‘Chaos and incompetence’: Beto slams Gov. Greg Abbott in New York Times interview

Beto O’Rourke still hasn’t officially joined the Texas governor’s race, but that didn’t stop him from throwing a few punches at his potential political foe. In a recent interview with the New York Times’ Kara Swisher, the former congressman took aim at Gov. Greg Abbott for, well, just about everything.

The 23-minute interview, taped during last week’s Texas Tribune Festival, also made sure to hit all of the buzziest topics in politics right now. With his trademark gusto (and a few curse words), O’Rourke also took aim at the state’s controversial abortion ban and lawmakers’ seemingly endless quest to gerrymander Texas into oblivion.

Here are a few takeaways from the Times’ interview with the maybe, possibly, we-bet-money-he’s-running gubernatorial candidate.

“A power play against the women of Texas”

As Texas makes headline after headline for SB 8, the controversial law that effectively outlaws abortions at six weeks, O’Rourke called the bill all about “control.”

“If look at SB 8, the six-week abortion bill with a $10,000 bounty on the head of anyone who tries to help a woman access constitutional, otherwise legal, healthcare, it’s about controlling, a power play against the women of Texas… Our response in Texas has to be about regaining that power.”

McConaughey is a “great actor”

When asked about Academy Award-winning actor (and Austinite) Matthew McConaughey jumping into the political ring, O’Rourke was gracious, but pointed in his comments, noting that no one has any idea where McConaughey lands on the political spectrum.

“I don’t know how he feels about any of the issues that we’ve brought up. I’m looking forward to listening to your interview [with McConaughey next week]. So I think that might explain part of it. And he’s a good guy who’s done some good work in this state. And he’s a great actor, on top of all that.”

Will Beto run… again?

The famously no-BS Swisher also grilled O’Rourke on his future plans — and whether he has his eye on the governor’s mansion.

“It’s something I’m thinking about. And you know, no secret about that. And I’m just trying to ensure that whatever I do going forward is to the benefit of the greatest number of my fellow Texans. And so I’m listening to them, trying to make the best decision in the interests of this state.”

Swisher pushed back at the politician’s answer, calling it “coy.”

“There’s nothing about being coy. Kara, one of the things that I have spent almost all my time on, outside of family, over this last year is the right to vote. And I told people, and I told the state of Texas, I am focused on voting rights, on doing my level best to stop SB 1 and every iteration of it and everything I can do to help pressure President Biden and the Senate Democratic majority to pass voting rights legislation. If I try to play games and be coy and do that and prepare a race or run for governor, I’ll do neither very well.”

O’Rourke saved his choicest words, however, for Abbott.

“The fight in front of us right now is [winning the governorship] … And given the deep damage and chaos and incompetence that is connected to Greg Abbott, from the winter freeze, the abortion ban, the permitless carry, the anti-mask mandate, the terrible toll that COVID has taken on this state and where it has decimated populations along the border, like in my hometown of El Paso, this is what we need to be focused on right now,” O’Rourke said.