Former CIA Director John Brennan issued an impassionated endorsement of Democratic candidate Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the Texas Senate race on Friday, saying he has the “integrity, intellect and character” lacking in Congress.
“As a former resident of Texas and a proud UT-Austin alumnus, I believe Beto O’Rourke is the type of individual Texans need in the U.S. Senate to represent their best interests,” Brennan tweeted.
Brennan also urged his Twitter followers to “vote your conscience” in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
In a not-so-vailed jab at Donald Trump, he said he would be voting for candidates who “reject inflammatory rhetoric.”
“As the child of an immigrant, I will vote for candidates who believe in America living up to its values & remaining the world’s melting pot,” Brennan tweeted.
He has said that President Trump’s rhetoric has only “fueled” the feelings that could lead to violence.
“Unfortunately I think Donald Trump has not helped to encourage the type of civil discourse and public engagement, and his rhetoric too frequently, I think, fuels these feelings and sentiments that now are bleeding over into potentially acts of violence,” Brennan said last month at the University of Texas at Austin.
O’Rourke’s race against GOP incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz has tightened ahead of next week’s vote.
A newly released poll showed Cruz with a 3-point lead. But the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated the race as a toss-up.
As a former resident of Texas and a proud UT-Austin alumnus, I believe Beto O’Rourke is the type of individual Texans need in the U.S. Senate to represent their best interests. He has the integrity, intellect, and character that is in short supply in Congress. Vote!
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) November 2, 2018
As the child of an immigrant, I will vote for candidates who believe in America living up to its values & remaining the world’s melting pot. I will vote for individuals who are honest, have integrity, reject inflammatory rhetoric & want to bring us together. Vote your conscience!
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) October 31, 2018
