone wants to re-energize a blighted area of any city, a predictable chorus of nay-sayers and NIMBY's show up to oppose it, and their tactics always include demonizing redevelopment advocates as corrupt, and attacks on Beto for his role in El Paso's downtown revitalization is no exception. It's thus unfortunate that a great paper like the NYT has unduly elevated such a story without providing the very familiar context, especially 8 days before the Senate election.
16
Mr. O’Rourke is a disgrace to the Democratic Party . He should be the right thing and withdraw from the race.
7
Calling him "Beto" in the media is a thinly-veiled attempt to make him appear Hispanic. Au contraire, he is white (Anglo) and Ivy-league educated, and married into the family of a billionaire. Just a regular guy.
He was in a hit and run accident and left the scene, later denied doing so, now admits it, and now refuses to comment on this article.
And no one seems to be able to name any of his accomplishments.
And he is a possible candidate for President in 2020? I'm laughing out loud.
11
@Ro Ma The overwhelming majority of news networks refer to candidates by the name they're most commonly known by. Neither the Times nor any other national newspaper started the practice of calling O'Rourke "Beto." Also, the article refers to him as "Mr. O'Rourke"!
8
He's been called Beto since he was a child.
What new information do you expect to come out of another retread of the hit and run?
What are Ted Cruz's accomplishments?
4
@Pierce Randall Take a closer look; the title of the article calls him "
"Beto."
And Senator Ted Cruz likes to shut down the US Government.
10
Hey times, why don't you do a huge article on Ted Cruz and all the slimy dark money he's taken and the horrible things he's done with it? Or how about reminding voters that he shut down the government when Obama was POTUS because of "deficit spending" but then turned around and not only voted for the GOP's most recent tax cuts but is actually shouting their praises from the roof tops?
34
Agree with other commenters that the timing of this article stinks. Mother Jones published a better piece on this, with more context, at the beginning of October. This is not a new story, and I cannot fathom why you chose to run it right before the election. You owe your readers an explanation.
25
I'm not saying that what Beto did was correct, but Cruz is much worse, in that he is bought and paid for by dark money by the some if the wealthiest people in the world.
And Cruz shut down the entire federal government which, if memory serves correctly cost the federal government $24 billion while reading bedtime stories to his kids.
How about another article by the NYT dredging up the $24 billion that we, the taxpayers had to pay, which stops at the Cruz residence.
16
Perhaps Beto said it best in his first debate:
"True to form."
I can hope that Texans will suspect (as I do) this article is a not-so-thinly disguised attempt to distract voters from a progressive candidate, one that reflects virtue over greed and corruption. Beto's opponent embraces PAC money and seeks campaign help from arguably the most corrupt president in my lifetime. Health care as a right, better wages, immigration reform, decency, and compromise. Let's all stay focused!
9
As a city councilman, he was interested in a development that would bring jobs, taxes and services to the city's residents? How awful that would have been.
8
So Beto is human, after all. The most interesting info in this article is his marriage. Like John Kerry, Beto married rich, and that's certainly helped him focus on politics. It's really hard to make a name for yourself without a starting platform.
Almost all urban redevelopment displaces poor people, because their housing is usually the least well made. That's no insult, but a consequence of poverty. The article didn't dig enough to find out whether proposed replacement housing would have the same cost as what residents came from, whether there were guarantees. But to propose redevelopment is no crime, it's inevitable. Some champion preservation first, but that's often far more expensive and, frankly, prone to failure.
Politics is compromise. Ultimately, that Beto can bend, but not break, should be seen as a positive.
3
I’m guessing if Mr. O’Rouke was proud of his redevelopment plan, he wouldn’t have declined to be interviewed by the NYT.
The divide in this country isn’t between Republicans and Democrats. It’s between those who use their elected office to favor monied interests, and by extension, themselves, and the broad swathe of the citizenry who have no voice, no representation and nobody looking after their interests. Justified disenchantment with the status quo, after 8 years of Corporate Democrat rule, is why an unqualified outsider beat a qualified political veteran in 2016.
Still amusing to note the outrage at this article. Apparently many NYT readers want the paper to be a DNC bullhorn, the same role that FNC plays for the RNC.
5
Shame on BETO for wanting to re-develop a downtrodden neighborhood of El Paso, particularly when the project involved re-locating the residents to new housing. How dare he! Ted can’t call him a socialist now......
These re-development squabbles are as old as America and there is always opposition. The project is proposed, some folks object, negotiations ensue and things get worked out. Absolutely nothing new under the sun here.
Buried in the article are two key sentences:
“He ultimately recused himself and did the right thing, but it seemed to me to be unnecessary for us to have to generate such ire among his constituents in the interim period” .....and “Even if he didn’t have an actual conflict, the optics are terrible”
I’d love to know the thought process and discussions between Ms. Saul and the Editorial board that led to this article. Can you shed some light on this for us ?
10
Others have aptly described this effort to undermine Mr O'Rourke as a repackaging of old business news and selling it for fresh. The Times, much like the Lord Almighty, behaves in mysterious ways. But the Lord Almighty is a supreme being, unaccountable to mere humans, while the Times, on the other hand, only behaves like the Supreme Being in its mysterious ways can only go only for as long it isn't challenged, or simply cancelled and forgotten.
3
This is how the left eats itself: Beto is not lefty enough for a small group, and they attack him. Texas will get the Ted Cruz that the left deserves -- until they can unify. Watch the Weather Underground documentary and listen to Mark Rudd's rumination about his mistakes: I'd never do anything again to reduce the size of the anti-war movement," he says. Somebody is angry at Beto about 2006? Okay, fine. But here comes Ted Cruz.
3
So Mr O’Rourke supported a development plan for downtown El Paso. What on earth is wrong with that?
6
@John Murray I am sure it was only coincidental that Beto's billionaire father-in-law was a move in the redevelopment project.
@Ro Ma
The man was not O'Rourke's father-in-law when O'Rourke supported the redevelopment plan.
Is that stated simply enough for you to understand?
2
Seriously...any Hispanic and/or poor Texan who votes for Ted Cruz over Beto is cutting off their nose to spite their face. Cruz has done nothing to represent the constituents who speak out in this article. That was then, this is now. Vote for a man who will be your voice.
8
Are there any undecided voters in Texas? Or Beto supporters who would switch to Cruz? If so, that is surprising. I disliked Beto's pandering to black voters about the Botham Jean shooting. If he becomes a Senator, what is he going to do about Amber Guyger? Nothing. Nada. Nevertheless, I would vote for Beto if I were a Texan because the long game is a Senate controlled by Democrats. It may not happen but voters opposed to Trump must do what they can.
The last thing I want to read in the Times is a negative story about a Democrat. Why do I pay a subscription if not to support a paper that sets the national agenda in favor of liberals?
9
@Shamrock nice snark. Last I checked, the "national agenda" was set very much in favor of Republicans. Notice I didn't say "conservatives", as those are basically dead. But Kudos to you for straying from Fox News!
8
So you expect the NYT to basically be a progressive Fox News and then still claim they are unbiased. Nonsensical.
1
Do you want lies with your nothing burger?
13
Here we go again. NYT shoots liberals in the foot in their most vulnerable moments. I completely stand with free, unbiased press and I don't want NYT to turn the blind eye when liberals have an issue on their end; but there is an unmistakable pattern here.
25
Thank you for this paid advertisement for Ted Cruz!
15
"Mr. O’Rourke abstained from votes establishing a tax zone that would set the stage for eminent domain, and voted for a temporary moratorium....."
"The city ethics commission rejected the complaint."
“He ultimately recused himself and did the right thing..."
So, why is this news? You publish a political hit piece about Beto less than 2 weeks before the election. Really NYT!?!
Where is your story about Ted Cruz? What about some balanced reporting? I expect better than this from the New York Times!
35
Where are the counterbalance articles on Ted Cruz, who has WAY worse and deeper ties to dark and corporate money?
Why is the NYT determined to undermine Democrats days before an election while staying silent on Republicans?
18
So the New York Times is supporting Ted Cruz and the efforts of his dirty tricks squad to trash Beto. Good to know. This whole story has its roots in O'Rourke's victory over Silvestre Reyes, a bitter old-timey Congressman who used his position to get rich.
10
This article is a good example of why I am not renewing my subscription to the Times. This happened 12 years ago and you're publishing this a week before the election? You couldn't have done your due diligence and published this month's ago? And on the front page? Strange timing. Good job.
18
@Chuck Roberts
Just cancelled my over 2 years old subscription too. This was the last straw in a string of attack ads, oops, I mean articles. I'll miss the commenters on the articles but not republican mouthpiece Brooks, Douthat, Stephens, guest editorials from Heritage Foundation, etc. If I had wanted to read a right wing rag I'd have subscribed to the NY Post.
What a horrible editorial choice by the N.Y.T's to publish this story. At a time when the president of the united states regularly attacks the press the NYT's chooses to publish an ambiguous story just days before an important election. It is impossible, based on the facts portrayed in the story to determine whether Beto O'Rourke engaged in any sort of compromising behavior. Any sort of reasonable judgment would have cast aside this story as a "hit piece" no doubt brought to light by one of the dark money super pacs funding his opponent.
I am disgusted that the price I pay for supporting journalism is having to tolerate this kind of inexcusable editorial judgment.
21
The author of this article is a southerner, and it feels a lot like this piece has an agenda. What I don't understand is why the NYT Editors appreciate bed this for publication. For several years I've watched as The NYT leans more and more biased and conservative.
Days before an election and The NYT is digging up a nonissue and trying to frame it as breaking news. What's next? Did Beto once use a curse word? Did he maybe skip going to church once when he was a kid so he could go fishing?
16
It's only one o'clock in NYC. The Times can still remove this article from its front page position on the internet. Whatever possessed the NYT's to run this old story at this time?
22
Misleading story. Disappointing.
20
Although you have not included my earlier comment — presumably it was too “pointed” — I note that many commenters have the same reaction to this piece. It is a waste of electrons/ink, and looks like a Fox-like effort to create “news” where there is none. The editor responsible for authorizing the inclusion of this garbage should be ashamed that it was published under The NY Times masthead.
9
NYT, why didn't you do a piece on why every major newspaper in Texas endorsed Beto?
This is the same kind of hack job you allowed Maureen Down to do on Hillary and Bill Clinton. And that worked out nicely for the world, didn't it?
Shame on "the failing NYT".
25
I believe Dean Baquet owes readers of the Times why this article appeared. What was the editorial judgement, especially in light of the fact that the real estate controversy was extensively covered in El Paso year’s ago, and despite the fact that Lyin’ Ted has used it to cudgel O’Rourke? It is by no means “new” news.
Running this “expose” makes me feel that the Times is looking more to sell papers, balance and fairness be damned.
18
Great article...I didn't think old Beto was as pure as they've been saying, heck, not with the drunk driving almost hit and run charge he had....keep up the good work, which is usually about once every quarter when it comes to hitting Dems.
8
Why did you write this smear headline, NY Times? or even this story, now? There is so much other pain right now. What is wrong with you people?
26
Is Stephanie Saul a operative of the Cruz campaign? Isn't that a conflict of interest, NYT?
The statement that they wanted to de-Mexicanize a city that is 80% Hispanic is just plain stupid.
8
The substance of this article amounts to a big nothingburger. So why the inflammatory headline? Why was this published at all?
19
@Larry Brubaker Because it's true.
@Cas: And it is also true that despite this story, which dates back to 2006, that Beto's support in that same area is at eighty percent. Which proves that, ultimately, he did the right thing.
3
@Cas I have no doubt it's true, but it is also completely inconsequential. So a long time Beto supported a plan to redevelop El Paso, but the plan never went through and Beto recused himself from decisions. Hardly rises to the level of news in this day of blatant actual corruption by the President and a good number of his cabinet members, not to mention their platform of lies and hate to distract from the fact that their tax cut for the wealthy exploded the deficit, which they plan to address by cutting Social Security and Medicare, which I've been paying into for 45 years. Those matter far more to me than Beto recusing his vote on a somewhat controversial plan that never went forward.
1
Great story, NY Times. You should make sure you have a new story about this every day until election day--just like Hillary email stories on the front page 137 days straight.
16
Once again the NYTimes swoops in during the final days of voting to disparage a Democratic candidate.
15
Beto is still better for Texas and for the USA then Cruz. I wish the Times would do more research before printing such smear stories.
15
The NYT continuing its grand tradition of undercutting rising progressives in tight races with old stories at the last minute. Anyone that thinks this paper has a liberal slant is nuts.
12
NYT has developed a clear pattern of attack pieces on Democratic candidates, or false reporting on lack of Republican contacts with Russians, all timed to do maximum damage to Democratic candidates. Is the Gray Old Lady developing dementia?
12
@RMH
Dear @RMH, It is definitely not a case of developing dementia, the dementia set in years back and will stay on for years to come.
It looks indeed that Mr. Trump's anti-press rhetoric is paying off fort him: the amount of negative comments in the papers/on TV about some Democratic nominees is frightening and moreover free of charge
On the very positive side I read a lot of comments, where readers make their distaste for articles like this known. That is a good start.
Regards/the Captain
2
Really? Not tired of false equivalencies yet nytimes?
17
Irresponsible, NYT.
27
I worked at City Hall in 2006 and remember the force debate that took place over eminent domain and the downtown revitalization plan. The plan was a good idea and it’s unfortunate that it fell apart. I’m glad to see that downtown El Paso has seen an emergence of growth the last ten years. What people didn’t understand about eminent domain was that it is a last resort because of the legal costs of enforcing it. That is why it is hardly used in redevelopment plans. It is a necessary option but usually private owners come to some agreement about compensation for property. Beto and the other pro growth City council members, the Mayor and City Manager did the right thing supporting the plan and El Paso is much better off today because of their initiative and leadership 12 years ago.
18
So the argument is that Beto resembles a Republican?? So the obvious choice to vote Democrat. They had to go that far back to find a vote to talk about, how desperate... Republicans and Cruz voted against ACA how many times recently?? If this is the best they've got, Good for Beto!
7
"[H]is involvement in the proposed El Paso redevelopment highlights a side of his record that, on its surface, seems to contradict the populist image he has cultivated in Texas and nationally."
The operative clause in this sentence is "on its surface," which unfortunately appears to be the extent of The Times's investigation. Speaking as a lifelong Texan and former El Paso resident, I know from firsthand experience that this particular surface sits atop a vastly more complex issue only barely scratched here.
The core of the story is one seen throughout America in various forms: gentrification. It involves a complex calculus: how can we best preserve an area's historic ethnic character and prevent longtime residents from being displaced, while also soberly acknowledging -- and addressing -- its intransigent issues relative to economic decline, blight, and high crime rates? What's the tipping point between urban renewal in its most sincere context, and the warped variation of the term employed throughout post-war America as an excuse for the wholesale razing of areas typically depicted as "ghettos" and "slums"? (and nearly always devoid of white residents)
The Times doesn't even attempt to address these matters relative to El Paso or Beto O'Rourke here, nor does it clarify whether the barrio's activists are a truly representative voice, or that of a sliver of the minority (in a city where where Hispanics outnumber Anglos 5-to-1). This does a disservice to its readers.
33
Apparently, the New York Times has learned the lesson from its coverage of Hillary Clinton:
"In a contest between two candidates, to project "fairness" if one of the candidates has a single offense (say an email server that caused no harm) and and another candidate who has too many criminal and ethical lapses to enumerate, spend the same (or more) column inches on the single flaw of one candidate as on the collective flaws of the other. This way, the only thing anyone will remember is that single flaw."
Time to put it into effect again. I assume a nice "Clinton Cash" equivalent filth spew is available.
13
Sorry, but nothing approaches the ethical lapses of the clintons.
3
Isn't opposition politics great, to coincidentally come up with this piece of DIRT at this fortuitous time for Beto's opponent, I still think Beto is the lesser of two evils by a long shot!!!
8
Yes, agree with a lot of the comments here - where are the articles on how Cruz has angered or impacted residents of TX? What about balanced reporting? Instead the Times chooses to focus on finding the things to undermine candidates that have a very good shot a winning.
22
Liberals don't always vote the way you think they should. The ability to think and make choices not simply based on partisanship or ideology is a good quality. How many more decades will it take to "replace tenements and boarded up buildings in downtown ... " in communities like these? In Texas, without direct federal government investment, it is unlikely to ever happen in a poor Hispanic neighborhood. Sounds like he did the right thing even though it was not PC.
12
To all who expected better of the NYT: They're not the beacon of freedom through truth you think they are. My blinders came off in the last election. You'd better read a wide range of sources to have any hope of our retaining democracy because NYT, NPR, MSNBC are not the gods you think they are.
5
Anyone think Trump will call this article FAKE NEWS. Not a chance. The NYT did Trump, Cruz, and republicans a favor by handing them another campaign ad for FREE.
The NYT editorial board didn’t do any favors for HRC during the 2016 campaign. Instead, they questioned those darn “e-mails” and her truthfulness 24/7, yet Trump’s bullying tactics, name calling, and advocating violence at campaign rallies were reported on TV by giddy and breathless journalists. You’d think they were reporting from a rock concert.
I remember MSNBC covering every Trump campaign rally with bated breath, even if there was an empty mic. HRC received spotty coverage and the NYT completely ignored Bernie Sanders.
But hey, Trump, former realty TV star, was the only game in town, not to mention a big money maker for the greedy 4th Estate.
If Trump-ism wins the day and America finds itself under Authoritarian and Theocratic rule, we’ll know full well where the blame rests with. Thanks NYT.
14
In another non-news deemed worthy using the excruciatingly poor journalistic judgment of Times editors, "Stacey Abrams Remodeled Condo Using Contractors" and "Andrew Gillum Seen Shopping at Trader Joe's." You can't be too careful with these un-American Democratic candidates. Meanwhile, nary an exposé on their opponents' decades-long track records of demagoguery, outright racism, and corruption.
26
Trump called Cruz, "Lyin Ted, his wife was ugly and his father was involved in the Kennedy assassination", yet, the author digs up an old piece to try to show that Beto ORourke wasn't the "pure" progressive that he claims? Clearly, even at this late date, we see the establishment media's fear of non-establishment candidates to the point the column almost reminds one of a Republican election attack ad.
Why not point out the enormous hypocrisy of Cruz that in order to do anything to get re-elected he is now swallowing any pride he might have once had by "kissing the ring" and "genuflecting at the altar" of this President whom once showed total disdain for him, and yet, because of Cruz's desperation we are suppose to still consider him as a viable candidate? Give me a break! Most of the members of his own party don't even like him and that still includes Trump! These people are totally devoid of any ethics whatsoever and it boggles my mind to think that this clown could still be elected!
Sorry Stephanie, there is only ONE viable Senatorial candidate in this election and it sure isn't "Lyin Ted".
13
I am appalled by the timing of this article - was this the worst dirt you could dig up on Beto? The NY Times should be ashamed of itself - you call this reporting the news - digging up some old story to cast Beto in a bad light.
30
Criticizing the new Democrat wunderkind, Robert Francis O'Rourke -- oh, sorry, "Beto" -- is a bold move, and judging from the comments from a readership unaccustomed to the scrutiny of their side of the aisle, a very jarring and unwelcome one. The shrieking and bedwetting is entertaining. Had this been a Republican, showing some apparent similar big-money hypocrisy, it would have been known long ago and flogged from Corpus Cristi to El Paso by the media.
The accusations that the NYT is purposely trying to elect Cruz are a delight and a joy to those of us who are used to a very heavy hand laid on our preferred candidates (I support this! I just wish it were evenly applied). At least half of the critical letters express outrage that he is being scrutinized at all.
Here's a little more about Beto's background that you might not hear from other media: https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/beto-orourke-wont-get-brett-kavan...
5
Unaccustomed to scrutiny of their side of the aisle? Uh, Whitewater, Benghazi, and Hillary's emails say hello. We are actually very used to biased reporting against our candidates, and fake investigations, too. That is why it is so tiresome, especially given the fact that a short trip down memory lane with Mr Cruz's voting record will show that he is a liar and a hypocrite hundreds of times over. He will rubber stamp the republican plan to kill social security and medicare. He will offer no meaningful congressional oversight of the foreign agent in the white house. If Ted Cruz had any dignity or self respect, he would never accept an endorsement from Trump. He is gutless, and craven. Texas can do better. Ted can cruze on.
5
There's no hope for the Times. I'm out of Mulligans.
14
"When my information changes, I alter my conclusions. What do you do, sir?"
- John Maynard Keynes
3
@Thomas Cassidy: Except that this is not "new information." It is a story that has been written about multiple times since 2006, and it is being used tactically as a wedge by Republicans to divide progressives, who are pretending that this is a new piece of information that has just come to light. Cruz is one of the most corrupt politicians in the country today. He represents one sliver of extremely wealthy people, most of them in fossil fuels, one of the major driving forces behind climate change.
Anyone who cares about the future of this planet, but votes for Cruz, is fooling himself and adding to the destruction of our living environment. He is one of the ultimate "back-door" politicians, wheeling and dealing only in the most closed circles with some of the most despicably venal creatures in the country.
And that's saying something, because if there's one thing Trump, Cruz, Cornyn, Hatch, Graham, McConnell, et alia have revealed about this country is that it is full of mendacious, grasping, greedy people, who somehow think their wealth entitles them to the right to buy politicians who will pass laws catering to their selfish interests. Cruz is the poster child for corruption in this country. The Times should be writing about that - but they are probably too afraid of losing their connections to the big money men who run the country behind their closed doors.
6
So big name real estate tycoons can't be populists? Hmm.
8
What is going on here? I just don't get it. Shameful.
This article ranks right down there with the irresponsible NYT Rod Rosenstein "revelation" last month that provided Trump all the excuse he needs to fire him.... He'll then simply appoint a lackey replacement whose main goal will be to get these obstructive traitors off the hook.
This article belongs on the FOX conspiracy network.
16
...and the NY Times is now supporting Ted Cruz by placing this article in the week before the election. Seriously, this is right up there with the timing of the erroneous "There's nothing to this Trump and Russia" story.
16
This is what the New York Times does best. It publishes questionable damaging pieces about political aspirants just prior to an election. I have just one other question. But what about Hillary's emails?
9
Why is the the NYT publishing accusations from 2006 attacking the most positive thing that has happened in Texas politics in many decades? Isn't all the Super Pac and big business money Ted Cruz is spending on ridiculous and constant negative ads enough? They don't need your help in trying to slander him, they are spending millions of "big oil" dollars going after him.
Beto's campaign is a grassroots organization that has only accepted money from the people of Texas. Why not doing some "investigative reporting" on where Cruz has gotten his money? Ms. Spiel this is the most meaningless piece of journalism I've encountered in this newspaper in my lifetime. The people of Texas have issues happening right now that need addressing and Beto O'Rourke has traveled to every county in Texas reaching out to all the people, not just the oil men in Houston. I hope the New York Times will counter this attack piece with something that truthfully defines Beto's policies today.
31
Is this the best a Pulitzer Prize investigative reporter from Ole Miss can do?
Barrio residents usually object to redevelopment out of fear, but with organization will usually come away with far better housing and neighborhoods than they have. Progressives support fair and sensitive redevelopments. Radicals oppose it because they oppose everything. Beto is a progressive, not a radical.
When a city like El Paso is down on its heels there are 3 choices. Do nothing and let it struggle in squalor (Trenton). Government redevelopment (Robert Moses). Public-private partnership where investors motivated by profit give the poor improved lives and the city a working downtown.
Beto's father in law refused to resort to eminent domain, which the article mentions. And Beto married into the family long after the plan was on the table. Where's the beef?
This should have been a balanced story about the struggle for progress in a free market. Instead, especially under that headline, its a hatchet job a week before election day.
27
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has been INDICTED, and yet will still probably be reelected by amoral Republicans who don't give a darn about anything except tax cuts and guns. Why aren't you writing about that? That is a huge story in and of itself!
28
Because Ken could shoot someone in the middle of Main Street in Dallas and be re-elected.
2
This is an old story, and one in which Beto did not do anything wrong. Can the NYT please not publish a hit piece on one of the few inspiring candidates we have right now? Beto is our biggest chance to turn the mid-terms in the proper direction, and you bring this up now? To what point? If you are trying to appear to be fair, you have accomplished the complete opposite. I am disappointed in the NYT, my paper of choice. I may need a new one.
6
So what - no one who reads this paper cares about something that did not happen. You think you are being 'unbiased' and 'fair' - how about balance?
3
Thank you for this hit piece on Beto on the eve of elections- it dispels any quaint notion I might have had that the NYT did not intentionally put its thumb on the scale against Hillary. Makes it clear that the NYT is happy with its role as breathless chronicler of chaos in the White House, since serious investigative reporting would require so much more expenditure of human and financial resources. Everyone should switch to the Washington Post.
13
You could fill your entire newspaper with articles on Ted Cruz's double standards, poor policy making and lies. Yet the self-defeating liberals find ways to turn against their own for lack of "purity". I'm not saying you shouldn't publish this, but you should put it into context against what Beto is up against.
17
@Carlos I think it might be the opposite--Beto is too progressive for the Times; he threatens their corporate interests just like Bernie Sanders did. More than that, token dissents like this improve their standing with whatever Republicans still talk to the New York Times. But however you look at it, you're right--it is inanely self-defeating.
4
I love the comments on this story. We readers have wised up a whole heck of a lot after years of false equivalence, whatabouties and the anodyne. We now regularly challenge the timing and motives of reporters who before the internet age mostly went unchallenged. Great work, folks.
14
@etfmaven it's something, at least! I hope the overwhelmingly negative response to this article is noticed by the NYT editorial board. Somehow, I suspect they will look the other way.
To anyone else who is being driven mad by this stuff: Vote early, if possible. Then you can ignore this sad carnival of provocation pieces, and let the chips fall where they may. Just voted today and I feel much better!
1
The guy who got off scott free on a DUI doesn't abuse the class system to his favor!?!?!?!?
Could it be?
5
There is a much more complete and balanced reporting of Beto's earlier days, including the "real estate" episode in Texas Monthly Jan 2018: https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/makes-beto-orourke-run/
I support Beto and voted for Beto. I have no issue with giving some history but I found this article unbalanced and slightly sensationalistic, and really, this is old news that is being presented like a scoop.
30
Lets see if Trump will be more friendly to the Latino community going forward.
Don't vote for Beto, instead vote for Steve King and Donald Trump.
Good luck and God Speed.
3
The NYT is so cool.
Hillary said yes.
What else do you expect.
This a neat way to clear the brush.
And, it get accolades for spotting corruption.
Never mind it supports and works thieves in NYC and Albany.
Sounds like a nuthin' burger to me...
11
What's the point of this article? Not only is it old news, its been discussed at ad nauseam. The deal never went through, and the people there still support Beto. In the end O'Rourke learned from his mistakes, listened to his constituents, and did the right thing.
One can't help but wonder the motivation behind S. Saul trying to make a mountain out of a ant hill? Especially with such a non issue story as this, that's been talked about for months. If your going to drudge up old news on candidates in a race, you should do it on both so as not to seem partisan. For example, the article could be "Both candidates made mistakes in past" and included Cruz's questionable loan from Goldman Sachs that he failed to mention when he last ran.
16
There is an agenda being pushed here, but I'm not sure
exactly why it manifests this week. If the goal is
to raise questions in people's minds about O'Rourke
being a Texas version of Parsifal, or even a lesser white knight, then it is called a hit job in that
its sole focus is a single event at the beginning of his
political career. There is nothing at all about whether
similar "questionable" issues arose anytime thereafter
about anything else. There is no evidence or discussion about there being a pattern of behavior about anything else. So the focus upon a single event would seem to reek of a mysterious hidden agenda.
What could that be? To show that the NYT is
"evenhanded" because it has paired Leonhardt's expose
re trump with this? Are the two articles really in any reasonable sense comparable? Reading both one can hardly argue such a weak point.
So what the point is remains obscure.
Do we all get to read a longer article tomorrow or Wednesday
about his opponent's innumerable questionable dealings
with energy industry lobbyists and any number of special interests seeking profit or an amendment for insertion in
last year's tax scam by
way of an inside contact with a certain junior Texas senator? I would be astonished to learn that it was not a
long and compelling article, were resources to have also been committed to its publication this week.
10
It's very disheartening to see what I regard as the paper of record publish a piece like this one week ahead of the midterm elections. This article does not expose any new information, it does nothing to add to the substance of the campaign, and given the fact that O'Rourke eventually recused himself from the entire debate, I find it entirely unreasonable to try and use this issue to cast doubt on O'Rourke's character.
I, and many other Texans, first read about this issue in early September, when the Texas Tribune published an article detailing what happened (or more accurately what did not happen) and how Senator Cruz's campaign was at the time on the verge of launching a seven figure ad buy that sought to use this issue to undermine O'Rourke's transparency and credibility - a task that this article seems designed to assist.
I am under no illusions about Beto O'Rourke's station in life - he has been the recipient of a lot of privilege throughout his life. He received an Ivy League education, was the son of a prominent judge, and, yes, married into an extremely affluent family. I do not believe any of this to be disqualifying. Recognizing your privilege and working to make the system more fair is a critical part of the solution to a lot of our problems and I believe Beto O'Rourke sincerely wants to improve the lives of all Texans.
I do not believe that his tertiary involvement in a land redevelopment plan that never materialized is in any way germane to this election.
19
Any student of journalism knows that the timing and placement of an article can matter as much or more than its content. This comes just a few days before a critical election and contains not one bit of "breaking news."
A full reading of this piece doesn't indicate any wrongdoing on O'Rourke's part. Whether or not the plans he supported were wise is a matter of debate. But there is no indication that his motives were suspect.
O'Rourke married into a very wealthy family. (So did Tom Friedman, among others.) In general, it's good to see wealth invested in local communities that may have fallen on hard times.
As for O'Rourke not being a disinterested party, the same is true of The New York Times, whose fortunes are to some extent tied to those of New York City itself. Going forward, I suppose every article about NYC will need to carry a disclaimer to that effect.
12
Here we go again. The far left attacks the moderate left for lack of purity & fidelity, all to the benefit of the far right. Nice going, NY Times.
21
Once again the NYT seeks "balance."
No matter what Beto O'Rourke did in the past, it does not compare to what Ted Cruz is doing in the present.
18
I have read many profiles of this candidate, but this is the first that even mentioned this, or that he has married into a billionaire family. Thank you for the information.
6
@Patrick
There is also an interesting story today on the front page of the NYT on the Trump family's fleecing of the American public with their hotels and "deals" from OUR White House that benefit- who else, the Trump family- the ones who pay no taxes while we pick up the Secret Service golf cart bill when these folks are hob-nobbing in Florida- on our bill.
3
Isn't it amazing. Apparently all progressives must be absolutely be PURE in all their words and deeds... yet conservatives, especially those in power now, are not held accountable for ANYTHING.
21
I don't expect Times reporters to tack left or right. But I would have loved to sit in on the editorial meeting where they decided to run something so close to Election Day.
13
Was this really necessary? It's nothing more than some bows and arrows to attempt to penetrate Rep. O'Rourke's decidedly non-reptilian image to put him on a more level playing field with his opponent (who has a decidedly extremely reptilian image).
Who among us hasn't made a decision they later came to regret? If Beto had had a history of trampling the little guy, or of using his or his wife's family's wealth to advance his own ideological causes (a la Betsy DeVos, for example) we'd have something to complain about. Much ado about nothing.
12
This article burnishes the NYT's reputation for objective reporting. I'd much rather have O'Rourke win than Cruz, but that should not be the concern of a news organization, whose job is to keep us informed even when doing so means providing us with negative or potentially-negative information about people we support. Well done, NYT!
5
If Mr. O’Rourke has any integrity, he would withdraw from the race.
3
@Common Ground
The verbs in the two clauses of your one sentence comment do not agree. Has/will or had/would.
It's really sad what has become of ESL education in Russia.
2
I’d just point out that a newspaper’s job is to research and to publish the news, which ought to pretty much consist first, last and always of those wacky things called facts.
It’s not to propagandize for your Cause, whatever it is. For that, you should trundle on down the road to Fox&Friends, the Washington Times, and Ann Coulter.
So I’m just real sorry that some are offended by hearing that sometimes politicians cut deals, because politics IS cutting deals. But I’m even sorrier to see that there are such things as lefties who want their boy’s statue kept nice and shiny, and who can’t face the notion that maybe electing a good Senator means that from time to time, the good Senator will turn to you and say no.
By the way, anybody ever worry about finding themselves waxing indignant about the same things in the media that Trump and his merry band wax indignant about? Or their suspiciously similar demands to keep their boy immaculate? Or the notion that all that matters is Winning?
On balance, I’d still gladly vote Beto if i could, and you certainly should. For one thing, he’s not a human snail.
So please vote.
12
Intersting. Beto has been running advertisements and getting media coverage in Texas since August and this is the first time I learned of his very rich family background. Now why is that? The national and local news media has run many stories about Beto but not a single mention of his family ties to billions.
It now makes sense why he is for open border, cheap labor, and gov't healthcare .... every issue that benefits rich corporations over individual workers. In case you don't see it, the call for gov't healthcare is not to help the individuals but the corporations by moving the cost burden to the individuals taxes and away from employer paid. More profit for big corp and more taxes for individuals.
1
@Beto's role in the El Paso City Council's Downtown redevelopment efforts was thoroughly explored in responsible local media at the time it happened. Other than evoking the usual back and forth between people with different views on the issue, the matter resulted in no stain on Beto's credibility as a progressive, or on his integrity. El Paso has both a Mexican-American supermajority and a very blue voting history and after these events occurred Beto went on to upset a popular, long-serving, Mexican-American congressman in the Democratic primary -- Sylvestre Reyes, who at the time chaired the House Intelligence Committee and had no major scandals. Reyes tried to make hay of this but the people who saw it up close elected Beto anyway. And when the votes are counted next week, Beto will get 90 percent of the votes in the neighborhood that was supposedly victimized by the events subject of this story. Watch and see.
12
Our press should be tough on our leaders and those who aspire to be our leaders but I am disappointed in the Times for deciding to publish this highly critical, thinly sourced (this article's main source--and translator?!--David Romo is literally in every criticial article about O'Rourke) article on a 12-year-old non-story days before an election. If Stephanie Saul was breaking news, run the presses! But this is an article in search of a controversy. The "controversial" deal did not happen. O'Rourke was overhwelming reelected by the people in that very same neighborhood before going on to serve in the House. And I am happy to report, El Paso is breaking records for voter turnout...for Beto.
20
It seems that many who call this a hit job would disagree with shining light on the candidates. A corrupt press would only discuss the good things about candidates, and not the whole truth. Is that what you prefer?
3
I am a Beto supporter and an avid reader of the NYT. However, in an effort to prove that the right wing is wrong and that the NYT is not biased, it over compensates by writing these kinds of stories. Just like with Hillary.
I still support Beto and hope you can find some stories about Cruz. Of course, maybe Cruz has done very little to write about, a story in itself.
11
I believe that the NYT needs to fully apologize for the misleading headline. I keep giving this paper a pass, mainly because I enjoy the readers' comments, but my patience is wearing thin. This country is facing destruction of its democratic institutions. We are being fed a constant stream of lies and bullying invective from the Republican president, who is, unbelievably, supported full-throat by other Republicans in Congress. If we do not see a change in Congress at the mid-terms, greed, lying, demonizing the other, and failure to represent the interests of the majority of Americans will win. The NYT needs to understand this.
14
Good job, Ms. Saul. You had to go back 12 years to find ONE item you could use to smear O'Rourke, but you found it. Congratulations!
How many lies did Trump tell today?
41
@J Jencks NBC went back 10-15 years to smear Trump weeks before election. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
3
@J Jencks. but more so what is wrong with redevelopment. Done successfully many other places. So why is this a negative on his record.
2
@Zieanna B - my post was meant as sarcasm about Ms. Saul's attempts to drum up dirt. I wasn't expressing an opinion about the redevelopment project. The article doesn't give me enough information about the project to form an opinion.
Like most of the other commenters here, I am disheartened that the NYT (of all papers!) would publish this hit piece against O'Rourke this close to an election. However, I've seen these moves before. The NYT consistently talks like it holds democracy and journalistic integrity above all else, but whenever a truly progressive candidate is about to ascend, the knives (in the back) come out! Go back to early 2016 and read all the articles about Bernie Sanders to know exactly how much love these editors have for truly progressive values. The only reason to keep my subscription at this point, it seems, is that many of the folks that comment here are quick to set the record straight. I'm glad to see that the majority of us on the comment board can easily see past this thinly veiled yellow journalism.
14
If only you’d shown this kind of concern in unearthing information about Trump before the 2016 election....
16
I've seen no articles written on Ted Cruz about how his actions/votes has affected the people of Texas, whether positively or negatively. Why this article on Beto? Is this an attempt to "balance" coverage?
21
The sensitive ears of the far left cannot handle that many Democrats are just as corrupt as Republicans. Priceless.
7
@MM
Get Real.
Not ending up voting for a gentrification project is not corruption. Trump on the other hand is robbing the taxpayers blind and adding a trillion to our debt.
But only in the Real World.
3
Two things.
1) Any urban redevelopment plan is going to meet local objection. If not from the barrios, someone else is going to be unhappy. The primary difference between good development plans and bad development plans is the effort stake-holders make in presenting their idea and their willingness to honestly adapt to public criticisms.
2) This is the best story Ted Cruz could manufacture to attack Beto O'Rourke? I only need to breath the words Cambridge Analytica and the wind is knocked right out of Cruz' sails. Cruz was intentionally funneling money into the company's accounts in return for the political patronage of the owner, Robert Mercer. This was before Cambridge Analytica was shown to have use stole Facebook data to compile voter profiles. I don't think we even need to touch on Cruzs extramarital accusations from 2016.
84
@Andy How did Ted Cruz manufacture this story? Does he write for the Times now?
2
@Andy When did Senator Cruz start writing for the NYT?
Other than that gaffe, I agree with point number one.
All across the USA Suburban Flight = Urban Blight. Add to that the ability to shop suburban malls and now the internet, and historic downtown shopping districts become stale and businesses are shuttered as commerce moves elsewhere. Whats left is a local historic character, but at the cost of a downward economic spiral. Continued conflict between low income traditional residents (especially in communities of color ) and commercial developers (ditto gentrification buyers) is inevitable. Very hard to see how to break a cycle that disenfranchises those communities in the name of economic "progress" can find a middle ground. Calculus of "net economic development" that produces some human misery nearly impossible to balance.
2
What's missing from this 12 year old story is whether and how much has the plan ultimately benefited the people of El Paso and the people of the Barrio. Since O'Rourke still has broad support in the community, even among those who objected to the plan, I have a feeling that the dire consequences predicted at the time did not materialize. Any significant change in a community will generate opposition. Leaders face it and work with their community to get the best outcome for the most people. I admire Beto O'Rourke for that.
5
Stuart Blaugrund's comment that Beto is " 'tone-deaf' to the appearance of a conflict" captures what I see in him.
I am glad for the detail in this story, that the project did not go through and that Beto recused himself when (apparently) he finally heard what the community was saying.
From what I can see, he is basically a good person and is for the people, and I am for him.
15
There are two possibilities - either he changed his views over time, or he didn't. If he did, it's not an issue. If he didn't, the question remains: Is Cruz a better choice? Clearly not.
29
The only thing « Beto » changed was his Irish first name to a Mexican one.
1
Progressive often means progress. Moving forward trying to make things better. Moving forward is not always prefect but at least we are trying for a vision of the future than is not defined or based on the past. Inner city redevelopment takes money. The old has to some time come out to make room for the new and the jobs that it brings. Dems think about programs to help those people that have been displaced. Repubs just displace them!
8
I'm failing to see the point of this article. This is something that happened 12 years ago. Is this one incident supposed to be proof that O'Rouke isn't "progressive" enough? And if you are going to run an article like this so close to the election, why not run an article detailing how just last year Texas had the literal highest rate of maternal mortality in the developed world and the highest level of uninsured people in all of US, while there's a candidate who once did a 21 hour filibuster to defund ACA?
50
I’m from El Paso. This article is highly misleading. It makes it seem as though Beto O’Rourke was single-handily responsible for the decision to revamp downtown. He had one vote on El Paso’s city council, which ultimately voted to move forward with the plan. The writers of this article didn’t interview one single person who was in favor re-doing downtown, which was pretty much everyone in El Paso. We are so proud of our downtown. It is bustling with life and business. El Paso’s city council went to great lengths to find housing and even help pay for any residents who were affected. Just to be crystal clear, these people were living in delapadated apartments they rented. I personal was in some of these apartments, and they were barely up to code. New housing was built and the city helped residents of the Second Barrio move into housing that could at least afford them dignity to live somewhere that wasn’t squalor. I’d say at least 95-percent of El Pasoans agree that the decisions made by city council in 2006-2007 moved El Paso forward and we are all love our downtown. We are grateful city council had the courage to get El Paso out of the dusty little West Texas town mentality.
45
I see what you’re doing NY Times. In an effort to appear to be the pristine news organization you believe yourselves to be, you dredge up some negative story about a prominent democrat running for office right before the election.
What makes this attempt so transparent is that it isn’t even news. And so you gamble with the country’s future. Is it worth it? Comey did something similar last election. Ask him if it was worth it.
I encourage subscribers to consider if it’s worth their money.
43
@John Disagree. While I side with Beto O'Rourke on this as downtown development is critical to a city's growth, look at the absolute slew of articles in the NYT done in the same way on Republicans by going into their past.
1
@John
Boy, John, did you figure this out. You might apply to be an investigative reporter yourself one day.
Thanks for your suggestion to readers to consider if the NYT is worth the money. Why, by the way, do you read it?
Old news - this was disclosed months ago and Beto supporters still think he is a far better candidate than Cruz. How about focusing your efforts to expose Trump's political move to mobilize National Guard troops to our border??? All he is doing is campaigning for Cruz and trying to scare people into voting for him.
31
I totally support the NYT doing investigative stories about Democrats. I'm a progressive Democrat but just bashing Trump does not serve us well.
We must hold O'Rourke and his wealthy father-in-law to high standards. Making excuses for 'successful' Democrats and their self-aggrandizing behavior or poor personal choices is OVER. Have we learned nothing from the fawning over Bill Clinton et.al.? Get real NYT readers. O'Rourke should honestly respond to his past errors and tell us why he is an "authentic" progressive now? He certainly has been "pro gentrification and pro development" ignoring the consequences on real folks in his district in the past.
8
@KHD In his many, many meetings with constituents, do you think he did not explain? If you were there, did you ask questions? How did he respond?
4
@KHD You make running as a progressive in Texas sound easy. He could have run as a moderate or even changed parties and run as a republican and possibly beaten tired Ted Cruz.
1
@KHD
Why should he have to take, let alone pass, a purity test? He’s never claimed to be a “progressive” in a manner to which you allude.
Representatives make choices based on information at the time; these have benefits to some, distractions for others. There isn’t always a win-win, especially with re-development.
Did he make what he felt was a choice that provided the most benefit longterm for his district and the city? Yes. Is he still supported by a vast majority of his district? Yes. Does he understand he may have to compromise to advance ideas? Yes. Is he thoughtful and considerate about various viewpoints before he makes his decision? Yes. Does he think of others more than self? Yes.
That is all we can ask of those we elect to leadership roles. The headline and article is not reflective of what is missing in our discourse: nuance. Polarization is killing our nation.
6
This is a total hit piece, and for what reason I have no idea. Dragging up old news to tarnish the image of a man who has shown great character and leadership throughout his campaign. The headline should read that "Barrie Residents Remember, But Still Support Him Full-Stop."
The Times' contrived insistence on appearing balanced by digging up stale "dirt" on Democratic candidates is beyond frustrating. I take no issue with these kinds of articles when Democrats have actually engaged in corruption or have voted for nefarious proposals, but this isn't one of those instances. It is quite telling, and underemphasized in the article, that Beto retains 80% support from his former council district. That should have told the editors, hey, this really is a nothing story.
57
@Patrick check out a lot of the Times' coverage of Bernie Sanders in the months leading up to the 2016 primary. O'Rourke echoes much of Bernie's message; apparently the message still strikes a nerve.
1
@sean Yes I recall, but the alternative in that situation was a Democrat (Clinton). The alternative here is Ted "I'll say anything to get elected" Cruz. It's just so obvious NYT wants to tally up negative Democratic stories as some sort of statistic to counterweight Trump's attacks on them as biased.
1
I disagree with your characterization of the New York Times. We, as Democrats, cant pick and choose what articles are favorable or unfavorable to our candidate. We must live in the moment and be attentive to what is ongoing, not the timing of a story. Me? I love Beto and a number of things he espouses. On the other hand, this article makes me severely question his ethics and his long term plan for Texas. News Flash: I don’t have a father in law who is a BILLIONAIRE. My father in law died broke, owing me money if the truth be known. This makes me want to rethink my vote entirely, if not, I’ll go to Cruz since he doesn’t have this kind of baggage.
1
Thank you for this reporting. This helps in restoring some balance to NY Times' coverage of the political scene and enhancing its credibility with the other half.
9
@Neil I agree. So much fawning "reporting" on O'Rourke verges on hagiography that it is nice to be reminded that he is human.
1
@Neil it's a very small step but it is the first sign of a return to sanity, something I was afraid we would not see again in the Young Sulzberger era
1
@Neil
When a man like Cruze out of desperation to get re-elected is now "kissing the ring" of someone(along with his party) who despises him, in this instance, particularly, there is hardly the need for some"false equivalence" .
2
It is not a stretch to say that with this coming election, our democracy is in fact on the line. Legendary investigative journalist Carl Bernstein
is predicting that even if Democrats win a majority in the house after this vote, Trump will declare it null and void due to illegal voting, etc. This is a horrific scenario but given the constant
barrage of hate and disinformation coming from Trump, I find it entirely possible and totally frightening. As a megalomaniac and wannabe dictator, Trump seems capable of almost anything to hold onto and increase his power.
His constant rallies are solid evidence of his desires to maintain power through his lies. After the slaughter in Pittsburgh, by a Trump motivated hate monger, I consider Trump supporters to be distant "accessory's to murder". Because the New York Times appears to be tipping the scales towards Trump in this hit piece on Beto, I am beyond shocked at the motivations of the editorial board.
16
Hmmm...one candidate misses no opportunity to take away my medical insurance and bankrupt the federal government, the other once supported a plan to improve his city. See, both sides are bad!
57
So, Beto was involved in this controversial development plan 12 years ago and now has 80 percent constituent support.
Maybe that should been your lead.
76
I am El Paso resident who has just read this article in a coffee shop where candidate O'Rourke often visits with his family and interacts as a genuine supporter of our community. As an avid NYT reader who just voted an hour ago in the Early Voting polls at the courthouse here in downtown, I am a bit taken aback by the timing of this article. I understand that stoking debate prior to a vote is an old tradition that dates as far back as when Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Madison and Mr. Jay penned the Federalist Papers in New York newspapers ahead of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. I question, however, why an article which reveals no wrongdoing on Mr. O'Rourke's part merits a headline without similar coverage of the foibles of his competitor, Mr. Cruz. Perhaps such an article is forthcoming? After all, the Federalist Papers appeared in the New York press to counter the arguments and influence of those who wrote the Anti-Federalist papers. Has the NYT forgotten the storied history of balanced coverage and debate that is the foundation of our democracy, one that was painstakingly built among the very streets and printing presses and halls it has emerged from? It was Oct 27, 1787, when the first essay of the Federalist Papers was published. Now, almost 231 years to the day, their spirit is as important as ever.
66
@Publius Are you stating that the NYT has written no articles critical of Senator Ted Cruz during this election season or in the course of Sen. Cruz's career? C'mon, let's keep it real. I support Beto, but criticizing the NYT for providing some balanced reporting on Beto is overall a good thing.
1
@LjBalanced reporting is fine, but this story is really old, it's already been in the main Texas papers this cycle (they found no there there), and Cruz and his PACs have already used it in misleading attack ads. Why run it 8 days before the election?
2
@Lj: My point is the timing of the article. This 12-year old story isn't exactly breaking news. It has a slanted headline and buries the central facts that the deal never went through, O'Rourke did nothing illegal, and that the overwhelming majority of his constituents still enthusiastically support him. Casual readers not reading past the headline may form a negative impression that does not take into account these important points. (If they form such an impression despite these points, fine). But I believe that balanced coverage must be considered both in terms of space AND time. In this case, the question is: why give space for THIS story at this critical time? And conversely, why no story of the opponent at THIS time? Sure, there have been articles in the past, but that is why I asked if one on Cruz is forthcoming as a counterbalance to this one. Finally, in the spirit of your point, I have indeed enjoyed articles in the NYT that were far more balanced on these candidates (e.g., "Beto O’Rourke Dreams of One Texas. Ted Cruz Sees Another Clearly.", by Matt Flegenheimer, 31 Aug 2018). It is an example of the type of fine political reporting I look forward to, and have come to expect, of the NYT.
4
I agree, the optics were terrible. He eventually recused himself and did the right thing. But, a story like this would do absolutely nothing to tarnish the reputation of a Republican. Furthermore, he is running against Ted Cruz, the only person in the universe who could make Trump look like the best Republican presidential candidate.
9
I was born in Segundo Barrio, and calling it "a historic Mexican-American neighborhood" is somewhat disingenuous, and demonstrates ignorance on the part of the author about the demographics and social dynamic in El Paso. This city has a Hispanic population of nearly 80%, mostly of Mexican descent, that has considerable diversity in income, education, etc. Most of them don't share this author's romantic view of "tenements and boarded-up buildings," and not only is it one of El Paso's poorest neighborhoods, but one of the poorest in the entire country for years. This community needs investment, maybe not like the the project Beto was briefly trying to introduce, but I can't hold it against him for trying to do something for a neighborhood that is usually either ignored or shunned by the rest of the city and its government.
56
Leaders like O'Rourke sometimes have to make difficult décisions that some of many of their constituents disagree with. He obviously thought he was doing something for the greater good. That is what leadership is about.
37
This "news" article highlights something that happened in the past and was debated in the past. You have to wonder why it is being published now. Can't you do some real investigative reporting on rumors that Texas rejected 2K legal voter registrations and that TX voting machines are switching votes? It would be nice to know if these rumors are true. There are so many more stories that deserve investigation. Pulling a story out of the archives is not only lazy, it is irresponsible.
71
You ought to be more worried about whether the story’s accurate or not. Tough beans if you don’t like that your guy isn’t perfect, at least in some eyes.
I’d still vote Beto if i could, and I don’t think this is that big of a deal, but I am heartily sick of the, “How dare you notice my guy did what he did,” and “How dare you point out that politics always involves cutting deals,” crowd.
1
@Joyce aaah, but the switching votes story was more or less confirmed yesterday on Snopes. Voters are advised that this happens sometimes, and are advised to "not rush" because the issue is said to happen when the voting actions are taken too quickly: dialing the candidate, then pressing the Enter button. Voters are also advised to check their ballot before casting, and Snopes included a phone shot of what was said to be a voter's straight-ticket Democratic ballot with Ted Cruz's name on top. If that happens, voters are advised that the ever-helpful poll workers will help you get it right. At my poling place they are 100% Republican and greet you with sincere Christianity. Which is fine, as long as they can do their job.
1
@Judy in Texas And it's only Democrats who are pressing buttons too quickly? Why is it that not a single instance of vote reversals in the opposite direction has come to light?
1
perhaps one day in the future we will have perfec D candidates. here on earth in the present, the Ds are all that stand between us and the apocalypse. Vote D, even if your candidate isn't perfect -- the Rs are only for annihilation and destruction that enriches them and their donors
21
Here we go again, a "but her emails!" moment.
55
Have you seen the San Antonio River Walk? It is now a magnet for people of all types from everywhere to enjoy the city. It is hardly a stretch to think that a representative would look at El Paso's "tenements and boarded-up buildings" to offer a place for all the citizens of El Paso to enjoy "restaurants, shops, and an arts walk".
What does El Paso have there right now? Any resident of El Paso here to inform us?
12
Shameful reporting. Show me one, just ONE, political candidate who has not promoted change and redevelopment of a decrepit downtown anywhere in the world. And then show me that the redevelopment led to worsening job, safety and quality of life. Houston's downtown rebirth has given thousands of poor Houstonians work and improved tax coffers for the city/county. Wow, the Times is advocating returning to the past, ala Trump! And just in time to affect the outcome of an election, ala Comey disclosures.
60
@Baboulas While I side with Beto O'Rourke on this as downtown development is critical to a city's growth, look at the absolute slew of articles in the NYT done in the same way on Republicans.
@Baboulas I can show you one - Donald Trump.
As as Texas resident, I hate Ted Cruz: he's an embarrassment.
But I also don't get Beto. He whispers sweet things, but shows no substance. He's just another populist, and we need fewer of those.
16
@Hans How does a comment get a "Times Pick"? This comment seems very slanted. I'm not sure what you mean by "shows no substance" and there is definitely a big difference be a right-wing populist and a progressive populist if that is how you want to label Beto.
16
@Hans You have two choices, choose wisely!
9
If he flaunted any progressive substance you’d hate him too. Maybe read between the lines if you’re looking for policy? Do we really think Obama, for example, was ever actually against gay marriage?
Politicians have to ultimately appeal to a lowest common denominator and in America that denominator is LOW.
1
I'm not counting, but by now I no longer feel I have to... from panicked Dems, to Beto support years ago, your (NY Times) incredibly negative presentation of the Democratic party is something to behold. Obviously I'm overlooking the fact that there's nothing critical that can be presented about Mr Cruz or his campaign, so excuse me there.
In your attempt to be "unbiased" NY Times, you've overcorrected the steering wheel, and the country is heading for another ditch...
35
Seriously, NYT? A week before one of the most important elections in our lifetimes and you dump a story like this? What's your agenda here because there most certainly is one.
The attempt to dig up any thread of negativity to offer an opposite/alternate or more clear expose on a candidate at this point in time, a candidate who would be an asset to our country is, simply a pathetic excuse to have some small measure of influence. Your own Comey moment. An October surprise. As seen by the article full of maybes, could have beens, and possibly likely scenarios.
I have higher expectations for the Times. The timing of this piece stinks of self promotion.
59
Is this a pathetic way to show that the NYT is unbiased? Or a hatchet job designed to keep the GOP majority in the Senate? Timing and relevance of article is suspicious.
49
Seriously, NY Times? Publishing what is basically a hit piece, smearing one of the brightest stars on the political scene? If you’re in the mood to publish smear articles, go after the candidates who are truly worthy. There’s an awfully long list to choose from. Then, to add insult to injury, the story is hardly anything and there’s even a logical rationale for why Beto supported the development. Too bad thousands won’t read further than the inflammatory headline. Shame on you, Gray Lady.
159
@Daniel Dye
Well at least it didn’t accuse him of having an affair like John McCain.
5
@Daniel Dye
You are so right! How dare anyone say or write any facts that might hurt the feelings of Saints like O'Rourke, Alexa whateverhernameis, Blasey, etc etc. You tell them (such a pleasant surprise that the perps are the NYT!)
1
@Daniel Dye
BOOOO NYTimes.. I usually find you fair.. but this is only one of many of your " hit pieces" against candidates and an area of our country which you know little about. I am ashamed of you..kinda like Maureen Dowd's year of hatred pieces against Hillary...
5
Still better than Ted Cruz.
20
Leave it to liberals to pick the exact wrong time to expect complete purity.
14
@T Montoya Not purity, but at least not sabotage.
3
@T Montoya Did you bother to read the article?
@T Montoya
Fortunately, unlike Ted Cruz, regardless of what O'Rourke's business history entails, in "Lyin Ted's" desperation to get re-elected, O'Rourke is not on his hands and knees "kissing the ring" and "genuflecting at the altar" of a President whom along with much of his own party that has total disdain for him.
Oh come on NYT. First you insist we all vote for corrupt Cuomo, talk about real estate deals. Then you trash Gillum who is against an open racist. Now you try to kill off Beto. The deal did not go through and you do not know all that was involved do you? Has he tried anything like it again?
And why not mention Ted and his reptile ways. Voting against healthcare, and voting for everything which would benefit the Mercer family and any oil company and against anything for the working class. sucking up to the mad president, though he called Ted's wife ugly and accused his father of helping to kill JFK?
Why are you so adamant that Progressives must be stopped ? Wake up and stop the group think. Me thinks you are still dazzled by corporate money. Is it because it makes you feel safe and normal. Is it because it is familiar. Gee whiz, thanks for another smear piece on a candidate who very probably is a really great guy when we know the alternative is just more of the same corruption and misery.
Thanks for the hopelessness of Cuomo. At least Cynthia helped get rid of 5 of his corrupt enablers. A shout out to her for that!
56
I literally am stunned you would choose to publish this nothing story, one week before the election. Why not just cut to the chase and endorse Ted Cruz? Of all the sleazy corrupt politicians to smear, you’d go after Beto? Really? Out of all the filthy disgraceful politicians out there? Maybe there is some truth to this “fake news” business....
61
Time is short before Election Day. Have you fully checked parking tickets issued in El Paso? Beto might have double parked once or even parked on a hill without turning his wheels toward the curb.
95
@From Where I Sit
He did however get a DWI and flee the accident of the scene.
1
@Logic: several commenters remind us
that he was arrested at the scene of the crime,
that he was not charged with "leaving the scene
of the accident" and that the witness who said
he did has remained anonymous until today.
now what?
2
Oh no!
He's not pure as purity pure can be!
Vote for the other person!
Don't vote at all!
18
Disgusted with you NYT. This 11th hour "James Comes move" leaves me to wonder what your motive is. Do you really want us to have 6 more years of Cruz??
110
@MB THe Comey situation came to my mind as well. This happened 12 years ago. Why are they publishing it now, under a headline that suggests wrongdoing?
6
Well, you probably need to stand by to suck it up on that one. Still I found the story showed an interesting correlation between Jared Kushner and Congressperson O’Rourke: marrying the billionaire’s daughter. Now that is making money the old fashioned way. In fact the Congressperson’s in-law can buy and sell Mr. Kushner’s in-law.
The NYT needs to run these front page stories that cast a dim light on dems poised to win important elections in order to maintain access to Rs in power. It is abundantly clear that articles like these, where the story does not support the slanted headlines is a trade off of good journalism for access to power. The Times is corrupt. Switch to the wash post.
53
NYT, get yourselves together. This is not a meaningful news article. Stop inventing balance and equivalence when it is very clear that none exists between the two sides
46
@Angry They really are desperate for Trump to like them.
2
So "Beto O’Rourke Once Supported an El Paso Real Estate Deal"? Oh, my God!
That must trump (pun intended) Cruz's support for the freedom to bear assault weapons used each week in mass murders, his support for trashing ACA--not top mentuo9n Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and his general support for Trump's nation-destroying right-wing extremist, right, Times?
How about sticking to REAL issues people care about now? Cruz vs O'Rourke on: safety, gun-violence, the NRA's role in both, the ACA, healtcare in general, soaring income inequality, tax windfalls for the .001% that are bankrupting the USA and causing the debt to soar (aka Fake-o-nomics), support for right-wing extremists, haters, and encouragement of violence against others in our nation.
Keep the focus where it belongs!
66
Highly questionable that this article is the first article on your homepage after the Pittsburgh massacre. Rehashing old news, not intrepid reporting. I don't seen any other paper of record carrying this on the front page. Is this part of the attempt to appear "balanced"? Same question regarding the article on pipe bomber from last week that went into detail about HRCs debt and how she paid for her house...completely inappropriate. Really considering canceling my subscription, I can do my crossword somewhere else!
29
NYTs showing it hates liberalism again. This happened 12 years ago but thank you NYTs! Cruz will run on it.
High 5, newspaper of the privileged elitist NYC Wall St CorpoDems.
Reminds me of the Judith Miller days. Yellow cake mmm mmm
13
For those who didn’t read the article, let me sum it up for you — nothing happened. Really. Nothing actually happened.
53
Funny, but this is the first time we've seen anything in the mainstream press about how, after his Ivy League education in Manhattan, "Beto" married into a billionaire family that launched his career. It would hardly have taken a sleuthing genius to discover who the guy married or how "Beto" did the family's bidding, making him one of the richest members of Congress.
I guess the press has decided that now "Beto's" campaign is dead in the water there's no longer any need to hide his background.
These uncomfortable details of white privilege certainly cloud the myth of "Beto," even though Americans generally don't hold class origins against people if they're honest about them. JFK never hid his privileged glamor background by riding a skate board or adopting a hispanic nickname. Expect "Beto" to hear a lot more about this if he manages to turn his upcoming defeat into a springboard to more important offices. Our current president, who makes no apologies for his wealth, will make sure of that.
29
Beto had so much privilege he had to take out student loans because his mother ran a furniture store and couldn't afford to pay his tuition. Maybe if I had a white mother who sold sofas and bed frames I could be a member of Congress too! Maybe if "Raphael" had the same privilege he would've won the Republican nomination in 2016. Instead "Raphael" talks about how his father stitched a $20 bill to his boxers. Poor "Raphael".
26
@Chuck French Good post Chuck, and you are absolutely right. I've been following the Beto vs Cruz campaign from up here in Philadelphia and never knew Beto was the son-in-law of, and supported by, a billionaire. Unbelievable it took this long to hear about it, and I read the NYT everyday, and the Post, plus our local Philly papers.
10
@Chuck French Beto is so rich one of his sisters works as a nurse in a hospice. His other sister has severe learning disabilities and is dependent.
20
We have a truly unsavory candidate in New Jersey, Robert Menendez, whose corruption is far greater than the ambivalence of O'Rourke. I will vote for him because he will vote for the policies I support and hold my nose in the voting booth. We have to change policies and vote for the candidates who will do that.
I agree with those who wonder why this article is coming out so close to the election, giving O'Rourke so little time to grapple with this issue.
19
This reads like a hit job. Your story says O'Rourke and his father-in-law were trying to improve part of El Paso. We may not agree with the way they set out to do it — and there were opponents, as there always are in redevelopment projects — but it seems, from reading your story, that their hearts were in the right place. So why bring this up now, at this election eve, and in this manner?
26
@Muskateer Al No, it reads like the truth.
In another NYT article- Trump and his family - have a list of ACTUAL corruption and fraud as long as your arm about how their family and aides are ripping off the American public with our Congress eating at the Trump hotel along with their Enjoy the part about 137K for golf carts for Secret Service and the millions Americans are paying to wag the Trump bunch to Florida to play golf on our dime.
This article reminds me of when the Denver Post used its pulpit to put a thumb on the scale for our Senator Cory Gardner over Mark Udahl at the last possible second last election.They said he would be a bipartisan force for the Congress. Not so. Gardner has been completely co-opted by the Trump administration and votes with him nearly more than any member of Congress. Completely irresponsible.
25
I'm disturbed by the number of commenters that apparently expect the Times to only write stories that support their candidates or worldview. The left is looking ever more like the Fox News right. What we don't need is another mindless, partisan news source, left or right. We need real journalism, a variety of viewpoints, and a readership that isn't triggered when they read something they disagree with.
12
@PDM
Bravo! However, you're ignoring an important feature of our times: Nobody, whether individual or media member, is allowed to say anything hurtful to the various saints of the snowflake, "social justice" crew. It's inappropriate to do so. The Times must confess and apologize to metoo.
3
Yes, but this is a lazy bit of writing, rehashing something from the past and bringing it into the limelight for discussion. Can't the NY Times do better than that?
1
Ted Cruz will be eternally grateful to the New York Times for publishing this article one week before election day.
Shades of Comey and his oh-so-brave Clinton announcement.
25
@Djanga
The Times is always biased. In favor of Republicans? I think I just cracked a rib laughing.
@Shamrock Did I say the Ties is biased in favor of Republicans? No. YOU said that.
Not an avid reader of right wing media which has this covered but the news to me here is that Beto is really a very very rich guy, richer than Ted Cruz, despite his down home, just folks, no big money for me image. Oh, not that getting it the old fashioned way by marriage isn't hard work. Especially when your father in law is a billionaire and you have to live up to that.
6
Ted Cruz is criticizing his opponent for family wealth? For ties to the real estate business? For being elitist? For being disingenuous? Please, give us rational, sane and literate Americans a break. How about a report on Ted Cruz’ funding sources?
32
Isn't this complaining about a lot of nothing. Really fostering improving neighborhoods and cities is exactly what politicions should be doing. The very definition of Progressive.
I've lived in Silicon Valley for 45 years. It's been constantly changing. I remember when orchards lined the 101. I currently live near Facebook. In 10 years virtually the entire area east of the 101 will have been rebuilt. There is a massive highway 101 Willow Road interchange 2 year rebuild near me. Due finished next summer. I can hear the work going on right now.
I have already seen that area undergo a complete change once. Homeowners will benefit enormou$ly. It's improvement benefits all of US.
This article is a nasty hit job. Twist the truth. Make something good seem bad. I can't help but wonder at the intent?
24
To my fellow Cruz-haters who are enraged that the NYT is printing this story: here is yet another example of why The Times is America's paper of record. Its editors recognize their first responsibility is to inform the public of things they need to know- not necessarily the things they WANT to know. Beto is like every other politician and every other human being: he's flawed and he's made mistakes. And he remains a thousand percent more worthy of support than is Lyin' Ted. The Times editors have also made mistakes- but theirs are normally the mistakes of omission, which would have been compounded by their having declined to publish this story.
15
@stu freeman
Meanwhile Cruz invites his white supremacist fellow republican to rally for him and nothing is said about how their party has become the Ku Klux Klan
17
@Captainspires: "Nothing is said"? By whom? The NYT has devoted lots of ink to Cruz' malevolence. Send your comment to FOX.
1
@stu freeman
If this article didn't sway people to vote for Cruz instead of O'Rourke, I might agree with you. But it will. You know why? People will say "Look even the left wing NY Times admits O'Rourke is flawed! I see no such thing about Cruz on right wing papers! The choice is clear."
Do I think people should think like that? No. But they will. And that will have an impact on our country. This "news" (just how new is this, anyhow?) isn't being reported in a vacuum.
10
This article and the one on Andrew Gillum seem to be digging pretty deep to find the tiniest inconsistencies in progressive candidates who have a shot at winning. I find the Times' motivation pretty questionable. Where have the articles been over the last *40 years* about how the GOP says one thing (we're for family values and working Americans) and does another (enacts policies that hurt working Americans and cheat on their wives, pay off their mistresses, have gay sex in bathrooms, engage in corruption, etc. etc.)?
107
@Cameron
The Times has been favoring Democrats for my entire life (I’m 57) and there are complaints about one article about a race in Texas when the Democrat candidate could not have received more fawning coverage nationwide for 3 months. Incredible.
Another "whitewash" by the NYT. No, the plan did not go through and because of that he didn't enrich himself. Wow! What an honourable man. He promoted his wife's father's business interests. He did not recuse himself from a blatant conflict of interest. He would have benefited from any enrichment to his in-law's family fortune - but look, he has no dirt on his hands because the scheme he promoted did not materialize.
Another phony liberal, like Harris and Booker, who first went to Wall Street before they discovered their "liberal roots." Do you blame people for voting for Cruz - or just staying at home? With Cruz, you know the devil you got; why take the chance of getting one dressed in blue. The Democrats are a new candy for Halloween: BLUE on the outside, but RED inside.
5
Oh yes, thank you again, NYT, for flat lining a promising Democratic candidate. You don't have the 30+ years you devoted to Hillary, so you're going to have to move faster on this one.
Read below too, "they remember and still voted for him".
36
I pay for the NYT because I know that this paper has journalists with the highest integrity. However, the timing of an article rehashing old news really leads me to question the integrity of the editors. I don't understand- how was this allowed to be published so close to the midterms? Are you trying to alienate paying customers? Can I see something similar about Ted Cruz take the same spot tomorrow, or are you going to talk about next-door neighbor Nazis again?
111
@Stevo
Be honest- you are just disappointed that 100% of the NYT coverage is not pro liberal/ anti-conservative. 98% is not enough for you.
6
@Stevo
I’m shocked too. A piece that didn’t promote the Democrat candidate. I never thought I would see the day. But remember, it’s only one article and the election is in Texas.
1
The plan was abandoned.
This is an attempt to smear a politician over something that never happened.
How about sticking to the things that have actually happened and are currently happening, NYT?
131
If the editors at the NWT could travel back in time, would they go back to October 29, 1959 and publish a story about JFK's philandering? Maybe put in another long piece on his Father's sordid history?
21
And Ted Cruz, a goon to the core, is now somehow a better choice in light of some old real-estate deal?!?
57
..“We used to be happy here in our barrio,” she told him, “even with all its defects.” ..
Well- That says it all !! Same sentiments here in LA .. Blighted, destitute neighborhoods populated by people who don't care to see their communities restored or transformed into safe, livable conditions.
10
Why is it that the NYT keeps writing stories that disparage politicians that could save us all? The level of corruption at the helm should be the focus of your investigative reporting. These benign stories only legitimize the evil we face as a nation. When you present evidence of real corruption then it is worthy of a story. However, at present it appears you are only interested in throwing salt on wounds and that is coward journalism. The USA has much bigger fish to fry. Stop allowing Putin to win with this coward journalism.
44
@Michael Hall why would a politician "save us all"? As you can see they're all crooks and in politics for their own enrichment and egos. Putin has nothing to do with it. The more gov't stays out of our lives the better off we will be.
New York Times, what are you doing? Are you trying to slow the momentum by digging up dirt by any means possible? Angry that he isn't sharing his fundraising with other Democrats?
Ms. Saul has managed to draft a hit piece that reeks of insinuation. It says absolutely nothing concrete yet has enough bad taste to try to sour the milk.
It's entirely possible that Mr. O'Rourke genuinely wanted to improve El Paso and maybe this plan would have bettered his city in a substantial way. In this plan, he was one of +300 leaders in favor, it seems to me, and yet apparently the writer could not find a single person to interview who was in favor of the plan could be found to interview to provide a balanced perspective. There is zero discussion or consideration of how the plan might have improved the city, just nasty allusions to Mr. O'Rourke's father-in-law and a strong inference that regarding the "optics" of the situation.
And a week before Election Day - did you learn nothing from the Comey incident? Unless you have something of substance to publish, please don't bother.
84
As opposed to Ted Cruz, ALWAYS and 100% on the side of "the elites"??
Who are you trying to bamboozle?
54
So a couple of dozen barrio residents are still a little upset because Beto looked into a plan to re-develpe a broken down neighborhood.
The plan never happened so no one got displaced (which if they did they would have been paid probably more than the house was worth)
This is a huge nothing burger. but thanks NYT for once again showing your true colors.
60
@Rick
It truly boggles the mind, doesn't it?
6
Disgusting! This article is practically a front page editorial in favor of Ted Cruz. Finally, a politician steps up to the plate who has solid common sense ideas and has exhibited the capability to express their legitimacy in great detail. He also is prepared to work toward reasonable compromises with full recognition that the perfect should not be the enemy of the good. All this in contrast to a man who relies on sound bites to support his fear mongering. Right now I'm feeling inclined to cancel my subscription. How could you be so stupid?!
96
As a former El Paso resident during this time period, I know this is a much more complicated story than reported here. The Times should look into who those downtown property owners were and what they were (not) doing. They should have also explored the benefits for downtown development. Finally, the headline should have read, “they remember and still voted for him”.
75
How about some articles on the (far more) numerous moneyed interests who have contributed to Ted Cruz's campaign and he has routinely acted on behalf of? Or, is that not newsworthy because Republicans are no longer expected to act in the best interests of 99% of Americans? But, god forbid should a Democrat commit even a single act of perceived hypocrisy.
29
@RM Your sources? Beto has made it one of his front and center decisions to NOT take money from anyone but small donors. But hey! Thanks for playing 45's card for him. You.Are.Wrong.
10
I have no problem with the timing of the article, nor with the outcome - nothing happened.
Hispanics still support Beto in his home city.
I will vote for him as well.
31
Another headwind faced by progressives/Democrats in this country. Do you think there are any articles criticizing GOP candidates right now over at Fox or any other right-wing news outlets?
39
@Pat
If only the Times and the network news, and the network programming, and the cable programming, and government funded NPR and the Washington Post leaned to the left. If only there was one channel promoting Republicans. If only.
@Pat So you're equating NYT to be the Fox of the Left? Got it!
Gee - Progressives have disagreed on some issues, like redevelopment of decaying downtowns. What a scandal!
34
I challenge any politician to “make all of the people happy, all of the time.”
21
Being a politician in the US, can anyone really be a saint? Beto is a rising star among the Democrats, and he's filling a void that threw the party into disarray on Election Day almost two years ago. Is Beto perfect? No. Can Beto help balance Washington out if he gets elected? Let's hope so. Right now, people across the country are hanging their hopes on him. He won't be able to achieve much alone, and it seems that he can be a uniting figure for Team Blue. I, for one, am very concerned and alarmed by the people in power. Even after reading this piece, I'm still willing to support Beto, as well as the other Democrats running for seats in Congress. What other alternative do we have?
18
Bringing a plan to redevelop downtown El Paso which would bring jobs and vitality, to replace old buildings that were tenements and boarded-up, and propose an art walk, shops, and restaurants is not a terrible idea for the area of El Paso which O'Rourke represented.
But for the Barrio residents to fear losing their homes through eminent domain, small business owners and immigrants to fight this redevelopment it must have been an unsuccessful idea, at the wrong time, and clearly needed more thoughtful analysis before it was proposed. I am sure that Beto O'Rourke learned a lot from this experience early in his career.
It is telling that Beto still has widespread support in his home city even among many who objected to O'Rourke's support for the redevelopment plan.
142
@Sally The problem with gentrification is that gentrification is not for the folks that are currently living there, it's for other folks who will move in and push out the oldtimers. How many of the poor folks will be able to shop and eat at the incoming businesses? Any Dollar Stores going to be built since that is about all they can shop at? How about a laundromat since a lot of poor folks don't have a washer & dryer? How about a check cashing place so folks can cash their checks and get money orders? I'm guessing none of this was planned. How about a cheap shot and a beer place? Nah...If you are simply going to push poor people somewhere else, why go through the expense, why not simply build in an area that is not poor? Why not develop some of the boring middle class areas?
5
As a small contributor to Beto’s current campaign, I’m very disappointed that he declined requests to comment for this article. It’s out of character - at least for the character I’ve watched out on the campaign trail.
28
@tls I'm also a small contributor, and Beto has responded to this "news" many, many times before. Your disappointment could be with the NYT for digging up this old dirt on a progressive Democratic candidate 7 days before the election. Why is that happening?
70
@tls Seems very much in character.
3
With a master's degree in urban planning, and a doctorate in American Studies, and experience as an OEO community organizer, I'm with Beto on this. Gentrification is a hot button with valid views on either side, but the evolution of our cities is about fluidity. Go Beto!
310
@Anne Russell Your Masters and doctorate, mean nothing...when it comes to trying to boot residents out of their homes....you don't need an education to understand that.
8
@Joe
On the contrary, her education & the thousands of hours spent studying the issues at the core of this debate, indicates her conclusion is informed by data & historical precedent. If a city like El Paso doesn't develop high end residences & businesses, it will lose the resulting tax revenue to suburbs outside the city limits. That increased tax revenue is what allows cities to offer assistance & services to less fortunate residences. It's not a perfect solution, but if a city fails to lure wealthy residents to stay in the city or annex adjoining suburbs, it ends up facing the same fate as Detroit.
This shows me that be to is a pragmatist when necessary & isn't too much of an ideologue to make the tough decisions if they will create long-term benefits.
On the contrary, her education & the thousands of hours spent studying the issues at the core of this debate, indicates her conclusion is informed by data & historical precedent. If a city like El Paso doesn't develop high end residences & businesses, it will lose the resulting tax revenue to suburbs outside the city limits. That increased tax revenue is what allows cities to offer assistance & services to less fortunate residences. It's not a perfect solution, but if a city fails to lure wealthy residents to stay in the city or annex adjoining suburbs, it ends up facing the same fate as Detroit.
This shows me that be to is a pragmatist when necessary & isn't too much of an ideologue to make the tough decisions if they will create long-term benefits.
12
Gentrification is controversial, but is probably necessary. It is a non-story here. Clearly all political candidates have flaws and have done things they regret. Beto did nothing wrong in this case. Houston would have a downtown surrounded by huge increasingly decrepit ghettos if not for gentrification; the same is true across the country. The alternative to Beto is one of the worst people ever, who let trump say despicable things about him and his wife (his WIFE!!!) without recourse, and then decided to throw in with trump.
290
@TBP — Thank you,
From the article;
"Mr. O’Rourke abstained from votes establishing a tax zone that would set the stage for eminent domain, and voted for a temporary moratorium; he later voted against an effort to limit its use."
11
To the publisher and editor of the New York Times: I challenge you to endorse one of either Beto O'Rourke or Ted Cruz. Lay your cards down on the table. You seem to know a lot about this whole matter and surely you have enough information to enlighten you enough to make a decision.
Who do you think would be better for this country: Beto O'Rourke or Ted Cruz?
69
I just read through the comments on this article, after reading the article. Apparently, O'Rourke did nothing to damage his constituents and was trying to revitalize El Paso. Eminent domain was not used.
My question is why the NYTimes even ran with this article. Do you really want that piece of trash Cruz to win? Where is the article on Cruz' missteps? He has done nothing for Texans unless they are oil & gas rich Republicans. He has done nothing even for the evangelicals and is now touting his false commitment to keep their pre-conditions covered.
How about an article on Cruz' work for Texans. I bet that would be an eye-opener.
223
Shocking misuse of journalism from 'the paper of record.'
Understandable if the NYT used this information about O'Rouke in a generic piece about the race, or as balance in a piece about Cruz, but as a stand-alone piece days before an uniquely important election? Are you kidding?
144
The Times doing another hit piece on the eve of the election.
Lip service to humane values, followed by manipulative articles promoting the Iraq War, Donald Trump, etc., while working overtime to destroy Al Gore and Hillary for nothing.
Why not headline it “FBI Finds Ted Cruz Is a Wonderful Person, and Beto is a Bad Man.”
Disgusting.
123
Tip O'Neal..."All politics is local". Welp, welcome to the 21st Century world of warped pervasive instant social media. Either TIp O'Neal is now officially Wrong...or.....our definition of "local" has changed. The NYTimes, of course, has no in depth understanding of El Paso, TX....as this article demonstrates...despite illuminating some valid facts about the region and providing some reinforcement to various valid stereotypes. The NYT also works to reinforce the most inaccurate and wrong-headed opinions of NAFTA. If there was one local area in the USA that embraced NAFTA....that would be El Paso. NAFTA did not destroy one single job in El Paso or for that matter the entire USA. What destroyed the US economy was the Bush-Clinton Era strategy of promoting business with CHINA....and that took all the wind out of the sails of the Reagan Era strategy of NAFTA. Prior to the misguided, corrupt depravity of the Bush-Clinton Era....El Paso/Juarez had a booming Maquiladora Economy.....afterwards it descended into Drug Smuggling and Gun Running. El Paso locals made sure that El Paso became the safest city in the USA....while Juarez became the "young girl murder capital of the world"....3000 and counting. Thanks Bush. Thanks Clinton. And now we gotta deal with this DNC corporate headquarters manufactured JFK formula local yocal.
7
@Wherever Hugo
If you want to know what the right wing really stands for just look at what they offer as criticism of democrats.
2
y'all are looking at this article the wrong way... it's not an anti-Beto screed accusing him of playing the progressives...it's a pro-O'Rourke article aimed at conservative republicans that hate Cruz but are reluctant to vote the image O'Rourke has been sold with
Don't worry, Republicans, O'Rourke is not above being bought off....It'll be business as usual after Nov. 6...the water's fine!
7
tim, which one would be better for America: O'Rourke or Cruz? That is the only valid question at this point. Getting Cruz out of public office and replacing him with almost anyone would be an improvement.
3
@tim in seattle Wonderfully clever. Yes let the NYT pull one over on the Republicans. I love it! And can you imagine the fury of corporations and oil companies getting shown the door when they try to bribe Beto?
1
I see the NYT is engaging in another last minute hit-piece against a popular Democratic political candidate. Last week, it was Andrew Gillum. Now, it's Beto's turn. Whose up next? Stacy Abrams? Tony Evers?
But I guess this is the "evenhanded" approach, they would have us believe. Sorry, NYT, but you have finally proven yourselves to be the feckless neo-liberals I was afraid you were on your way to becoming for the past several years.
62
@Raindog63: Yes, where's the negative coverage of Rick Scott's suspicious business practices when he was running a company? Why isn't that worth an investigative article, if a paper is determined to go back in time to uncover divisive issues and drive wedges into blocs of voters? Because that is clearly the intent of this piece.
It's not going to work with this voter, or with the thousands of us who have already taken advantage of early voting to vote for a straight Democratic ticket.
It's not going to work with this voter, or with the thousands of us who have already taken advantage of early voting to vote for a straight Democratic ticket.
4
@Raindog63, they already ran some dirt on Stacy Abrams.
1
Great work, NY Times! Reminds me of 2016 and “but her emails”, and the reluctance to call out Trump for lying “innovative bluffing”...
I’m hoping you also have investigative journalists covering right wing extremists and white nationalists right now. On how they are growing mainstream and in numbers.
I’m hoping you are also covering the closed circuit network of propoaganda that the right wing media is which picks up a story from the RNC war room and runs it in unison starting with Breitbart and Info Wars to Washington Examiner and Boston Herald then picked up by commentators like Shapiro and Owens and bit politicians like Huckabee and Gingrich and then mainstreamed Lou Dobbs, Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham.... how is it that they so quickly work in unison on an attack on Democrats?
I’m hoping someone is investigating Trump and MBS negotiations because it’s highly suspicious that the coordination is happening without money being demanded.
I’m hoping someone is still working on Trump tower servers pinging Alpha Bank in Russia in 2016. Trump’s real estate deals with the Russians aka money laundering.
There are a lot of stories with national significance out there...
85
...and don’t forget “alternative facts.”
12
Tone-deaf to conflict of interest on the part of himself and his father-in-law? Saint Beto should do well in the Senate.
5
@Ro Ma Saying it one wasn't enough? Keep on beating that drum, but PS - no one is listening.
4
So commenters are furious for the NYTimes showing a balanced approach, exposing the defects in a Democratic candidate rather than, as in its last four articles on this Texas race, simply championing Beto. I was a bit miffed at a NY newspaper so blatantly promoting this one candidate, but this at least shows a semblance of balance.
No, I'm not a Cruz supporter, and our president is a disgrace. I just don't like a newspaper with the influence that the NYTimes has being so blatantly partisan. I want balanced and fact-based reporting, devoid of opinon-based interpretations. This is an example of just that.
15
@Texas Liberal If this were a fact-based piece, I would agree, but unfortunately this is a heavily slanted piece which is heavy on insinuation and totally lacking in balance.
19
@Texas Liberal I question the timing.
14
I hate to say this NYT but this article feels like a hit piece to me. It's seems pretty strange for you to be publishing an article which is old news 7 days before the election. It's one thing to try to be fair to both sides but quite another to bend over backwards to towards one side specifically. We in Texas all understand no one is perfect, not even Beto O'Rourke but he is definitely better for Texas and ultimately, that's what matters the most.
158
@Norma Rodriguez Kessler
My thinking exactly. But you've stated it much more eloquently. The timing of this is mystifying. This is Texas. Our Attorney General currently under indictment and expected to win re-election. And this is considered "all the news that's fit to print."
20
@Norma Rodriguez Kessler Love your comment!! So good to hear from real Texans on this matter. I am a New Yorker, originally long ago from Washington state, rural that is. And it is good to hear the kind of common sense I grew up with. It calms me to hear it. Right now I am fighting mad about this hit piece myself. Bless you and Beto and Texas and thanks for reminding me of the value of my own roots
11
@Norma Rodriguez Kessler
Be happy it is the “land grab” story and not the far worse “Drunken Beto fled from the scene of an accident” story. The former is debatable, the latter is not.
1
We are trying to save our democracy, and you, NYT, are dredging up old trash on one of the brightest hopes on the horizon. Yes, of course, if we were not battling for sheer survival, we could rely on untarnished saints to win elections. But that's not going to happen here. Not now. How about a muckraking article on Cruz? You owe it to the American people.
229
Is there anything good, one single thing good thing, to say about Ted Cruz? The answer is "NO". Please publish a story about what Ted Cruz has accomplished.
31
@Barbara Norris Hear! Hear!
The New York Times seems to find fault with one side these days - and that side doesn't have an elephant for a symbol. Just remember those emails.
26
@TBP
and/or
Please, publish a story about all the times Ted Cruz has voted against the interests of the people. Repeal of Affordable Health Care Act and on and on.
Please tell once again how he got elected Senator, then ran off to run for President.
Do some elbow grease work and publish a list of all of Ted Cruz's votes. Let's let everyone see what Texans are trying to get rid of.
And hurry up; get it done in the next couple of days before early voting ends.
Please.
Why are you front paging this old news one week before the election? This has been thoroughly covered many times by other prominent news outlets. I agree with LG - I am at a loss to understand your timing on this. Can it be true that the NYT is just another corporate media shill? This is very disappointing.
123
Too bad most people will only read the headline and not the full “nothingburger” details. Show me a person who has been in the arena and who has not made some unpopular moves, and I’ll show you an indecisive, timid soul who has never gotten anything done. That BETO is still fully supported by his hometown IS the bottom line to this silly column-filler. NYT, you just lost fav media status among millions of good Texans. Think I’ll subscribe to the Dallas Morning News. GO BETO!!!
108
An unpopular move is one thing. But an unpopular move that just happens to benefit your billionaire father-in-law at the expense of a low-income minority community? However, I do question running an old story a week before the election. In so many ways, the NYT has lost its sense of fairness.
2
@Never Trumper There is zero proof that BETO’s father-inlaw would have benefited from anyone’s misery. And then, of course, the project fell through! So what, NYT?
2
The New York Times has been doing a lot of democrat bashing of late. And it has been happening with increasing frequency as the mid-term elections draw near. The Times has totally capitulated to Trump and his GOP enablers.
45
Hint to the NYT: playing the Republicans game and trying to help right-wingers in tight races will NOT keep Trump and the rest of the unhinged right from sending you bombs and bullets.
45
If you and nobody you care about will ever be old, or sick, or poor, then vote Republican. Cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as the Republican Party plans to do could save you hundreds of dollars on your taxes.
24
Journalism must balance between true and fair, and some journalists would consider that balance the highest calling of the profession. But what about public service? Perhaps the NYT needed something on the (D) side of the ledger heading into this election season to level out their typical criticism of the (R). While no doubt done with good intentions, this instance of "balance" relies on innuendo: a sinister plot to enrich the underdog in the current Texas Senate race, racial insensitivity, and corruption. Where does the story directly attributed that to Beto O'Rourke? Does this piece provide insight into how he will govern in the US Senate? The times, in search of broader balance, has forgotten that journalists are public servants too.
18
I am loud-mouthed, enraged progressive NYC Democrat and I also happen to be more excited about Beto than I have about any candidate since Obama. With that qualifier, the only issue I see with this decision is that his father-in-law was the developer. Admittedly, there is a bit of ick factor there. But having seen this happen in downtown Brooklyn, where many people were displaced (many profited handsomely from the eminent domain buyouts, too), I have to say that the end result is quite nice, and keeps getting better. Downtown Brooklyn was never a destination, is was mainly a place you fled from as quickly as possible if you found yourself there after a certain hour. Now it's quite vibrant. I don't see the harm in Beto wanting the same for El Paso.
24
Now do a negative story about Cruz from his past.
Hmmm,how do you pick just one?
Should it be one negative about one candidate and one from the other?
Or should it be a proportion of negative stories relative to the total number of possible negative stories?
So, for every negative story about O'Rourke, there should be 20 about Cruz -- he has done a lot more possible negative things.
And when it comes down to it, the worst you can say about Beto was that he considered a redevelopment project for his home town that had some trade-offs that were possibly problematic, and not everyone agreed with it.
Now find me a major redevelopment project that did not have some negative consequences for some individuals, for something in the environment, and while you are at it, let me know what the alternative would be if no redevelopment projects were even considered? No hike and bike trails, no park construction, no new housing, no river control, no . . .
So, what's the point of this story?
117
@JustThinkin We all know the point of the story.
The Times has a veneer of Liberalism, but at the end of the day, it's owned by Neocons, and it's their positions which matter.
2
Supporting urban renewal in a downtown core, and progressive values are not inconsistent. That’s the real story.
12
There is a breakfast spot in northern New Hampshire I used to frequent for their good food.
The waitress told me a year or so ago that the owners were rabid Trump supporters. Thinking my money to them might end up being used as a donation to Trump - I have not been there since.
Seeing this hit job in the Times, I am rethinking my subscription here.
27
@Paul Shindler
Me too. The NYTimes has been leaning more right by the day. Half their op-ed writers are right wing trump apologists. If this is their idea of "fair and balanced" then why no expose on Cruz? I'm sure there's plenty of fodder there.
We also don't frequent businesses that support republicans and will no longer vacation in republican controlled states. My husband loves the White Mountains and has taken a motorcycle ride to Mt Washington in early fall every year since 1986. He was proud of his "This Bike Climbed Mt Washington" bumper stickers. This is the first year he didn't go to NH for his motorcycle vacation due to the disenfranchisement of out of state college students sanctioned by the republicans now in charge of your state.
From NBC nightly news July 21, 2018
"Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, signed into law House Bill 1264, requiring students and other part-time residents to become permanent residents of the state if they want to vote. Currently, students must show they are "domiciled" in the state when they register to vote.
The new law will force permanent residents to comply with laws such as state motor vehicle registration. Students with cars, for example, would have to pay for a new, in-state driver's license and register their cars in the state, a cost critics argue could deter the historically Democratic voting bloc from the ballot box."
He went to the Cape instead. We are now voting with our wallets as well as our ballots.
Wow!...fair and balanced reporting! Thank You. Seems many readers disliked the article, though. I always thought seeking the truth was intrinsic to good moral character. But perhaps that's just my elite, white, liberal education poking through.
8
No surprise here. Aren’t the “moneyed elite” behind his current campaign? Seventy million dollars doesn’t come from middle America.
8
@Meg Yes, it did.
10
@Meg Oh, yes it does.......just check out the Federal Election site that lists the donors.....Yes.It.Does.
Surprise is that maybe "the moneyed elite" are the middle class having their money work for them in electing someone who is for them.......Republicans just don't get.
9
@Meg: Shows how much you assume that all politicians operate on the same level of corruption as Cruz.
One of Beto's front and center pledges has been "no PAC money." His campaign keeps statistics, and those statistics show that that seventy million came from small donors all over the country.
Cruz's campaign coffers are filled by the handful of one percenters he represents in the Senate. Cruz is bought and paid for by the wealthy, to keep them wealthy, and to make sure that no one else gets a say in legislation.
3
I do not believe Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke is what he claims to be. In lieu of a viable third candidate I will vote for Cruz.
6
@GWB
Fully agree. He is a charlatan.
4
@GWB
Cruz letting Trump accuse his own dad of being in some conspiracy plot against Kennedy tells you plenty about the character of Cruz and the mindless sociopathy of Trump. If you are factoring in actual facts.
2
Hey everyone, Beto may have sided with wealthy interests in one case, so let’s all create a situation that will elevate the other guy, who sides with the wealthy literally 100% of the time, to the winning position. Yup, that’s American politics for ya.
27
please. beto will probably be a fine senator and without doubt better than cruz. however, anyone looking for a savior should go to church and not bother to vote. trump is seen as the savior by his supporters and obama was seen as a savior by his. i fell for the obama savior routine during his first run and have never been more disappointed in a president in my lifetime. as for trump voters? they appear to be too ignorant to be disappointed.
4
I understand why some people would be upset about an article like this so close to election day. But, articles like this are important to his supporters for 1 reason: they bring us back down to earth. People have a tendency to pin all of their hopes and dreams onto a single politician, deifying them in the process and ignoring things they shouldn't. I believe him when he says he supports gun control, single payer, and affordable college (all things I support). At the same time, however, we must recognize that despite his populist rhetoric, he is not a part of the working class but is conversely quite wealthy. That doesn't mean he won't work hard to support the working people of this country (see FDR), it just means he isn't the messiah. We idolized President Obama in a similar way and look how that turned out...
11
@Grigz
The media has made Beto a media-star, not his supporters. They just want a decent person as their Senator, not someone like Cruz.
And you add a gratuitous slap at Obama,"We idolized President Obama in a similar way and look how that turned out..." -- let me remind you what we got - healthcare for millions who did not have it, no pre-existing condition penalties, respect around the world, working with others to reduce global warming, high efficiency standards on autos, regulations on payday lenders, etc. We got a lot, even with total opposition from the Republicans.
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@JustThinkin
You're completely missing my point, friend. We idolized President Obama at the detriment of our participation in the political process. Let's take a look at how that turned out, shall we? Overall voter turnout dropped after President Obama was elected, especially among Democrats and young voters. As a result, Republicans continued to take over State and local offices, governorships, the House and the Senate. Furthermore, his absence from the political process in 2016 left a gaping hole in the Democratic Party that Hillary Clinton nor Bernie Sanders could fill (the Russians didn't help either). I don't think I need to remind you what happened next and what has happened since. Additionally, most of what you listed as President Obama's accomplishments have been or are in the process of being reversed. This is a direct consequence of our disengagement from the political process that in my view was partially caused by people's belief that President Obama alone could "save us".
In my view, it is important to remember that one person is not the answer to all of our problems. We must be mindful of how we view popular politicians and remember that articles such as these are healthy for Beto's supporters (including me). Beto comes from an affluent family, is a millionare, has made questionable decisions in his past but still wants to champion the rights of working people - that's fine by me.
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It's funny that gentrification, which makes crime infested neighborhoods safer, has become a dirty word for the extreme left. If anything, this makes me support Beto more.
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As the Official Publication of the Democratic Party, the NYT should be awarded for using the most innocuous headline possible to minimize its candidate’s nefarious activity.
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A hit piece on a Dem who is hoping to unseat no other than Lyin' Ted..
Maybe the media is, in fact, the enemy of the people...
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I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve with this vague piece.
There are plenty of truly evil corporations out there that treat their employees horrendously and inhumanely while their CEOs make 33million dollars a year. Why don't you do more reporting on them?
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I share the timing of this article on Beto during early voting in a Texas. If one just reads the title, one perceives something negative about Beto. I guess the NYT is no different than any other newspaper with regard potentially misleading readers in exchange for a “scoop” or advantage over another news outlet. And by the way, nobody is perfect, especially politicians. But, it is the sum total of their intent that matters.
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Peculiar timing for a story that isn't some kind of new revelation. But you got your clicks, so I guess the NYT timed it right.
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OMG!!! Can this mean that Beto isn’t perfect??? That he’s done things in the past that he regrets today??? How can this be??? When, when, when, will some of us learn that people, celebrities, politicians, etc. that we adore, are also human beings that have done, and still do things we dislike??? Perhaps Al Franken did some immature, idiotic things when he was younger. Perhaps Justice Cavanaugh looks back on his high school years and says “boy was I a jerk”. Perhaps other icons also have some flaws that the absolutely perfect, most politically correct among us, also have. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”.
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@stevevelov: But Kavanaugh didn't say that. He essentially called the women liars, said nothing about his gambling debts, admitted to drinking a lot, and went on a furious rant against Democrats.
@Jomo OK, I concede on Kavanaugh. But, the primary point remains the same: we “worship” the icons who seem to represent our values. We feel deeply betrayed if they prove to be less than perfect, and have trouble believing it. We excoriate the icons who we oppose, despite the fact that some of the things they say and do may be correct and valuable. How does the example work if you take out the name “Kavanaugh”, and substitute the initials “JFK” (busily making it with Marilyn while married to Jackie). The fault is OUR need to totally worship or totally hate.
I'm not saying this story isn't newsworthy, and I'm not saying the Times shouldn't do negative stories on Democrats. But this is very old news. It has been reported on in the senate race. The man has been elected and reelected in his district numerous times. The timing of this story, this old story, is highly suspect. 9 days before an election. What is going on at the Times?
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@LG EXACTLY what I came in to post.
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@LG
Thanks LG. My feelings exactly. Why now, nine days before a very important election, not just for Beto, but for any chance of some other Democrats down the line, or up the line getting some nutrients from the great interest in the Beto contest w/the other candidate. So I'll add my question to this query: What's going on at the Times? This state is at a desperate level for change. Attorney general candidate Ken Paxton has been indicted for fraud, but no one seems to care about that. Now there's a story. Follow that one. No one is.
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@LG
The same way, NY Times hand on HRC email story for months and months.
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Last week it was an article about Stacy Abrahams burning a confederate version of the Georgia flag many years ago. Before that it was a story about Beto O’Rourke allegedly leaving the scene of an accident in his youth. Today it’s a story about a real estate project O’Rourke supported years ago that went south. What is going on at the New York Times of late with this recent spate of articles digging deep for old dirt on Democrats that truly have a chance of changing the political landscape in their states that have been fueled by Republicans for years? I feel as if I’m reading a print edition of Fox News, designed to feed negative sound bites to their opponents in hotly contested races.
With one week left to go to the election surely you must have some ulterior motive in digging up this trash on good solid candidates who oppose the very hateful tone our country is ridden with of late. Please stop looking to downgrade the rise of positive politics and place your energies on highlighting these good peoples’ accomplishments against a sea of right wing hatred for everything this country once held sacred.
And if you can’t do that then show some balance with articles that amplify the reality of life under the conservative thumbs of politicians like Cruz and Kemp so the world can see the truth. This recent hostile approach from the New York Times to anyone with a D in front of their name is shameful. Are you working for Mr. Trump and co?
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@Sager You took the words right out of my mouth. I really do wonder what the NYT's agenda is. And let's not forget that the Clinton email scandal was released by the NYT.
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@Sager
Yeah, I'm starting to wonder whose side the Times is on.
Never forget that they could've tanked Trump's nascent campaign during the primaries, given the amount of available dirt re his business and personal sins -- and chose to normalize him instead. Hard to forgive.
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@Sager, The Times is trying to be "fair and balanced," but it doesn't know how to do so.
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Great, new Beto gets the Clinton treatment. SAD.
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@Phyliss Dalmatian come se dice? "agua blanca"???
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@Phyliss Dalmatian more like the Bernie treatment.
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@sean No, Bernie was basically ignored. This is a negative piece consisting of old news right before the election.
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Very strange timing for this piece in the New York Times. Is there any doubt Ted Cruz will use this to try and beat Beto over the head in the final days of this very close race? Are we to assume the New York Times wants Cruz to win? Cruz, of course, is the most hated politician in Washington, and a boot-licker of President Trump.
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@Paul Shindler I very recently subscribed to the New York Times. Now I find the paper publishing an article that will be superb propaganda used to further the interests of Ted Cruz, one of the three most despicable and dangerous politicians in the country. Needless to say, that subscription will not be renewed.
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Perhaps people should do more research before conferring sainthood on a politician. Whole Mr. O Rourke is certainly preferable to the vile Mr Cruz, he never struck me as a great candidate or an especially enlightened one.
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No one has conferred sainthood on Beto. At the worst, sometimes you have to stand at a voting machine and vote against someone who is a proven abomination. The gap between Beto, with whatever negatives we know about negatives and the, as you say, "vile Mr. Cruz", is extremely wide.
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NYT, why exactly are you publishing a hit piece against Beto O'Rourke SEVEN DAYS before the election? Are you out of your minds? I suppose Ted Cruz is supposed to be preferable because at least he's consistently awful. What a timely display of investigative journalism. At least you can sleep soundly when we lose Texas by an even greater margin than anticipated.
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The NYT never passed up a “hit piece” on almost any Republican and only now are you complaining about the 1% of the time a Democrat gets a honest review for the first time. Spare us the renting of clothes and the gnashing of teeth, please? I think the article is perfectly timed. And rightly so.
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@Patrick Turner
You mean rending of garments? Never mind. Vote Beto, TX. Even at his "worst" 18 years ago, he's light years ahead of Ted Cruz, looking up from the mud to "be best."
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@Patrick Turner Yeah, right, that's why 45 got a pretty free ride during the presidential campaign - from Trump Tower meetings with Russian operatives to using a charitable foundation as free wielding piggy bank - there were glancing blows - but so much forgiveness - and then there were those emails.....And oh the sturm und drang. No, this article is not "perfectly timed." Like your assessment, it's misplaced
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Unlike Ted Cruz who’s fully owned and operated by the wealthy elite
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@Chris Corogin: Yes, Cruz is a RED devil, but now we have a Blue one to compete. Smells like the H-Rod/The Donald choice. Whoopie!
Beto is an exciting candidate on whom Democrats everywhere are pinning their hopes.
Like most politicians, though, he has created an image that doesn’t necessarily correspond to reality. For example:
his name is Robert
he went to boarding school
he’s an Ivy Leaguer
he’s worth almost $10M
his father was a Republican county judge
Good to see the NYT expand its coverage on Beto to go beyond his manufactured populism.
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@MR
And your point is??! Good grief, why can't a fortunate, educated person realize not everybody is as blessed and then decide to work for the betterment of the rest of the people?!
Plenty of people began life as Republicans and changed when they realized all that party cares about is money. Democrats at least profess to care about human beings.
Those five indictments you list are just plain silly. As in shame on him for having a nickname! Do you want your own children to be smart and blessed or dumb and preyed upon?
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None of the items you list necessarily make Beto a non-Progressive or incapable of being a Progressive. Don't define people when you are obviously unclear on definitions.
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@MR,
not one thing on your list is inconsistent with Beto, as he has been known since he was a baby. and he never claimed to have come from poverty. so what's your point?
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Not a satisfying peice of journalism. It raises more questions than it answers. What were the percieved merits of the downtown rennovation play. Why did it fail. What did the plan intend for the poor and middle class people and businesses displaced? Was the plan anti-hispanic, or pro development?
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@David Lindsay Jr., the point was not information...it was only meant to Belittle O'Rourke and diminish his campaign, also to muddy the waters, it was never meant to clarify anything.
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